Cat Fact #28 and Cat Story #4

April 29th, 2015

As most people know if you close one eye you lose your depth perception, the same goes for cats. If cats close one eye or they injure one they too lose their depth perception. My pet cat Hector has pink eye in his right eye and he stopped jumping on certain things because he cannot gauge correctly how far away the object is. (He is keeping his right eye closed or mostly closed most of the time because of the pink eye) 

Cat Fact #27

April 29th, 2015

Theoretically, cats can hear dolphins. A cat's ear can hear the ultrasonic sounds that rodents and dolphins use to communicate with each other. The sounds that we cannot hear, cat's can hear them because a cat's hearing is much better than a human's.

Cat Fact #26

April 29th, 2015

Cat's can drink seawater. Their kidney has the ability to filter out the salt and then they can use the water to keep them hydrated. Cat's can take the salt content of sea water their kidney filters it and then makes it usable. 

Cat Fact #25

April 29th, 2015

As you know many cats love to play as kittens. Wild cats play fight as kittens, even domestic cats have their fair share of playing. Domestic cats love to play, this is especially true with kittens who love to chase toys and play fight. Play fighting among kittens may be a way for them to practice and learn skills for hunting and fighting. Many cats learn skills very early on, they learn how to defend themselves by play fighting with their siblings.

Cat Fact #24

April 29th, 2015

A cat is a very skilled hunter, and they are very sneaky. They are lethal and sneaky hunters, when they tread and/or walk their hind paws step exactly where their front paws did, creating less noise and making less tracks. This makes cats' skilled and lethal, they can creep up on other things before the other thing knows it. The animal they are hunting may not hear them because they step in the same place as their front paws. The reason they do that is if something following them finds a set of tracks there are less prints to follow. 

Cat Fact #21, #22, and #23

April 29th, 2015

Cats don't tend to spend time together in big groups like lion pride would, but A group of cats is called a clowder.  Lion's are some of the only cats to spend time in big groups. Not a lot of other cats group together like that. A male cat is called a tom, and in human homes a male cat or a female cat could have more control. In a lion pride the male is the leader of the pride, while the female cats follow. The female cat is called a molly or a queen. A female cat can be the leader or the follower or both cats could be equal in a human home. A lioness follows the male lion in the wild and if they are in danger they will call for him, but in a human home, neither cat could be considered the leader. 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 12

"How dare you accuse your sister of something so treacherous." gasped Princess. She turned to Whitepaw, "I don't want you hunting in my garden and I don't want information on Darkfinch anymore. I don't want information on a traitor. My only son has gone to the dark side. If, Hollytail is with you, you may come to my garden but no other times." she told him. Darkfinch was glaring at his apprentice, "What do you mean. Have you been in her garden before?" he growled. "Princess told me I could hunt in her garden if every time I was there I brought her information on you and Hollytail. I am doing nothing wrong." he said defiantly. "Right of course you are doing nothing wrong, the only thing that you were doing wrong was going into a human garden and talking to a pet cat." Darkfinch screeched. "A pet cat? Is that what I am now Darkfinch?" asked Princess, her green gaze as calm as ever. "No, I may be a pet cat but I am also the cat that brought you into this world the cat that raised you, without me you wouldn't be the cat you are now. I am not only a pet cat but I am your mother Storm," said Princess with an edge to her voice. Darkfinch turned and lunged at his mother, Rissa dived in front of him. Rissa hit him with an impact, her coat shifting from tabby striped to gray and white wisps. With a yowl Rissa spotted a pond. She threw herself at Darkfinch and her stumbled backwards into the pond. With a sudden jerk of her paws Darkfinch was stumbling sideways, when Rissa threw herself on top of her brother with a yowl. Whitepaw raced to help his mentor, "Get off of my mentor," he cried. Hollytail padded over, "I remember when I yowled the words ~ Get off my brother ~ then I came racing to your aid. Do you remember Darkfinch?" asked Hollytail. "I remember when I wanted to  help you, now I want to do anything but that." With that she joined Rissa's side and started battering Darkfinch backwards. Whitepaw stared, so did the rest of the cats. For Rissa's pelt began to change again, this time she was black with long wings. Rissa took to the sky before pelting at Darkfinch. She snapped her wings open, landed, and sat down. "I knew it, you are from the forest," snarled Darkfinch. Rissa lifted her wings letting the light reflect off them setting the whole camp into shadows. Rissa stared, "I said I went to the forest before earning my warrior name there I quit. I was given a power. I never said before I was given a power I quit, I said before I was given a name." 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 11

