Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Meowloween!

Meows from Mudpie!

I'm afraid to say Mommy hasn't really been in the Halloween spirit this year. She decorated and has taken part in all her usual traditions, but she just hasn't been as excited about it as she usually is. She didn't even think to change our blog header until last night!


So we weren't really sure what to do for our Halloween post until our friend Valentine at Noir Kitty Mews announced his Spooky Nanner Contest asking for spooky photos of kitties and bananas (toy or real) because he goes bananas for Halloween!

I play a lot with my nip nanner but we have no photographic evidence of this, but we did have a photo of me posing with Mommy's stuffed Bananya anime character which we used to create a spooky little graveyard scene. Anyone care to join us?


Happy Halloween everyone, and hopefully Mommy will get with the program when it comes to Christmas!!!

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Mudpie Interviews...Little from Mollie Hunt's Crazy Cat Lady Mystery Series


Meows from Mudpie!

I was just going through our blog and can hardly believe I haven't conducted an interview since July! Boy, do I feel like a slacker! That all changes today because I'm chatting with the kitty crew (led by the lovely Little) from Mollie Hunt's Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series. I hope you enjoy meeting them and check out their books!

Welcome, everyone! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. Could you start by telling us a little about yourselves and how you came to live with Lynley?

Little: Hi, Mudpie. I’m Little. I’ve designated myself official spokes-kitty for today’s interview. Since there are so many of us, to do it any other way would be a cat-tastrophe! As you may have heard, our cohabitor Lynley Cannon is a cat shelter volunteer, so she’s always finding kitties in need. She also fosters cats, and every once in a while, she doesn’t want to give them back. That’s how I ended up with her, in fact. Some people call it a “foster failure,” but Lynley calls it a foster success!

Let me introduce the rest of us. Dirty Harry, the big tuxedo boy, has been with Lynley the longest, and now he’s getting on in years now. He was a stray who wouldn’t leave, and we all love him dearly.

Violet arrived from a needy friend. She’s the fat one— oh, I’m not supposed to call her fat, am I? But what else can you say about a cat who looks like a gray velvet beach ball?

Solo came not long after, white with one green eye and one blue eye and totally deaf. She is shy and lives under the couch.

Big Red, another porch stray, is also on the shy side, but I don’t know why, since he’s a huge red tabby who shouldn’t be scared of anything. Maybe it’s something from his past. He doesn’t like to talk about it.

Lynley adopted Tinkerbelle from Friends of Felines cat shelter. She’s the oldest of all of us, all black and floofy. Lynley calls her a therapy cat and takes her to visit people in catless places like hospitals.

Emilio is black too, but twice the size of Tinkerbelle. He came from the Cloverleaf Animal Sanctuary in the San Juan Islands when Lynley went for an art retreat there. Tink, Emilio, and I are Lynley’s Beauteous Black Cat Club.

Mab is the only breed cat in our clowder. She’s a lilac point Siamese who Lynley rescued from a nefarious breeder. She’s still little more than a kitten, and acts accordingly.

I hope you can remember all that, Mudpie. Don’t tell anyone, but I think we may be getting another sister at the end of Cat Café. Solo is in for a bit of a change in this book, too.

What is a typical day like at your house?

Little: Well, obviously the first thing we must do is wake up our cohabitor and get her to feed us breakfast. Feeding time can be quite a chore at our house, because some of us are on special diets and medication. Big Red has IBD. Yuck! But he takes pills so he’s normal unless he eats something other than his prescription food. Unfortunately he likes our food better, so Lynley has to feed him in a place of his own.

Lynley plays with us every morning and evening. We have more toys than we know what to do with, but we love to torment her by snubbing the toys and playing with bits of paper or string instead. We like to help her clean the house by jumping in the bed when she’s making it and lying on her papers when she wants to straighten up. It’s all fun and games until the vacuum comes out!

All of us are indoor cats, but a few years ago, Lynley had her back yard completely cat-fenced, so now we get to go outside. I personally love to go out, but some of the others, not so much. Harry used to be quite the gallivanter in his day, but now he’d rather lie in his window bed and watch.

Most days, Lynley goes to Friends of Felines to volunteer. I don’t know why she needs to care for other cats when she has all of us, but she’s just nice like that. We don’t usually mind because she goes during the day while we’re all at nap.

She does other things that have nothing to do with us. She likes to listen to hip hop and take walks with the senior ladies. She spends a lot of time on her computer, looking up her Scottish ancestors. I know there must be a Scottish Fold in her background somewhere. I hear from our fellow cat character Joe Grey of Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s Joe Grey mysteries that the Celtic cats are magic. I’m sure she has inherited a little magic from them.

