October 2017

ME-YOWL-O-WEEN WITH KITTIES BLUE

 

 

We’ll be partying with angel Sammy and Teddy today at Two Spoiled Cats. Mau and Teddy will be enjoying Halloween at Cat Scouts as well. And Lily Olivia will be hanging out with her gal pals at Crotchety Cougars.

Even though we’ll be out and about, Mom has promised to keep the snack table well stocked all day for anyone who pops in to visit. And Mau baked an endless supply of candy cakes.

Enjoy, but try not to hork on the carpet. We’ll do that when we get home!

 

 

Giveaway

If you missed yesterday’s post, Kitties Blue is giving away a copy of Jackson Galaxy’s new book, Total Cat Mojo. This is a must read for anyone who shares their home with a cat or is considering adoption. By clicking on the link to yesterday’s post at the bottom of this page, you can read my review and leave a comment for the opportunity to win a copy. Giveaway is open Worldwide. Random.org will be used to select the winner.

 

HAPPY ME-YOWL-O-WEEN!

TOTAL CAT MOJO REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Total Cat Mojo by Jackson GalaxyBook Review

I am an unabashed fan of Jackson Galaxy, as I am certain most of you know. So when I was asked if I wanted to review his new book, Total Cat Mojo, I immediately said, “Yes, please.”n

If your cat had come with a instruction manual, this book would be it. As the book’s subtitle (The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat) suggests, Total Cat Mojo is a must read reference book for all cat guardians and anyone thinking of adopting for the first time.

Let’s start with defining Cat Mojo. According to Galaxy mojo is: “the confidence that cats exhibit when they are at ease in their environment an in touch with their natural instincts—to hunt, catch, kill, eat, groom, and sleep.”

Galaxy says in the book’s introduction, “My primary occupation through these years actually has not been about solving cat issues but about teaching you how to find, cultivate, and hold onto mojo.”

Galaxy’s packed everything he has learned since his first days working at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (Colorado) in the early nineties to being the star of the Animal Planet television program, My Cat from Hell, into this 365-page book.

He starts by describing what he calls “The Raw Cat.” The Raw Cat is another cat (little changed from ancient times) living inside your cat. This “ancestral twin” of your cat “sends constant transmissions to your companion about the urgency of securing territory, hunting, killing, eating, and staying ever alert, because just as cats hunt, they are also being hunted.” It is in understanding your cat’s instinctual behaviors that you will be able to eliminate the actions that are keeping your cat from attaining total cat mojo.

Territorial issues, litter box problems, aggression, anxiety, new pet/family member introductions…absolutely any question you might have with regard to these and other issues, are addressed in Total Cat Mojo. If you need help with your cat, you cannot find a better authority than Jackson Galaxy. He gives you all the tools you’ll need to have a happy and confident cat…filled with mojo!

Both an extensive table of contents and index will let you easily find the issues with which you might need help. Regardless, I suggest you read the entire book before putting it on the shelf as your go-to cat reference handbook.

Total Cat Mojo was written with Mikel Delgado, co-owner of Feline Minds, a San Francisco Bay area based cat behavior consulting business. It also is sprinkled throughout with delightful illustrations by Bobby Rock.

Book Tour

In conjunction with tomorrow’s release of Total Cat Mojo, Galaxy will be visiting book stores across America from November 1 through 18. Here’s the schedule:

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – Nov. 1, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by Rainy Day Books at the Turner Hall Ballroom

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Nov. 2, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by Left Bank Books at The Ethical Society of St. Louis

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – Nov. 3, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by Rainy Day Books at Unity Temple on The Plaza Sanctuary

TEMPE, ARIZONA – Nov. 5, 2017 •  get tickets
• NEW TIME: 3:30pm
• NEW VENUE: Dobson High School auditorium, hosted by Changing Hands Bookstore

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Nov. 7, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by The Strand at The Strand (3rd floor)

