What is it about vintage kitty pictures that make them so fun to look at it? I'm head over heels for this collection of black & white photographs taken by George Silk at the Los Angeles Cat Show in 1952.
The cat cupcakes are already in the oven for the human attendees at Priscilla's upcoming birthday bash, but what to serve the feline guests? That's a question I've been pondering, along with Sarah on my Facebook page, also struggling to come up with ideas for her cat Fern's birthday party. We both agreed that there are an abundance of fancy dog cookies that can be found online and in pet boutiques, but where are all the equally adorable desserts for cats?
One option I came across this week is a product called PetCakes, by a company called Lucky Paws. PetCakes are described as all-natural, organic, microwavable treats, that promise "homemade goodness" in a jiffy.
The directions that come with the Cat Lovers starter kit (pictured above) are straightforward, and remind me of mixing up exciting little creations in my Easy Bake oven as a child. All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a bowl, pour the mixture into the fish shaped pan, and nuke 'em in the microwave for a short 2 1/2 minutes. The included mix is "Cheese nip" flavored, and consists of organic oat flower, organic rye flower, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, romano cheese, catmint, baking soda and baking powder. The instructions also recommend adding a tablespoon of tuna, salmon, or anchovy paste to help increase the yum factor for your kitty.
Unfortunately, it's too late for me to order a kit before Friday (the Party 2 Go Kit would have been purrfect!), but I'd still like to try them out at some point. The cakes seem to be fast and fun to make, and could be something different to offer at your next cat celebration.
So what do you think? Would you buy these easy bake-ables for your kitty, or do you already make your own cat food/treats?
P.S. Don't forget to enter Priscilla's birthday giveaway for a personalized 'Kitty Love' necklace by Hammering Redhead! You have until 5PM EST tomorrow, April 1st to submit. Click here for all the details!
Even before the Fancy Feast cat's star making turn in the latest commercial for the luxury cat food brand (if you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you round up some tissues and click here), the already world famous Persian spokescat visited Hollywood in January for an appearance at the Golden Globes gifting suite (free cat food for all!).
The Fancy Feast Facebook page recently posted some pictures from the event, featuring TV celebs such as Neil Patrick Harris and Jane Lynch getting up close and personal with the regal feline.
Rico Rodriguez from Modern Family gives the Fancy Feast cat a thumbs-up!
Neil Patrick Harris plays it cool alongside the pretty kitty.
Charlotte Ross (Glee) said she planned to share her supply of Fancy Feast with cats in need.
Is it just me, or does the cat look a bit alarmed by Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky's advances?
The resemblance between Jennifer Love Hewitt and this kitty is uncanny.
Did you know that Glee star Jane Lynch and her wife have five cats?
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Lisa Vanderpump put her cat prejudice aside for a chance to pose with the glamorous kitty. What would her dog Giggy the Pom have to say about that?
Can't get enough of the fab feline's brush with fame? Click here to check out more pictures from the star studded event.
I'm obsessed with cherry blossoms. Every year I try to take a trip to Brooklyn Botanic Garden to celebrate Hanami, the Japanese cultural tradition of viewing and cherishing each moment of the cherry blossom season. In 2009, I was fortunate enough to attend the National Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, D.C., and just last year, I achieved the dream of a lifetime by seeing the flowering cherries in bloom all around Japan.
This is the time of year when the beautiful blossoms start to bloom, and usher in the beginning of Spring. In celebration of this time of renewal, I'd like to share a Flickr find from user tanakawho, who has posted this amazing photo set featuring dozens of pictures of cats amongst the fleeting sakura. Check out a few of my favorite images below, and click here to see more!
Last Caturday, I featured a post on Kalimah, the Evian drinking diva kitty. In addition to her hot feline fashions, a lot of you also took notice of her super styling stroller, which her owner Tasha reported, "she loved riding in on warm spring days."
Who wouldn't want their cats to come running for an activity?
It all got me thinking, what's the deal with cats on wheels? My two are strictly indoor cats, but like most, their favorite time of year is when it's warm outside and the windows are open. They delight in the breeze blowing through their whiskers, and cooling off their sun-soaked black fur in a shady windowsill. Could a pet stroller be the perfect way to safely allow them some extra fresh air, while adding excitement to their lives?
I did a Google search for "Cat strollers," and was overwhelmed by the variety of results that popped up. I quickly learned that buying a stroller for your pet is not much different than picking one out for a human baby (something I also know nothing about). What was I getting myself into?
Wanting to start with the basics, I pondered these three points suggested by Just Pet Strollers:
Size - Is the stroller the appropriate size for your pet? You want to make sure that they have enough room to sit and lay down comfortably, and that the stroller will support their weight.
Privacy - How social is your cat? Some strollers have sections where cats can see outside, but also have a private, tented space for shyer kitties to enjoy the ride incognito.
Enclosure - Pet strollers are mesh enclosed so your cat can safely enjoy the view, but some have the option to remove the covering, while others do not. The site suggests a benefit of cat strollers that may be opened is that they can be used as beds or perches inside the home, and can help get your cat used to them before going outside. Besides whether or not it opens, I think that the strength of the mesh used to make the stroller would be my biggest concern overall. What if my cat gets scared or overexcited? Will it withstand the force of rogue kitty claws?
