A Little Shadow Stole Our Hearts

Cat on blue background

OK Everyone Listen Up!

Sunday Selfie graphic and a cartoon lady and her cat

I would appreciate your attention, as members of the Sunday Selfies, long enough to watch the very short movie announcement I have for you. Half a minute will do just fine!

We want to welcome Taz as a member of the Dash Kitten Crew and, if the transition goes reasonably well, he will be adopted by us from his family next door. Just in time for the 500th selfie post from Kitties Blue!

Why Are We Adopting Taz?

His family are moving overseas and they have asked if we would adopt Taz. This is for a very specific reason. He has, we are told, determinedly tried to find his way back to their previous properties when they moved. When they moved here he had to be kept inside for four months.

  • NOTE: The inside life, where his family are moving to is definitely not for him. If he got out he would try to find his way back home and, as this is across the ocean, this would be potentially fatal for him.

He has been a regular visitor for well over a year, and you may recognise some of the photographs in the slideshow. He is a welcome visitor and well known to Dash Kitten’s crew. Taz has, in fact, napped inside our home on several occasions as his mum and dad know.

Black cat looking to the left, soft focus background.

The Positives of Taking on Taz

The decision to take him on is a no-brainer. Taz is a super friendly black cat, he is 10 years old, healthy and will be chipped and up to date on his shots. He knows us and likes us.

The hardest part will be when his family leaves.

Selfishly, from a cat photographer’s point of view, he is the most gorgeous model for me, and Taz will become a spoiled and much loved member of the family. So, please welcome our newest family member.

Taz Slideshow

  • Black cat looking to the left, soft focus background.
  • black cat being scratched on the head
  • Black cat taken with a smartphone
  • Cat with starry sky behind them

Create an Easy Digital Cat Portrait

Blue banner of photography gifts for cat lovers

You may remember how I shared about my discovering a photograph of Dash Kitten and how I added a touch of magic by using layers to transport Dash to new and fantastical worlds? I want you to try your own with a digital cat portrait to create something really special.

But, there is an exciting and different world to explore beyond your lovely cat portrait. All it takes is a layer and a touch of magical skill for you to discover. So, let me give you a quick guide to what a layer is, then show you an easy how-to you can use with any cat photograph.

Introduction

The digital image of Dash allowed me to do something friend Sylvia Rzeminski (Bode’s mom) has suggested I do a long time ago. She said I should create a piece of feline art as a tribute to Dash after his sudden death. I struggled with his loss for a long time but finally feel ready to take my love for Dash and his memory to new places.

If you enjoy learning with a video try this to start with.

What is a Layer?

Let me tell you what a layer is.

Layers are what you will be using to change your images into cat art.

The short video above on overlays covers a lot of the same territory. It is useful if you are a visual learner more than an instruction reader. Layers have lots of uses by experts, but for your skill builder you will just add one.

Layers in photo editing software are like the collages you make as a kid in school. All those separate pieces of paper ‘layered’ on top of each other create a new and different image. The only difference is that instead of cutting things out you use virtual layers in the software.

Each software will be slightly different but you will find ‘Layers‘ in your top menu, and the layers you create appear on the right side of your work area just like in my sample photos and the video. Software manufacturers may be competitive but they know that people using software have basic expectations about things like workspace layout and terms used so these stay fairly constant across applications.

A Ghostly Egyptian Cat
  1. Each layer holds a different part of your image. You add backgrounds, or effect like snowflakes, on top of a layer that holds your original photograph.
  2. You can change the arrangement of your layers by clicking and dragging them up and down. The order matters because what is on a higher layer can cover things on a lower layer. You can move or delete a layer if you don’t like the result then try again.
  3. The cool thing is you can edit each layer separately. You can change the colour or transparency of a single element without affecting the photo to increase or reduce it’s effect.
  4. You can use more than one layer once you get the idea of how it all fits together.

Layers basically give you more control over your editing and make it easier to fix mistakes or try different things without ruining your whole image.

Where Your Layers Are

Create A Layer

This can be done in two bite sized tasks. The first sets up the image you have chosen, and the second ‘cat art’ layer, launches you into a world of fun with a contrasting image that can be a texture, clock face, stars, bubbles, snow or anything you like.