Do you all tend to get along or is there any kitty drama going on?

Little: Oh, we all get along, some more than others. Mab the Siamese kitten and big Violet are unlikely playmates. Big Red is a bit of a loner, though he’ll snuggle with Tinkerbelle sometimes when she’s asleep. Solo is the only one who doesn’t really seem to like us much, but she’s scared of everyone but Lynley, and now Lynley’s granddaughter Seleia. (More on that soon!) Our author is a cozy writer so there’s always a happy ending.


Tell us about the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series you all star in.

Little: Our author says it “features Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip,” but really it features us, as well as other guest cats who happen to drop by. It makes perfect sense that the real heroes should be cats, because these are cozy cat mysteries. One of our reviewers wrote: “I knew this novel was about cats but it's theme is cats! Cats are as much the main characters as the main character is!” Needless to say, we all play our parts wonderfully. Here is a little more about the books themselves:

Cats’ Eyes, #1:

Look what the cat dragged in! When Lynley’s old kitty Fluffo discovers a stolen uncut diamond, Lynley finds herself accused of murdering the thieves.

Copy Cats, #2:

When Lynley exposes a breed cat counterfeiting ring, she becomes the target of a serial killer who murders with a grisly cat-like claw.

Cat’s Paw, #3:

Two suspicious deaths at an elite art retreat send Lynley running back to Portland, but murder follows in her wake.

Cat Call, #4:

Lynley takes over as cat handler for a TV pilot only to find the show is hexed and murder is waiting in the wings.

Cat Café, #5:

A body is discovered on the floor of the cat café, and all the black cats are missing!
(Books need not be read in order.)

How on earth does a retired cat lady get into so much trouble?

Little: Lynley doesn’t look for trouble, but I suppose that because she’s retired, she has even more time for trouble to find her. She’s won a reputation as an amateur sleuth among the Portland Police, and having a best friend who is a humane investigator (animal cop) exposes her to a certain criminal element.

Lynley’s learned a lot from feline-kind; she has a cat-curious minds, and isn’t afraid to leap into situations that would scare people of lesser character, though I must admit that sometimes she doesn’t think things through and gets in over her head.

Do any of you have special abilities that assist her in solving the mysteries she stumbles upon, or do you prefer to just provide kitty comfort when things get crazy?

Little: We are just normal housecats, and by normal, of course I mean smart, savvy, intuitive, telepathic, beautiful… you get the idea. We don’t speak human or anything like that, though Lynley usually has no difficulty understanding us when we want her to. One or the other of us has been known to step in and save the day on several occasions.

Can you give us any clues as to what's coming up next for you guys?

Little: Lynley’s next adventure begins at the local comic-con, where she is helping a friend sell her cute costumes for cats. (Cosmic Cat, coming in 2019) When a superhero cosplayer falls to his death right in front of her booth, Lynley is left holding the bag— and a cat! If you like superheroes and cosplay, you’ll enjoy this story. Lynley dresses in costume, and not a cat costume either!

Shortly after that, our author is bringing out a Christmas novella (Cat Noel, 2019). No one gets murdered in this one, thank Cat, but there’s lots of action as Lynley tries to help find a catnapped wiccan familiar and ends up… you guessed it… in trouble, herself.

No rest for poor Lynley, because her new year takes off with a Cat Summit on the Long Beach Peninsula. (Cat Conundrum, 2020) A rash of locked-room murders has the local sheriff in a tizzy. The only clue is a cat, and he’s not talking.

Well, Mudpie, it’s been fun, but we really have to get back to our routine now. Places to go, people to jump on… you know the drill. Thanks for having us, and I hope all your readers will be inspired to find out more about us in Cat Café and our author’s other Crazy Cat Lady cozy mysteries. Ta ta!

Continue the Cat Café Book Launch Blog Hop tomorrow, Oct 31, with:

Why cat café? Patricia Fry wants to know. www.MatilijaPress.com/Catscapades

Nov. 1: Fun Questions with Amy Shojai, CABC www.SHOJAI.com

Nov. 2: Kathleen S. Mueller reviews Cat Café, and we chat about 1950’s trivia www.travelingdoglady.blogspot.com


Cat Café, by Mollie Hunt
The 5th Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery

Sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon always finds more trouble than a cat in catnip, but this time it’s not about her. Someone is targeting very senior citizens, and when Bea Landrew, elderly owner of the Blue Cat café turns up dead, Lynley’s mom Carol could be next.

