Crazy Cat Lady

SPRINGTIME GINGER TABBY CAT

Caturday Art

Photo of ginger cat with a springtime floral palette and a flower border of white, pink and yellow daisies.

 

Our handsome ginger tabby, gentleman cat, Cooper Murphy, is the subject of today’s art. He’s hoping you don’t think it’s a bit too feminine for a man cat. After creating the art using the Purple Fly Guy effect from Painnt, the photo reminded me of springtime flowers, which brought about my selection of the flowery frame. It is from the favpng app.

Cooper Murphy is participating in the Caturday Art blog hosted by Athena Cat Goddess Wise Kitty. You can join him by clicking on her badge.

Cooper requested I create a puzzle for those of you who enjoy them.

preview130pieceGinger Cat Flower Art

Sunday Selfies Reminder

It’s that time again for you to brush up your furs and put a twinkle in your eyes, so you can impress all your friends tomorrow when you join in our blog hop. That’s right, it is selfie time again. And, as is usually the case, the identity of your host is as yet unknown.  So, if you want to see who’ll be here to greet you as well as who else has posted a selfie, you’ll need to pop back here tomorrow.

Until then…

 

 

 

SECRET PAWS AND SANTA CLAWS

This was the most pawsome Christmas for the kitties in our house. We never, ever before received so many great toys, treats and other prezzies.

silver christmasFirst of all, we must tell you about our Secret Paws goodies from I Love Silver Meow. We got some pawtastic noms and toys and yippee, woohoo, paws-up, catnip! And Mom got the cutest t-shirt.

Giulietta claims all the Silver Meow gifts for herself without even knowing the contents.

Giulietta claims all the Silver Meow gifts for herself without even knowing the contents.

Mauricio and Giulietta check out the goodies as the packages are unwrapped.

Mauricio and Giulietta check out the goodies as the packages are unwrapped.

Giulietta and Astrid survey the contents of a couple of the packages.

Giulietta and Astrid survey the contents of a couple of the packages.

All the goodies from Silver Meow: An appropriate "Crazy Cat Lady" t-shirt for Mom, a whole slew of cat toys, catnip, treats and puff balls.

Calista Jo displays all the goodies from Silver Meow: An appropriate “Crazy Cat Lady” t-shirt for Mom, a whole slew of cat toys, catnip, treats and puff balls. (Mauricio is in the background.)

Our dad is such a jokester. When he saw the entire plastic package of toys, he said, “Wow, there’s not enough room under the refrigerator for all of those.” MOL! Fiona does like to store toys there so Mom has decided to dole these out a couple at a time. “Thanks Dad!”

Giulietta chose one of the puff balls as her own. Later in the day she was seen walking through the house with the long ribbon in her mouth and running through her legs with the puff trailing behind her. MOL!

Giulietta chose one of the puff balls as her own. Later in the day she was seen walking through the house with the long ribbon in her mouth and running through her legs with the puff trailing behind her. MOL!

Mauricio’s girlfriend Allie from the Florida Furkids at Friends Furever was so generous and sent him treats, a wand toy, a nip nanner and a beautiful blanket.

Mauricio shows off his best bunny-kicking and bitey skills while enjoying his nip nanner from Allie.

Mauricio shows off his best bunny-kicking and bitey skills while enjoying his nip nanner from Allie.

L to R: Lily Olivia, Fiona, Giulietta, Calista and Lisbeth with the nanner and blankie from Allie.

L to R: Lily Olivia, Fiona, Giulietta, Calista and Lisbeth with the nanner and blankie from Allie.

Mauricio has been an excellent big brofur and Cat Scout. He has willingly shared his blanket, toys and treats from Allie.

Fiona and Calista Jo on Mau's blanket with a mouse from Santa.

Fiona and Calista Jo on Mau’s blanket with a mouse from Santa.

We received lots and lots of goodies from Santa and our pawrents. We think the humans were feeling just a smidgen guilty for deserting us so often this year. All our gifts are meowvolous, but we rather have those gallivanting two-leggers here with us. We are so glad to have received two additional ham-micks, but nothing beats the warm laps of Mom and Dad.

Calista poses on the new "Hello Kitty" ham-mick while Lily watches some of the others playing with the gifts from Silver Meow.

Calista poses on the new “Hello Kitty” ham-mick with the Christmas ham-mick in the foreground and Lily watching some of the others playing with the gifts from Silver Meow.

Thank you Silver Meow, Santa, Allie and Mom and Dad for all the great prezzies. We are feeling loved and maybe just a teeny bit spoiled. Or maybe not.

Finally, we are sorry we have been a little lax with our visiting and commenting. We are slowly trying to catch up, and if we haven’t visited you in a few days, we should be stopping by very soon.

Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

 

THE BECKONING CAT (MANEKI-NEKO)

maneki-neko collectionThe male human, Tom, has been traveling to Japan regularly since the late eighties. On many occasions he brought home a beckoning cat (maneki-neko) figurine. Some he received as gifts, and others he purchased for me. In time I fell in love with these little kitties and have amassed a small collection.

The maneki-neko is usually portrayed as a calico Japanese Bobtail with either one or both paws raised. The kitty is a symbol for good fortune/good luck. The opposite paw often holds a tag with the message, “Please come in. You are welcome.” This is why this little fellow is often seen in the front windows of businesses and restaurants.

Before Christmas, when we went to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, I found and purchased a beckoning cat Christmas ornament. And Tom found one on-line at Gump’s which he purchased for me as a gift.

In case you do not know the story of the maneki-neko, I’ll share a little bit with you.

In the 17th century a very poor priest lived in a rundown and poverty-stricken Tokyo temple. The priest shared what little food he had with his pet cat, Tama.

One day, an important, wealthy man was caught in a storm while hunting. He took refuge under a big tree near the temple. While waiting for the storm to pass, the man noticed a cat beckoning him to come inside the temple gate. This was so startling, the man left the shelter of the tree to get a closer look at the cat. In the next moment the tree was struck by lighting.

As a result of Tama saving him, the wealthy man became friends with the poor priest, and the temple became prosperous. The priest and his cat never went hungry again. This story and the cat displayed to the left came from the web-site www.actioncat.com. They gave permission to use their graphics as long as a link to a pet rescue site was included, so here’s my link: www.barncatbudddies.org in Hardy, VA. This is an organization I support and from which three of my kitties—Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette—have been adopted.

For other legends regarding this cute kitty, you can check out Wikipedia.

 I hope you enjoy this photo of my collection.