Forget the royal baby. A new larger than life figure has taken up residence in London Town, and she's all paws! To herald the release of the new feline-themed Monopoly game piece, Hasbro unleashed the oversized token on London, where it visited landmarks like Picadilly Circus, the Millennium Bridge, and Hamley's Toy Shop. After hitching a ride on a double decker bus, the 6-foot-tall feline arrived at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where she made some kitten friends, and confused the heck out of one lucky dog. “We're happy to help Hasbro out with a home for the new Monopoly cat” said Battersea’s Head of Cattery, Lindsey Quinlan. “After being given a thorough health check on arrival, as all our animals are, the Monopoly moggy has made herself at home outside our Reception area and making friends with all our visitors." “We think this latest Battersea cat is just too big to fit into a regular home, so we’ve decided she'll be our very special ‘yard cat’ here at Battersea. We do have 116 smaller cats and kittens being cared for at our London centre who are waiting for new homes, so please come and say hi to Monopoly cat – and meet all our other animals too.” Earlier this year, millions of Monopoly fans from around the world voted to replace the iron game piece with a cat shaped one. The classic game with the addition of the new kitty token, is available in stores now. Images courtesy of Hasbro
The Chicago Tribune made headlines of their own yesterday when an error on their homepage caused a curious site for several minutes: While the image of a kitten along with the word "test" typed over and over looked like a sure sign of a feline takeover, Tribune Social Media and SEO Manager Amy Guth revealed to Gizmodo that a routine CMS test was the much more mundane reason for the gaffe. Benton The technical error was quickly spotted and resolved, but as it turns out, the story doesn't end there. The featured feline wasn't just a random stock photograph, but rather one of the adoptable animals featured in the paper's "Pets in need of homes" gallery. Guth tells Gizmodo, "This cat, Benton, is up for adoption, though I now understand he’s become a very popular fellow in the hours since the front page error. Perhaps our mistake will at least turn into Benton’s good fortune." The tiny tabby was born around May 1, and is currently in the care of Feline Friends in Chicago: This tiny little macho man likes to be petted, but he doesn't have time for lots of snuggling—he's a ladies' man. Benton spends a lot of his time playing with, protecting and grooming the girl cats under his guardian's care. But don't worry, this suave little fella doesn't neglect his own good looks; that lovely silver-striped fur is fabulous. Come give this kitten a closer look; he loves the attention.
If you or someone you know is interested in adopting this famous little fella, check out his Petfinder profile for more information. Via Gizmodo / Petfinder
Kattipede Toy with Rod Thanks to all who entered the Neko Flies Cat Toy Giveaway! I used Random.org to determine the winner, and it selected comment #37 belonging to chenlulou! Congrats! I hope your kitties love their new Kattipede Toy! Be sure to visit the Neko Flies website to check out their entire range of fun toys for your frisky feline.
BADASSCAT
Earlier this month when I was at the Garden State Cat Show & Expo, I met Barbara Lipp of Squirrel Den Studio. She had a booth set up in the Meow Mall, and I couldn't help but notice her adorable black cat inspired designs! Chairman Meow Yoga Kitty Lipp creates unique, fun, and colorful t-shirts and onesies, featuring her original kitty art. Some of my favorite designs include the ultra-cool "BADASSCAT" with a cigarette perilously dangling from its lips (also available sans ciggy for the non-smokers), and the zen-inducing yoga cat, who is busy "Meowmmmming" her way to enlightenment. ADOPT
This purveyor of cute kitty tees is also interested in animal welfare, and has a sweet "Adopt" tee to help spread the word. What's more, she also pledges to donate a percentage of the profits from her sales to shelters in her area. Marcel the muse! Barbara lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and lovely stepdaughter/model. She also has a handsome black cat named Marcel, who she calls her muse! Enter To Win!
Barbara has generously offered one lucky Catsparella reader the chance to win the cat t-shirt of their choice from the Squirrel Den Studio shop! (Click here to browse all of the available designs, colors, and sizes).
To enter, leave a comment on this post with your name, the shirt you are interested in, 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, Aug. 6 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 the Squirrel Den Studio Etsy shop, and follow them on Facebook for updates on all of their latest designs! (If you have trouble leaving a comment, please email me at catsparella@gmail.com) [Comments are now closed. Thanks for entering!]
The Owl and the Pussycat Cupcakes by Jess This week's sweet treats come to us from Jess of The Diary of a Curly Girl (clearly a blog I need spend some time reading!). When her friends were recently involved in a theatrical adaption of the 1970 film The Owl and the Pussycat, Jess was on hand to bake up some cat themed cupcakes for the opening night party. The end result? These adorable red velvet and cream cheese kitties, that are almost too cute to eat. I mean, check out that grumpy face! *** 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!
Fresh off of the release of her first book, Tardar Sauce has revealed two additional products that will help shape her grumpy empire. The famously frowny feline recently surprised fans with the announcement of Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino, a new iced coffee bearing the tagline, "It's Awfully Good." Described as "a delicious and creamy blend of premium Arabica coffee and milk," the chilled drink will be available in Mocha, Coffee, and Vanilla flavors, online and in stores in September.Fans who follow Grumpy Cat Coffee on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram will receive a 10% discount code for the upcoming pre-sale at drinkgrumpycat.com. If cat coffee isn't your thing, the long awaited Grumpy Cat plush is also making its way to a store near you. For those who have always dreamed of cuddling up to the famous sourpuss, Comics Infinity is offering an official Grumpy Cat plush for pre-order on their website. The 11" faux feline features Tardar Sauce's baby blue eyes and bubblegum pink nose, along with her signature pout. Which Grumpy Cat product are you most excited to get your paws on?
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, we went full tilt cat lady with feline-inspired beddingfrom ModCloth, Charlie the cat enthusiastically reunited with his owner after a six month separation, Japanese inspired treats ruled Cat Cupcake Tuesday, Piper the Belt Line cat traded in his pipe for a forever home, and I took a trip to the 2013 Garden State Cat Club Show & Expo! Elsewhere, there's still time to enter your kitty towin a Kattipede Cat Toy and Rod from Neko Flies! I'm drawing the lucky winner this coming Tues. 7/30! And finally, time is running out to take advantage of the Catsparella Christmas in July sale! Get 20% off all shirts and totes in the shop through the end of the month! Sailor and Cleo This week's featured felines share a heartwarming story about how they became best friends for life! Michelle writes: Sailor is five years young and Cleo will be two this summer. Sailor came in to my life when he was 8-weeks old, and I instantly feel in love with him, so much so that I have his name tattooed on my ankle (I am trying to get a picture of him next to it but it is kinda hard as he has own agenda, lol).
Cleo found me when she was only 4-weeks-old after Hurricane Irene. She showed up at the neighbor's shed and would not come out. I believe she was the runt of the litter because she was so tiny, and I assume her mother left because I have never seen a cat that looks like her around. I left food and water for her daily, but she would run under the shed when I came to her, and she meowed so loudly I was scared something was wrong. Then one day when I came home from work, she was sitting on my chair on my front porch, but took off when she saw me. I then started leaving the food on the porch and she finally started warming up to me so I could pet her, but not hold her. One day while she was eating I just picked her up and said, "See I'm not gonna hurt you, I just wanna love on you." That night at around 11, I could hear her meowing outside. It was so loud, and I knew she was so scared. I went out and found her under my car and said, "Come on, you're coming in." She came to me, and that was that. She was now going to be an indoor cat. Sailor has never gotten along with other cats AT ALL so I was a bit nervous to introduce them to each other, but I thought maybe since Cleo is smaller than him he wouldn't feel threatened. I brought her in, and he sniffed her and was very interested. He followed her around a bit. I kept her in my room with the door closed while I was at work the first week because I didn't know how Sailor would be with her without me there. They are now best friends and I think sometimes he thinks she's his baby because I catch him bathing her on occasion. They are both very dear to me and I love them very much. They love playing together and chasing each other around the house. Sailor is ruff with her at times but she gives it right back to him! Special thanks to Michelle for sharing Cleo and Sailor's sweet story with us this week! *** Want to see your cat(s) on Catsparella? I'm now 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!