"Who can prove that is what Cinderstar said," called Pineheart. Darkenberry stepped forward, "Mistlight and I were there. We can tell you that Cinderstar did indeed say this, but if you really don't believe us you can go and speak with Cinderstar yourself." Suddenly another cat padded through the thorn barrier, it was a golden cat with wings.  Rissa who was nearest spoke to the cat, "Who are you and what do you want?" she challenged. "I am Simber and I want was rightfully the forests." He looked up to Darkfinch. "Wait," called Hollytail. "My family doesn't know something about Darkfinch and they might want to know it. They might change their opinion about him after this." Princess turned her head towards her son. "Well?" she asked. Darkfinch narrowed his eyes at his sister, before leaping to the ground and sitting down watching. "Go on Hollytail," said Olivia. "If it is what I think it is, then Darkfinch is indeed a traitor." said Rissa. "How would you know?" snarled Hollytail. "The leader came to me in a dream requested I join them, I accepted then before I earned my name I learned the truth and refused. Withdrawing to living by myself." she said. "I remember those dreams," said Princess. "I would wake up to find you with scratches on your ears." she mewed. Princess turned back to Hollytail, "Go on," she said. "Darkfinch has been training in the Dark Forest as many of the clan cats know. He trains with them in his dreams and he scorned the ways of a clan. He doesn't care about any cat or anything there is. I have been in the forest more than once and once I mentioned the family he left behind and Darkfinch forbade me to speak of it, he doesn't care about his family all he cares about is getting power and he doesn't care what he does to get the power he wants." Darkfinch looked over at his family. Princess had wide eyes, Olivia looked sad, but Rissa looked livid. "My one brother," she hissed, "Betrayed our whole family. You disgraced us, you are the worst cat alive today. A traitor a cat that is so ambitious he will get to get it. I will never consider you my kin again. I thought I was lucky to call myself your kin, but now I don't believe so." Darkfinch narrowed his eyes at Hollytail. "Make one, move to attack anyone and I leave, then my family will come with me as they said they would before," snarled Rissa. Darkfinch hesitated then took a step back to join his clan mates. "Wise move, you, you traitor," hissed Rissa. "How do I know you're not the traitor. You say you stopped going to the forest but did you really?" 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 10

Darkfinch turned and signaled to Darkenberry, Mistlight and Cinderstar that he wanted to speak. Cinderstar nodded and they padded up to his den. "What do you need?" Cinderstar snapped. Darkfinch glared at his leader when Darkenberry suddenly interjected, "Cinderstar, Darkfinch was arguing with Rissa. At least I think that's her name. He was arguing with one of his siblings. He said that his sister had to feed the clan before eating. The other cat retorted that she hunted outside our territory and she ate only what she caught. She says that if she has to feed the clan to stay here then she is leaving. Her mother says that if Rissa leaves then they leave too. Hollytail insists that if thy leave then she goes with them." Cinderstar nodded. "If they don't hunt for the clan and we hunt for them, then some of the clan are going to starve to death. If we are feeding others before our own then some of our may not survive.  We must be loyal to the clan first which means that we must feed our clan members first." responded Darkfinch. Cinderstar looked between his deputy and his most skilled battle warrior. He turned to his most skilled hunter to see what she would say on the matter. "I think that we should respect that Rissa would like to hunt alone, she has all her life and as she says she is independent. She isn't used to having to fend for others or having to feed others. We didn't starve hunting for ourselves before so why should request that our guests feed our clan mates." Cinderstar nodded. "Darkfinch you will announce to the clan from the Sharp Ledge, that our guests are not required to hunt for our clan they can if they like to. They can feed themselves or the clan will feed them. We would not let any cat starve."  Darkfinch nodded his head in understanding. "Darkenberry, Mistlight, you stand with him, some proof that it was actually what I said," ordered Cinderstar.  Darkenberry and Mistlight nodded and followed Darkfinch to the Sharp Ledge. "Cats of Nightclan it is time for a clan meeting!" called Darkfinch. All the cats turned and padded towards the ledge that the 3 cats sat on. "As you know we have 3 guests," at that Rissa pricked up her ears. "Cinderstar has decreed that they can hunt for themselves and if they want to they can hunt for the clan but they don't have too. None of our guests will be forced to feed our clan." Some of the cats looked concerned. "Why, don't they have to help hunt, they are in our territory." called Blackpaw. Rissa leapt to her paws, "I hunt outside your territory so I don't steal your prey." she snarled. Mistlight nodded, "We never starved by hunting for the cats that couldn't hunt  for themselves or the cats that didn't how. We didn't starve then and we won't starve now." 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 9

Later that day Rissa was sitting in the shade of the camp eating a plump trout when Darkfinch padded up to her. "Did you hunt for the clan?" he asked her. Rissa shook her head. "Why are you eating the clan's prey then?" At that Rissa lost it,"I am not eating the clan's prey," she yowled the clan turned and watched the two siblings. One the clan deputy the other the smartest pet cat there was. "I caught this fish for myself. I don't live with the clan I don't need to hunt for your elders. I hunt for myself and only myself. I fend for myself and only myself. If something goes wrong I blame only myself. I padded to the other side of the lake so I wasn't in your territory and I hunted this trout, so I wasn't stealing prey you could catch. I got prey for me to eat and only me. If I share with others that is up to me. If I hunt to others it is up to me. I am independent I don't depend on other cats and I don't protect other cats."she snarled. Darkfinch retorted with, "you are sheltering with the clan so you will go with the clan ways. You will feed others cats before yourself. In a clan what makes us strong is that the warriors help the kits, the strong help the weak. So you will help us in the clan, as you are staying with the clan." Rissa stared. "I serve no one but myself. If I am forced to help the cats that have lost the skill of hunting by sitting on their paws while letting others hunt for them then I leave the clan and I don't return to visit." She said. "I made a deal with Hollytail that we would come and see her clan if we all came as a family Rissa included. If Rissa returns to the woods near her human home than Olivia and I go with her." stated Princess. "Why do you make decisions for Olivia. She is old enough to make decisions by herself, you let Rissa fend for herself." snapped Hollytail. "No, Hollytail. I make my own decision and my decision is to let others take charge. I am loyal to the end and I am loyal to those who are loyal to me. Princess convinced her human to get her human's sisters to adopt Rissa and I and she helped me survive. If there is anyone I am most loyal to it is our mother. I would go with her rather than stay here with you." Olivia retorted to Hollytail. Hollytail glanced between her clan and her family. "Then I go with my family. The warrior code states to be loyal to the clan above all measures. I was born in a human home, my family is my clan. If the 3 of you go and Darkfinch stays then I go with you as I am loyal to the majority of my family. I agree with Rissa. She didn't do anything to harm the clan. If they go I go with them." Darkfinch watched as the clan deputy watched his family waiting for him to say something to see if they were leaving or not.

