New Year's Resolutions, "Cody-Style"

There were probably

many, many times this year when:

I MAY have:

Disturbed you,

Troubled you,

Pestered you,

Irritated you,

Bugged you,

or got on your nerves....

My Cody!

Soooo today I just wanted to tell you:

Suck it up Cupcake!!!!!

This is NOT Cody but if he could wear this, trust me, he would!!

CAUSE THERE 

AIN'T NO CHANGES

PLANNED FOR 2011!!!!


Love, Cody

**This post  was sent to me via email by my dear friend Terry.
 The post originally contained a dog photo.
 Since it was so appropriate for my Cody I took the liberty of changing it.

I've Never Much Cared For New Year's Eve

Bobo and I

New Year's Eve has never been on my list as one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger it was always a holiday where I felt incredibly alone. Probably because if I sit down and reflect on various New Year's Eves in my life, for the vast majority I WAS alone.

Don't get me wrong, I love being alone with myself...NOW. That wasn't the case in my 20s and 30s. Back then if I was alone for New Year's Eve I felt like a leper. I would ignore the television, crawl into bed at 10pm and pray that I would wake up after the clock struck midnight. All of that in an attempt to avoid seeing the sickeningly sweet smooching of saccharin couples at midnight. I felt like the lemon in the bunch.

Until...I found my first cat,  my Bobo. For more years than I probably should admit, but lovingly remember, Bobo and I brought in the New Year together.

I used to laugh when I would look at his neck (that always looked to me as if he were wearing a napkin), and imagine a black bow tie around it, and a little tuxedo on his back.

If he wasn't in the living room with me, I would find him sleeping happily on my bed. I would creep in at 11:55 pm, gently pick him up and tell him he had to get ready for his "New Year's dance with Mama" (yes I AM certifiable)....

I would hold him and raise his paw (in the form of a waltz) and dance with him to "Auld Lang Syne" and thank him for yet another wonderful year. Bobo, always one to please his Mama, tolerated my tradition for many, many years.

Of course there were some years when I WAS out, or when I married, where the "tradition" was no longer a yearly event.

I always felt a void. As if the New Year would be tainted if I didn't have my dance with my precious Bobo.

Those years whenever I DID get home I would make sure to pick him up at whatever time it was and dance to "Auld Lang Syne". Then and only then, I knew I was starting my year as it should be, with my "Baby Bobo", who loved me for many, many years, often  when nobody else seemed to care.

Bobo as a kitten

Bobo has been gone nearly 4 years now and there have been 3 New Year's Eves without him physically present in my life, but still when the clock strikes midnight, and my loving husband, our precious cat Cody and our dear dog Dakota all exchange kisses, I will still be dancing with my Bobo in my heart, and always will, for all of the New Year's Eves to come.

**Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve wherever you are and however you celebrate. Thanks for sharing 2010 with Cody and I. We are grateful for each and every one of you, you all touch our hearts in many, many ways....we hope you will join us in 2011!


**I apologize for the poor quality photos...they are not actually the "New Year's Dance" but you get the idea...these photos are currently in frames on the wall...hence the poor reproduction.

"If You Can BELIEVE It, You Can ACHIEVE IT" (Semi-Wordless Wednesday)

"Toesy" Tuesday

Aren't my toes just the CUTEST "toesies EVER?? You thought I was kidding when I said I LOVE mice?

If you missed my review on Monday of "Who Moved My Mouse?" by author Dena Harris, you can read about it HERE!

In the meantime, find some toes to tickle and make it a terrific Tuesday! Love, Cody

Book Review by Cody "Who Moved My Mouse? A Self-Help Book For Cats (Who Don't Need Any Help) by Dena Harris

Hi All! It's CODY!! I know you are glad to hear from ME!

Now that the New Year is approaching many of my kitty friends are starting to reflect on their plans, hopes, dreams, favorite mode of destruction and more slick ways for us to think about getting what we want out of life. I am here to help ya out!

 The other day I was going through some of my Mom's books that she hasn't read yet and found Who Moved My Mouse? A book about a mouse? Are you KIDDING ME? Mice are my favorite things in this entire universe (next to meals of course) and I became very curious (I AM a CAT you know!)