Handsome Detective Devon is looking for a link between the victims when he makes a different sort of connection— with Lynley! It’s been a long time since the cat lady had romance in her life, but while her mom is in danger, the case comes first.

It appears the cat café will go the way of its deceased owner, but Bea’s grandson, a slick Miami businessman, steps in at the last minute. Arthur is not a cat person so why would he bother? Romeo, the big Russian Blue, senses ulterior motives, but who will listen to a cat?

A black cat rescue, an antique photograph, an elaborate payback. Is this killer seeking justice or vengeance? With death as the objective, the results are the same.

*************************************

Native Oregonian Mollie Hunt has always had an affinity for cats, so it was a short step for her to become a cat writer. Mollie is the author of THE CRAZY CAT LADY COZY MYSTERY SERIES, featuring Portland native Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip. The 3rd in the series, CAT’S PAW, was a finalist for the 2016 Mystery & Mayhem Book Award. Mollie also published a non-cat mystery, PLACID RIVER RUNS DEEP, which delves into murder, obsession, and the challenge of chronic illness in bucolic southwest Washington. Two of her short cat stories have been published in anthologies, one of which, THE DREAM SPINNER, won the prestigious CWA Muse Medallion this year.

Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, Willamette Writers, the Cat Writers’ Association, and the Northwest Independent Writers Association. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like Lynley, she is a grateful shelter volunteer.

Find out more about Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her website. (www.lecatts.wordpress.com)

Mollie’s Amazon Page: www.amazon.com/author/molliehunt

Mollie’s Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/MollieHuntCatWriter/

Twitter: @MollieHuntCats

Monday, October 29, 2018

1968: It Was A Very Good Year #MewsicMovesMe

It's a freebie week for the Mewsic Moves Me blog hop and we've decided to travel back in time 50 years to 1968...


What gave us the idea is because it was 50 years ago this week - November 2, 1968 - that Conway scored his 1st of 55 #1 records on the country charts. Next In Line isn't one of his classic songs like Hello Darlin' or Linda On My Mind that are still regularly played on country radio today, but it's special because it was his first...


While taking a look at the rest of the #1 country singles of 1968 I was struck by how many all-time classics were on the list - songs that most people know even if they don't consider themselves country music fans.













Now that's an embarrassment of riches if you ask me! This is just a small sampling too. The rest of the list can be found here.


How many of our choices do you recognize?
Do you have a favorite?

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Artsy #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

This week I decided to get artsy with my selfie, snapping it from a unique angle as I stared wistfully into the distance...


Either that or I refused to look at the camera while Mommy begged me to cooperate for a selfie...which do you think it was?



We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Halloween #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie!

This week Mommy and I took advantage of all the cool Halloween effects on PicMonkey. It turned out really cool but I think I've ended up scaring myself!

'Scuse me while I go find a blankie to hide under...


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!


And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge (all answered by moi this week), hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mommy's answers:

1. The Internet is an awful time suck. But what on earth did we ever do without it?

2. I always read very few sections of the newspaper. I get the majority of my news online.

Mudpie's answers:

3. Black cats are just as special as every other cat. They deserve to be worshiped in a forever home, not forgotten about in a shelter or horribly abused on the street.

4. Pro Plan lamb is my favorite treat. And just last week Mommy broke it to me that it looks like Pro Plan has discontinued them! They're not available on Amazon (which is where we bought a 12 pack last year, and I'm down to the final 2), PetSmart, Petco, or Chewy. They aren't even listed on Pro Plan's website anymore. Why do pet food companies do this to us kitties???

Friday, October 26, 2018

Mudpie's Cat Shack #PetPhotoFails

Meows from Mudpie!

Today we're super excited to be joining our sweet friends Paisley, Webster and Miss C from The Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles for the Pet Photo Fails blog hop!


Today's pictures aren't really bloopers, just really dark, grainy and crappy looking (yet adorable).

When I first moved in with Mommy I got the cutest purple animal print triangle play mat from Chewy.com. Other cat bloggers received one too and most complained that it was way too small, but I adored it and had so much fun shooting through it.



Sadly, I grew up and no longer fit. As Mommy likes to say, back then I was a slice of mud pie, now I'm the whole pie. (Do you think that's a slam about my weight?)


On Tuesday Mommy got another new vinyl record in the mail (ho-hum...) but the 3-sided cardboard packaging was very interesting. We decided to try forming it into a triangle and it worked! Better still, it's large enough that I fit!

Mommy says it looks like a shack but I don't care, I love playing and hanging out of in it.


Sorry Mommy, it's probably going to be a part of our living room decor for quite awhile!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Halloween Decorating 2018

Meows from Mudpie!

Mommy and I thought you might like to see a new addition to our Halloween decor this year...our Day of the Dead/Angel Truffles memorial spot. We have a few more cat statues but they don't all fit on the table! 


Regular readers of our friend Summer's blog may notice a familiar face in the middle. Our La Suegra travels with a kitty posse!

We can't believe Halloween is only a week away! Why does this time of the year fly by so fast?

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

How We Design the Perfect Cat Bed: Guest Post & Giveaway by Tuft + Paw

How do you like to sleep? You’ve probably got a couple different sized pillows depending on your sleep position at the moment, a top sheet, a duvet or comforter, and maybe even another layer during the winter. Although cats have different criteria for what makes a comfortable bed, there are still a number of factors that are important to consider when designing the perfect cat bed.

As experts in the cat furniture space, we’re particularly obsessed with finding the answers to these questions. Here are our tips for designing the perfect cat bed for your fur babies.

1. Sleep Position



Knowing how your cat likes to catch some z’s is key to designing the perfect cat bed for your furry friend. If your pet enjoys curling up during their cat naps, perhaps an enclosed or donut cat bed would be preferred. On the other hand, if your cat likes to sprawl out while sleeping, a cat mat might be the best bed. Their sleep position can determine a lot when it comes to designing or finding the perfect cat bed, so pay attention.

2. Sleep Location

Oftentimes cat owners complain that their pet isn’t using their brand new bed, instead choosing to sleep on the owner’s bed (getting cat fur all over their expensive duvet) or under the couch, or simply in the corner of the room.

This may be because the bed simply isn’t in their preferred location in the home. Cats that scare easily often prefer secluded areas, like a closet, that keeps them away from most of the foot traffic around your home. Do they like to hide in areas like under the bed or couch, or other small nooks? An enclosed or cave-like bed might be their favorite.

If your pet prefers to nap in the sun, place their bed by a window with open blinds so they can stretch out under a sunbeam. And perhaps even placing your cat’s bed at the foot of your own bed so that they can still sleep with you without getting your comforter dirty would be a good idea to ensure your pet utilizes their new bed.

3. Sleep Height


How high does your cat like to be? If they’re a floor sleeper, then a small mat or donut bed tucked into the corner of a room might be perfect! If your cat prefers some height, you may want to get an elevated bed, or a tree with a nesting spot.

Setting up a bed on a pedestal right by an open window, placing a cat tree or cat shelves along a wall in the living room, or even setting up a bed above your own bed’s headboard could be the perfect height for your pet.

4. Testing

Before making a big purchase in a cat bed, try your hand at creating your cat’s bed to test out a few different materials. Cats can crash in anything from a cardboard box to a suitcase to a hammock to a pillow. I mean, you’ve probably seen your cat sleep in some weird places (arm of the couch or middle of the coffee table, anyone?). So it should come as no surprise that nearly anything can be turned into a cozy spot for your pet.

Test out a few different bed types, decorate them, and place them in different areas around the house. Figure out your pet’s favorite combos before investing in a bigger piece so you know where they prefer to sleep, and what type of bed they prefer to sleep on (or in).

5. Home Decor



To design the perfect cat bed that fits well within whatever room you place it in, keep your current home decor in mind. Like we always say, there’s no need to sacrifice style for function when it comes to your cat furniture. It’s definitely possible to have both.

Keep your decor colors and style in mind when choosing or creating your cat’s new bed so that you can both sleep in style and in comfort. There are cat beds of all shapes, sizes, and colors, so finding a contemporary cat bed in blue and grey is not going to be a difficult feat.

Designing and building a cat bed for your beloved pet can be a fun activity, and will help your pet to feel even more at home. Let your cat sleep in the same luxury that you do by creating their ideal cat nap spot.

**********************************************************

GIVEAWAY

Tuft + Paw has generously allowed us to offer a pawsome giveaway: One lucky winner in the US will win a $100 gift card to be spent on anything in the Tuft + Paw shop! To enter simply fill out the Rafflecopter below. Good luck everyone!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 22, 2018

Book Review: Lucky Cat by Mio Yamada


Its beckoning paw has a cult fan base, but the lucky cat is more than just a cute ornament. The iconic creature is a symbol of good fortune and used as a powerful lucky charm in shops and homes across Japan, China, and beyond.

