Cat

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cat - The Devil, the Cat and the Curious Story of the Skulls

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On October 13th 1307 while the Templars were being arrested the Templar Fleet stationed at La Rochelle quietly slipped away. According to tradition and a lot of evidence it carried the records of the Order, and the treasure of the Templar Preceptory of Paris, taking them to the West and East coast of Scotland. Some of these ships must have come to Leith as Berwick was in English hands.

Let us leave the Templars for a moment to tell two strange stories concerning Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig. The first one concerns the discovery of the skull of Sir Robert Logan during the restoration of South Leith Church in 1848. A coffin was found at the West end of the North aisle, under a room used by the Kirk Session. The inspector of Works brought it to the attention of Dr David Robertson and they decided to open it. The coffin was covered with purple velvet. A few taps of a hammer knocked the lid into fragments. Within the coffin they saw a mass of human bones huddled together and in the middle, a human skull. The strange thing was that no lower jaw was found although the skeleton was otherwise complete. The conclusion they came to was these were the mortal remains of Sir Robert Logan. As according to history the skeleton of Sir Robert Logan was put on trial for his involvement in what was called the Gowrie conspiracy against James VI and disinherited. The remains being reburied at South Leith Church. However, would the remains of a man accused of high treason been buried at South Leith Church? Some historians don't think so, and if they were, the question is why?

Could there be a darker reason? Near to Dunbar lies Fast Castle. By marriage the Logan's held the castle between 1552-1606. In 1594 John Napier of Merchiston was asked by Sir Robert Logan to find treasure that was said to have been buried within the castle. The contract between them is found today at Trinity College, Cambridge. Not only did John Napier invent Logarithms as a method of calculation, he was also involved in the Black Arts. He hoped to find the treasure by supernatural means. The contract was to be destroyed once all the conditions were fulfilled, and as the contract was never destroyed and providing the search actually took place, it is assumed the treasure was never found. According to Napier in his memoirs the search did take place. He went to the dreary castle with Sir Robert Logan and the wild Earl of Bothwell both armed to the teeth. So what was the connection between the supposed treasure at Fast Castle and the remains of Sir Robert Logan at South Leith Church? How could someone accused of treason be buried in consecrated ground? The chances are he never was a traitor.

As Laing, a famous historian of the last century said: In regard to Logan himself, it was well known that according to a barbarous custom of the time when it was determined to implicate him by means of forged letters...in the Gowrie Conspiracy was disinterred and brought into court..."

The connection is the fact that Sir Robert Logan and the de Lestalric's before them were Templar Knights to a man, and what Sir Robert Logan was trying to find at Fast Castle was Templar treasure, the treasure from the Preceptory of Paris. This was the reason he was disinherited. So what was the significance of the skull with no jawbone, and why was he buried at South Leith Church? To answer this we must go back to 1309 and Trial of the Knight Templars at Holyrood Abbey.

When Elias II was Abbot of Holyrood an event took place, which is largely ignored in Scottish History. In 1309 while the south of Scotland was overrun by the troops of Edward II the trial of the Knight Templars took place. It is from this trial that some curious light is thrown upper the inner life of the Order. The details of the trial ordered by Clement V is given in a very rare book entitled "Concila".

The inquisitors were perhaps a bit impatient to hear about the devil, the cat and the curious story of the Skulls.

There is a strange story told which is traditionally linked with the Templars: A great lady of Maraclea was loved by a Templar, a lord of Sidon, but she died in her youth and on the night of her burial this wicked lover crept to the grave, dug up her body and violated it. Then a voice from the void bade him to return in nine months time for he would find a son. He obeyed the injunction and at the appointed time he opened the grave again and found a head on the leg bones of the skeleton-a skull and crossbones. The same voice bade him to guard it well for it would be the giver of good things. And so he carried it away with him and it protected him from his enemies. It passed into the possession of the Order" (This version of the story is from War, freemasonry and the ancient Gods, p305) This story became connected to the Order and is mentioned in the inquisitions records and in the versions held by the freemasons, which adopted the skull and crossbones and often employed it as a device on tombstones.

