POP CULTURE

Movies
Tom Cat, Tom & Jerry
Anyone who ever watched Saturday morning cartoons will recognize Tom as half of the greatest cat-and-mouse game to ever grace our televisions. One might think that watching repeated failed efforts to catch Jerry Mouse would get boring, but Tom’s creativity and slapstick humor never failed to entertain us.

The Cat in the Hat, The Cat in the Hat
There’s no pussyfooting around it – The Cat in the Hat is indisputably Dr. Seuss’ most famous character, and our favorite cat in pop culture history. With more than 11 million copies printed in over 12 different languages, the story of the tall mischief-maker in the striped hat is a staple in anyone’s childhood library.

Hello Kitty
Ever since her debut in 1974, Hello Kitty has become one of the largest franchises in the world, and one of Japan’s biggest pop icons—adored by little girls and eccentric businessmen.

Felix the Cat
One of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history, Felix the Cat emerged during the silent film era. His expressive tail has been cited as one of the best examples of surrealism in filmmaking. Aldous Huxley even wrote that the Felix cartoons showed that “What the cinema can do better than literature is to be fantastic.”

Garfield, Garfield
The lazy, lasagna-lovin’ feline first made his comic strip appearance in 1978. Grossing over $1 billion to date, Garfield has become the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip. Plus he became the best punchline to the amazing cameo in Zombieland.

Meowth, Pokemon
As one of the few Pokemon with the ability to talk, creators combined the words “meow” and “mouth” to form its moniker. Though it belongs to Team Rocket, Meowth has become a favorite and one of the most recognizable Pokemon.

Books
Into The Wild - Erin Hunter
Kris - Patrick O'scheen
The See Through Leopard - Sibel Hodge
Starflower - Anne Elisabeth Stengl
The Cat In The Hat - Dr. Seuss
Tailchaser's Song - Tad Williams
Sam, The Superkitty - Marion Lovato
Golden Daughter - Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Documentaries
The Private Life of a Cat
A male cat courts a female cat and they raise a family together. We see the kittens being born and nurtured by mother, while an interested and proud dad lends his support. Beautifully photographed and executed. With subtitles, no dialog, and a refreshing absence of human beings on screen. Very touchingly realized by Alexander Hammid, whose collaborations with Maya Deren I had prior acquaintance with, and also highly recommend.

The Secret Life of Cats
You’ll never look at a purring, domestic kitty the same way after you’ve seen “The Secret Life of Cats.” Behind that cute little face and playful attitude is a passionless, efficient killer. The jungle lives inside your cat just as it does the 600 pound Bengal tiger. They both move in the same silent, predatory way. The claws of the tiger are no sharper than those of that sweet little creature who listens to your baby talk and plays with your finger. The shape of the teeth in a leopard match the fangs of a domestic cat. Sweet little Socks has the same instincts and the same natural predatory nature as the jaguar.
This documentary will show you the abilities Mother Nature gave your cat. They can run almost thirty miles an hour. Their night-vision, smell and scent abilities rival those of any predator in the world. They can jump the equivalent of thirty feet straight up and have an extraordinary ability to balance themselves on the ground and in the air. They leap, grab and kill as easily as you read the morning newspaper.
We’ve never dominated the cat. It’s the only animal who chose humans as their domestication partner rather than the other way around. They can’t be trained. They won’t be controlled. They love their human partners, but only on their terms. This film will show you how cats got in trouble during the Middle Ages. Cats lack cowering servitude. They face unwanted humans with calm disdain. It’s easy to see why people in that era believed cats were the companions of witches and burned some of them at the stake along with their owners.
Maybe the reason for the cat’s independence comes from their ability to live on their own. “The Secret Life of Cats” will show you what happens to areas where feral cats run loose. In the United States, they’ve hunted 33 species to extinction. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute considers cats in the wild to be the greatest threat to U.S. wildlife; responsible for the deaths of up to 3.7 billion birds and 20.7 billion mammals every year. Watch the documentary and learn about the hidden side of that wonderful little ball of fur on your lap.

Articles

List of Articles About Cats
Aggression Towards Other Cats
Aggression Towards People
All About Kittens
Allergies
Book List
Cat Unique Features
Feline Care
Fun and Useful Info
Fun For Cats
Getting A Cat
House Soiling
Misc. Behavior Problems
Natural Cat Behavior
Overcoming Stress
Scratching & Declawing
Training
Traveling with your cat

Misrepresentation of cats

Black cats have been associated with bad luck and evil for hundreds of years. But why? How exactly did a cuddly little kitty cat get such a bad reputation? After all, things certainly didn't start that way for the humble feline. Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians revered and even worshipped cats. A person caught killing a cat could face the death penalty.

So what happened? Most historians trace superstitions about black cats back to Europe in the Middle Ages. At that time, some older women were accused of witchcraft and practicing black magic. Many of these women had cats as companions, so they became guilty by association.
This belief was solidified by a piece of widespread folklore that began circulating in the mid-16th century. According to legend, a father and son were traveling together on a moonless night, when a black cat crossed their path.

They threw stones at the cat until the poor, injured animal found its way into the nearby home of a woman suspected of being a witch. The next day, the father and son saw the woman bruised and limping, which led them to begin telling everyone that the woman — and thus all other witches — could turn into black cats at night to prowl the streets unnoticed.

This belief was eventually echoed in America during the time of the Salem witch trials. Of course, the association between black cats and evil or bad luck is nothing more than a superstition. Still, it remains a belief held by many people. In fact, the next time Halloween rolls around, take notice of how many black cats you see on Halloween decorations.
It's not all bad news for black cats, however. There are some places in the world where black cats are honored. For example, many people in Scotland, Great Britain, Japan, and Russia view black cats as signs of good luck and prosperity!

Source:
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/do-black-cats-bring-bad-luck