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 8

Darkfinch just flicked his ears signaling to the patrol to go back to the camp. The pet cats padded behind them.  As they got to the camp, Owlkit raced up to Brownpaw and said, "Who are the other cats are they prisoners?" Before Brownpaw could answer, "I will speak for myself, Brownpaw. I am not a prisoner of your precious clan. If anything I look better taken care of then you do." All the clan had gathered around Rissa and Brownpaw when Cinderstar appeared at the top of the rock. "Nightclan, this is Princess, Olivia and…." Cinderstar never finished his sentence because Rissa interrupted him. "I can speak for myself you know. I am not one of your obedient loyal cats that will sit and do anything that is ordered of me. I don't care if you are the most powerful cat in the world. I can still speak for myself. Just because you have authority doesn't mean the rest of us can't speak for ourselves." Rissa glared the leader of Nightclan. Cinderstar looked at surprise at Rissa. He just watched when Mousekit and Sparrowkit turned and tried to sneak up on Rissa she hissed at them without even turning to look at them. Flowerclaw glared at Rissa before gathering her kits with a sweep of her tail. Cinderstar then continued. "These cats are the kin to Hollytail and Darkfinch. I would like to invite them to stay with the clan for as long as they like and if they wish they to join the clan permanently then they would train along side, Whitepaw, Blackpaw and Brownpaw. You will make them welcome and as long as you are loyal to the clan you will be kind to them." The clan nodded. "Darkfinch take a hunting patrol out to the territory as I heard the only prey the first one caught was a sparrow that they didn't catch." Darkfinch nodded and he narrowed his eyes as he saw Rissa padded out into the forest. "Where are you going?" he called. "Hunting," she replied. "Well bring some prey back for the clan." Darkfinch called. Rissa showed she heard with a flick of her tail before padding into the brush and vanishing from the hunting patrols' view. 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 7

At the sight of the clan deputy and his sister all the clan cats fell silent out of respect until Brownpaw grabbed the sparrow and started backing away. A growl from Rissa made him stop, "Where do you think you are going with that sparrow?" she asked. "He is going back to the camp like any loyal clan cat would." said Darkfinch. "Why would he bring it back to the camp?" Rissa snarled. "It was caught by a clan cat it is clan prey," said Hollytail. At those words the hunting patrol shifted nervously. "It caught by the clan apprentices was it?" said Olivia. Hollytail and Darkfinch glanced at each other before nodding. "So my daughter Rissa is apart of the clan now Serafina? I thought you were the only 2 kittens I had lost to the clans Storm." said Princess. Hollytail and Darkfinch froze. "Is Rissa apart of your clan because Rissa was the cat who caught it Serafina." said Olivia. "You are bold to call the clan deputy by the name he doesn't go by." said Brownpaw. "I call my son whatever I want to call him," Princess snapped at Brownpaw. "Your son?" asked Rushclaw curiously. "Oh so your their mother." said Rosesweep. "Come back to the clan and meet our clan leader," Hollytail begged Olivia. (Olivia had always been the more fun sister, Rissa had always been more serious focusing on her survival more than her friends. Hollytail had always been the cat who cared for every cats safety, and Darkfinch the only son had always been the strongest." Olivia looked at Princess. "Olivia can go if we can all go," said Princess. "What makes you think you are all welcome in Nightclan. You chose to live with humans I would have thought that you would want to stay with that decision." said Darkfinch dangerously. "Who said we wanted to live with you?" snapped Rissa. "Hollytail wanted Olivia to come meet the cats she is living with, how does that translate into can we come and live with the cats you live with. You always thought you were the strongest and better than the rest of us. I would like to let you know that not even you would have been able to leap high enough to catch that sparrow. I have been training all my life to live by myself in the woods. I have focused on the skills and my instincts to live in the wild my whole life I have since I was a kit, but I have never wanted to live in a group of cats. I would rather live by myself fending only for myself that way I am not to be blamed for lost battles or causes that weren't my fault." said Rissa. The hunting patrol looked at Rissa like she was crazy and they waited to see what their deputy would do. 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 6