When Sir Logan's skeleton was rediscovered at South Leith Church. During the restoration of the Church in 1847- 48. The Jaw bone was missing and an explanation of this can be found in the ceremony of installation in the Masonic cross degree of the Knight Templar of Jerusalem under the obligations of the Masonic Order. The obligation starts "In the name of the blessed trinity and in commemoration of St John of Jerusalem, the first faithful soldier of and martyr of Jesus Christ. I do solemnly promise and swear that I will never illegally reveal the secrets of a Knight Templar to a Royal Arch mason...if ever I willfully violate this, my solemn compact as a brother Knight Templar, may my skull be sown asunder with a rough saw, my brains be taken out and put on a charger to be consumed by the scorching sun and my skull in another charger in commemoration of St John of Jerusalem, that first faithful soldier and martyr of our Lord and Saviour..." The penal sign, which is to draw the forefinger or the thumb across the forehead, is indicative of the penalty of having the skull sawn asunder. So who could have removed the jawbone and carried the sentence of the Order? Suspicion must be placed on David Lindsay (1560-1613), the first protestant minister of South Leith Parish Church. He was chaplain to James VI, and married him to Anne of Denmark in 1589 and baptised his children. Lindsay was the only one to believe that there had been an attempt made on the life of the King at the house of the Earl of Gowrie, Perth. In fact he conducted a service of thanksgiving at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh for the Kings safe return. However, none of David Lindsay's fellow ministers believed a word of it and said so. If the Gowrie conspiracy was a hoax then the trial of the remains of Sir Robert Logan was also a farce and everyone knew it. The trial however did take place and that is a historic fact, but it wasn't done for the reasons stated, it was for his actions at Fast Castle in trying to find Templar treasure and because of this he was condemned.

David Lindsay had Masonic connections and was most likely a Mason himself. He also knew William Schew who set up the first Masonic lodges in Scotland. Not only this, David Lindsay might have been obeying the orders of the king: the monarch was and still is the head of the Masons in this country or, as today, a close relative of the Monarch and Royal Family. During the restoration of the church in 1848 many of the original gravestones within the Church were smashed. The bits used for the floors of the east porches of the church. I suspect this was done to cover up any connection with the freemasons, freemasons having an ambiguous position within the Christian church. Bearing in mind the disruption of 1843. They didn't want any further problems. These gravestones can still be seen to this day. As Logan's sentence was carried out, and so his crime must have been against the Order. Whoever removed the jawbone must have been disturbed in their work. Only the marks of a rough saw were discovered on the skull of Sir Robert Logan- the jaw bone being removed must have been to prove that an attempt had been made to carry out the orders of the Masonic Templar

John Arthur is married with two sons and is a local historian and genealogist having websites at http://www.lineages.co.uk, http://www.leithhistory.co.uk and http://persevere.lineages.co.uk.
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Arthur

Cat - Why Cat Urine Smells So Bad and Doesn't Go Away

Cat urine odor is unique among the many smells we know. While there are other smells that are worse, most of us probably don't come across them.

Many people wonder why cat urine odor is so hard to get rid of. This article talks a little bit about the composition of cat urine.

Cat urine is composed of five different bacteria strains. Two of the bacteria strains are associated with the cat's marking scent. The other strains are in the cat spray, urine, and uric acid.

The sticky, tacky part of cat urine is urea. Urochrome is the pigment, and then there are the uric acid crystals and salts.

The first two components are not difficult to clean. The uric acid with its crystals and salts are what we continually see and smell, long after we've tried to clean the cat urine spot.

The crystals are insoluble, and they bond tightly to any surface they land on. This is why cat urine is immune to common household cleaners. Any type of moisture that gets on the crystals reactivates them. This is why we smell cat urine odor more distinctly when the weather is very humid.

The only way to completely and permanently clean up cat urine odor from any surface in your home is to use an enzyme cleaner. These cleaners are special formulas that actually eat the bacteria and crystals in cat urine.

Common household cleaners don't contain enzymes. If they do, the enzymes are probably specific to cleaning up blood. Pet odor and stain removers use enzymes that attack and get rid of urine bacteria.

The worst type of cleaner you can use on cat urine odor puddles is any ammonia cleaner! Cat urine contains ammonia. Pour one of these cleaners onto that puddle, and its calling kitty's name to come over and mark the spot again!

Now you know more about cat urine and its' odor than you probably wanted. However, if you or someone you know has a cat urine odor problem, this is why it's so difficult to get rid of.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Cat - Why Cat Urine Smells So Bad and Doesn't Go Away

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Cat urine odor is unique among the many smells we know. While there are other smells that are worse, most of us probably don't come across them.

Many people wonder why cat urine odor is so hard to get rid of. This article talks a little bit about the composition of cat urine.

Cat urine is composed of five different bacteria strains. Two of the bacteria strains are associated with the cat's marking scent. The other strains are in the cat spray, urine, and uric acid.

The sticky, tacky part of cat urine is urea. Urochrome is the pigment, and then there are the uric acid crystals and salts.

The first two components are not difficult to clean. The uric acid with its crystals and salts are what we continually see and smell, long after we've tried to clean the cat urine spot.