  1. Import your cat photograph and make sure it is a good size for what you want to do. The resizing option can often be found in ‘document settings’. You can change the size and resolution later if you wish but start with an image that is not too small (if you can).
  2. If you are unsure take a look in your Help menu along the top of your application.
  3. Then import your chosen background and make sure it is a similar size to your original photo. My image of Dash is 900 pixels across the top and I adjusted the bubble layer to match.
  4. Copy your background using Ctrl/Cmd C then add it to your original image Ctrl/Cmd V. Don’t panic if your cat photograph disappears!
Cat Portrait with Layer Partly Removed

Create Your First Cat Art

In ‘create a layer’ you set up your image. Now in this section you start adding the adjustments that make your photograph into something different.

  1. Look at the top of your two layers. You will see the words Opacity and Normal. Opacity allows you to show more or less of a background or an layer from of your original image. Normal changes the character of the layer (you can see this really well in the short video).
  2. Click on the background layer, the layer you want to see ‘behind’ your cat portrait.
  3. Click on Opacity and slide this down to around 50%. See if you like it. If not, adjust the slider until you are happy with the result.
  4. Then select your eraser (aka rubber) from the tools that sit on the left of most photo programs. Adjust the size of your brush and carefully rub away the background layer from your cat’s fair and body in small amounts. Not the whole image, only the cat portrait. (See the sample above).
  5. Finally, SAVE your image under a new name so you preserve the original for future use.

Conclusion and Encouragement

If you want to try this easy technique, start with the copy of a single digital image (not the original) and give yoursef permission to play with no expectations.

Your cat could be like Dash in the slideshow, surrounded by flowers, or a ghostly imge from Egypt or placed in a favourite part of a garden you love. Or, they could be like the the extra shots in the slideshow, surrounded by stars!

Let me know how you might try this easy technique in the comments.

A Gallery of Cat Image Treatments Using Single layers

  • Cat with Spring flowers in meadow.
    Dash in the Elysian Fields
  • Cat with an Egyptian background.
    A Ghostly Egyptian Cat
  • Cat in front of a pile of books
    Read Across America
  • Portait of a honey coloured cat looking at the camera in front of a ghostly clock
    Dash Back in Time
  • Cat with starry background
    EXTRA Toulouse with starry background
  • Black cat with a starry background
    EXTRA Taz with a night sky background

Cat Portrait Recomendations

Birthday Quilting and Cat Selfies

Brown shaded banner with a faint human figure

This weekend I celebrated my birthday with a lovely online zoom quilting workshop which was a lot of fun. Let me tell you a bit about it and show you a lovely birthday capture of our boy Jack.

I also know that Janet of Kitties Blue celebrated her birthday recently so Toulouse and I want to wish her Many Happy Returns for her own birthday.

Sunday Selfie graphic and a cartoon lady and her cat

As I celebrated my birthday on a Saturday we didn’t go for a meal in a busy and crowded restaurant. Instead I enjoyed a Zoom workshop with quilt shop Quilters Lane in Masterton, then Cat Dad Paul and I enjoyed some quiet time at home with the cats (and a glass of bubbles).

The quilt pattern is a really fun one and those who enjoy quilting can find the pattern, called Topsy, at Quilters Lane.

The pattern it looks so hard doesn’t it? But, if you look closely, you can see the parts it is made from and how the amazing block repeats and repeats. Once you understand that quilts are often made up of repeating motifs and then you learn the block, you just keep going and going until you have enough to make a quilt.

Partial picture of a quilt pattern of honeycomb rpeats.

Sienna shows you what one small element of the quilt looks like. Each triangle is made up of four parts and these are join together to make the honeycomb shape. The shape is cut out using a Half Sixty ruler from Creative Grids (for those who know a bit about quilting).

Cat looking at a quilted triangle of spotted burgundy material.

As a novice quilter I admit that the little points ( see the orange tip?) are not as tidy as they might be and I will try hard to improve as I make more blocks! I had so much fun being in the class, I really felt part of the group with the ladies actually at the shop and I was able to ask questions and confirm things with the tutor before I cut or sewed fabric.