Whitepaw turned to Brownpaw. He was about to speak when Brownpaw interrupted him. "I think we need to head towards the forest, there is always some forest prey there." she said. Whitepaw thought for a moment, before nodding. "Sure, we should try for some birds." Brownpaw nodded and the two siblings padded towards the forest. "I see a sparrow," hissed Whitepaw. "Get into the bush to hide your white fur, I will chase the bird towards you." The apprentices dropped into a hunting crouch. Brownpaw started padded towards the bird. Suddenly Brownpaw leapt. The bird let out a warning call and started running towards Whitepaw. Before Whitepaw could pounce, Brownpaw charged the bird. The bird let out a screech before taking to the sky. Suddenly a small tabby shape raced towards the bird and leapt into the air and snatched the bird from the sky. Rosesweep and Rushclaw burst into the clearing. Whitepaw was yowling at his brother, "You said you were going to drive it towards me, we were supposed to be working together to hunt." Rosesweep nodded. "If it weren't for this tabby she-cat than that prey would have gotten away." Suddenly a cat came charging towards the clearing calling, "Rissa, Rissa." The other cat looked at the clearing. Then she let out a call of, "Princess, Princess it is the clan cats that Serafina and Storm went and joined." At that Princess came padded towards Rissa and her sister. The clan cats were still staring at the cats. "Who are you and what are you doing in our territory?" asked Rushclaw. "Catching your prey for you," snapped the cat named Rissa. Whitepaw padded forward. "Are you looking for Serafina and Storm?" he asked. Rissa turned and growled at him, "How do you know my siblings pet names?" "Don't be ridiculous Rissa," said her sister. "These cats live with them, of course they know their pet names." Rissa snorted and in answer to her question Brownpaw said, "We don't know a Serafina and Storm, I don't know what Whitepaw is talking about." Rissa looked at her sister in triumph. "It is ok, Rissa I have seen this apprentice before. He tried hunting in my garden and Olivia just because they live with them may not mean they know their pet names. They go by a different names now. Darkfinch and Hollytail if I am think correctly." As soon as Princess mentioned Darkfinch and Hollytail the cats nodded. "We know them, they are in our clan." said Rosesweep. They were interrupted by a cat saying, "Who said my name?" said a cat and then the other cat said, "what were you doing hunting in a human garden. My own apprentice, Whitepaw I thought you knew better." It was Darkfinch and Hollytail. 

Whiteclaw 's Tale - Chapter 5

Finally and after what Whitepaw though was forever  Darkfinch looked satisfied and the group padded back to the camp. Whitepaw had just settled down to eat a shrew when a stern voice stopped him, "Exactly what do you think you are doing. I know you went out on the dawn patrol with Darkfinch. You apprentices think you can take what you want but no the warrior code clearly states that all the member able to hunt for the clan must feed their clan mates before they can eat for themselves. Go hunting with Rushclaw, your father will gladly take you hunting." Said his mother Dawnpetal. "What about Darkfinch?" Growled Whitepaw. "What about me?" Asked Darkfinch stalked up behind his apprentice. "You must learn your manners Dawnpetal is not only your mother she is your elder and a respected member of Nightclan. You must respect her as any other clan member would," he snapped at his apprentice. He turned to Dawnpetal, "What were you speaking to Whitepaw about?" He asked. "He was going to eat a shrew and I know for a fact that you guys didn't hunt yet today." She said quietly.  "I told him he could go with Rushclaw on the hunting patrol." Darkfinch nodded, "We can both go, I need to watch my apprentice," he said. Whitepaw looked at his mentor before stalked over to where Rushclaw was waiting. The brown cat looed surprised to see his oldest son but he welcomed him into the patrol. Darkfinch padded over when Rosesweep came with Brownpaw. Agknoledging that Rushclaw was the leader of the patrol with a flick of her ears the little group padded away until thenstopped in a clearing. "It is Cinderstar's idea that we get the apprentices working together. He would like the cats to partner up and hunt we would watch from a distance. Darkfinch I would go back to camp I heard that Cinderstar was making some apprentices soon and he wanted your opinion on mentors. We will look after the apprentices." Darkfinch nodded and tore off towards the direction of the camp. "You two," Rosesweep pointed with her tail at the apprentices "We would like you to hunt and we would like to see how you work together."  She said. "If you complete this task then, before we go back to camp you may hunt by yourself." said Rushclaw. Whitepaw nodded excited at his chance to see Princess.

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 4

"Darkfinch is my mentor, he is teaching me how to be a loyal and dedicated warrior of Nightclan." Princess looked at him. "Ok, but each time I catch you in the garden then I expect new information on Serafina and Storm, oh sorry Hollytail and Darkfinch. Rissa or Olivia may be here too, Rissa and Olivia are my other kittens. They will want information too." said Princess. "Rissa and Olivia don't live here?" asked Whitepaw.  "Oh, no. Serafina and Storm went to the clans while Rissa and Olivia were adopted by my owner's sisters. They come and visit me sometimes." Princess explained. "So do we have a deal?" asked Whitepaw. Princess nodded, "until next time them." With that Princess turned and padded away into the house. Whitepaw turned and raced back to the camp with some freshly caught mice. Darkfinch padded over to Whitepaw, "I tracked you to the edge of the forest. Where did you hunt today?" he asked. "Near the lake. I found a nest of mice." said Whitepaw to his mentor. His mentor nodded but narrowed his eyes at his apprentice. "Ok, get some food and then get some rest for the night. We are going on the dawn patrol in the morning." Whitepaw nodded picked up a shrew and headed towards the apprentice den. The next morning, Darkfinch shook the bracken to get his apprentices' attention, "Wake up Whitepaw. We have to go on the dawn patrol." Darkfinch snapped at his apprentice. "Come on." Whitepaw threw a glare at his mentor before padding after him.  If Darkfinch noticed he didn't show it, Darkfinch just continued walking calmly towards the border. Whitepaw looked around as he walked he wanted to go back to Princess. Darkfinch sensed that his apprentice was ansty and he was waiting for something. He is waiting for the patrol to be over than he can go slip away to find something. "Where is he border marker?" Darkfinch quizzed his apprentice. "Over there near the edge of the forest," replied Whitepaw as if he knew that Darkfinch was testing him. Darkfinch stared at his apprentice. Darkfinch shook his head and the dawn patrol carried on. Whitepaw watched his mentor carefully wondering when he was going to be allowed to go back and share the news of her kits.