In case your bed isn't already piled high enough with sleeping kitties, ModCloth recently released a whimsical feline-inspired duvet cover packed with playful black cat silhouettes. The Yours, Mine, and Noir's bedding is available in Twin/Twin XL and Full/Queen sizes, and there's also a matching pillowcase set to keep those visions of kitten-paws dancing in your head.
Cat Sees Owner After Six Month Leave YouTuber pointforgotten decided to turn the notion of a joyful pet reunion on its head with a parody showing what happens when a black cat named Charlie (not be confused with my black cat named Charlie) comes face to face with his owner after a six month leave. Charlie: "If you want a friend, get a dog." On the other hand, maybe Charlie could take some cues from this friendly feline, who has no problem greeting his human with high fives (in exchange for some treats, of course!). Cute Cool Cat High Five Update: Here's what happened when Charlie found out his video went viral.
Back in March we met Piper, a saucy black cat who made his home inside a drainage pipe located on Atlanta Belt Line's East Side Trail. The kitty gained national attention after someone installed a tiny mailbox outside of his humble abode, where adoring fans of all ages left letters, food, catnip, and bedding for the friendly feline, who also kept in touch via Facebook and Twitter.
Things changed earlier this month though, when the social media savvy feline announced that he was looking to sell his pipe, citing construction noise, property taxes, and no A/C as factors in making the difficult decision:
Fortunately, a local developer quickly caught wind of the situation, and made the entrepreneurial feline an offer he (almost) couldn't refuse:
@beltlinepiper Hi Piper, engineer can re-use pipe for storm drainage, so we are able to make you a sweet offer of $10,000 for your home! — Perennial1988 (@Perennial1988) July 17, 2013
After initially turning down what he perceived to be a low bid (he thought ONE MILLION DOLLARS was more befitting of a celebrity cat's home), he finally conceded to $10k plus some gourmet cat food to seal the deal. The only problem was, where was Piper going to live now?
Piper promises to keep in touch with fans while settling into his new space. On Saturday he posted this pic on Facebook with the caption, "Took a nap in the landlord's lap earlier. Now I'm checking out the view from the kitchen. Tomatoes!" Congrats on your new life Piper! We love you! Via Twitter (@beltlinepiper) / Facebook (Belt Line Piper)
Priscilla eyeing the kragonfly.
My kitties are big fans of wand toys that they can hunt, pounce, and leap for, so when Neko Flies recently asked if we'd like to test out some of their products, I knew I couldn't say no without seriously hissing Charlie and Priscilla off.
Neko Flies was started in 2007 by founder Ellen Tsuyuki, who decided to create a toy that would measure up to her cats needs. After working with her trusty feline advisors, Nekochan, Chiquita, Timmy and Bubba, she created the unique line of interactive toys tailored to make both kitties and their owners happy. Neko Flies are touted for being realistic looking with lifelike movements, and appealing to a cat's natural hunting instinct. All of the toys promise a fun, interactive bonding experience for you and your cat, plus they come with super cute names like "foxifur kittenator" and "kattipede."
In case you haven't noticed, I've been a little Vine-happy lately (follow me @catsparella!), and couldn't resist taking a few videos of Priscilla getting her kittenish swagger on. She might be 12-years-old, but homegirl doesn't look a day over 8.
Here she is testing out the Foxifur Kittenator with rod:
Priscilla pouncing for the Foxifur Kittenator (Thank to my mom for the Homer Simpson-esque commentary in this one).