  • To end the day I discovered Jack was awake on the bed, waiting for a treat. So, I lit my little cat lamp placed it nearby and, using just my smartphone, I snapped a lovely capture.(Of course he got his treat!)

Isn’t he just the perfect ginger end to a lovely day.

ginger cat looking up t the camera, lit by a single soft white light on our righthand side.

A Snapseed Ginger Transformation

Snapseed graphic in shades of green

I was thrilled that my Snapseed for beginners post went down so well early in December 2023 so I wanted to share another short transformation post using Snapseed.

People are genuinely surprised at what the app can do and a lot of readers at Dash Kitten have used my earlier post (and my free app mini course) to explore how versatile it is. Let me share our friend Angus’ quick and easy transformation.

A Cat Portrait Transformation

Angus is a regular visitor and today, he jumped onto the deck railing and paused long enough for me to snap a hasty handful of shots. Unfortunately, as you can see, I misjudged the lighting.

Why is this? Angus is being lit more from behind (called backlight) than he is from the front. A lot of the details on his face, whiskers and fur are very dark which was so disappointing. I decided to see if a filter or image adjustment would rescue this cute guy’s promising portrait.

Underexposed ginger cat looking at the camera sat on a fence.

Opening Snapseed I brought up my photo from the iPhone album; and then scrolled through the range of filters.

You can see some of them at the bottom of the image below including ‘Last Edits‘ which keeps the last filter you used, in case you would like to use it again. Some filters let you adjust the colour making it more subdued or monochrome and some brighten and improve the light and you can guess which one I was looking for.

I scrolled along the row ‘auditioning’ each filter as it changed my image. Some improved the light a little bit which was promising so I kept looking. I settled on one called ‘Morning’ and you can see how the image is transformed. I was so impressed.

What a difference one filter has made to the gloomy smartphone photograph I nearly gave up on. I was on a roll so I worked the Snapseed magic on a few more ginger images and assembled the into a cute cat photo collage.

I think you can agree that the difference is amazing and it makes the collage created in the Layout smartphone app look spectacular. I have a feeling you might like to try out the Layout app so I have added a link to it here for Android, and a link to Instagram’s iPhone launch.

Ginger cat poses on a wooden bannister

Step By Step Snapseed Filter

  1. Open the Snapseed app
  2. Select your photograph
  3. Scroll along the filter options
  4. Choose your filter by tapping the option
  5. Tap the tick icon bottom right
  6. Tap ‘Export’ to create a separate copy of your photograph.
Snapseed Montage of ginger cat photos 2
COLLAGE USING ‘LAYOUT’ APP

Reading Across America in Pictures

Blue banner of photography gifts for cat lovers

I am using my recently discovered portrait of Dash Kitten as the theme for today’s post.

Prompted by the nationwide campaign to ‘Read Across America’ I want you to ‘turn on the light in the attic‘, blow away the cobwebs and enhance your learning (June @ Zoolatry) and I am including an list of inspiring books and articles that are camera related as well as some cosy reading material to help you relax.

Dash Kitten is an Amazon and Joby affiliate. We receive a small remuneration at no cost to you.

Whether 8-months, 8-years or 80 years, or anywhere in between from books we go to places we might never otherwise travel ~ we learn that we may never otherwise be taught ~ we find answers to questions we may have not voiced aloud. 

June at Zoolatry

Read Across America – Read Across the World

Let me explain how I have managed to combine my love of books and photography into one post. Yeah, I know you are wondering about that.

First, you may remember my discovery of an old cat photograph of Dash Kitten. This touching cat portrait is inspiring me to create a series of images as themes arise.

If you check the older post you will see an image which reflects on the theme of time as it passes and the memories that remain in our hearts of the cats we love. This week Dash appears from the darkness and shows that books lead us to a brighter future.

Read Across America 2024

Today’s Dash Kitten Portrait

No camera settings as the image is from an old compact but the instructions for the layering technique (which is not hard) can be found here in a short and fun post.

Books may change their ‘clothes’ and become ebooks, comics or ilustrated stories but they spread knowledge to every corner of the globe. Every book should be available to be read by everyone.