Common household cleaners don't contain enzymes. If they do, the enzymes are probably specific to cleaning up blood. Pet odor and stain removers use enzymes that attack and get rid of urine bacteria.

Now you know more about cat urine and its' odor than you probably wanted. However, if you or someone you know has a cat urine odor problem, this is why it's so difficult to get rid of.

Nancy stopped the cat urine odor problem at her home, and kept the kitty that caused it. "18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems" saves you money, time and frustration by solving your cat urine odor problem - permanently.

http://www.stopcaturineodor.com
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Wigal

Cat - How To Save Money On Your Pet Insurance

Here in Britain we are a nation of pet lovers and treat our pets like we do ourselves and our children, this includes giving them the best food, treats, toys, care and of course the best in health care by way of a vet. However when it comes to our pets they can also cost us a fortune, especially if you should have to visit the vet. However much we love our pets the bills for x-rays and medication can be sky high, however you can insure your pet. Insuring your pet doesn't have to as expensive as you might think and could save you money in the long run.

Insurance for your pet isn't limited to paying out when it comes to vet bills, most insurance taken out for your pet includes for other eventualities that can arise. For example should your pet be stolen then most insurance companies will pay out for a reward offered.

One way of having money for any eventuality to cover your pet, is to not actually go with an insurance company but instead set up an account which is solely for your pet and deposit money either as a lump sum or put away a little each month and allow it to build up in case you should need it. This can often work out cheaper than paying actual premiums through an insurer.

However if you wish to go with an insurer then shop around for the best deal with the cheapest premium, things you should take into account when it comes to purchasing insurance include the amount of excess that you pay. If you pay more excess then your premium will be lower.

Also watch out for hereditary conditions being excluded, many breeds have certain conditions which are know to be passed from generation to generation so make sure your pet doesn't fall into this category or insurance could be worthless.

Finally take into account if there is a maximum pay out limit per year. Some policies will only pay out to a set limit, if you have an older animal that needs regular treatment then it might not be covered.

Cat - How To Save Money On Your Pet Insurance

Jason Hulott is Business Development Director of Protection Insurance, an internet based insurance business dedicated to getting consumers the best rates and the best products. Visit our Pet Insurance Directory.
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Hulott

Cat - Training Your Cat To Be Nice To Your House

Is your cat taking over the house? Climbing curtains, chewing cords, knocking over the trash and jumping on the counters? Well you don't have to put up with it! Even though it may seem like your cat cannot be trained, a little bit of patience and persistence can help you get a feline housemate that is well behaved and a pleasure to live with.

Curtains might be a way to dress up your windows to you, but to your cat they are a fun thing to climb up on and shred with their claws. You want to discourage this behavior and one way to do that is to use tension rods. When your cat tries to climb up on the curtain that is attached with a tension rod, the whole thing will come tumbling down and make a clatter that will scare him. This might be a bit inconvenient for a while, but your cat will soon learn that climbing on the curtains is not fun and will avoid them altogether. You can do this temporarily until your cat gets the hint and then go back to your usual curtain rods.

Another thing is that you can simply use vertical blinds in your windows. Your cat won't want to climb them and he will be able to move a slat on the blind and view the outside world with out tearing down the whole thing.

If your cat is chewing up things around the house try putting a distasteful substance on them. Cayenne pepper, biter apple, orange, nail polish orange peels, lemon peels and sprays specifically purchased for this purpose in the pet store can all do the trick. The next time your cat goes to chew he'll think "ick!" and won't want to chew that item again. Of course, you want to test the item first to make sure whatever you are putting on it won't get ruined.

If your cat is a garbage digger, the best solution is to just not make it available to him. Store the garbage in a cabinet or in the garage. If you have to have the garbage out then make sure there is a tight lid and avoid swing top lids. A good garbage pail would be one that you have to lift off the top or one that you have to use your foot to open. If your cat is tipping the garbage can over put something heavy enough so that they are unable to tip it over

Cats hate loud noises and surprises and to discourage him from jumping on the counter you can leave some items up there that will make a loud noise when he jumps up. Try putting empty aluminum cans on the edge with pennies in them or lay utensils on the counter or cover it in foil paper.

Carpet shredding is a favorite past time of my cat. To try to get her to stop, I use one of those cardboard cat scratchers. Whenever I catch her scratching the rug, I yell and then go over to the scratcher and scratch it myself. She comes right over and uses it instead of the rug. A couple of times she has run right over to it and I do notice her using it more often so hopefully she is getting the hint. You can try this with any type of scratcher your cat prefers, just make sure you put one handy in the room she likes to scratch up.

Cat - Training Your Cat To Be Nice To Your House

Lee Dobbins writes for E Pet Center where you can learn more about pets and caring for kittens and cats.
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Cat - To Declaw or Not to Declaw?