And giving the Kragonfly attachment a spin: Going belly up for the Kragonfly attachment. As predicted, the "realistic gliding dragonfly that shimmers in the air!" was too much for her to resist. Enter To Win! Kattipede Toy with Rod
Our friends at Neko Flies have generously offered one lucky Catsparella reader (and their kitty!) the chance to win a kattipede toy and rod of their very own!
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, July 30 at 5:00PM EST. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. One entry per person, please.
Good luck, and be sure to visit the Neko Flies website to check out their entire range of fun toys for your frisky feline! (If you have trouble leaving a comment, please email me at catsparella@gmail.com) Disclosure: I received the Neko Flies products seen here for review and giveaway, but all opinions and cat bellies contained in this post are my own. [Comments are now closed. Thanks for entering!]
Tiger Cupcakes by Eat My Cake. I recently stumbled across these super kawaii Japanese themed cupcakes by Eat My Cake Bakery, fully custom cakes and cupcakes in Dallas, Texas. The exquisite combination includes some of my favorite things, including sushi, cherry blossoms, and tigers! *** 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!
This weekend I took my annual pilgrimage to the Garden State Cat Show & Expo in Somerset, New Jersey, presented by the Garden State Cat Club. The theme of this year’s show was New York, to celebrate the neighboring Empire State Cat Club’s 100th anniversary.
As usual, the show featured a "Meow Mall" packed with merch for cats and humans alike, informative seminars and presentations, a breed showcase, Kidz Corner, and feline agility ring. The highlight though, was getting to see all of the cats -- from the dozens of shelter kitties looking for their forever homes in the Adopt-A-Cat area, to out on the show floor, where you can watch the pampered pussycat's getting primped and preened before they enter the judging ring.
In addition to being a lot of fun, the annual event is a major fundraiser for the Garden State Cat Club. Proceeds from the show go to benefit New Jersey animal shelters, disaster relief efforts, and feline health studies. This sweet kitten was just one of the many cats available for adoption from Second Chance for Animals. Other shelters in the Adopt-A-Cat area hailed from Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Union, and Hudson counties. In sticking with the "Empire State" theme, Tuesday & Lisa Cat Rescue turned their adoption area into a New York City sightseeing bus! I'm always excited to hit the Meow Mall. There was a wide variety of fortunate felines for sale. Along with gorgeous foil-wrapped chocolate cats (for people!) from Galileo's Catnip Toys. This kitty-shaped pasta was also for sale at the Galileo's booth. They sell really cool catnip, too! Holly of Ceramic Tile Gone Wild makes some truly inspired kitty creations, like this beautifully painted cat side table.
There's no short supply of feline inspired fashions. Enough said. Just a rack of tiny crocheted cat hats, nbd. I had the pleasure of finally meeting my Facebook friend, Racy Mooner! Racy is a beautiful 5-year-old Abyssinian who likes to do tricks, and is extremely friendly.
Here she is showing how she can roll over.
Her famous mom, Twyla Mooner, was there too! Mer-kittens I was also excited to finally meet my pal Heidi Shaulis! Heidi is a super talented artist, who makes paintings, prints and cards, often featuring black and tuxedo cats (she has a tuxedo cat of her own named Charlie!). Meanwhile, in the feline agility ring... I'm sad I didn't get to see this curious kitty perform! Her ribbon says, "Third Best Cat In Agility - National Award." The judge's table is an important part of any cat show.
The longhair kitten category drew a big crowd. The original grumpy cat. Look at the tail on this kitty! I always look forward to seeing my favorite IAMS ambassador kitty, Hope! This year in true diva form, she was being pushed around on a little cart with a fan blowing on her. Fans are allowed to pet Hope, and ask her owner questions. This Exotic Shorthair is also quite the actress. You might recognize her from the Toyota commercial she shot last year with Eli Manning!
