A Post About Cats

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I know.  A post about cats.  Never happens on this blog, does it?  But here are a few things you need to know about cats.  First, they have been scientifically proven to increase productivity.  

But don't take my word for it.  Check out this article in the Washington Post.  It seems some researchers at Hiroshima University asked 48 volunteers to look at various pictures and then to play a children's game.  It seems those asked to look at baby animals were far and away better at the game.  Here's a chart showing you the results.

And here's a quote from the article:

After seeing a pictures of baby animals (puppies and kittens), after seeing adult animals (dogs and cats) and after seeing pleasant foods (steak, sushi and pasta). Far and away, productivity was best in the first condition – you can see this in the chart below. This was true across both genders participating in the experiment.

So given that, I would expect my house to be cleaner and tidier.  Problem is, my house is always littered with cat toys...or the guts from cat toys since Smitty likes to tear them open and suck out their guts.  

But speaking of cats and productivity, here's Smitty helping me with my productivity as I write this highly interesting and informative blog post.  (I emphasized that last part just in case there was any doubt.)

Speaking of Smitty, he has to go to the vet this morning for his booster shot.  He's grown a bunch since his visit last month.  I'm curious to see how much weight he's gained.  In any case, he was terribly stressed out about it earlier.

(Have you noticed what crappy pictures the iPad takes?)  Any way, the pink tongue is a dead giveaway.  Stress, thy name is Smitty.  And now that he's helped me with my productivity, he's back to being totally stressed out.  Poor thing.

Mike has been taking him for rides in the car like a dog.  We just put his harness and leash on as a precaution.  He rides, happy as a clam, sitting in Mike's arms and looking out the window.  I'm going to try it this morning, but I'm taking the kitty carrier along just in case.

So in other cat news, did you see this cute cat from yesterday's post?

I am so taken with this guy that I was seriously thinking about breaking out the old (and I do mean "old") knitting needles and giving it a shot.  I'm informed by Lyndsey, however, that these cats are not really suitable as beginner projects.  And since I can't even remember how to cast on, I suppose I should consider myself a beginner.  Or maybe even a pre-beginner.  Thanks for bringing me back to my senses, Lyndsey.  But any of you knitters out there...if you have a burning desire to knit a Smitty for me, knit on!

Finally, I can't help sharing a photo of this cool cat:

It's my very cute and handsome son, Matthew, who cut his hair!  Hallelujah!  My tongue is feeling so much better now that I've stopped biting it.  Nice doo, Matt.  Really.  Nice doo.  And that's a great smile too.