Snooki Defends Her Cats Against Twitter Haters

Vito, Rocky, and Tommy

Say what you want about Snooki, but if there's one quality I admire in the the pregnant Jersey Shore star, it's her diehard devotion to her cats.

It all started out innocently enough on Saturday night, when the reality star took to Twitter to inform her 5 million followers that she was watching Cats 101 on Animal Planet. "I fricken love cats so much, it's actually a problem," the tiny orange guidette wrote, before sharing a picture of her three boys, Vito, Rocky, and Tommy: "My swag cats. My f*cking best friends and (I) would die for them."

Polizzi, who once said she would chose her cats over her boyfriend, kept the conversation going by sharing another picture of Rocky, calling him her fiance Jionni's "competition."

Rocky

Sadly, the kitty-cat love-fest came to a screeching halt when one cold-hearted hater tweeted, "that is the ugliest cat I've ever seen.” (Don't they know there's no such thing as an ugly cat?) Snooki, who doesn't stand for anyone dissing her friends and family - human or feline - responded, "Omg that's so mean. Rocky is beautiful!!!" before retweeting a more supportive fan who wrote, "ur cat is one handsome guy."

When another follower jokingly pointed out that Nicole was more defensive of her kitties than herself, she admitted, "Um YA. Diss me all u want, but my cat? #NOUDIDNT."

"Legit just blocked 10+ ppl for saying my cats are ugly. #whatever #hairflip," she warned, before dropping the sensitive subject.

Via Twitter (@snooki)

Anderson Cooper and Kristen Johnston Meet Meow, The 39 lb. Cat

Anderson and Kristen Johnston meet Meow, the 37-lb Cat

Anderson Cooper, who has quickly become the go-to source for celebrity cat sit-downs (he's also featured Willow the Colorado kitty who turned up in NYC, and a Persian with a penchant for the pool), had a very special guest on his daytime talk show today: Meow, the now infamous 39-pound cat (now down to 35.7 lbs), who made headlines last week when he showed up at a Santa Fe animal shelter. The two-year-old cat, whose size has been compared to that of a 600 lb. man, was surrendered after his 87-year-old owner was no longer able to care for him.

“Oh my lord, I don't want to say it loud, but... it's like holding a big tub of Jello,” said Anderson, while attempting to hold the tubby tabby. He quickly apologized as to not hurt the cat's feelings, and also offered up an apologetic smooch as penance.

The kitty is currently being cared for by the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, who have been busily posting updates on his progress (and latest media appearances) on their Facebook page.

I must admit that I was so sad when I first heard about this story, but it's good to see that Meow is in good hands, and on the road to recovery. I'm sure once his weight his under control, there will be a line of people eager to adopt this sweet boy.

Update: Click here to watch another clip of Meow's vet, Dr. Jennifer Stekettee, with some tips on how to help slim down your overweight pet. Plus, Anderson reveals that Wellness Pet Food has generously donated $2,000 to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter to help care for Meow, as well as give $500 worth of healthy pet food to Meow's future owner. Hooray!

Even A.C. can't resist the allure of kitty kisses!

Via Anderson

Pinterest Finds For Pet-Friendly Living

I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Pet Blogger! As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

I'm a fan of Pinterest (the social media site where you can visually organize your interests through virtual pin boards) because it allows me to generate inspiration for blog posts, organize my ideas, and promote cool images and products that I'd like to share. That's why I was excited for my latest Apartment Guide article, when the brand invited me to contribute to their "Pet Friendly Ideas" board. My mission was to find and share fun home accents and accessories that are purrfect for any home, but focusing on ideas that would be especially helpful for renters and those living in small spaces.