The lucky cat (or maneki neko in Japanese) has a long history dating back to the 17th century that's packed with fascinating folklore, serious symbolism and countless contemporary cat spin-offs. Its paw, bib, coin, collar, and colors all have meaning. 

Did you know a pink cat will bring you luck in love, while a gold cat is all about wealth? Or that a left-pawed cat is used by businesses to attract customers, while a cat with a beckoning right paw is found in homes as talisman?

Dive into this adorable book to find out all you need to know about the beautiful lucky cat.


I'm obsessed with the maneki neko and it's fascinating history, enough so that I would love to make the long journey to Japan just to find some unique pieces to add to my collection. From the meaning behind the colors used, to the differences between right/left/both paws up, to the various manufacturers that have produced maneki nekos, this book will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about Japan's iconic lucky cat. Did you know there's even a blue-eyed, back-handed dollar neko which beckons the Western way (paw facing in) made specifically for export to America?

This would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for the cat lover in your life this Christmas...but you're going to want to get a copy for yourself too!



Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our links and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank!

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Tocktober #CaturdayArt

Meows from Mudpie!

Today we're celebrating Tocktober, a day to admire adorable little kitty tushies.

This isn't a new photo - we've actually used it the past two years - but Mommy absolutely adores it and I allow her to use it because she covered up my naughty bits.

What do you think of my floofy pantaloons?


We gave the picture a bit of an autumnal tint so we're joining the other artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!


And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge (all answered by moi this week), hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

1. For Halloween, I want to be a race car driver. VROOM!!! VROOM!!!

2. Getting brushed makes me feel like royalty. I'm a very vocal tortie but surprisingly have a very, very quiet purr. When Mommy brushes me it feels sooooo good and I turn my motor up!

3. On a dark and stormy night, I cuddle Mommy even closer.

4. If I had a witch's cauldron, I would stir up a potion for an extra long life. I don't want Mommy and I to ever be apart.

Friday, October 19, 2018

Unboxing October's CatLadyBox

The theme of October's CatLadyBox was the annual Black Cats Box...here's what was inside!


Featured Cat Lady Artist: Asra Rae

Black Cat Picture Frame: With as many pictures as us cat moms take, one can never have enough picture frames!


Black Cat Coasters: These coasters are different on each side so you can decide if you want glitter or plain black. 

Black Cats Long Sleeve Shirt: This is the time of year I love transitioning to long sleeve t-shirts. I have a bunch that are Halloween-related, but this one can be worn all season long!


Black Cat Tail Toy: What cat could resist that feathery body? I dangle it by the head over Mudpie and she goes all whappy paws on it.

Hand-Knit Black Cat Catnip Toy: This teeny tiny thing is so cute I was tempted to keep it for myself, but Mudpie tore it right out of the box! She even caught a whiff of it when I first brought the box into the house and was perturbed when I didn't open it right away. Whenever she's batting it around the house I keep an eye on it so she doesn't lose it though :)


Not a subscriber yet? Visit CatLadyBox today!

Interested in purchasing individual items from past boxes? You can do that too!

Disclosure: I receive a discount on my CatLadyBox subscription as a thank you for my monthly review. Regardless of compensation received, we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

The Purrfect 10: Things To Know About Feral Cats

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.


Today is Global Cat Day, taking the place of National Feral Cat Day, which was started by Alley Cat Allies in 2001. It's a day for people around the world to stand up for policies that protect all cats in their communities. Since feral cats are among our most misunderstood creatures, we wanted to take this opportunity to present some important things to know about these kitties that quietly live their solitary lives in the shadows...

1) Feral cats have lived alongside people for more than 10,000 years. They are also commonly known as outdoor cats or community cats and live outside in groups known as "colonies".

2) Stray and feral cats are not the same. A stray cat is a pet cat that is lost or abandoned. Stray cats are accustomed to contact with people and are tame. Feral cats have not been socialized to people, and therefore are unadoptable. Feral kittens can often be adopted into homes, but there is a crucial window of time during which they must be socialized or they will remain feral.

3) Even though it's natural to feel sorry for them, feral and free-roaming cats are generally not suffering. They find shelter and food, avoid people, fight off predators and are more likely to die from natural causes than by euthanasia at a veterinary clinic. How is that any different from the raccoons or squirrels in your own background? Feral cats are living a natural lifestyle just as their ancestors have done for thousands of years. Why kill an animal living a natural lifestyle simply because it isn’t living with people? Of course their life isn’t as comfortable and problem-free as the pampered house cat sleeping beside you, but it can still be a good life, especially when caring people step in to help look out for them.