I noticed that this book is "A self-help book for cats (who don't need any help)"...well...that would be ME!  This is purrfect! Everyone else is making New Years resolutions and reading self-help books, but not MOI!! I am purrfect just the way I am! I knew I had to pawsitively read this book!

I know that all of you are pretty darned bright out there but in the unlikely case you didn't make the connection, the title Who Moved My Mouse? is a take on the self-help book for humans (who DO need HELP)( Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D.)

Dena and one of her cats "Olivia"

This book is full of fun pawsonality profile quizzes, quotes, exercises (don't get nervous my kitty pals, not the kind that actually makes you get up off of your comfortable perch), tips and lots and lots of laughs! They say it "empowers cats to make the twenty minutes they're awake each day the best twenty minutes of their lives" "Twenty minutes??" Noooo way, it is actually TWENTY FIVE minutes!

Ok, move closer to the screen my furriends and let me tease you with a little nip of what you will find in this fun and informative book!

CHAPTER ONE
 A Cat's Conversations with God, kitties ask questions to God and God answers them, here is an example: CAT: "Then why does "DOG" spelled backward equal "God"? GOD'S REPLY: "that was an oversight on my part. Horrible mistake. Lots of confusion resulting from that one-I'm still trying to sort it out. My apologies."

CHAPTER FIVE
"Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...But Feel Free to Freak Out Over Anything That Moves Suddenly or Without Warning.
This was actually one of my favorite chapters! It was full of sagacious advice for us kitties such as:

 Practice Random Acts of Kindness (not what you think MOL!)
 Life Isn't Fair-Get Over it
 Purrspective:Will This Matter a Year from Now?
Stop Pointing the Paw of Blame
Stare into Strangers' Eyes and Smile (unblinking, until you Break Them)

There are sooo many valuable tips/hints/tricks in this book that kitties you will be set for all of your nine lives!!I have so many things that I love about this book  that my scent is just marked all over the place! It was hard for me to pick the ones for your pawview that I liked the best.

Let me leave you with my pawsonal fave from the section "How to Avoid Being Punished for Anything, Ever"

Dena and one of her cats "Lucy"

"INVOLVE THE DOG-This ploy is so easy it's almost cruel. Lead the puppy to the (fill in the blank----broken dish, tilled plant, chewed shoe, crashed computer) and invite him to play. Wipe any incriminating cat paw prints from the scene with your tail and assume the "I'm as shocked by this behavior as you are" look when your human enters the room and sees Scout happily rolling in plant dirt."

Come closer kitties, let me whisper in your ear, like the best-selling book The Secret....we kitties have one too! But....you'll have to pawchase the book to find out what it is!


 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dena Harris has been a humor columnist for Cats & Kittens Magazine and contributor to Chicken Soup for the Cat-Lover’s Soul . The author of Lessons in Stalking and For the Love of Cats, Dena lives in Madison, North Carolina with her husband and two cats in a home filled with expensive, never played with cat toys.

 Ten Speed Press (ISBN: 978-1580083560). For more
information on the book and author, visit www.selfhelpforcats.com. You may also purchase Who Moved My Mouse? at amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Indiebound and Powell's Books.        

We Wish You a "Meowy" Christmas!!

May ALL of your Christmas dreams come true!!!!

"Meowy" Christmas!!!

with lots and lots of love

and kitty kisses

from

Caren and Cody

We're participating in this Saturday's Pet Blog Hop, hosting by Life With Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers and Confessions of the Plume.  If you'd like to participate, please follow the rules and follow your three hosts, add your blog to the Linky and copy and paste the html code into your html editor.  Thanks again to our hosts for putting on the hop!

This is a Blog Hop! 35 entries so far... you're next!

"You Better Watch Out..."

You better watch out, you better not cry...

You better not scratch, I'm tellin' you why...

Cody Cat is Comin' To Town....

I'm makin' a list, checkin' it twice....

Gonna find out

Which kitties stole my mice...

Cody Cat is comin' to town...

The kits in all the Blog-o-sphere

Are gonna have a jubilee....

They're gonna build a Cat House...

All around the scratchin' post tree!

Soooo...you better watch out,

You better not cry,

You better not scratch, I'm tellin' you why....

Cody Cat is comin' toooooooo town!!!!

"I see you when you're sleeping!! You better watch out!"

Southfield Michigan:URGENT, 4 Foreclosure Cats Abandoned In The Cold

Before you read this post let me first say:

 This sickens me to no end. If someone can no longer afford their pets due to foreclosure or WHATEVER take the animals to a shelter, a caring friend, a veterinary practice, ANYWHERE but DO NOT ABANDON THEM.

 After I received this post yesterday I contacted two people that I know who are actively involved with the rescues in Oakland Co. Michigan, and one who is experienced in trapping ferals (even if these are not feral cats).

 They immediately went into action blasting this post to every rescue in Michigan and their volunteers.

 I posted this on Facebook and Twitter....

 I pray the vile individual(s) who would do something to these poor, defenseless babies get the karma that they so deeply deserve.

I am awaiting updates at this time....

Here is what I received, in its entirety:

CROSSPOST OK & WELCOME

Southfield is a city in the vicinity of Detroit in the affluent Oakland County, Michigan.

Contact Cheryl Lang if you can help
CHERYL LANG
Founder and President
cheryl@nopawsleftbehind.org
O 281.717.0055
C 281.605.8390
www.NoPawsLeftBehind.org
16225 Park Ten Place Suite 105
Houston, TX 77084

RESCUERS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY. Food, water, and makeshift shelter will be provided for kitties locked out in the cold at a foreclosed property. Photos were taken 12/19/10. Four cats have been seen by the realtors, though there are only three in the photos. Tell us if you think the cats are definitely over one year old. One rescuer said they only take cats who are less than one year old. Thank you.

On Dec 21, 2010, at 12:04 PM the realtor wrote:
        Hello Cheryl,       
I got your contact information from a previous REO property that we managed in Pontiac, MI. I’m hoping you can helps us or lead us to who may be able to help us with a current matter where there are at least 4 abandoned cats. These cats are friendly and appear to have been well feed so we believe they were left behind by the previous homeowner. Our local Human Society will not pick them up, nor will the city do anything. Our temperatures are dropping fast so they are in danger of facing cold temps and hunger.  Please let me know if you have any resources for us in our area. The property in question is located in Southfield MI.

Have Yourself A "Meowy" Little Christmas-Wordless Wednesday

Disney Cats-"It Feels Like Christmas"

Cats, Christmas and Disney, it doesn't get any better!!!!

Book Review: "Cat Coming Home", A Joe Grey Mystery By Shirley Rousseau Murphy

"

Since I started doing book reviews on Cat Chat I have been receiving some unexpected books in the mail that have been sent to me by various publishers.

"Cat Coming Home" was the first of a few of these books that will be periodically featured on Cat Chat.

I saved this one to read for the main reason that the cover had a black cat with various Santas around it, and I thought this would be a good book to feature during the holidays.

What I thought the book would be and what it actually IS are worlds apart! I was mistaken that because there were Santas on the cover that this was a light-weight, fluffy (pun intended) cat book with a  warm and cozy story tucked between it's pages. I couldn't have been more wrong.

"Cat Coming Home" is a mystery. I know a number of you will think I am insane but mysteries are not on the list of my favorite genre of books to read, as a result I kept pushing this one to my "one of my books I will get to later" piles. I am rather an impatient sort (surprise, surprise) who prefers to ponder and get lost in thought when I read, I am not one who cares about "who done it" and frankly most mysteries lose me due to my lack of curiosity. (I would make a lousy cat).

Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Once again my feeling that I would not enjoy this book or have it capture my attention couldn't have been more wrong. It is a generous 354 pages (and as we used to say in school, it wouldn't be a "quick read" because it isn't printed in large type!). I started reading it Friday night and much to my surprise I found myself so engrossed in this mystery that I had nearly finished the entire book by the time I went to bed.

"Cat Coming Home" is one of a series of books featuring an amazing cat (Joe Grey) who has the ability to talk, use the telephone, write (even without opposable thumbs) and a number of his cat friends can do the same. Joe Grey is a detective cat (not many humans know this), and his friends,  Kit, Misto (the Senior kitty of the bunch, a former prison cat) and Dulcie are important links to the solving of this most intriguing mystery.

One of the main characters is Maudie Toola who has left Los Angeles following the horrific murder of her son and his wife (newlyweds). She is returning to her childhood home of Molena Point along with her orphaned grandson (Benny). She is faced with having to raise Benny. It is Christmas time and Maudie is not looking forward to the holidays but knows she must make them the best she can for poor Benny.

What Maudie doesn't know is that the killer has followed her. She also doesn't know that she is under the watchful eye of four cats who aren't your classic "cute" kitties but are brave, intelligent, super sleuths with a gift for sarcasm and the ability to be "at the right place at the right time".

"Cat Coming Home" is riveting, peppered with danger, humor, excitement, strong friendships and new beginnings.

If you like cats (or not) or mysteries (or both),  or if you are like me and normally DON'T like mysteries, give this one a try. It will pull you into the depths of it's pages as it did me.

CAT COMING HOME by Shirley Rousseau Murphy. (William Morrow) ISBN: 9780061806933 is the 16th installment in the award-winning Joe Grey mystery series.

The reading order of the Joe Grey novels is as follows:

Cat on the Edge
Cat Under Fire
Cat Raise the Dead
Cat in the Dark
Cat to the Dogs
Cat Spitting Mad
**Cat on the Money
Cat Laughing Last
Cat Seeing Double
Cat Fear No Evil
Cat Cross Their Graves
Cat Breaking Free
Cat Pay the Devil
Cat Deck the Halls
Cat Playing Cupid
Cat Striking BackCat Coming Home
(from www.joegrey.com)

ABOUT SHIRLEY ROUSSEAU MURPHY: she "has received eight national Cat Writers' Association Awards for best novel of the year, two Cat Writers' President's Awards, the "World's Best Cat Litter-ary Award" in 2006 for the Joe Grey books, and five Council of Authors and Journalists Awards for previous books. She and her husband live in Carmel, California, where they serve as full-time household help for two demanding feline ladies." She may be contacted at 

murphy@joegrey.com

"

Visit www.joegrey.com

I Need To Blog Hop!!!

Mom, I told ya to turn this on, you need to post the BLOG HOP!!

Maybe if I look  really serious she'll get the hint and turn this thing on!

Last Minute Pet Lover Gift Ideas!!

Buy NOOTERS CLUB® Apparel & Gifts

 and help promote pet spay/neuter

while donating money to rescue groups around the U.S.

Are you looking for a last-minute gift for the pet lover in your life? NOOTERS CLUB® apparel and gifts makes it easy to deliver a holiday chuckle while helping pets by promoting spay and neuter and making a donation to rescue groups.

NOOTERS CLUB® is a company that raises awareness of the importance of pet spay and neuter in reducing pet overpopulation through its wide-eyed dog, cat and rabbit cartoons and humorous sayings such as “My Cat Stops at Heavy Petting®.”  The characters appear on a variety of apparel and gift items including t-shirts, nightshirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, shopping bags, vehicle magnets and more. 

Shoppers who make their NOOTERS CLUB® purchases through member rescue group websites earn the rescue group 15 percent of each sale.  Shoppers simply choose a rescue group from the NOOTERS CLUB® list of participants and go to that rescue group’s website.  Look for the NOOTERS CLUB® link that will take them to the NOOTERS CLUB® online store.  Their purchase will automatically credit the rescue group for the purchase.

