We’ve decided it would be fun to take the 2016 Pet Blogger Challenge sponsored by GoPetfriendly.com to give you the opportunity to learn a little bit more about The Cat on My Head.
1. How long have you been blogging? Our first post was published on July 21, 2012. We knew nothing about blogging and knew no other bloggers. Mom just wanted to start writing more, and she thought telling stories about us would be a good way to do it.
And, for anyone who is visiting for the first time, please give a quick description of the subject of your blog. We began with the intent of sharing funny stories about ourselves and the nine angel cats who came before. Eventually we branched out into doing product and book reviews. And 74 weeks ago we began our popular Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. Each week we always participate in BlogPaws and Create with Joy’s Wordless Wednesday blog hops and in Athena and Marie‘s Caturday Art Blog Hop. We also write about Cat Scouts of which Mauricio is member.
2. What is the one thing that you accomplished during 2015, either on your blog or because of it, that made you most proud? We were contacted by PAWSPR of New York and asked if Mom would like to interview cat behaviorist and Animal Planet reality star, Jackson Galaxy, about his new book, Catify to Satisfy, and his Jackson Galaxy Foundation. A 25-minute telephone interview became a series of three blogs posts. To this day Mom does not know who recommended that she be contacted to do this.
3. Which of your blog posts was your favorite this year and why? Just because of what it represents with regard to legitimizing our blog, we have to say the three Jackson Galaxy posts.
4. What is one thing you’ve done in the past year that has brought more traffic to your blog? That would be our Sunday Selfies Blog Hop. The number of participants varies from week to week but from the outset it has been very popular with at least 50 participants each week. And we have new participants joining almost every week, giving us the opportunity to make new friends.
5. Which of your blog posts got the most traffic this year? Why do you think it was so popular? Our most popular post was a review and giveaway of the book, The Good, the Bad and the Furry, by popular British author, Tom Cox. The second most popular was our recent post, Purrs and Prayers Please for Fiona, about Fiona’s diagnosis of CKD. The first shows how much everyone loves the opportunity to win a great book about cats, and Cox himself promoted the post and giveaway via Twitter. The second proves that our pet blogging community is filled with the most caring and compassionate individuals. We all appreciate the outpouring of love, support and suggestions in how to care for Fiona.
6. What is one blog that you read religiously — other than your own — and what makes you such a devoted reader? We have dozens we always read; though, sometimes we get behind and have to read several days at a time. We never miss Kitty Cat Chronicles or Friends Furever as those are the blogs of Astrid’s boyfriend Sampy and Mau’s girlfriend Allie.
7. What resources do you rely on to enhance your technical, writing, photography, social media, or other skills that improve your blog? No one resource. If Mom is working on a post that requires research, she’ll Google to find the appropriate web-sites, resources and information. The BlogPaws conference and website are always excellent sources of help to improve blogging skills. One of the best resources is our fellow bloggers.
8. What is the best piece of advice you can offer other bloggers? Be true to yourself and write about what you know and what makes you happy. Though many of our blogs cover the same information, we each have our own story to tell in our own voice. Get to know other bloggers (even if you never meet in person) as they can be your best resources when you need help and support.
9. What is your vision for your blog in 2016? Do you have specific goals? Mom would like to improve her photographic skills. When we started the blog she was not that concerned about the photographs as her skills lie with writing. But she realizes how exceptional photography can enhance any post after seeing the quality photography on blogs such as Glogirly, A Tonk’s Tail and Sometimes Cats Herd You. Most of the decent photos on our blog have been taken by our dad, but he’s not always available. We’d also like to develop more of a presence on Twitter by posting there on a consistent basis.
10. You have the attention of the pet blogging community — is there one blogging challenge you’d like help with, or one aspect of your blog that you’d like input on? We’ll take any input, suggestions or help anyone would like to offer if it helps make our blog better and more interesting.
So that’s it! If you decide to read this, we hope you find it of interest.
Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
We enjoyed reading your blogger challenge. It’s always fun learning more about our furiends and what their future goals are. It warmed our hearts to read that our blog is one that you are always sure to read. Yours is one we try to never miss as well 🙂 We look forward to what 2016 has in store for you!!
Sampy sends 294857629873465928374659287364 kisses to Astrid, and we all send lots of love, with extra purrs for Fiona.