When the subject of declawing comes up among cat owners and cat lovers, conversation can become very heated. People seem to have strong feelings either pro or con on declawing. For as many reasons one might find to declaw their cat, there are as many reasons not to do it. If you are wrestling with this dilemma, this article will give you the information to make an educated decision with facts and alternative options to permanent declawing.

Scratching and sharpening claws are natural actions for all cats. It is their way to "trim" their nails. When they sharpen their claws on wood, scratching posts, etc., they are shedding the exterior loose sheath of the claw. It also is a way that cats leave their scent on objects. You may also notice your cat will sharpen his claws when he is feeling playful and happy. Despite all these explanations as to why they scratch, it doesn't ease the pain of having your furniture destroyed by your kitty.

After seeing your home going to shreds, you may be thinking you only have two options: declaw or get rid of the cat. Let's throw out the idea of getting rid of your kitty and give you some solutions in dealing with this issue.

The easiest solution is to provide your cat with lots of alternatives to your furniture. That means placing scratching posts around the house, especially around the areas the cat has been specifically scratching. Rubbing catnip on the scratching posts can make them more enticing. Give your cat lots of praise, loving pats, and treats when he uses his post.

Keeping your cat's nails trimmed can keep the urge to claw at bay, too. Hold the cat's paw in your hand and gently depress the paw extending the claw. Clip the white, sharp end being careful not to get into the pink quick. Cutting into the quick can make the cat uncomfortable and cause bleeding. To stop bleeding, put baking soda on the nail and it will clump. If you need guidance or help, take your kitty to the vet and either get training or have them do it for you.

Despite the myth, that cats can't be trained, you can really train them to stay away from your furniture. If he is still scratching the furniture after you have provided acceptable scratching areas to him for a week or so, try making a "shaker". This shaker is a can (nut cans work well) filled with a few coins or dry beans. When you see the cat near the furniture getting ready to claw it, vigorously shake the can. Making all this noise should divert the cat's attention and, after repeat performances, the cat will associate scratching furniture with an awful noise while scratching on their posts are positive experiences.

If the shaker doesn't get your cat to stop the behavior then its time to up the ante with a squirt bottle. When the cat nears the furniture and reaches up to dig in, give him a squirt of water. This should be a very effective and quick alert to the cat that scratching the furniture is not as fun as it used to be. As with the shaker, be consistent and give it time to work. Don't forget to give praise when your kitty shows those positive behaviors.

If these behavior modifications don't work, you can purchase a product called Soft Claws that is a plastic covering that fits snugly over the claws and stay in place with glue. A 40-pack supply will last about 3 months. You will have to reapply the caps every few weeks because the cat's nail will still grow and pop the caps off. A similar product called Soft Paws is available through your vet as well if you don't feel up to the challenge of putting the caps on your cat.

Cats don't like the feeling of certain textures, which can work to your benefit. Textures such as plastic wrap and foil can be placed on your furniture to repel your cat.

If over a course of several weeks, all these ideas have been exhausted and have not given you any positive results, the next step could be declawing. Many groups such as PETA and Cat Fanciers Assoc. do not approve of declawing. They state that scratching is a natural behavior for cats. They scratch to groom their nails, mark their territory and, most importantly, to protect themselves. If you have a cat that may go outside, declawing should not be considered. It would put your cat in a very defenseless position; they couldn't claw to defend themselves or climb a tree to escape. Also, many times, when cats defend themselves after being declawed, they resort to biting which can be even more unpleasant than the clawing.

There are two types of declawing procedures. Onychectomy is the most common procedure in which the end toe joint (imagine your end finger joint to the finger tip) is amputated. It removes the entire claw. This surgery poses risks such as infection and pain for a week or more after the surgery. The wound site is closed by sutures or surgical glue then wrapped with gauze. Sometimes the glue can come apart causing bleeding. Cats usually don't keep the gauze on for long. They will bite and rub it off which further exposes the fresh wounds to infections. Cats also run the risk of infection each time they go into the litterbox due to dirt, litter, and feces entering into the wounds.

The second form of declawing is a tendonectomy in which the tendon that attaches to the end toe digit is cut. The cat still has his claw but can't extend it. Healing time is quick with lessened postoperative pain. The claws still will grow and will need to be trimmed regularly. However, because the cat still has its claws, it will still try to use them. Again, trimming the nails will curb the damage done from clawing and will also prevent the nail from curling under and in growing into the kitties paw pads. A possible negative long-term effect is arthritis.

Declawing should be the last resort when all the other possible means of curbing the destructive behavior have been exhausted.

Cat