Cat Power Art Print by Irina Sidorowicz - Society6, $18 and up

Being a renter, I don't have much input into the color of my carpet and walls, so one way I like to bring my own personal style into the mix is through unique artwork. Society6 has a fantastic array of reasonably priced art prints that come in various sizes (and even framed, if you prefer), that will contribute to just the vibe you are looking for. I'm currently in love with the "Cat Power" print by Irina Sidorowicz, because of its unique use of color, vintage look, and quirky black Persian, whose mask matches its owner!

Petlinks System Dream Curl - Wag.com, $29.99

Part of apartment living or living in a small face is finding portable and reasonably sized items that serve more than one purpose. I mentioned the Dream Curl when we first got it last year, and am happy to report that Charlie still loves sitting on it and scratching away. The only casualty so far has been the toy feather underneath, which Priscilla the hunter made quick work out of.

Handmade Cat and Eiffel Tower Decorative Felt Pillow - Crafts by Nesli, $36

Another fun way to punch up a small space is with funky pillows that can be easily switched out when you're ready to try a new look. Etsy has a nice selection of cat-themed pillows, but the colorful bunting and Parisian flair really made this one stand-out. (Plus, add your own pom-poms, and your cats are sure to love it, too!)

ORE Pet Recycled Rubber Cat Face Placemat - Wag.com, $9.99

Why get a plain feeding mat, when you can get one that looks like a giant black cat head? Keeping with the Parisian theme, I also like ORE Vintage Parisian Cat Placement that will have your cats speaking French in no time. Miaou!

Tabby Cats Rule Night Light - Get To Know You Know, $22

My bathroom is right outside my bedroom door, and it gets really dark out there at night. If you are five-years-old like me, don't be afraid to add a cool kitty night light to keep away the ghoulies and/or prevent you from walking into things in the middle of the night. In addition to this awesome style, they also offer Calico Cats Rule, Soon..., and The Cheshire Cat designs to chose from.

BlanketID Tags - blanketid.com, $24.99 for a tag + 1 year of membership (discounts available for multiple years)

It's always a good idea to have some identification on your cat, particularly in an area where you're renting and may not know too many of your neighbors. While I'm an advocate of microchipping, blanketID is another innovative (and stylish) way to keep your kitty covered. Just pick out one of their cool designs, and register your cat's information online, including pictures and your contact info. One your pet is reported missing, blanketID.com automatically sends a broadcast email to local SPCA, animal hospitals, shelters, other local blanketID members. Conversely, if someone finds your pet, they simply have to visit the blankedID site and type in your cat's unique code to find out how to get in touch with you.

Cat-ula - ModCoth, $14.99

Ahh, yes. The Catula. I have coveted you forever! No matter where you live, you still have to eat breakfast and there's no reason it shouldn't be this cute. Eggs and pancakes will never be the same once your tend to them with your new feline flipper.

DIY Cardboard Cat Chaise - Instructions at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

If you're renting (and live on the third floor, like I do), lugging heavy cat furniture around can be somewhat of an inconvenience. We all know cats love cardboard anyway, so why not create this elegant (and thrifty) DIY chaise from the Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories? I created my own cardboard box retreat for the cats a few months ago, and they are still enjoying it to this day. For the less crafty among us, Loyal Luxe also creates a fun line of cardboard cat shelters (like a Teepee and a Chalet), which can be folded down flat or recycled once its time to move.

Kitty Cat Handmade Linen Organizer - Hoganfe Handmade Originals, 29.98 (also available in black)

Storage is at a premium in most apartments, so it's always a treat to find solutions that blend into the decor instead of looking awkward and, um, storage-y. This handmade linen bin is not only super-cute, but purrfect for stashing anything from your latest knitting project, to an overflow of cat toys.

Cattino Cat Scratcher, Kitty Condo & Cat Perch Pet Furniture with Catnip - Cattino, $149

In addition to having a chic feline design, this three-in-one piece of cat furniture is a great space saver that you won't be embarrassed to show off. Kitties can sit or lay down on top, hang out on the fabric cat nap hammock underneath, or work those claws on the scratching board, instead of taking it out on your couch!