HUNTINGTON (LONG ISLAND), NEW YORK – Nov. 8, 2017 • 7:00pm •  more info
hosted by Book Revue

WASHINGTON, DC – Nov. 10, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by Politics and Prose at the Wharf

MARIETTA, GEORGIA – Nov. 12, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by A Cappella Books of Atlanta at The Mansour Center

AUSTIN, TEXAS – Nov. 15, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by Book People

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Nov. 17, 2017 • 7:00pm •  get tickets
hosted by University Bookstore at University Temple Methodist

BEAVERTON, OREGON – Nov. 18, 2017 • 2:00pm • more info at  powells.com
hosted by Powell’s Cedar Hills Crossing

Please Note: Some of these venues may

  • require that you purchase a book from the venue to attend the event
  • not allow previously purchased books, or books purchased elsewhere, at their event
  • have limited capacity
  • require tickets
  • not allow cats or pets in the venue

Giveaway

I have one copy of Total Cat Mojo to give away to a reader. For the opportunity to win, leave a comment here prior to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 4. Random.org will be used to select the winner. We’ll announce the name of that person on next Sunday’s Selfie post. The giveaway is open to all readers worldwide.

Disclaimer: I received from Penguin Random House one uncorrected proof of Total Cat Mojo for the purpose of review and one copy of the published book to give away. This was in exchange for my fair and honest review. I received no additional compensation.

 

LISBETH DOES A WITCHY SELFIE ON NATIONAL CAT DAY

Sunday Selfies: Week #168

My humans say I can be a little bitchy, er witchy! I do have a tendency to be hissy and growly when others get in my way. Because of this and the fact that Halloween is now just two days away, Mom couldn’t keep her paws off of my very lovely selfie. Pffft!

 

Lisbeth celebrates National Cat Day and Halloween.

 

To add insult to posting me in a witch’s had, I heard a rumor about a rude and unflattering thing Astrid said about me in her post yesterday. If anyone knows what that was, please let me know in the comments. Other than spilling their guts that it happened, no-one will tell me what she said.

Enough about Astrid. She’s not worth my time.

National Cat Day – USA

Today is National Cat Day, which is celebrated each year on October 29. It was created in 2005 by Colleen Paige, Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Welfare Advocate. Since its inception, National Cat Day has helped save the lives of more than one million cats.

Paige established this day in an effort to assist the public in recognizing the number of cats needing to be rescued. Additionally, the day encourages cat lovers to celebrate the cat(s) in their lives for their companionship and the unconditional love they willingly give.

The National Cat Day web-site lists 20 things we can do today to celebrate and help kitties. I’ll be spending extra time today snuggling with and giving all the Kitties Blue special attention and love. As we have a full house and cannot add any kitties to the family, I’ll be sending a donation to our favorite rescue, Barn Cat Buddies.

In conjunction with #NationalCatDay, BLUE BUFFALO is sponsoring the “Purr-fect Purr-sonalities” PHOTO CONTEST. You have until 11:59 pm (ET) tonight to enter. Winners will be notified by November 11th and announced on social media when all winners have responded.

To enter, log onto Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and include #BlueBuffalo and #NationalCatDay with your uploaded image of your cat, depicting their best PURRsonality trait.  Photo must be of your own cat. Once a photo is submitted, it cannot be changed or modified. To purrticipate, you must live in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia or Canada. You must be at least 18 years old at the time of entry.

Three “PURRfect PURRsonalities” winners may be featured on the Blue Buffalo Facebook page and will receive an assortment of Blue Buffalo products, Blue Gear and National Cat Day Gear.

Blog Hop

I cannot think of a better day to purrticipate in our Sunday Selfies blog than National Cat Day. And don’t forget to ask for some of your favorite treats as a reward for taking your selfie and in celebration of this special day. Also invite your friends to join us. The more the merrier.

