The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

October 7, 2012

October 7, 1952

Vladimir Putin (born 7 October 1952) treats democracy as a stage setting, but is not averse to being upstaged
by those animal actors stagecraft warns against.

Here is an news item that caught our attention:

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin may not come across as a big cat lover. But on his 56th birthday in 2008, when he received a two month old 20 pound pet tigress named Mashenka, the world saw the former KGB agent's softer side. The cub spent at least three days sleeping in a wicker basket at his home before being given to a zoo in Southern Russia. Since settling into her new home in the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik, Putin hasn't forgotten Mashenka. In 2009, he ensured she got a protein indulgent 10-pound meat cake to ring in the new year. But Putin's love for the endangered species also extends to his political maneuvers. Not only did he bring together 13 countries at a November conference endorsed by WWF last year, but he also raised over $330 million in funds to preserve the soon to be extinct species.
The above appeared on www.time.com, February 17, 2011. The same source had this picture:

Top 10 Pets in Power

I guess maybe the same rules don't apply if a whole country is the stage.

No comments: