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, Colonel Meow set a world record, Minneapolis hosted its second annual Internet Cat Video Film Festival, Libby baked pretty pastel kitty birthday cupcakes, Cola the cat geared up to celebrate her 28th birthday, and your rear windshield wipernever looked so cute!
Elsewhere, the world said goodbye to two extraordinary felines; Homer the Blind Wonder Cat, and Wasabi-chan, the cute Japanese kitten who rose to fame for wearing a crocheted mushroom suit. They were both incredibly loved, and will be terribly missed. Xeti
This week's featured feline is a lucky black cat, who hails from Barcelona, Spain!
Marina writes:
CAT KISSES FROM BARCELONA!!!! THAT'S MY BLACK CAT, XETI!!! She's so pretty, yeah?
Xeti is a black cat we adopted when she was a few months old, when she was living on our street. She is scared of people, but she's very cute and lovely.
Her birthday was on August 15th, and she turned 12 years old. She's very sporty. When she was young, she ate chickpeas!!!! And now she only wants very good ham or chicken..
She is a member of my family and we love her!
Special thanks to Marina for sharing her black beauty with us this week! You can check out more pictures of Xeti on her blog, rinrinflu.blogspot.com.
*** 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!
Colonel Meow Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the furriest of them all? Guinness World Records announced earlier this week that Colonel Meow, the Muppet-Ewok-Himalayan-Persian hybrid with a penchant for scotch and world domination, has set the record as cat with the longest fur. The feline's luxurious locks were measured by three independent vets, who recorded an average length of 9 inches on ten strands of hair.
Meow, who lives in Los Angeles with his masters (his word, not mine) Anne Marie Avey and Eric Rosario, and a jolly Golden Retriever named Boots, was found abandoned on the side of the road and rescued by the Himalayan & Persian Society. Despite his old man looks, the 10-pound cat will only be turning two in October.
Colonel Meow - The Longest Fur On A Cat! "His hair gets everywhere in the house, but it's worth it," Avey tells Guinness. He gets brushed (only) 2-3 times a week, and his excess fur is used to knit sweaters for the sick and elderly (not really, but maybe?!). And just how did the Colonel, who already enjoys a massive Facebook following, react to news of such a monumental accomplishment? "Just doing a little celebrating after crushing my world record for longest fur. Even though this is exactly what I've done everyday for the past 3 years. #spreadthefrown #guinnessworldrecord #suckitboo." The internet famous feline's record will officially be recognized in the Guinness World Records 2014 Edition, on sale everywhere September 12.
Via Guinness World Records, thanks for the tip Mark! Previously:The Tao of Colonel Meow
Grumpy Cat Takes The Golden Kitty Thousands of feline fans gathered on Wednesday night at the Minneapolis State Fair Grandstand, for the second annual Cat Vid Fest, presented by Walker Art Center. After attracting over 10,000 fans last year, a reported 13,000 people bought tickets to sit around and watch cat videos together last night, and celebrate internet cat culture in real life. The event was also streamed live online by Animal Planet, for unfortunate souls (like myself) who weren't able to attend in purrson.
The three hour long program kicked-off with a (loooong) two hour introduction that included performances by Twin Cities band Brian Laidlaw & the Family Trade, and quirky dance duo, Koo Koo Kanga Roo. Brian Laidlaw
Comedian Julie Klausner served as the night's emcee, introducing appearances by noted feline viral video hit-makers such as Will Braden (Henri, Le Chat Noir), Charlie Schmidt (Keyboard Cat), Chris Torres (Nyan Cat), and Maddie Kelly (Kittens Inspired by Kittens), who all received Hall of Fame awards later in the evening. From l to r; Charlie Schmidt, Maddie Kelly, Mike Bridavsky and Lil Bub, Chris Torres, The Bundesen's and Grumpy Cat, Will Braden.
In celebration of "the Great Minnesota Get-Together tradition," Animal Planet commissioned a butter cat sculpture, inspired by royalty (rumor has it that Tardar Sauce licked its ear). Tardar Sauce cozying up to the butter cat sculpture.
No pets were allowed on the grounds per fair rules, but spectators were greeted to surprise appearances by some of the most famous cats in the world, including Minneapolis's own Pudge the Cat.
Over 7,000 nominations were submitted for this year's festival, and a team of 70 jurors narrowed the field down to 65+ cat video clips that were shown in categories like Comedy, Drama, Foreign, Animated, and Musical.
People's Choice award winners included the now classic Cat In A Shark Costume Chases A Duck While Riding A Roombaand Cat Licking Vacuum Cleaner, but the coveted 2013 Golden Kitty Award ultimately went to Grumpy Cat, who took home the Monopoly cat game piece inspired cat-uette, basically just for being her grumpy self. Go Grumpy!
Of course, no event such as this would be complete without cat fashion, and people had no reservations about letting their feline freak flags fly.
In case you missed it, Cat Vid Fest is hitting the road again this year. The full tour schedule will be posted tomorrow, August 30 on the Walker Art Center website.
Cola
With all the sad news this week, I was happy to come across the story of Cola, a black senior kittizen who at nearly 28-years-old, is poised to become one of the oldest cats in Britain, if not the world.
Cola's owner, Mary Goldsmith of Orpington, UK tells This Is Local London, "She may not be as sprightly as she used to be but she's still got some zip in her."
Cola, who was born in 1985, is described as a "very cuddly" and "very happy cat," who still enjoys eating her favorite foods like chicken, tuna, milk and cream, and haddock. Her owner attributes the feline's longevity to "a lot of love and attention and just being looked after." While Cola's actual birthday isn't until November, Goldsmith doesn't take one extra day with her for granted.
"I'll probably do something for her in November but really every day is a celebration, every day I still have her is like a birthday," she said.
Earlier this year, another British feline named Wadsworth made headlines when he celebrated his 27th birthday in March. According to Guinness World Records, the world's oldest living cat is 23-year-old Pinky from Hoyt, Kansas, and the title of oldest cat ever is still held by Creme Puff, who passed away in August 2005 at the ripe old age of 38.
Via This Is London
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Smucci Lips & White Tiger Bed Set Thanks to all who entered the Smucci Too! Luxury Cat Bed Set Giveaway! I used Random.org to determine the winner, and it selected comment #5 belonging to Kriz who wrote, "Ah my cat Frida would love this! She has recently made the baby's bouncer into her sleeping bed! lol!" Congrats Kriz and Frida! Be sure to check out the Smucci Too! website for additional designs, and follow them on Facebook for product updates, customer pics, and more. Also, don't forget that Smucci Too! is offering an exclusive deal only to Catsparella readers! From now through the end of August, get 20% off your order of a small or medium bed by entering in code "CATSPARELLA" at checkout!
Rest in peace, Wasabi-Chan. It is with great sadness that just days after we said goodbye to Homer the Blind Wonder Cat, another angel kitty has gotten her wings. Word has just come through Twitter that Wasabi-chan, the cutest kitten in the world, has died. The three-month-old had been suffering from epilepsy, but it appeared that she was making progress after surviving a brutal crow attack in June. We first fell in love with the tiny kitten last month, after a photo of her wearing the mushroom suit her owner's grandmother crocheted for her went viral. The purpose of the outfit was to keep her still while she was being fed through a tube. The picture that started it all. According to Mari Kiyomiya, who helped me translate Wasabi-chan's owner, @Jessiepon's, tweets from Japanese, Wasabi was brought to the vet this morning in critical condition, and was being treated in the ICU. A golden retriever, like the one she lived with at home, was in a cage next to her so she wouldn't be lonely when she woke up. One of my favorite pictures of Wasabi-chan. Sadly, just a few hours later, Jessiepon confirmed that she had passed away at 6:30 PM, Tokyo time. "Wasabi was a brave fighter until the very end," she wrote. "I thank everyone for the kind messages." The exact cause of her death is unknown at this time. Wasabi-chan's brave spirit broke language barriers, and her cuteness brought smiles to the faces of her thousands of fans from around the world who are mourning her loss today. I hope that she is now running around in kitty heaven free from pain, and am grateful that she was so well cared for, and able to receive so much love during her short time on earth. May she rest in peace. Via Twitter (@jessiepon) / Instagram (@shimejiwasabi)
Kitty Cat Birthday Cupcakes This week's sweet feline-inspired treats come to us from Libby of Libby's Cupcakes Etc. in Moorhead, Minnesota. She created these beautifully colored kitty cupcakes for a little girl's birthday party, and they couldn't have turned out any cuter! "What makes these cupcakes are the rice noodle whiskers," she says. "Pure genius!" Check out additonal pics over on her blog, and even more tasty creations on the Libby's Cupcakes Etc. Facebook page.
*** 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!
Moving Tail Kitty Car Decal The cat-repreneurial folks over at ThinkGeek recently added a new feline-inspired item to their ever expanding cache of kitty products: A moving tail car decal, that's only illegal in *some* states. The hilarious decal was designed for cars with a rear window wiper, but can also be stuck to any clean, smooth surface.
For $12.99, you'll receive four tabby tails, and "happy" and "grumpy" kitties, which can be swapped out based on your levels of road rage. The distracting decals make a great accompaniment to these crazy cat lady stickers, but be warned -- too many cats on your car could lead to a pussycat inspired pile-up.