***

Whether you're living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of a space for you and your pet on http://www.movingtoday.com and http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/.

Disclosure: Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

It's Caturday!

Welcome back for another edition of Caturday, where we catch up on the week's latest cat news, and get to meet some of your amazing kitties!

This week, Mr. Lee starred in the "CatCam" documentary, Bublik the kitten drew inspiration from Hank the Senate Cat, 25-year-old Rosie became (possibly) the UK's oldest pub kitty, a Vogue fashion editorial proved to be the "Cat's Meow," UNIQLO went cat crazy with ultra cool tees by Hello Kitty and Lulu Guinness, Chicago Public Radio tried to cash in on the national cat craze, Toyota created yet another internet cat video, and Around the World in 80 Cats took us to Ottawa to meet The Cats of Parliament Hill.

Also, don't forget to stop by and enter our exclusive DoodleCats Crazy Cat Lady Prize Pack Giveaway, for the chance to win a feline-themed tote bag, necklace, mini badges, and more! Click here to enter!

And finally, in case you missed it, yesterday was National Hairball Awareness Day, and we learned that cat hair Katy Purry won the $1,000 donation to Sayreville Pet Adoption Center! In my post I forgot to thank two very important purrsons for their contribution to the contest: My cats, Charlie and Priscilla! Without their generous fur ball donations, none of this would have been possible!

Harriet

This week's featured feline is named after a famous children's book character, and true to her namesake, enjoys spying on peeps and creating mischief wherever she goes!

Lisa writes:

We love our Harriet...that little face gets her out of so much trouble! We just can't stay mad when she's being naughty. We got Harriet in 2009 from our local (and wonderful) animal shelter. We'd been wanting to get a cat, and ultimately decided to adopt her on October 20th, because the shelter had run a special "$20 adoption rate on the 20th" coupon in the local newspaper. Because of that, whenever she's causing a bit of trouble, my husband and I can always look at each other and say, "What did you expect? She was a bargain kitty."

The shelter volunteers had named her "Lively." (Which should have been our first clue about her personality!) We re-named her "Harriet" after the children's novel "Harriet the Spy." It seemed right because every cat I'd ever known seemed to enjoy spying on humans.

This first trio of photos shows Harriet "helping" my husband decide what we should make for dinner. The second is Harriet at Christmas settling into our manger. Perhaps we should have named her "Herod" instead of "Harriet" for the way she attempted to destroy the nativity. The third photo shows Harriet working on a word circle (or, more logically, engaging in a bit of pen stealing).

Next, there's Harriet staring me down across the table wanting to know when I'd be feeding her, providing a neighborhood watch service as she spied on our neighbors, and sleeping on my husband as he worked on the computer. (Aren't cat's normally suppose to curl up in your lap?)

The last three photos I'm sending all show Harriet participating in game night with us. (Although, truthfully, her favorite part of game night is "sitting in the box.")

Special thanks to Lisa for sharing Harriet with us this week! She looks like such a sweet and gorgeous girl, and I'm mightily impressed by her vast array of hobbies!

p.s. Looking for even more Catsparella? Check out my weekly columns over on Catster!

This week:

7 Unusual Places to Show Your Love for Hello Kitty

What We're Obsessed With: Cat-Eye Cut-Offs by Mad Mix Fashion

The Pitter Patter of Cat-Faced Flats

***

Want to see your cat(s) on Catsparella? I'm always taking submissions for my weekly Caturday post! Just email your best kitty pics to catsparella@gmail.com, and include your cat's name and anything else you'd like to share! I can't wait to hear from you!

Happy National Hairball Awareness Day & Victory for Katy Purry and Sayreville Pet Adoption Center!

Fist pumps and paw bumps all around, y'all! National Hairball Awareness Day 2012 has finally arrived, and with it comes news that cat hair Katy Purry has taken the top prize in FURminator's celebrity "FUR creature" contest! What does that mean? It means that thanks to your help, FURminator is donating $1,000 to my chosen animal charity, Sayreville Pet Adoption Center in Sayreville, NJ!