Dash Kitten Reading

These books are mostly photography themed and will help you boost your camera skills but you can enjoy a relaxing read with my favourite cosy mystery authors too.

One Essential Book for Photographers This small and portable book by Henry Caroll is packed with sensible and honest advice for anyone who has a mirrorless or DSLR camera. His opinion on camera modes and not starting with ‘manual’ made me cheer. I dip into my copy at least once every week.

Ghost Cat Mysteries Some of my favourite cosy mystery writers are members of the Cat Writers’ Assocation. They include Mollie Hunt whose series I spotlight here. I like my cosies grounded in reality and Mollie writes relateable characters (and mysterious cats). Debbie deLouise writes about Buttercup Bend (which I would love to visit).

Purrseverance – ‘Inspiring stories of Cat Resilience and Hope‘ is available to pre-order for Kindle readers or those who love a papeback. I am hosting a giveaway to celebrate Harvey’s inclusion but you can preorder a copy on Amazon. Yes I wrote about this before, I make no excuses for adding a book I know you must not miss!

How to Plot a Book OK What is THIS doing here? Let me explain. Many people who love to read, would also love to write a story for others to read. They are unsure where to start and I discovered something that could inspire you to start. When I write my own cosy mystery I will try this. It’s called the ‘snowflake method‘. It sounds a bit odd but if you read the excellent how-to on Jericho Writers it gives you a way to take those first important steps.

‘Yes’? A Quizzical Tuxedo Portrait

Camera outline on a plain background

This is one of those cat photos that you will look at and smile! I invite you to create a caption for Miranda’s portrait yourself.

Miranda was cleaning her whiskers after breakfast and I happened to be holding my camera. I took a few shots and one of them was this rather quizzical tuxedo look a bit like the look a teacher might give you if you disturb the class!

I can almost see the ‘Yeeees?’ in her Professor McGonagle look!

Miranda Portrait Settings

  • ISO 200
  • 50 mm
  • f5.6
  • 1/15

Toulouse Update

He has cystitis and has been on medication this past week – Buprelieve (painkiller) and Clavomox (antibiotics). He finishes the medicine today.

Harvey’s Story Will Steal Your Heart

Banner showing a book cover and shadowy photographs of cats

We had some exciting news this week!

Harvey’s story (and my first published short story) which had been accepted for the anthology ‘Purrseverance – Inspiring Stories of Cat Resilience and Hope‘ will be published on 11th April 2024. You can pre-order your own copy of the ebook on Amazon (Kindle) or at B&N (Nook).

  • Our friends Kitties Blue also have a story in the book so you have even more reasons to pre-order a copy!

Paper copies of the book are available on Amazon (Affiliate link).

When I see his picture I miss him all over again. He was so special.

Portrait of white cat after a pinnectomy
Closeup of a young Siamese cat face, with blue eyes.

My Cat Got a UTI or The Trials of Toulouse

Brown shaded banner with a faint human figure

Last week’s Thursday photography post was derailed by my favourite model tabby cat Toulouse. Drama and a trip to the vet followed because the darned cat got a UTI!

I hope this post will be helpful for beginner cat owners and those whose cat has never been diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection known as a UTI for short. This was a learning exerience for me as the worst we have coped with recently, as a cat family, have been flea allergies, abcesses and scratches.

Know Your Cat’s ‘Normal’

I heard this suggestion from a vet at a cat health seminar here in New Zealand several years ago. He suggested that if you know what your cat’s day to day, normal life and habits are then any change in this will make you sit up and take notice. It was this that made me realise that we had a problem on our hands.

You know, better than anyone, your cat’s moods and behaviour. You quickly learn their likes and dislikes. We can all identify with responses like ‘That expensive cat food? No thanks…’ or ‘All I want is one more Churu pleeeeeze’. Without you realising it, over time your cat’s actions and reactions, foibles and quirks become part of your daily life. They are your cat’s ‘normal’ when life is good.

It’s when things deviate from this ‘normal’ baseline you have a valuable (and free) indication that something might be wrong. Let me relate this to our boy Toulouse to give you an idea of how a change might feel and look.