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 3

The next morning Whitepaw woke early and he realized he was sleeping in the apprentice den, he was an apprentice! He padded out into the camp to find Darkfinch waiting for him. "Today I will show you the boundaries." he said. "Even though we don't live near any other cats and we could hunt as far as we like we have boundaries to keep passing strays and lonerse out of our territory. They stay out if there is a definite scent line." Darkfinch explained as the padded towards outlook ledge. "Do you see the edge of the forest?" he asked Whitepaw. When Whitepaw nodded Darkfinch swept on, "That is one boundary another is the edge of the meadow, the lake and the last boundary  is the human homes on the other side of the hill." Whitepaw nodded trying to absorb all the information at once. "Do you like your siblings?" Darkfinch suddenly asked. "Well, they are a bit bossy at times but they are good at heart." he said, then Whitepaw added. "Do you like Hollytail?" Darkfinch looked at him, "Hollytail isn't my only sibling. I have more. As you know my mother lives with humans. Hollytail and I didn't like it so we ran off into the woods and Cinderstar took us in. Princess always had looked after us so we went back to see her once in a while. We stopped now that we are warriors of course and being loyal to Princess and her human would mean we would be disloyal to the clan of course. I didn't mind Princess or my other 2 sisters, Rissa or Olivia. Hollytail is another story. I am loyal to the clan and therefore loyal to her of course, just sometimes she is a bit annoying." Whitepaw nodded. "Now I am going to show you the hunting crouch." Whitepaw copied the moves. "Aim for those leaves now," said Darkfinch. Whitepaw nodded and pounced. Darkfinch nodded, "Try some hunting by yourself, I will come back to see if you have caught anything." Whitepaw nodded and stalked a squirrel, suddenly the squirrel turned and ran. Whitepaw ran after it, when the squirrel scampered up a tree. Whitepaw slowed to a halt when he noticed a sparrow flitting through the brush of a human garden. Whitepaw instinctively dropped into a hunting crouch and padded towards it. He was about to pounce when a snapped twig startled the bird and it flew away into the trees. Whitepaw turned to snap at whatever had moved the stick, when he realized it was a small tabby cat. "What are you doing in my garden?" she snapped. "Hunting and who are you?," he retorted. "Well hunt somewhere else," she said "the birds in the garden are mine, and my name is Princess." "How about this? If you let me hunt in the garden then I will update you about Hollytail and Darkfinch." Princess looked at him. "How do you know Darkfinch?" she questioned. 

Cat Fact #20

April 16th, 2015

Have you ever heard that cats can see in the dark? Well they can't although they can see much better in dim light then we do. Cats may have inferior day time sight but during the night cats need 7 times less light then humans do to see. So cats can need 7 times less light to see but they cannot se completely in the dark. 

Cat Fact #19

April 16th, 2015

Most people have seen a cat hunting a mouse, but most people haven't seen a human hunting a mouse. A cat may bring their owner a mouse or a bird to prove to their owner that they suck at hunting while they (the cat) can hunt. Most cats are natural hunters and humans normally can't catch a mouse if they try. Cats prove to you that we can't hunt while they can when they bring you a dead mouse or bird.

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 2

Whitekit could see the whole territory from Outlook rock. "What do you see?" asked Cattail. "I see, the forest and an eagle fishing." Cattail nodded, "When you become an apprentice you will be taught how to focus your senses to find and observe our territory and the land surrounding it. I am going to bring you up here every single day and you will see you can actually improve and you can focus your skills on the things around you every day." Whitekit nodded appreciatively. They turned around and padded back to camp. 

As the moons went by.

Whitekit became an impressive kit. Cattail beckoned with her tail for him to follow like normal and then she said, "Today you are going to tell me what you improved on and what you still need to work on." Whitekit nodded and when the sun first started to rise over the trees, Cattail said "We need to go back to the camp, Cinderstar said he was going to be calling a clan meeting." Whitekit nodded and plunged through the bushes towards the camp. "Whitekit! Where have you been going each morning you look like you have been pulled through the bushes. You know your not supposed to be out of the camp until you are an apprentice." Dawnpetal snapped. "You need to be cleaned up," she said. "Why?" snorted Whitekit. "Because Cinderstar just called a clan meeting." she retorted, "that's why." Whitekit shuffled his feet while his mother tried to free his pelt from the twigs." When she heard Cinderstar's calling and she started herding the kittens out of the nursery. "Today our 3 kittens are ready to become apprentices of Nightclan." Whitekit looked at the 3 cats standing next to Cinderstar and he knew that those 3 cats would be their mentors. The 3 cats that were standing beside Cinderstar were Rosesweep, Darkfinch, and Ashear. "Rosesweep, you will be mentor to Brownpaw teach him everything you know and with time he will have you incredible hunting skills. Ashear, you will mentor Blackpaw, he will have your observation skills by the time he is a warrior. Darkfinch," he said turning to the last warrior in line. "You are a new warrior and clan deputy but you have shown great skill here and I know yo will pass on all of those skills to Whitepaw." "Whitepaw, Blackpaw Brownpaw, Whitepaw, Blackpaw, Brownpaw!" The clan cheered the 3 new apprentices' names as the sun set into the trees. "Find a nest Whitepaw," ordered Darkfinch and the other apprentices nodded. "We will see the territory tomorrow." 

