The First Ever Catsparella Easter Parade!

Welcome to the first ever Catsparella Easter/Passover Parade! Thanks to all who submitted pictures of their kitties getting into the holiday spirit! 

No matter what you celebrate, I hope that you and your family (human and feline) have a wonderful day, filled with love, brunch, and bunny-cats!

Now, on with the show!

Nacha will have you know that she usually doesn't get out of bed for less than five toy mice a day.

Ghato is excited for spring because he knows that pastels really bring out the green in his eyes.

Sonny wants to know what time brunch starts because he's already behind on his Easter basket deliveries.

Dixie just found out that cats can't eat chocolate.

Cheyenne is proud to have defended her title as Easter Egg Hunt champion for three years in a row. 

Donny wants to know where the line for Easter Bunny auditions starts.

Pumpkin is disappointed that you were eating bread during Passover.

Mar doesn't believe it when you say the store was sold out of Cadbury Creme Eggs.

Boone wants to know what you're laughing at.

...If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Happy Easter!

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, Grumpy Cat visited "Good Morning America" and met Anderson Cooper, Ralphie the Kitten got a second chance, Carmen baked cat cupcakes fit for a feline tea party, Valeria created famous internet cats out of shattered glass, a video of a cat walking a dog on a leash went viral, Locketship released the Día de los Meowtos collection, I recapped my Catster Style finds for March, and Around the World in 80 Cats visited Budapest, to check out a newly opened cat cafe!

In other news, I hope you'll join us here on Catsparella next week, as we hit some very exciting milestones! 

1. Priscilla's birthday is on Monday! Yes, it's hard to believe, but my baby is turning 12!

2. Catsparella tees and totes are in da house!! Me and the kitties are hard at work getting the online shop ready to launch next week, and I'm beyond excited to finally share the designs with you! 

3. We're quickly approaching 10,000 fans on Facebook! If you haven't liked our page yet (facebook.com/catsparella), please consider giving us a thumbs up!


Bijou

This week's featured feline is a proper lady, who knows how to strike a pose!

Lindsey writes:

Bijou is a feral barn kitty that I found in 2005 when she was just a baby, making her 8-years old now.  She was the friendliest of her siblings and won me over by climbing up my pants to get my attention.  

She likes playing with her toys (her favorite one being her catnip squirrel), eating cat grass, being judgmental and torturing her brother, Joe Jr.












Bijou's bro, Joe Jr.


Stylin!

Special thanks to Lindsey for sharing beautiful Bijou and Joe Jr. this week!

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

This week:
The 5 Craziest Cat Leggings to Rock This Spring

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Want to see your cat(s) on Catsparella? I'm always accepting 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!

Locketship Unleashes The Día de los Meowtos Collection

 
Lola Blanc and Calico Beef

Our friends at Locketship recently released the Día de los Meowtos Collection, their feline take on the Mexican Day of the Dead. The jewelry and accessories line includes glittery rings and necklaces, along with flowery brooches, collars, and cat ear headbands, available in a fresh palette of delicious sherbet shades like mint, lavender, and pink.



In addition to the jewelry, I'm also smitten with the photos accompanying the campaign, featuring model Lola Blac and one of my favorite kitties, Calico Beef! 



Visit Locketship.com to check out the entire collection, and while you're there, shop the Spring Sale through this weekend for 25% off all rings, plus free shipping on domestic orders! 







Via Locketship / Facebook (www.locketship.com)

Catster Style Recap: March

In addition to my duties on Catsparella, I also write a weekly style column for cat lovers over on Catster. In case you missed it, here's a round-up of my latest posts, covering everything from cat shoes and leggings, to DIY cat fashion projects you can make at home!


1. 6 Ways to Make a Grumpy Cat Fashion Statement
I rounded up six, handmade Grumpy Cat tributes you can wear, including this cool embroidered brooch by LeighLaLovesYou, along with a Grumpy bow tie, hand-painted shoes, a micro-fleece scarf, and more!


2. My 5 Favorite Cat-Inspired Flats Right Now
Cat shoes are having a serious fashion moment, but I'm still obsessed with the original Charlotte Olympia flats that started it all. Check out more of my top feline footwear picks from ModCloth, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Urban Outfitters, and Nasty Gal.


3. Our 5 Fave DIY Fashion Projects for Out-and-Proud Cat Ladies
Feline fashion can get pricey, so I scoped out these five amazing projects that are cheap & chic. In addition to this purrfect clutch by Casey of Noir Girl, you'll also find fab do it yourself ideas for cat toe shoes, a cat sweatshirt, cat tights, and cat nail decals.


4. The 5 Craziest Cat Leggings to Rock This Spring
More designers than ever are offering the cutest, quirkiest, and most intergalactic cat leggings yet! Get the scoop on some of my recent favs from Bark Decor, Supayana, QooQoo, and others.

Around The World In 80 Cats #28: Budapest

(Click here to watch if video doesn't load)

Forget "Around the World in 80 Cats"..I want to go around the world in 80 cat cafes!



Cat Café opened last month in the heart of Budapest, just minutes away from St. Stephen's Basilica. The catty coffee shop is currently home to fifteen gorgeous felines, who are tasked with looking cute and napping, while patrons enjoy a delicious drink. 