A bladder infection (often called a UTI or cystitis), is a bacterial infection inside the bladder. Bladder infections are usually occur if there is another medical problem present affecting the urinary tract (i.e. bladder stones, diabetes, kidney disease,  etc.,). They rarely develop without an underlying cause and for this reason, if your cat develops a UTI your vet will check for other problems as well.

PDSA.org

Realising Something is Wrong

For us, Toulouse has never yowled in the night. Scampers and zoomies yes, sad cries definitely not happened before. Another indicator was his listless behaviour. Our tabby is usually a vibrant and sparky pesonality who chatters, which is his own ‘normal’. Yowls are definitely out of character.

I saw Toulouse sat in the litter tray as I walked into the room. I thought nothing of it until I realised five minutes later that he was stlll there. A faint alarm bell rang but he seemed OK hopping out of the little tray leaving a very small damp patch. He then hurried out into the garden ready to play with his best friend who lives next door, or so I thought.

Later I spotted him in a corner of the garden squatting, again for too long, before getting up and walking a short distance. He flopped down looking glum and subdued. A second alarm bell and I began to be a bit concerned, thinking Toulouse might be constipated, or have a tummy upset.

He came in for a treat which gave me the chance to do a quick body check, running my hands along his body for anything unusual like a swelling, a bite mark or scratch but found nothing.

Poop Problem
If one or several of the organs in your cat’s digestive tract become inflamed, they will experience digestive discomfort and their food could be irritating their system….. [Common Cat Digestive Problems)

Royal Canin

Toulouse seemed to be happy in himself as the day went on, he wanted supper and enjoyed a few treats before bedtime.

But things became a little more serious overnight.

Twice during the night Toulouse yowled rather sadly and I gave him one of his favourite Puree Kisses with .4 of Meloxicam. At this point cat dad and I decided we needed to call the vet when they opened the following morning. This was very out of character.

  • For anyone who has not dealt with an unfamiliar infection of any kind, working out what is wrong with expert help is essential.

Cats Hide Their Symptoms

For less experienced cat owners, remember cats are great at pretending they are well, even if they are in pain.

Cats are resilient and astonishingly good at hiding any kind of discomfort. This is a cause of frustration for every cat lover not just new cat families .

Something is Wrong But What?

I rang the veterinary surgery and explained Toulouse’s symptoms and behaviour. They immediately asked us to bring him down and leave him at the surgery for the day for observation and treatment.

I realised that Toulouse was not well but I had no idea what was wrong and, at this early stage, it could have been a bladder infection or ‘poop’ issue. I have included a quote/link on basic digestive issues, in case your cat goes the ‘poop route’, as well as a link from a trusted British site that briefly outlines urinary problems in cats.

  • TIP If you are in any doubt about your cat’s health, don’t Google symptoms and panic about what you might read. Contact your vet for advice you can trust and a diagnosis you can work with.
Tabby cat playing

A Vet Visit and Toulouse Diagnosis

As with our visit, yours will begin with an examination of your cat and the vet will take note of any thing you can report. If worries about ‘what’ and ‘when’ details vanish from your mind make a note or add it to a smartphone note app like I did for Toulouse:

  • cat spent a long time in the litter tray – Thu
  • not sure if its a pee or poop thing
  • can’t feel and bumps or scratches
  • Unhappy yowling in night – Thu night

It turned out that Toulouse was blocked and could not pee. He was sedated and the blockage removed. After the very quick surgery he was put on a drip to hydrate him.

Toulouse was collected later in the afternoon by cat dad and brought home. He was happy to be back in familiar surroundings but did not really settle until I arrived home from teaching a student and made a gentle fuss on our ‘poor boy’.

To help recovery, the vet recommend that Toulouse be put on a restricted diet of urinary food (Royal Canin and Hill’s) for at least the next six weeks when he has his next check up. From here we only have to convince him that urinary food is the world’s best cat food….

Summary

If you are in any doubt about your cat and a possible health issue contact your veterinarian. If we’d have left Toulouse a day or more his discomfort would have got much worse. Imagine not being able to go to the toilet, much as you wanted to,

Never dismiss a niggling worry about something new or unfamiliar. Your cat will thank you, even if they hate going to the vet.