Of course, you don’t need to be a cat to join in the fun. All anipals are welcome and encouraged to join the hop. If you are new to hopping, here are some guidelines:

  • The link to add your selfie to the hop is below.
  • You also will find below the code to use if you’d like the hop to appear on your blog.
  • You do not need to post on Sundays to join.
  • The hop remains open for entries through Thursday midnight.
  • Please be so kind as to display our badge and/or link to The Cat on My Head.

With purrs and paw-pats, Lisbeth (with kisses for my sweet boyfriend Charles)

p.s. Please join us tomorrow for Mom’s review of Jackson Galaxy’s new book, Total Cat Mojo, and leave a comment for the opportunity to win a copy.

 



OUR LITTLE BUMBLE CONTINUES TO GRUMBLE

Caturday Art

I absolutely cannot believe I have been subjected to returning here today as art. Yesterday was humiliating enough! At least I was not forced back into that ridiculous bumble bee costume. The artist (Mom) used one of the photos she did not post yesterday.

 

Grumbling "artified" Bumble Bee Astrid.

 

She used the Daisies art effect from LunaPic and then added the blue floral corners from piZap. Picasa was used to add the simple border.

I have forgiven Mom, but I refuse to allow her to put my collar back on me. I deserve to be nekkid for awhile after my ordeal. After being tortured, I was pooped and spent a major portion of yesterday sleeping in the shark bed. Dressing up sucks. I don’t know how Summer does it. Did you see her Friday post? She had on three different costumes. There aren’t enough treats in the world to get me to do that.

I will be wearing a costume here on Halloween along with all the KittiesBlue, but those costumes will be virtual!

This is my submission in Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty’s Caturday Art blog hop. To see Athena’s art or find links to other participating blogs, click on her badge.

If you missed my Bumble Bee photos on our Friday post, there’s a link to it at the bottom of this page.

Sunday Selfies

Lisbeth will be here to host our blog hop tomorrow. She asked me to remind you to get your selfies taken and be ready to join us. She’ll be in Halloween mode, but she will not be costumed. I don’t think kitty costumes are made big enough to fit her. (Please don’t tell her I said that. She’ll for certain beat me up!)

Purrs and paw pats, Astrid

p.s. My dad caught me off guard and collared me! Pffft!

 

ASTRID’S ME-YOWL-O-WEEN RANT

Friendly Fill-Ins:Week #77

Friday has rolled around again, so that means it is time for fill-ins. This is a blog hop hosted by our friends, Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) and Ellen (15 And Meowing). Each week, the first two sentences to be completed are selected by Ellen and the second two by Annie.

If you’d like to participate, both Annie and Ellen post the potential fill-ins on Thursday. To join the hop, you need to go to McGuffy’s Reader. You can go there now by clicking on the badge to the left.

My completions are in teal italics. Number four was completed by Astrid, and she selected orange for her completion.

    1. I  would like to interview Jackson Galaxy in person. I’ve interviewed him by telephone. If you missed the series of posts from that interview, you can read them by clicking on these links: Jackson Galaxy Interview; Jackson Galaxy Interview Part 2 & Catify to Satisfy Review; and Jackson Galaxy Interview Part 3. I’d like to interview him about his new book, TOTAL CAT MOJO, which I will be reviewing here on Monday. That’s a post you won’t want to miss, as I will be giving away a copy of the book.
    2. I would like to be interviewed by Ellen. She’s an animal lover and seems very genuine. 
    3. Halloween night is not for kitties. Too much noise and too many rug rats ringing the doorbell.
    4. (Astrid asked to complete this fill-in, and I couldn’t turn her down, as she was not a happy camper.) Once Halloween is over, I am going to shred and burn this stupid bumble bee costume…unless I can get my paws on it before then. Okay, so I admit I look cute, but I showed Mom exactly what I thought of it. I’m surprised it isn’t covered in blood. I was so mad, I didn’t even want the treats I was offered!

 

“I pleaded with my daddy to save me, but he was complicit in this dastardly deed.”