Whiteclaw's Tale - Chapter 1

"Whitekit play nicely with your brothers Blackkit, and Brownkit." said Whitekit's mother, Dawnpetal. "I'll be an apprentice soon and then you won't be able to boss me around." squeaked Whitekit. "You won't be an apprentice for another 4 moons." said Dawnpetal gently. "That is the warrior code, no kit can be apprenticed before 6 moons old." Whitekit snorted and shook his head, impatiently. He turned and padded towards the center of the camp where he saw his father Rushclaw, leading the hunting patrol out of the camp. "Father, Father, can I join you?" Whitekit called. His father looked amused and said, "When you're an apprentice I promise I will take you hunting." He said. Whitekit turned around and padded back to the nursery. Dawnpetal, turned and scooped him into the nest, to join his siblings. Dawnpetal looked at them and then she curled up in the nest and told them to go to sleep. "I will wake you when the patrol gets back with some food. You are old enough to have some of the food from the fresh kill pile now." she said. "No Milk?" The kittens looked at her in disbelief. "Yes Brownkit, the milk is drying, you can each take some mice from the fresh kill pile, no birds unless I pluck the feathers." she reminded them. The kittens nodded. Instead of curling up in the nest Whitekit turned and with his brotheres following behind him they padded back into the camp. "Brownkit and Blackkit, always think they are better than every other cat." muttered Whitekit to himself. "Hey Whitekit," called Darkpaw and Hollypaw the only two clan apprentices. Whitekit nodded in their direction. "Where are Brownkit and Blackkit?" asked Hollypaw. Whitekit nodded in the direction of the elders den, "They always like listening to Hawkeye's stories." he said. Hollypaw gave her thanks and padded away. "Do you want me to take you to outlook ledge?" asked Darkpaw. "That's out of camp though, I am not allowed out until I am an apprentice though." Darkpaw considered. "They won't know then, besides you are the oldest of your siblings and the keenest to learn. No warrior can object." Whitekit nodded and followed Darkpaw. "Watch for the paw holds," called Darkpaw as he gave Whitekit a boost up the rock. "Darkpaw! What are you doing out here and with a kit under 6 moons old." scolded Cattail the clan deputy. "Whitekit wanted to see outlook ledge, so I agreed to take him." said Darkpaw defiantly. "You agreed to take a kit out of the camp?" Darkpaw nodded. "That was very irresponsible," she said. "Whitekit is the oldest kit though. He is oldest the keenest to learn new skills, I figured that any warrior would want there to be new warriors in the clan. To have warriors then the kits must learn skills." he argued. Cattail considered before nodding. "Fine, I will take him to Outlook ledge as I am the clan deputy, you will go back to camp and you will go out training with Darkenberry." She said before beckoning with her tail for Whitekit to follow. 

Cat Fact #17 and #18

April 15th, 2015 

Cats have been around for a long time. The oldest breed of cat is the Egyptian Mau. The Egyptian mau is a breed of cat that has been around the longest. The word mau actually means cat in Egyptian. So the Egyptian Mau is the Egyptian Cat. 

Cat Fact #16

April 14th, 2015

Have you ever heard that cats do not like water? Most cats don't like water because their coats of fur do not insulate (keep them warm) enough to stay in the water for long periods of time. Birds like penguins and animals that live in the polar regions have the coat of insulation or blubber to keep them warm so they can swim and get wet and stay warm. A cats' coat doesn't keep them warm so if they got wet it wouldn't be good.

Cat Fact #15

April 14th, 2015

If you are superstitious then Friday the 13th or a black cat may be considered bad luck. While black cats are bad luck in the United States, black cats are actually considered good luck in the United Kingdom and Australia. Somewhere where something may be bad luck may be good luck somewhere else. 

Cat Fact #14

April 10th, 2015

Each person in the world has a different finger print right? That is how people identify if you are truly the person you say you are. Well vets could do that too, not with a fingerprint though because cats don't have fingers. Instead they could ooh at a cats' nose. Each cats' nose is ridged with a special and unique pattern just like a humans' fingerprint. 

Cat Facts #11, #12 and #13

April 10th, 2015

All cats have very good hearing. A cats' hearing is it's best sense of all. A reason for that is because a cat can move it's ears in all directions. A cat can turn it's ears up to 180º.  A cat doesn't have to move both of it's ears at once either. A cat is capable of moving each ear separately. That way one ear could be listening to the things next to him/her and the other ear could be turned to hear the things behind him/her. One ear may be up while the other ear is pointing down. 

Cat Fact #10

April 10th, 2015

A cat uses it's whiskers to find out if it can get through a space or not. A cat will use it's whiskers to feel if a space is big enough for a cat to fit in or fit through. That is why cats use their whiskers in places where it is dark because they cannot see where they are going and they must use their whiskers to build up a picture of where they are. 

