maneki-neko

STARK RAVING CAT CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY

Nippy Goodness Can Be Yours! 

Today we got to sample a holiday product from the new company, Stark Raving Cat. We received their Santa’s Rocking Stocking Catnip Joints. Mom teased us for a while before she opened the brown paper bag packaging. We could smell the nip right through the package. As you can see in one of Lisbeth’s photos, she was not to happy with mom for making her wait. (Raspberry!)

 

Stark Raving Cat Christmas

 

stark raving cat stockingThis limited edition stocking is designed for hanging on the Christmas tree or mantle. A red-and-white pair of catnip joints (topped with tiny Santa hats) peeks out from a traditional red stocking. From the ribbon on the front hangs a silver-tone cat-and-mouse charm. It’s perfect to add to your cat’s collar, a key chain or a necklace to wear it as a pendant.

It is evident from our photos that we liked this product. The nip is so potent it permeated the stocking and it’s hang tag. Mauricio wouldn’t let go of these items or stop licking the tag. Lily Olivia liked the easy-to-hold joints the best. We think this would be a great gift for all nip-loving kitties. Stark Raving Cat’s Santa’s Rocking Stocking Catnip Joints also would be a great present if you are participating in the Santa Kitty Toy Hop or Secret Paws.

About Stark Raving Cat

StarkRavingCat.com, located in Texas, specializes in small batch, artisanal gifts for cats and cat-lovers. According to company owner Kate Heyhoe “Our products are not mass produced, each is designed in-house, and made by hand with love and care, so you can pretty much guarantee your gift will stand out, and put the ho-ho-ho in the holidays.” And all products are cat tested and approved in house by Tamale, Pookie and Wolfie.

Stark Raving Cat Maneki NekoStark Raving Cat has a huge variety of unique products, including one our mom is putting on her Christmas Wish List: Maneki Neko earrings and kitty collar with a Maneki Neko bell. She collects these lucky cats so cannot resist this product. We are wondering which of us will get the new collar.

Kitties Blue are giving away one Santa’s Rocking Stocking Catnip Joints. To enter just leave a comment on this post prior to Thursday, November 19, at 5 p.m. EDT. We will ship worldwide. If you don’t win, you can order your own Santa’s Rocking Stocking from Stark Raving Cat for $15.

logo Stark raving cat

Disclaimer: The Cat on My Head received two Santa Stockings from Stark Raving Cat for the purpose of review and giveaway. We were not compensated monetarily for this post and the opinions expressed are entirely our own.

Two Days Remain to Enter Our Other Giveaway

women who still love cats too muchWe are giving away two copies of the book, Women Who Still Love Cats Too Much, by Allia Zobel Nolan. It is 80-pages of fun and oh-so-true one-liners with colorful illustrations by Nicole Hollander. I guarantee if you’ve ever had a relationship with a cat, you will recognize yourself in this book and LOL as you do so. For an opportunity to win, click here to read Mom’s review and leave a comment. The giveaway is open to readers worldwide. Comments must be left by Friday, November 13, at 5 p.m. EDT.

Purrs and paw-pats, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

 

 

 

November 12, 2015 by Christmas Giveaway Holiday Kitty Written Blog Nipheads Product Review Thankful Thursday 45

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.

February 1, 2013 by Barn Cat Buddies Crazy Cat Lady 14

I am a feline fanatic. My license plate reads “PRRFCT.” I have lived with and cared for 22 cats over the past 40+ years. The Cat on My Head is a website dedicated to the mostly comical and often exasperating antics of eight cats and their four- teen angel predecessors.

 

© Copyright by Janet Blue (The Cat on My Head) 2012-2023  All rights reserved: Nothing from this site may be used in any form without written permission of the author.

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YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 11/30/2016

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 06/01/2017

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 11/30/2017

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

© Giulietta Blue 11/01/17

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 01/03/2018

Kitty Couples

Angels
Allie & Mau
Married: July 23, 2016

Astrid & Sampson
Married: June 23, 2016

Lisbeth & Angel Charles

Noelle & Sawyer

Tyebe & Snap aka Cooper Murphy

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YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 11/30/2016

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 06/01/2017

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 11/30/2017

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

© Giulietta Blue 11/01/17

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.

© Janet Buickerood Blue 01/03/2018

Kitty Couples

Angels
Allie & Mau
Married: July 23, 2016

Astrid & Sampson
Married: June 23, 2016

Lisbeth & Angel Charles

Noelle & Sawyer

Tyebe & Snap aka Cooper Murphy