Owner Krisztina Balotay told Reuters that she was inspired to open a cat establishment in the Hungarian capital after hearing a report about the cat cafe phenomenon in Japan. Visitors to her shop say that the cats cheer them up, and provide comfort in the absence of their own kitties. 





In addition to the video above, I also found some great shots on the Cat Café Budapest Facebook page, that offer a glimpse into life at the stylish cafe. There's also some mouthwatering images of their tasty treat offerings (like a bewhiskered chocolate cream cup), along with many pictures of adorable (and happy) cats!





Kitties who live/work in cafes are typically well cared for, and visitors must abide by strict rules to ensure their happiness and safety. There are now over 40 cat cafes in Japan, and the trend has spread to European cities like Vienna, and to London, where Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium is expected to open later this year.

Via digtraid.com / Facebook (Cat Café Budapest) / Cat Cafe Budapest

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Know of any cat-themed travel destinations, or have any cool kitty vacation pics to share? Drop me a line at catsparella@gmail.com!

Efficats Antique Grumpy Cat Necklace Giveaway Winner!

Grumpy Cat Antique Copper Necklace

Thanks to all who entered the Efficats Antique Grumpy Cat Necklace Giveaway! I used Random.org to determine the winner, and it selected comment #64 belonging to Erin, who wrote, "I am a grumpy cat... i need to wear this to make people beware of the fact and not attempt to stroke(or even talk to)me. "

Congrats, Erin!

Visit the Efficats Etsy shop for even more grump, and to check out their entire collection of cute jewelry for cat lovers!

A Second Chance For Ralphie The Kitten

Ralphie

I recently received an email from Emily, who shared the touching story of her kitten, Ralphie. Ralphie suffers from a congenital condition and was abandoned by his mama at a very young age, but that hasn't stopped her from fighting to give him the best life possible.



Emily writes:

I wanted to share with you a very lucky and special little guy. Ralphie is an 8 week old kitten who I have been fostering and have bottle fed after his mother rejected him at 2 weeks old. 



He wasn't expected to make it through the night but I agreed to give him a chance. Ralphie was born with a congenital condition called pectus excavatum. His chest is narrowed and his sternum is caved in. His heart is pushed all the way over to the left side and he does not have full function of his lungs. 



Ralphie will need surgery next month to widen his chest to make it easier for him to breathe. I have raised all the money needed for his very expensive surgery in just one week! 



I have adopted little Ralphie and he will now have the best chance at a normal life. He will be joining my zoo of a house that includes 5 other cats, 2 dogs, and 2 bunnies. I am a vet tech and also foster cats and kittens for The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society.



Emily tells me that Ralphie's surgery will be at the end of April, and she will keep us updated on his progress. In the meantime, we're sending out our best wishes to this adorable boy, and also many thanks to Emily for being his guardian angel!

Update! Ralphie now has his own Facebook page!

Advertise On Catsparella In April!

April is right around the corner, and what better way to kick-start Spring than by advertising your kitty related shop, product, blog, or website on Catsparella!

By supporting Catsparella, you'll be attracting customers and gaining exposure on an award winning cat blog that welcomes thousands of devoted kitty lovers each month! 

I'm currently offer ads in three sizes (Large, Medium, and Small) that are all highly visible on the right hand side of the page. Also, I work on a rolling schedule, so your ad can go live whenever you'd like! 

**New affordable rates for Spring**


Large ad (212x220 pixels) - $60/month


Medium ad (212x102 pixels) - $40/month


Small ad (105x105 pixels) - $20/month

Ready to get started? Email me at catsparella@gmail.com for more information, and to reserve your spot today!

Maru, Grumpy, Henri & More Internet Famous Cats Made Out Of Shattered Glass

Maru

It's not unusual to come across fan art inspired by some of the internet's most famous feline video stars, but I've never seen anything quite like the thought-provoking work of Valeria Montana, who transforms shattered glass into haunting cat portraits.

Grumpy Cat

The Frágil. Fuerte (Fragile. Strong) project began after Valeria was out riding her bike one day, and came across a car accident. She starts off with a wood canvas, and then paints her subject, before painstakingly covering the finished piece with an eerie layer of broken glass, culled from less-than-fortunate circumstances. 

Keyboard Cat

When asked to elaborate on the project, Montana tells me: 

"Cats are my inspiration because they have 7 lives (other people think that they have 9): All are a unique life.

This artwork is made of safety glass (from accidents) on wood. This is a very tragic material that I transform into art to show the paradox of something strong also being fragile. 

I am obsessed with how a free-falling cat can turn itself right-side-up as it falls, no matter which way up it was initially. Cats are the strongest animals that I can think of. They are so free, so independent and so lovely: This "feline spirit" is also part of my inspiration."


Henri, le Chat Noir

So far, her subjects have included viral video stars such as Maru, Grumpy Cat, OMG Cat, Keyboard Cat, and Two Talking Cats. She's also tackled feline philosopher, Henri, le Chat Noir, who I'm sure would have something to say about the impermanence of life in relation to a shattered portrait.


OMG Cat

Visit the project's Tumblr, Frágil. Fuerte, for more.