Cat Fact #9

April 8th, 2015

All cats are good jumpers, from big cats to house cats. A cat is able to jump over 6 times it's length. If a cat is 46 cm, then it can jump 276 cm. (The cat is 1.50919 feet long and can jump 9.05512 feet in distance)

Moons Later

A few moons later, Fishkit, Applekit, Cloverkit, and Silverkit were ready to become apprentices. Pinkpaw had become Pinkpoppy, Foxpaw had become Foxflash and Mossfur had 3 healthy kits which she named, Oceankit, Moonkit and Cherrykit. "Let all of Fishclan gather. We welcome Mossfur's 3 healthy kits and we are ready to welcome 4 new apprentices. Fishkit, Applekit, Cloverkit and Silverkit are ready to become apprentices." said Berrystar. "Whiteclaw you will mentor Fishpaw teach him the skills that will make him worthy of being a Fishclan warrior. Blossomfur you will mentor Applepaw, share with her the your skills and make her a warrior we can be proud of. Cedarstar has volunteered to mentor Cloverpaw, make sure to learn all the skills Cedarstar has to teach you. Cloudsplash you will teach Silverpaw all the skills you have I am sure." announced Sparrowstar. The cats nodded and then the mentors took the apprentices away for a hunting lesson. The clan settled down for the night. All the cats were about to sleep when a screech from the nursery stopped them. It was Ashstorm and Skyleap. Apparently Ashstorm had been sleeping and then she had kicked Skyleap in the stomach. Emberberry and Pinkpoppy raced over to the two she cats. Ashstorm and Skyleap both looked worried. Emberberry looked at the two she cats and said "It is the kits, the kits are ready." Pinkpoppy helped Ashstorm while Emberberry turned to Skyleap. By midnight the whole clan was up. Troutstar appeared at the edge of the clearing, "any cat not having anything to do directly please go back to their nest." The clan nodded and turned and padded away. The next morning Ashstorm had 2 grey kittens while Skyleap had 4. Ashstorm had named them Mistkit and Dustkit. Skyleap hadn't decided on names but was thinking with Breezebolt near the nursery. All the clan was excited. 

Cat Fact #8

April 7th, 2015

Cats make over 100 different sounds where dogs only make about 10. Cats make lots of sounds to communicate to people and when they are younger to other cats. A wild cat uses sounds to fight for territory, or a lion will call for the pride. Cats can hiss or growl. Almost all big cats growl while house cats hiss.

Cat Story #3

April 7th, 2015

My pet cat Hector always wakes us up early in the morning to eat. He has different methods of waken people up. 

A) He will "Cry" out in "talk" to us to ask for food.
B) He will walk all over the bed and the person
C) He will turn on the radio by stepping on the alarm clock
D) He will knock over a glass of water if it is there

Cat Fact #7

April 7th, 2015

Just like a human can be left handed or right handed so can cats. Cats are not right or left handed they are right or left pawed. If a cat is right-pawed or left-pawed depends on the gender of the cat. Female cats are typically right-pawed while most male cats are typically left-pawed. Which is interesting because while 90% of people are right-handed the remaining 10% is mostly male.

Song #4

This Song is for the Kitties in the Stars

Kitties Kitties in the Stars
Power in their Paw-a-aws
Fishing fishing away in the night.
Finding fishies that are just ri-i-ight

Kitties live happily until the end
Then they get to start again
In the stars above our head
This is what a kitty said 

Do not be said my friend
For we will meet again
When the time is right
When we are shown the light

We will fight
Until the end
When we get to begin again

Walk happily
Walk safely
Among friends
In the stars

We will see you soon
On the brightest moon
We will continue
We will live

Good bye my friend

Song #3

This Song is Dedicated to the cats who have left us

Blue, blue that is all we are
We have made it so so far
But now things are different
Things have changed
No soft tuft of fur
No more purr purr purrs

We wil look to the stars
When we open every can or jar
No Kitty Kitty or Tuna Fish
No more creamy milk in a dish

No there is no more
There is no soft bundle on the floor
No sweet meows
Walking through the morning dew

Fish, Fish in the cleanest river
Fish, Fish in the nest river
Fish, Fish every day and every night
Fish, Fish in morning's Day Light


La La La La La
La La La La La

Sing the sweet notes
Never shed your soft sweet coat
Walk up upon the stars
Walk up in the sky
Be a kitty with beauty

Go carefully precious Kitty

Song #2

This Song is in the Memory of the Cats who have left us

We will never stop believing in you
We will always cherish our memory
Every morning and night
We look to the stars and sky
In hopes of seeing you today
And in hopes of seeing you tonight

Every day is a struggle
Every day is hard
Where we are
But you need to have your life
You need the enjoyment
You need to be yourself

And eat tuna in the sky and stars
But never eat tuna from the jars
Catch your yummy fish in the clearest river
Be the best fisher kitty in the world

Make us proud my friend

Song #1

This Song is in the honor of the Kitties who have left us

We are sad and still gloomy
We will never leave the blues
Morning Sunrises remind us of you
Every Night as the sun disappears
We feel sad once again as you once left us
Just like the sun as the sun always does

Someday every mouse will roam free
Today is the day that every mouse roams free
As the ordinary mouse yells hooray
It reminds us of that sad horrible day
When you left us all alone

But we have hope
We have life
We will never give up on chances
We will see you once again
Every day is a struggle but we will make it through
In the thought of you every day