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to sincerely thank every single person who took the time to vote, including my readers, friends, family, and everyone at SPAC. It means the world to me to be able to make this donation, and I couldn't have done it without your support!

Due to the current economic climate, as well as the loss of contracts with local municipalities (due in part to their refusal to euthanize feral cats), SPAC, which is the only no-kill shelter of its kind in the area, is still struggling to keep its doors open. If you would like to make a donation, or live in the area and are thinking of adopting a pet (perhaps one of the lovely kitties I featured during the campaign?), please visit their website for more information. They also have some great local fundraising events coming up that you might be interested in, including a yard sale at the shelter this Sunday, April 29th, "Dining to Donate" at On the Border in New Brunswick on May 1st, and Zumba (my fav!) in South Amboy on June 3rd!

As I've written in the past, my cats LOVE their FURminator grooming tool, and I'm not just saying that because we won their contest. Priscilla, the scardiest of scaredies who runs away if you even look at her sideways, comes running TOWARDS me when the brush comes out, and proceeds to rub her head against it before flopping over in her patented baby-seal-on-its-side pose. I also appreciate that it provides a nice opportunity for bonding time together, as she gets super purry and relaxed, while I generate materials for my next cat hair craft project.

Hairballs are a naturally occurring phenomenon in cats due to their propensity for self grooming, and according to FURminator, a cat can ingest up to 2/3 of their shed hair as they self-groom (blech!). As anyone who's ever had the pleasure of watching a fur induced hackfest or stepped in a gooey pile of fur detritus knows, hairballs are bad news. One easy way to prevent the nasty buggers before they occur, is to engage in regular grooming with a tool (like the FURminator, natch) which helps remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging or cutting the topcoat.

Thank you again to everyone for your support, and to FURminator for inviting me to take part in this awesome competition for the chance to win money for SPAC! If you're interested in picking up a FURminator deShedding product of your own (we use the Small Cat Short Hair deShedding Tool), they are available from authorized retailers such as pet specialty stores, vet clinics, groomers, PetSmart, Petco, and online at www.FURminator.com.

Disclosure: I received a FURminator grooming tool as compensation for participating in the National Hairball Awareness Day program, but all thoughts, opinions, and cat hair Katy Purry's expressed in this post are my own.

Around The World In 80 Cats #9: Ottawa

(giltay)

Last year, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family adopted an adorable kitten named Stanley from the Ottawa Humane Society, but it wasn't the first time a cat has held a position of power in Canada.

(pesbo)

For over 30 years, a colony of stray kitties known as The Cats of Parliament Hill have made their home in the precinct of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, thanks to one cool cat lady named Irène Desormeaux. It all began in 1955, when the cats who were used as a natural form of pest control at the Parliament Building, were unceremoniously replaced by more man-made substances. However, groundskeepers continued feeding the felines at various locations on the grounds, until Desormeaux came along and established a designated area for the sanctuary in the late 1970s.

(Caro Lander)

Desormeaux was eventually joined in her efforts by fellow caretaker, René Chartrand, who took over the reigns when she passed away in 1987. During his tenure as the "Catman" of the Hill, Chartrand constructed the charming shelters seen above, and received the Heroes for Animals Award from the Humane Society of Canada for his work in 2003. While the cat man has since retired from his post, a dedicated team of volunteers continues to care for the small colony, which relies completely on donations for support.

(dimitridf)

To help control the population, the cats are spayed and neutered and receive free medical care when needed. While some reports state that as many as 30 felines resided at the sanctuary in 2003, today the population has dwindled to less than a dozen, including current residents Fluffy, Ti-gris, Bébé, Spot, Max, Bugsy, and Coal.