4) Feral cats are not the primary cause of wildlife depletion. Humans are, thanks to habitat loss, urbanization, pollution, and environmental degradation.

5) Feral cats do not attack people. Because of their lack of socialization, a feral cat’s first instinct is to run away and hide from humans out of fear, certainly not to harm them. Just like any other animal, they will only attack when they are trapped or feel threatened.

6) Feral cats should not be taken to the shelter. More than 70% of all cats who enter shelters die there, including virtually 100% of feral cats.

7) Ferals are not unhealthy cats with shorter life spans. They live full, healthy lives outdoors—there is no reason for them to be killed in shelters. The nation’s animal shelter system is the #1 cause of death for cats. With gentle and patient human intervention, a feral can reach a life expectancy similar to that of an indoor cat.


8) Trapping and removing feral cats will not solve the problem. Cats reside in a certain location for 2 reasons: there is a food source and shelter. Once cats are removed, new ones will move into the area and begin breeding. The only trapping that works is a local community’s Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program where neutered and vaccinated cats are returned to their outdoor home. The colony’s population stabilizies…no more kittens!

9) Feral cats are not a disease risk to humans and pets. Most diseases that infect cats can only be spread from cat to cat, not from cat to human. Infectious diseases are spread through direct contact, and since ferals avoid humans whenever possible, they pose no risk. You are much more likely to get sick from the person standing in line next to you at the grocery store than from a feral cat. As far as posing a risk to our pets, TNR programs minimize this risk by vaccinating and neutering them, making them less likely to fight, which is the most common way disease is spread.

10) How can the average person help ferals? To start, we can be their voice. Educate yourself about feral cats and advocate for them to your friends, neighbors, and on social media. Donate money to the rescuers that work “in the field” practicing TNR and caring for feral colonies. If there’s no TNR program in your community, work to establish one. If there already is, more volunteers are always needed. Do you have room to take in a foster? Kittens that are young enough can still be socialized, and foster parents are always needed to help care for them until they can be neutered and put up for adoption. One small room in your home may not seem like much, but it can change the world for a cat in need.

Have you ever cared for a feral cat?

Monday, October 15, 2018

Book Review: Mrs. Middling's Meddlings




She’s always watching.

Ellen Middling keeps a low profile, but she misses nothing that happens in Greater Millbury. The enigmatic cashier has sharp eyes and is insatiably curious.

She sees what others miss.

When she and her favorite feline, Mitzy, happen upon a gruesome discovery, Mrs. Middling finds herself propelled far beyond her comfort zone, into a frightening investigation. Her powers of observation will be put to good use…but will they also land her squarely in the clutches of a murderer??


Be honest - some deaths aren’t mourned nearly as much as others.

Ellen Middling is more curious, than disturbed, when murder strikes a bit too close to home. Her baking habit kicks into high gear when she is compelled to prove the innocence of a dear friend.

Once again, the perceptive Mrs. Middling finds herself swept up in an investigation which just might be her last.


Fans of traditional mysteries are sure to love the addition of Mrs. Middling to the genre. She lives in the tiny village of Greater Millbury (the rainiest county in the UK) with her leash-trained cat and bed-ridden mother, and works at the Shop-N-Save. Even in such a genteel setting she manages to stumble upon one crime scene after another, from finding human fingers in the storm drain to the murdered manager of the grocery store she works at, and uses her "little grey cells" to solve them. She's a more complicated character than seems initially apparent with a past that continues to haunt her, but it's her meddling in other people's lives that certainly keeps her own interesting!



This post contains affiliate links.

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Lucky Mommy #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

I snapped this selfie yesterday morning while Mommy and I were lounging in bed together.

Is she the luckiest cat mom in the world or what? Don'tcha wish you were cuddling me too? How sad that there's only one little Mudpie...


I also wanna wish my wonderful grandma and grandpa a happy 46th wedding anniversary today!


We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Saturday, October 13, 2018

The Look of Love #CaturdayArt


Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!


And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mommy's answers:

1. I have loved cats for as long as I've been alive.

2. Fall nights make me feel cozy and content.

Mudpie's answers:

3. I’m surprised that I haven't flown out the screened bathroom window by now. It's a good thing my grandpa super-reinforced it after Tara broke through because when I'm running the Mudpie 500 I jump in there fast and hard!

4. To make a long story short, I've calmed down a lot since Mommy adopted me but I'm still pretty crazy-pants at times!