Your song will never leave us
We will keep it forever
You mean more to us then you know
You need to keep going on and on

We will cherish your every paw step
We will remember you more then ever
So keep looking on
Keep living on
With hopes of seeing you yet again

We will look to the stars
We will look to the sky
We will always depend on you

Goodbye my friend

Book 9 - Chapter 7

The kittens looked very excited to be given a competition of their very own. Appledawn had spent the day speaking with the other queens and Birchtail to see what they thought. Appledawn just wasn't sure if she would like the kittens to be able to leave the camp. She went and consulted the other queens. "They would be safe with a warrior in the forest, but I just am not sure if I feel they would be safe enough. My kits can get into lots of trouble." The other queens looked at each other before offering their advice. "I say you should let the kits go into the forest, they will be with a warrior and they will be apprentices soon so the pre-knowledge would help them." said Sagewind. Darkflower and Silverfrost both shook their heads, "The reason that we believe that the kits should stay in camp is because they will be apprentices soon and they will be free to come and go from the camp as they like. I say let them stay in the camp where we can keep an eye on them," said Darkflower. Silverfrost nodded and added, "Just because they will have a warrior with them doesn't mean they will be completely safe, I mean we don't know the area, even with the warrior what if a fox or badger came along a warrior couldn't fight off a fox by themselves and the kits haven't had any training. Even though they will be with a warrior not everything is safe. Appledawn nodded. She trusted the other queens, they were more experienced and some of their kits had become fine clan members. Appledawn nodded, "The kits will be staying in the camp." she had said. The leaders nodded. "Each kit will need to collect, a rock, a moss, a beetle, a feather and a fly, before the sun sets. The kit that collects all the objects the fastest wins." said Sparrowstar. The kits charged away. At the end of the day Fishkit had won. 2nd place went to Cloverkit. 3rd place was Applekit and Silverkit was 4th.

Book 9 - Chapter 6 - Part 2

(Continuing the mentors challenge) Question 3…….Question 10. All 3 groups raced back to camp and finished marking their scores on their leaf. Then the 3 leaders brought the leaves to Berrystar who counted the scores. Berrystar turned to the assembled clan. "We have a winner. Flowerfur with 56 points. Then Mousetail with 54 points and then Seedwhisker with 51 points." announced Berrystar. The other leaders jumped up beside him and continued speaking, "We honor each of our warriors and elders for their time as a mentor. For without mentors the young cats would not be able to learn the skills of a proper Fishclan warrior. Without the mentors to teach the apprentices they ways of a Fishclan warrior the skills of Fishclan might not survive through the generations. Without the mentors the skills of Fishclan wouldn't be kept alive.  We thank each of the warriors in turn for being mentors and passing on the skills that were fought to you by your mentor. If there were no mentors to teach the skills to the newest cats then the cats wouldn't learn what it is like to be a true Fishclan apprentice and for that we thank you." said Cedarstar. All the warriors nodded their thanks to the clan and their respect to the clan leaders. "We will have the next ompetition tomorrow. The kits will be taking part in a competition tomorrow. It is up to queen however (Said Berrystar nodding to Appledawn while he spoke) if the kits are to leave the camp with an experienced warrior or stay in the camp and roam without a warrior. Appledawn nodded and padded back to the nursery with Birchtail by her side. 

Book 9 - Chapter 6 - Part 1

"Mentors, (not including Emberberry) today is your day to prove to us what you know about being a mentor. Seedwhisker, Flowerfur and Mousetail you are our 3 warriors that are currently mentors." announced Troutstar. The clan nodded. "Each mentor will be paired with a senior warrior and a leader.

These 2 cats will be given a series of questions to ask the mentor. The leaders know the questions that are to be asked. Some might be what would happen or how they would train their apprentice. 60 possible points are available  for each cat and there are 3 parts. The first part is technique and demonstrations. The second is questions and the third is  opinion. Up to 2 points will be given in the third round based on the question and the answer given. After each round is done the 3 cats will come back to the clan and etch the number of points they have on the leaf for them. That way at the end of the day we can tally up the points easily." said Cedarstar. "The pairs are Seedwhisker, Cedarstar, and Birchtail. Flowerfur, Troutstar, and Dragonwhisker. Mousetail, Sparrowstar and Whiteclaw." spoke up Berrystar, he then continued, " I will be staying here if there is an emergency in the clan." The clan nodded. Part One, Question 1, What is the best technique to stalk a rabbit? Question 2, How would you organize a hunting patrol? Question 3, How would you demonstrate this battle move? Question 4………Question 20. At the end of the the first round, Seedwhisker had 15 points, Flowerfur had 18 points and Mousetail had 14 points. Part 2, Question 1, Your apprentice cannot master the technique on the day of his warrior assessment what do you do? Question 2, Your apprentice breaks a rule what do you tell him/her? Question 3, Your apprentice continues to break the rues what do you do, and what is his/her punishment? Question 4……….Question 20. At the end of the second part Flowerfur had 37 points, while Seedwhisker and Mousetail both had 35 points. The leaders waited for the cats to finish marking their points and then the groups darted back out of the camp. Part 3, Question 1, Your apprentice refuses to listen to other mentors what do you do? Question 2, Your apprentice listened to the instructions for a mock battle but then he/she fights with unsheathed claws against a cat he/she didn't like what do you do?