(Tjololo Photo)

To learn more about The Cats of Parliament Hill, check out their official blog or Facebook page for more information.

Thanks to Christine for the tip!

***

Know of any cat-themed travel destinations or have some cool kitty vacation pics you'd like to share? Email me at catsparella@gmail.com!

Toyota Succeeds At Creating Yet Another Internet Cat Video

Cat Videos - Toyota RAV4

Perhaps taking a cue from their Japanese counterparts who recently turned to an animated blue kitty to push their products, Toyota USA has released a RAV4 commercial featuring a driving orange tabby and his wacky cat lady of an owner. I'm not sure the video is going to convince me to buy one of their cars, but it's probably the most amusing feline-themed automobile commercial I've seen since Subaru's "Stolen Parking Space" clip from 2010.

Via Moderncat Facebook page

UNIQLO Goes Cat Crazy With Cheap & Chic Tees By Hello Kitty And Lulu Guinness

Hello Kitty UT Collection for UNIQLO

UNIQLO, the leading casual clothing retailer in Japan, has recently included some catty new additions to the UT Project, their limited-edition collection of t-shirts designed by renowned artists, designers, photographers, and more. Their current collection boasts an impressive array of pop cultural icons such as Andy Warhol and Barbie, but two collaborations in particular have us purring like the cat who got the cream.

The first offering is the ten piece Hello Kitty collection, which features artsy takes on the famous feline - from watercolor renderings, to her image made out of cake frosting. My very favorite design, however, is a cute-bordering-on-creepy portrait of two realistic white cats, clutching their very own Hello Kitty dolls (seen above).

British accessories designer Lulu Guinness (I wrote about her cat umbrellas, coin purses, and totes in a recent post for Catster) also has a black-cat heavy line of fashionable tees for the internationally known brand, that will have you asking "Jason Who?" after the whole Target debacle. My purrsonal pick is the all-over kitty print tees, that take a boring t-shirt from "blah" to "aww!"

While each piece rings up at just under 20 dollars, sadly, fans won't find the shirts available for sale online. While you can torture yourself by browsing both collections on the web, you'll have to hit one of Uniqlo's retail shops to pick up some unique cat fashions of your own.

Lulu Guinness UT Collection for UNIQLO

Chicago Public Radio Station Courts Donations Through Cat Videos

Peter Sagal and Paula Poundstone. Lightning Round. Starring: Cats.

WBEZ, home of mah favorite radio program, This American Life, is trying to ca$h in on the cute cat trend with adorkable kitties taking the place of Paula Poundstone and Peter Sagal in a lightening round of the news trivia show, Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me. The Chicago public radio station is hoping that the cats, who spend a better part of the 50 second segment licking and nuzzling their glittery mics, will help boost donations to their latest fundraising campaign. The tactic appears to be working, at least according to one YouTube commenter, who writes: "I'm only donating because you made a cat video."

Next up: Might I suggest a glasses-clad kitty vid, voiced by TAL host Ira Glass?

Via The Huffington Post

Vogue Magazine May 2012 Photo Shoot Is The "Cat's Meow"

What's black and white and red all over? The "Cat's Meow" animal kingdom-inspired accessories editorial in the May 2012 issue of Vogue magazine with Scarlett Johansson on the cover. Model Arizona Muse rocks bold colors and animal print purses, while the real stand out piece (next to the cat, of course) is the diamond and 18K-white gold-and-lacquer Promenade d'une Panthère watch by Cartier (seen above).

The spread was photographed by Raymond Meier with fashion editor Elissa Santisi, while the beautiful black and white feline model is a trained professional provided by All Creatures Great & Small, the leading animal agency in New York City.

Via My sliced up copy of Vogue

Snoop Catty Catt Bow Tie and Lady Cat Bow Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Snoop Catty Catt Bow Tie and Lady Cat Bow Giveaway! Jane and I really enjoyed reading everyone's wonderful comments about their kitties!