In addition to these factors, The "Pet Stroller Buying Guide," (also from the Just Pet Strollers site), goes into a lengthier list of detailed points to think about, such as:
- Consider the terrain. (Are you taking kitty hiking, or on a jaunt around the cul-de-sac?)
- Travel and storage needs
- Use (Will you be jogging or walking?)
- Consider if you'll stroll in inclement weather. (I can safely say the answer to this question is no.)
- Storage (Some strollers come with "parent trays" to lug all of your junk in addition to Snowball's water, treats, toys, etc.)
- Safety features
Got all that? Congrats, because once you've figured out the answers to all of those questions, you're ready to move on to the final step: Selecting the stroller size, style, and color that's right for you! I'm hesitant to recommend any particular brand, because I haven't tried them myself, but here are a few models that stood out in my search:
The Basic Stroller (Are you going to mess with this lady? Because I'm not): Sahara Happy Trails Stroller - Doctors Foster and Smith, $116.99
The Super Deluxe "For Your Trip To Mt. Everest" Stroller: All Terrain Pet Stroller - Nip and Bones, $277.00
The Double Decker "My Cats Hate Each Other" Stroller: Kittywalk Double Decker Pet Stroller - Just Pet Strollers, $269.95
I think pet strollers are a great idea, although they can be an investment, and there's a lot to think about before getting one. I'm curious to know, do any of you want or have one? If you have one, do you and your cat like it? What's the reaction you get from strangers on the street?? So many questions, so little time..Please let me know in the comments!
And lest we forget, if a cat stroller isn't for you, there's always the "cat pack," like this one spotted on the streets of Brooklyn a few months ago - purrfect for your kitty on the go!
Katy Perry was interviewed for a recent issue of the British magazine More! (not to be confused with the American 40+ ladymag of the same name), where she dished about her love of cats.
She tells the mag:
"I am obsessed with cats. I'm kind of trying to make that cat-lady personality cool. I want it to be chic! Cats are like, 'You have to earn my affection.' And I really associate myself with that. People have to earn my affection, but when I give it, it's going to be good. I'm very independent like a cat too, and I do things in my own time. My cats have a feminine way, it's sexy."
Having a bad day? Then you need Tea and Kittens, a new single serving site designed "for the removal of stress in office environments." This delightful page offers up exactly what its title implies: Images of darling kittens, alongside comforting mugs full of tea.
If your distress extends to online news, there's also a "Kitten Block" download available to replace the "angry-making" British Daily Mail and Daily Express websites with the Tea and Kittens homepage. If only they would make it work for certain U.S. sites too!
I love these indoor/outdoor planters by Pousse Creative, but they would not last more than five minutes in my house! I feel confident that no one would be sitting in the bottom, the plants would be eaten, and dirt would scattered everywhere!
The Pet Planter is available from Jardin Chic in your choice of Brown or White, for the low price of 449,90 Euros, or approximately $634.00.
This slightly less expensive model is also available for around $493.00, and is equally lovely, but I think this is one style innovation that might be better left for the dogs!
It's been awhile since I posted an update about Shironeko, the Japanese kitty otherwise known as Basket Cat. His blog has continued to update daily, and more importantly, Love Meow has confirmed that he safe with his family in Japan. With that good news in mind, here are a few of my favorite pictures that have been posted since the last time we checked in with the unbelievably calm cat in January.
Get ready, Caturday fans, because we have some serious diva action coming at you this week, courtesy of a sassy little lady named Kalimah. This photogenic feline is a true fashionista, and the camera simply loves her. She has a big personality, and it shows!
Her proud owner, Tasha writes:
"This is my sweetness; the reason I get up everyday... figuratively and literally. Her name is Kalimah Anuksunamun Thurston. She's a 5 year old calico tabby who adopted my fiance and me whilst living in a cat colony at the shelter. Our house finally became a home on November 23rd, 2008 when she came home. We're so in love with her. She's our baby girl; spoiled to the brim because she's our Princess Butternut and Queen Kalimah... all rolled up into a loving, sassy, smart and affectionate furry ball. Her favorite foods are albacore tuna, shrimp and chicken breasts and she drinks only bottled Evian water. She loves riding in her stroller on warm spring days and smelling flowers in the garden. Last year, she won a month supply of Fancy Feast and $250 for being a winner in Lifetime TV's Cat Co-Star of the Week. I'm so proud of her."
I'm not sure what else I could possibly add to that glowing description, so without further ado, I give you the one, the only...Kalimah the cat!
I like how she matches her clothing to her pink nose. Very fashion forward!
Cat burglar
"She loves riding in her stroller on warm spring days .."
Kalimah in 3D
Tasha tells me that Kalimah is very vain because she loves looking at pictures of herself. If I were that pretty, I'd be vain too!
Who me?
Thank you so much to Kalimah's incredibly sweet owner, Tasha for sharing her beautiful baby girl with us this week. I'm not sure I've ever seen a cat so in love with getting her picture taken, and it's evident that she is so happy and adored. In my next life, I want to come back as Kalimah!
Caturday Alert: Click here for all of the details on how to enter Priscilla's big birthday giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a personalized 'Kitty Love' necklace by Hammering Redhead!
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Want to see your cat(s) on Catsparella? I'm now taking submissions for my weekly Caturday post! Email your best kitty pics to catsparella@gmail.com, and include the cat's name and anything else you'd like to share! I can't wait to hear from you!
