News Briefs for the Week of August 26, 2002
By Marcella Durand for Cat Facts
- Cat Saves Six Families from Fire in Germany
In the news stories, this cat isn't even given a name, but her cries saved six families from a fire in Essen, Germany, this July.
Around 5 a.m., this heroic kitty woke up her 42-year-old owner with her persistent meowing. Her owner saw the smoke in her apartment and called the fire department, then woke up the other families in the building. This little kitty, who gave so much, was the only casualty of the flames. Her owner is currently in intensive care, being treated for smoke inhalation, but is expected to survive.
There are three important lessons to be learned here: If your cat saves you from a fire, return the favor by making sure you are prepared for emergencies with an easily accessible cat carrier. Give her name to the newspapers, so she can get her fair share of the accolades. And, finally, keep your smoke alarm in working order, so kitty doesn't have to worry so much about protecting you.
- The Man Behind Clumping Litter
Most of us don't think about the people behind inventions such as paper clips, milk cartons and remote controls. Their inventions are so useful, we forget about them, because they have become second nature. It feels strange to think that once, someone invented these things.
Well, polymer chemist William Mallow, who passed away on August 6, was one of those people. And his invention was clumping kitty litter. Remember the days before clumping kitty litter? You know, when Fred and Wilma had to had to use litter the size of rocks for Dino's dinosaur-sized business? While clumping litter isn't right for every cat (especially kittens, who can ingest or inhale it), it's certainly made life a lot easier for many cat owners.
Mallow's latest project was a slippery gel called the Mobility Denial System. Designed to control crowds and protect government buildings from attack, it causes people to slip and fall when sprayed on the ground. Well, OK, maybe that invention won't be used in your home any time soon, but the next time you scoop out a little ball of clumping litter from your cat's box, just remember the man behind that invention and say a little thank-you.
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