Now without further ado: The winner of the bow tie is Caren and Cody, and the lady cat bow goes to Steph and her lovely calico sisters!

Congratulations, ladies (and please send pics)!

For more information on how to purchase a Snoop Catty Catt tie or lady cat bow of your own, please check out their Etsy shop, or follow them on Facebook for all the details!

Exclusive DoodleCats Crazy Cat Lady Prize Pack Giveaway!

Beth with Oscar, Arty, and Pixie

Beth Wilson is one of my favorite cat people on the web: A talented feline enthusiast and an all around cool cat lady who resides in Bristol, UK with her boyfriend Daz, and her three gorgeous cats, Pixie, Arty, and Oscar.

Custom Cat Keyring

Beth blogs about her cool feline fashion finds, cat charity work, and her own kitties (of course!), and also runs a successful cat art business called DoodleCats. On most Sundays you can find her in a booth at Tobacco Market in Bristol, but for those of us who can't make the trip, she also has an Etsy shop, filled with her adorable array of original cat-themed illustrations. From jewelry, greeting cards, stationary, and more, Beth produces products that are all about having a sense of cat lady pride -- and style!

8 Dressed Up Cat Mini-Cards

Enter to Win!

DoodleCats Prize Pack

Beth has generously offered to give a DoodleCats prize pack away to one very lucky Catsparella reader! The prize package consists of: A Love Cat magnet and necklace, Best Friends pocket mirror, 5 mini badges, one "Rescue cats are the best breed" badge, and a never before seen exclusive Crazy Cat Lady Shopping Bag!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your name and some way for me to contact you if you win (email, link back to your blog or profile, Twitter, etc.). The winner be will chosen in a random drawing next Tuesday, May 1st at 5:00PM EST. This giveaway is open to everyone, so our international friends can participate, too. One entry per person, please.

Good luck, and be sure to check out Beth's blog, visit the DoodleCats Etsy shop, and follow her Facebook page for cute kitty pics and updates on all of her latest projects!

(If you have trouble leaving a comment, please email me at catsparella@gmail.com.)

[Comments are now closed. Thanks for entering!]

Oldest Working Pub Cat? At 25, Rosie Still Enjoys "Ale Fumes" and Attention

Rosie

A scruffy UK kitty named Rosie recently celebrated her 25th birthday at the pub she's called home since she was a kitten. The petite cat, who still soaks in the attention she receives in her twilight years, lives at The Swan with Two Necks pub in the village of Pendleton.

Her owner, Christine Dilworth, tells The Daily Mail: "She has always had good company and enjoyed time by the open fire and I think the real ale fumes have helped as well. She is quite frail and she has always been small, but she is a real character. She is so happy when people are around, because she has grown up in a pub. We've had other cats over the years, but Rosie is special. She's a real lady and very gentle and happy even when the children are pulling at her. Not a day goes by without anybody asking how she is and lots of people take photographs of her on their phones - I think she secretly enjoys her celebrity status."

Rosie's long life has not been without its struggles; In recent years, she survived a battle with ear cancer, and outlived her daughter, a 19-year-old cat named Maisie.

Naturally, the Dilworth clan, which also includes the couple's sons Robert, 27 and Michael, 22, can't imagine life without the senior kitty, and hope that she can hold on long enough to celebrate one more milestone with them. Says Christine, "We'll be celebrating 25 years of having the pub on August 25th - it would be great if Rosie was still with us - that would be the icing on the cake."

Click here to check out more photos of Rosie at work!

Via The Daily Mail / Lancashire Telegraph

Cat Cupcake Tuesdays

Cat with yarn cupcake

Paws up to Amy Williams for creating this yummy lavender kitty cupcake, complete with yarn icing and lovely white trim!

***

Have you created or spotted any kitty-themed baked goods (or other foods) lately? If so, please submit your sweet tips for Cat Cupcake Tuesdays to catsparella@gmail.com!