Gwen Cooper - Blind Cat's Tale (Homer's Odyssey) Cooper captured the hearts of cat lovers around the world in 2009, with the release of her book about the feisty blind feline who beat the odds and made an indelible impression on her life. From career changes, through experiencing 9/11 in New York City, to falling in love and finding the man of her dreams, Homer was always by Gwen's side to provide loving encouragement. (Facebook)
Cooper wrote in an emotional blog post yesterday that Homer was "the world’s cat," and that she takes comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on in the memories of so many. "I celebrate Homer and the life that he lived, the love that he gave, the odds he overcame to grow into a housecat with a lion’s heart who touched so many people and saved the lives of so many other cats like him," she said. "And I grieve for the loss of my boy, my little, little boy, the heart of my heart and the very best part of the person I always wanted to be. I do try to take comfort in the knowledge that Homer is whole now, and at peace—and that he will always, always be loved. Vaya con dios, my love. My great love, You were the one who taught me that love truly isn’t something you see with your eyes. Eras much gato." (Facebook) In lieu of cards and flowers, Cooper is asking that fans make a donation to their favorite local animal charity in Homer's honor. She is also setting up a Homer’s Heroes Fund, through which every year she will make a donation in his name to a shelter or rescue group that does outstanding work with “special needs” animals. Additionally, for every paperback copy of her latest book, Loves Saves The Day, pre-ordered now or bought online or in-store until October 27th, she will donate 100% of her royalties to a shelter/rescue group through the fund. On a personal note, I was very sad to hear this news, and send my deepest condolences to Gwen and her husband Laurence. I was a big fan of Homer's Odyssey, and highly encourage you to add it to your feline reading list. Rest in peace, Homer. Your legacy lives on, and you will always be remembered in the hearts of all who loved you. Via gwencooper.com / Facebook (Homer Blind WonderCat)
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 let the cat out of the bag on Titina kitty purses, admired black cat inspired cupcakesby Amanda, fell in love with A Street Cat Named Bob, watched a cat music video that made all our dreams come true, and went around the world in 80 Cats to Colorado, where we met a thirsty feline named George! Also, there's still time to enter towin a luxury cat bed set from Smucci Too! I'm drawing the lucky winner this coming Tues. Aug 27! William and Kate This week's featured felines are a regal pair who are named after a very royal couple! Angie writes: I found these two little cuties, William and Katherine, abandoned and starving by a nearby school. They immediately came up to me screaming for food and affection. Being the animal lover that I am, it was next to impossible for me to leave them there, so I brought them home to my understanding boyfriend. We had paid to get them spayed and neutered and were hoping to find them their forever homes, but when nothing turned up...we chose to add them to our already existing brood of five!! Every living creature deserves love and acceptance! Special thanks to Angie for sharing Wills & Kate with us this week! She also wanted to give a shout out to our friends at Karma Cat + Zen Dog Rescue Society for helping out with their vet expenses! *** 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!
Dreams Are Real from Ryan Barger on Vimeo. "Time travel. Space Exploration. Violence. Drama. Love. Cats. Dreams." Filmmakers Ryan Barger and Katie Akana take you on an odyssey through the feline imagination in a magical music video featuring kitty bunk beds, flying cat bees, and one totally bitchin' feline band. Remember kitties, you can do anything you set your mind to. Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Via Jezebel
George the Mesa Theater Cat So a cat walks into a bar... Redditor bathsaltrocker69 shared this picture of a thirsty feline taken at Mesa Theater & Lounge in Grand Junction, Colorado, where his band recently played while on tour. "So I guess this dude shows up every night and everyone in the bar thinks this is normal," he wrote, adding "This cat is named George and sits at the bar every night where we played in Grand Junction. Part Maine Coon and part rad dude if you ask me." ThePost Independent reports that the two-year-old cat (they recently threw him a birthday party) was rescued from a local shelter by bar manager Michelle Nelson, and now makes his home at the popular drinking spot. Nelson tells the paper, "We’ve had such a positive response to having a cat, especially one with such a unique personality. I think it gives us a friendly vibe and the feel of a neighborhood bar rather than just a theater. He’s definitely part of the family and we love him greatly.”
Since the hard partying puss isn't allowed in the food serving areas (except when he's guzzling shots of water and Party Mix), he likes to while away the hours by snoozing in the office, where he is shut in during shows to keep him from running on stage and making a surprise performance.