 

“They certainly could have found a better backdrop for these photos.”

 

“Pretty good stink-eye, don’t you think?”

 

We hope you will join us again tomorrow for some Caturday Art.

ODE TO MY TUMMY BY COOPER MURPHY

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday

I certainly hope you are not sick of seeing me. One of the prompt words for today’s poem, fit me to a “T.” (I also hope you don’t mind my little pun.) Anyhoo, can you guess which of these words I used as my subject: 1) Tiger, 2) Tummy, 3) Tired or 4) Travel. Now that I review the words, I guess that isn’t the no-brainer I thought it was. Three of those words purrfectly describe the photos below.

 

 

Now that you’ve had your opportunity to “squeee,” here’s my poem.

 

ODE TO MY TUMMY

I like my ginger tabby tummy.
It is big and oh so round.
Mom thinks I’m pretty lucky,
It doesn’t drag along the ground.

I must confess I like to eat,
But I swear I’m not a pudgy pig.
It just makes me feel comforted
When my tummy is really big.

I remember food was scarce
When I was on the street alone,
Hoping someone would rescue me
And offer me a happy home.

Keeping myself well fed and full
Gives me the ultimate pleasure,
Which is why my tummy is ample
And probably too big to measure.

Before I turn into a kitty blimp,
Mom hopes I’ll finally feel secure,
Knowing I will never starve again
And not need to hold noms so dear.

But I must admit that I like my tummy,
And I think Mom and Dad must agree.
It’s why I display it proudly,
And it fits my ginger personality.

Yes, I like to wallow on my back,
But if you think I’m the one and only,
You’ll find that’s not completely true…
Just ask Teddy to show you his tummy!

© Cooper Murphy Blue 10/25/2017

I am joining Thoroughly Poetic Thursday over at Teddy and Angel Sammy’s blog, Two Spoiled Cats. Yep…that’s the same Teddy I mentioned in my poem. He and I are gingersnap brothers.

If you’d like to see the poem Sammy sent from the Rainbow Bridge this week or find links to other poems, pop over to Two Spoiled Cats by clicking on the badge below.

Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday, we also join the blog hop hosted by friend, Brian. Brian and his family are returning to blogging today after taking a short break to mourn the loss of Sister Sascha. If you have not left a message of support for Brian and his family, please do so today.

I have a personal thankful today, as I mentioned in my poem. I am grateful for being rescued from the cold and snow by my humans’ friend and being adopted by Mom and Dad after they exhausted every avenue in trying to locate my original humans. As Brian always says, “Adopt cats, we deserve it.”

To join in the thankful hop, click on the badge below.

 

SPARKS: IT’S IN THE STARS

Sparks: Week 3

We are participating in the Sparks blog hop established and hosted by our dear friend, Annie, from McGuffy’s Reader.

 

The Milky Way by Tom Blue for Sparks log hop.

 

The background photo for the Stephen Hawking quote was taken by Kitties Blue dad, Tom. It is the Milky Way. The photo was taken on August 21 of this year from Rocky Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.

In establishing this hop, Annie said, “I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!”

To participate in the Sparks blog hop or find links to other blogs with inspirational/motivational quotes, click on the Sparks badge below.

 

Trivia

Today is our 1400th post!

MORE PRE-HALLOWEEN SELFIES AND REMEMBRANCE

Sunday Selfies: Week #167

Our mom was reeling with incredulity when three of us came forward and volunteered to take selfies for today’s post. Of course, she selected the ones I took. After all I am the cutest! She has saved the others in her Sunday Selfies folder for future posts.

 

 

I wish someone would tell her that Halloween is still 10 days away. I would have liked a nice pastel frame to show off my magnificent tortieness, but alas, I am at her mercy when it comes to how my photos are displayed. I’ve heard a rumor that I may find Halloween particularly distasteful this year, and I have seen why. Mom has purchased an actual tortie-sized Halloween costume that she thinks she’s going to convince me to wear. I think some zombie must have eaten her brain, as that ain’t ever going to happen.