Cat Health Online Support

If your diagnosis is something more challenging than Toulouse’s bladder problems you will find that there are established groups and web sites online. Never be afraid to ask for help.

Some are whole web sites devoted to feline medical conditions as well as Facebook (FB) groups. FB groups have a lot of cat owners who pool knowledge, experience and support.

boxes and tins of cat food in a pile
No Time to Read? Download this post as a PDF!

Wellington Zoo’s Baby Giraffe Nia

Camera outline on a plain background

Today, as promised last week, some sweet captures of Wellington Zoo’s baby giraffe Nia.

In the first photograph you will see the Nia who was born in December 2023. From this picture you will not be able to guess at her size at all but, like every giraffe she has a unique neck pattern of spots which is how staff tell them apart.

According to Wellington Zoo, due to a rapidly falling population in the last few decades, these beautiful animals are now classed as ‘vulnerable to extinction‘ due to issues like habitat loss and illegal hunting. The thought of no Giraffes is too terrible to think about.

  • You can help protect their wild homes by purchasing sustainable timber and paper products marked with the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) logo.

In these photographs you can see how small Nia actually is as she stands beside Sunny the male giraffe. He was very protective of his small family member and I think this was because the fine weather had brought a lot of families to the zoo.

Giraffes spend up to 20 hours a day feeding, but you’re unlikely to catch them sleeping it off – Giraffes sleep the least of any mammal, and only need between 10 minutes and two hours of sleep each day.

Wellington Zoo

A favourite giraffe capture is this one. It’s almost as if Nia and Sunny are posing sweetly for the camera isn’t it? The charm of giraffes, their grace and beauty captures the heart and I always stop to take photographs of them before exploring the Zoo further.

Giraffe Portrait Settings (DSLR)

  • ISO 200
  • 200 mm
  • f8
  • 1/320

This last image below shows baby giraffe Nia and Sunny wandering up the enclosure’s slope and still the adult is looking after the small giraffe.

Thursday Post Delay

This week’s Thursday post got derailed by Toulouse falling ill. He is on the road to recovery and I will report on what happened next Thursday along with some lovely portraits of the boy.

Tongue Out Tuesday Snapshot Surprise

Giraffe on an ombre background of blue and black

This week’s short post shows how I captured some wonderful shots to share during our summer visit to Wellington Zoo. Like every good photographer I was after a unique shot but did I get one? Let me show you my tongue out Tuesday surprise including the camera settings I used.

At the giraffe enclosure I hit the jackpot. Not only did I see a new baby giraffe, which I will share next week, but I captured the funniest shot ever (for me). An absolutely amazing giraffe having a munch of lunch.

Tips for Giraffe Photos

For those using their DSLR, I was using my 55-250 mm zoom lens as I was about four metres (16 feet approx.) away from the Giraffes on a raised platform. I got the cool shot that I know will make everyone laugh on Instagram too (dashkittenphotos) when I schedule it for Tongue Out Tuesday.

One thing you can’t see it which matters for this photograph.Visitors approach the giraffes on a raised walkway which allows them to see the giraffe from the animal’s eye level and get a good look at these wonderful beasts. The raised viewpoint allowed me to get as close as I could, then adjust my zoom lens, take a steadying breath and fire off a handfull of shots.

  • Remember that in order to get your shot, you will find you have a lot of ‘almosts’ and ‘not quite’ shots. This happens and you can delete these.

Giraffe Portrait Settings (DSLR)

  • ISO 200
  • 250 mm lens (121 mm – 2nd photo)
  • f8
  • 1/120 (320 – 2nd photo)
Giraffe looking to the right of the viewer

Find out more about Giraffes on Wikipedia

My Most Useful Canon Lens

I thought you might like to see the dimensions of my Canon DSLR zoom. This is the lens that sits on my camera most of the time (unless I am doing cat closeups) It is taller than my kit DSLR lens (which would come up to about the words Canon in this photo). It does make the camera a bit heavier but the lens can take super sharp shots and is so versatile. I use it a lot for my cat portraits and, alongside my small 50 mm lens, the pair works for me.

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