A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Lifeis an international best seller for a reason. Originally released in the UK last year, it finally arrived stateside in July, and promptly found a spot on the New York Times Bestseller List. Unlike stereotypical animal memoirs that can be plagued by sob-inducing endings where the owner has to say a tearful goodbye to their beloved pet, Bob is an uplifting story of hope, love, and undeniable proof that the human-animal bond does exist (also: no one dies at the end!). I've known about the book since last year, but somehow still hadn't managed to read it. Then, I received it for review from the publisher a few months ago...and shamefully put it aside. Well, I kick myself for doing that, because as soon as I picked it up last week, I breezed through the 279-page story in the course of a few nights, even forcing myself to stop at some points, just so the experience wouldn't end. Bob celebrating his U.S. debut. I was immediately engrossed in the story of how James Bowen, a former heroin addict, nursed Bob back to health, and the deep and spiritual connection that formed between these two lost souls, who ended up saving one other by adding meaning and purpose to each other's lives. James's life changed forever the first time Bob followed him to work. In 2007, Bowen was living in assisted housing, enrolled in a drug dependency program, and scraping by with money he earned by singing Nirvana, Oasis, and Johnny Cash songs on the streets of London. Then, he found Bob, an injured orange cat living in the stairwell of his building. He spent almost all of the money he had nursing the sick tabby back to health, and an immediate bond was formed between the two -- although, this was no overnight love story. In fact, part of the joy that comes from reading the book is learning how their relationship blossomed, as the two form an understanding and learn how to trust one another (or more aptly, as James learns to put his trust in Bob). The story interweaves James's personal history and fatherly feelings towards Bob, along with anecdotes about their time working on the streets, where Bob gains a huge following, and shows he truly is an extraordinary cat. He also makes a point of explaining how living on the streets is a dehumanizing experience, but how Bob's presence made him visible to the world again, writing, "It was as if my Harry Potter invisibility cloak had slipped off my shoulders." After a troubling incident puts his busking career on hold, Bowen is inspired by Bob to get his life together by becoming a licensed magazine seller and kicking his drug habit once and for all.
Meet a Street Cat Named Bob Since its initial publication, a children's version, Bob: No Ordinary Cat, has been released, followed by a sequel, The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-wise Cat. There are also rumors that a movie adaptation is in the works, although no official word has been announced just yet. Thanks to his newfound fame, James and Bob no longer have to live rough, but still spend time meeting with fans at book signings, and engaging with them through their popular Facebook and Twitter pages. I absolutely adored this book, and highly recommend it to all cat lovers. A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life is available now on Amazon, and at fine bookstores near you. Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review, but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. Meow!
Thanks to all who entered the Catmopolitan Vintage Cat Parody Magazine Giveaway! I used Random.org to determine the winner, and it selected comment #40 belonging to Kallee who wrote, "Meow!" Congrats, girl!
Smucci Lips & White Tiger Bed Set
All you fancy felines out there, have I got the cat bed for you!
The Smucci brand started three years ago, with a line of one-of-a-kind, handmade beds that were beautiful enough to be considered works of art. More recently, Smucci Too! was born as a way to share their custom beds with the world, yet still retain the beauty and comfort of the original. Neon Retro Bed Set Porch Swing Bed Set
Smucci Too! bed sets contain three components: a graphic, interchangeable panel, cozy Smucci pillow, and a bed base, so you can customize the look and feel that will work best for you and your kitty. Cat's Tooth Bed Set Um, can we get a close-up of that cat's tooth print??
Heck yes we can!
The founders of Smucci find inspiration and joy in caring for their 14 rescue cats and dogs, and have said that it is their "deepest desire is to see all pets enjoy the safety and comfort of a loving, permanent home. Making beds makes sense to us, and serves as a metaphor for safety and sanctuary." Basic Black Bed Set Smucci Too! is offering an exclusive deal only to Catsparella readers! From now through the end of August, get 20% off your order of a small or medium bed of your choice by entering in code "CATSPARELLA" at checkout! Enter To Win! Win this bed! The folks at Smucci Too! have generously offered one lucky Catsparella reader the chance to win a Smucci Lips & White Tiger Bed Set! Choose from small (up to 12 lbs.) or medium (up to 25 lbs).
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, Aug. 27 at 5:00PM EST. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. One entry per person, please.
Good luck, and be sure to check out the Smucci Too! website for additional designs, and follow them on Facebook for product updates, customer pics, and more!
(If you have trouble leaving a comment, email me at catsparella@gmail.com) [Comments are now closed. Thanks for entering!]
Cat Cupcakes by Amanda Pro This week's sweet treats come to us from Amanda, who crafted these gorgeous black cat inspired baked goods using fondant. I can't decide which ones like more - the full-faced feline cupcakes, or the half face and tail duos. I guess I'll just have to eat both! Check out more of Amanda's wonderful baking creations over on Pinterest. *** 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!
My latest Catster post lets the cat out of the bag on five fab feline purses, including these covet worthy kitten bags from Titina. I was immediately smitten by Mexican designer Julieta Ruezga's chic creations, that are lovingly handmade out of synthetic leather and available in a variety of color combinations to match your favorite puss. Mr. Cat in black & white Now, the hard part is deciding if I want to honor Charlie with a black cat bag, or go Priscilla posh with a tuxedo kitty purse. Mr. Cat in white