Nice to learn more about you.
We loved learning more about you, dear friends. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
We loved reading your answers and we always enjoy reading you blog. Purrs
wonderful answers and we say keep on doin’ what you are doin’!
You’re not gonna believe this but when we started out our photography was truly awful. In fact, there are no real pics of ME until the 3rd post. Can you believe it? TW came from a writing background too. Also, as much as her old boss tried to teach her, she couldn’t figure out Photoshop, working on the blog has helped her learn for herself.
Gweat posty. We always luv learnin’ more ’bout our furiends. Have a pawsum day and da bestest bloggin’ year so far.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
We enjoyed your answers and agree with the advice to be true to yourself!
We always love visiting your blog and reading what you’ve been up to! Thank you for mentioning us as an example of a blog with good photography. You should see the head peep blushing!
Hi !
We love your blog and try to visit as much as we can , all though we think that the mom-persons work take way to much time away from visiting.
XOXO
Thanks for sharing!!!
Isn’t it something how now everyone turns to Mr Google?
All of us do, times have changed so much.
What a great series for you to comment on. WE always enjoy reading your blog and commenting and being apart of #sundayselfies!
Very informative and interesting. You were the tilting blog and now I will take the challenge. Thanks my friend.
Shoko
We really like all your answers as they will help us be better bloggers. We try and visit your blog as much as we can as we have have fun an learn a lot. Dad wishes he has more time and his new job will leave even less in 2016.
Purrs to Fiona our dear sweet girl
Timmy Dad and Family
I loved reading your answers to this challenge and in fact you inspired me to take the challenge myself! I think I have posted before sometime that I actually started our Peaches and Paprika blog because of being inspired by your Sunday Selfies blog hop with its hope of a warm-hearted community. Okay now you have also inspired me to do the Pet Blogger Challenge myself! Thanks again for being YOU and for all your posts and for your presence in the community! – Carol, Mom of Peaches & Paprika
guys…R commints never post rite; tho we reed yur blog when we can sneek over thiz way; we wanted ta say we N joyed reedin thiz post N may bee one oh theeze dayz we can act shoo a lee take a sun day selfeez !! WE will take de selfeez…knot de food servizz gurl { who sux at takin fotoz ~~~ ♥♥
Embarrassed to admit, I did not know about the interviews with JG. Can’t think of anyone else more qualified. I will read them today. Your responses were truly interesting.
The Cat on My Head is one of my favorite blogs, too. You were one of the first to subscribe to MY blog (Moggiepurrs). In some respects, I really miss doing it…the camaraderie, the regular writing discipline, learning new things about cats, and just plain having FUN. I am glad you have stuck with it. I am very fond of all of the Kitties Blue and it is the high point of my blog surfing mornings! 🙂
Those were all terrific answers and we think you’re rockin’ the blogosphere!
A wonderful read, Janet. So glad to have found your blog (through Sunday Selfies)! I hope to be back blogging soon. Finally, starting to get settled in our new home. Got workers coming this week to build a new catio for our seven babies! All the best!
Well you know by now that we love your blog just the way it is……..it’s a great mix of fun, product reviews, health information, and education – it’s got it all AND a bunch of beautiful kitties too! The Hop is one of our favorite events every week – and your friendship means a lot to us HERE and at Scouts!
Love, Sammy and Mom
We enjoyed reading your answers…and we love visiting your blog. 🙂
I don’t blog but I do enjoy reading about Kitties Blue a lot! Just like I visit many cat friends on Facebook, reading makes me happy!
My only regret is not being able to join Sunday Selfies. As I don’t have a website, I can’t join.
I also am not a big fan of the Saturday artwork as I think cats are an artwork all their own. I love the original photos much better than the fancied up ones. But that is my own opinion.
I did come to see you originally because of Glogirly.
I’m so glad you participated in this challenge and I really enjoyed your answers! Did you know that your blogoversary is my human’s birthday?
We love reading your blog and the things you are interested in. We enjoy the sunday selfies blog hop each week, in fact it is the one thing we find that keeps us blogging regularly, MOL!
We started blogging just for fun, and we still try to keep it that way, our blog is just sort of a diary of the things we do and of our lives in general.
Keep up the great work!