All of us Kitties Blue already have our virtual costumes and are ready for Angel Sammy and Teddy’s Teaser Halloween Party (Two Spoiled Cats). So obviously, I do not need a real costume. I will keep you up-to-date on what is certain to be a fiasco.

Before asking you to hop, my brofurs, sisfurs and I would like to remember and honor a beautiful lady. Brian’s sisfur, Sascha, who had been ill for quite a while, received her wings on Friday.

Remembering Sascha

 

 

Sascha was having health issues for quite sometime, especially during the past month. She even had to spend several days in the hospital. She was fortunate to be able to come home to celebrate her Gotcha Day on October 9. Sascha will be missed by all of us and so many others. We are fairly certain most of you have visited Sascha’s family and left your condolences. But if not, you can click on her photo to visit Brian’s Home. We are sending purrs, prayers, love and our sympathy to the entire family.

Blog Hop

Now it’s time to hop and show off your selfies. Those of you who join us regularly, know what’s what. If not, here are some tips for linking up.

  • The link to add your selfie to the hop is below.
  • You also will find below the code to use if you’d like the hop to appear on your blog.
  • You do not need to post on Sundays to join.
  • The hop remains open for entries through Thursday midnight.
  • Please be so kind as to display our badge and/or link to The Cat on My Head

With purrs and paw-pats, Astrid

 



ANGEL FIONA FEATURED AS CATURDAY ART

Caturday Art

Today’s art features our angel Fiona, who also is mentioned in or Friendly Fill-Ins, which you’ll find below. When I was searching for a photo to use for today’s art, I ran across this one of our beautiful girl, and I knew immediately I had to use it.

 

Angel Fiona is featured in Caturday Art.

 

I used Pixlr again this week. If you haven’t tried this app, I think you will like it. Infinite choices are available in overlays, and they can be easily stacked one atop the other. They also can be used at a saturation from 1 to 100 percent. I used overlays from four separate groups in the following order: 1) Splattered from Grunge; 2) Hearts from Bokeh; 3) Orange from Leaking HD and 4) Devine from Default. I added the black edges using piZap.

Angel Fiona is featured in Caturday Art.Here’s the original photo of Fiona. I truly hope you all have enjoyed seeing her today. If you are new to our blog, I wrote the two poems on the sidebar for Fiona. She got her wings on December 1, 2016, at age six, after fighting CKD for nearly a year. Fiona is Giulietta’s sister. She will remain forever in my heart.

Caturday Art is a blog hop hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. You can join the hop or find links to other art by clicking on her badge.

Friendly Fill-Ins: Week 76

I didn’t do yesterday’s fill-in blog hop as it was the official day to celebrate Tock-Tober. So, with some help from Calista Jo, I am completing the fill-ins today. Both mine and C.J.’s completions are in teal italics.

1.  Calista Jo: If I was a ghost, I would haunt the home of my foster mom, Diane. I wouldn’t do it to scare anybody but to spend some time with my sisfurs, Ellie and DeeDee, who still live there.

2. I always feel sad and lonely  when I think about or look at photos of my beloved Fiona.

3. My favourite scary story is the movie, “The Ring,” with Naomi Watts from 2002.

4. I will be so glad when the upcoming elections are over. As usual, the political ads are driving me crazy. So much negativity!

Friendly Fill-Ins are created and hosted each Friday by Annie (McGuffy’s Reader) and Ellen (15 And Meowing). To join in the hop or find links to other participants, click on the badge below.

Sunday Selfies Reminder

Wow, this past week absolutely flew by. I cannot believe we are already talking about taking selfies for tomorrow’s blog hop. Some kitty will be here to greet you and act as your host. No volunteers have stepped forward as yet. You’ll just have to check back tomorrow to see who is here.

Thanks, dear friends, for continuing to join us on this hop. We appreciate your support.

See you tomorrow.