Participating rescue groups:

Assisi Animal Foundation, Crystal Lake, IL – www.assisi.org/fundraisers.html

Colorado House Rabbit Society, Broomfield, CO - www.coloradohrs.com/

C-SNIP Kentwood, MI - www.csnip.org/aboutyou08.html

Las Vegas House Rabbit Society, Las Vegas, NV - www.bunnyrescuefund.org/ 
Mid Michigan Boxer Rescue West Bloomfield, MI - www.midmichiganboxerrescue.org/info/display?PageID=8572 

Northeast Satellite of the CO HRS Loveland, CO - www.coloradohrs.org/northeast/ne_news.asp

The Pet Castle Animal Rescue Florence, KY - www.nkychristiananimalrescue.com/Shop_and_Donate.html

Rascally Rabbit Rescue, AZ - www.rascallyrabbitrescue.org/links.html

Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance, Denver, CO - www.rmaca.org/support-rmaca/

Spay Alabama, Hueytown, AL - www.spayalabama.org/events.htm

Nooters Club Magnet

In addition, SHIPPING IS FREE on all purchases of $30 and more made by December 31, 2010.  Spend $50 or more and get a free vehicle magnet. See www.nootersclub.org for coupon codes. 

“Our whimsical cartoons always get a chuckle and make a great gift for anyone who loves animals,” says NOOTERS CLUB® founder Linda Wasche.  “Plus, shoppers are doing something nice for the rescue groups that benefit from our sales.”

There's even a T-shirt for the Doggies

NOOTERS CLUB® also participates in a variety of fundraising, adoption and awareness building programs around the U.S. 

*****UPDATE! Final count of cats and dogs that were adopted at last weekend's 3 day adoption event!  71 cats and 3 dogs went to good homes.  Another 10 cats will stay in the Pet Supplies Plus White Lake store and will be put up for adoption in their “Adoption Alley.

"Tis The Season"...Wordless Wednesday

Photo From "I Can HazCheezburger"

"Ohhh the shame of it all!"

"You'll be painting my nose...RED??!!"

"We promise, we have been very, very GOOD!"

"Are You Ready For Some Football???"

Cats in football helmets? Football on a cat blog?  "Why?" Because we feel sorry for our friends in Minnesota, that's why!

The roof at the Metrodome where the Minnesota Vikings were scheduled to play the New York Giants today at 1pm, has collapsed!!!





Being a cat with clout I was able to playwith pull some strings and the game will now be played in Detroit at Ford Field (Home of the Detroit Lions and is a nice and cozy domed cat house) this Monday, December 13th, at 7 (or 7:30pm....

Lions=felines which=cats which=cat blogs (huh?) which is what this is and I live in the Detroit area, hence the importance of this post!

We hope that a lot of our friends from Minnesota (Angie from Catladyland are you listening??) will be able to make it!

Safe travels and welcome to
The "D!!!"

Michigan Holiday Adoption/Open House Event! 200 Cats And Kittens Need A Furever Home!

The 200 cats and kittens -- in every color and breed imaginable including purebreds, all spayed or neutered, examined by a licensed veterinarian and vaccinated -- will be available for adoption:

 December 10-12

at Pet Supplies Plus

in White Lake, Michigan

   Adoption fees of $59/cat

goes to

 Oakland Pet Adoption Center

 Adopters get a holiday goody bag for their new pet that includes cat food, toys and a gift card for a free wellness exam at The Cat Practice   , in Birmingham, Michigan.

Hours for the holiday cat adoption event and Pet Supplies Plus Christmas open house are:  4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fri., December 10; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat., December 11; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun., Dec. 12.

   Shoppers will be treated to some great holiday specials on pet supplies, prize drawings and complimentary holiday refreshments.

   Pet owners can get a picture with Santa and their pet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 12 by making a donation to Oakland Pet Adoption Center.

Pet Supplies Plus

in White Lake

 is at 6845 Highland Rd. (M-59)

   For more information

 call 248-889-4131

 or go to www.oakgov.com/petadoption/calendar/

Mom Is So Excited!

Hi Everyone!

My Mom said I could use the 'puter just for a second to tell you that she is sooo excited!

This morning she is going out to breakfast to meet (finally! in "purrson!") her friend Linda Wasche (Center Volunteer & Program Coordinator for the Oakland Pet Adoption Center in Oakland County, Michigan).

Mom and Linda have been speaking for a number of months now and Linda does a "catastic" job of sending Mom all the "mews" about adoption events in SE Michigan.

Shhhh...we have a special surprise for Linda! Mom can't go to the shelter herself because she is afraid she will come home with another cat (what????? Or doggie.....NO WAY!!) and she is only allowed to have two pets where we live (thank goodness! I am the ONLY cat she needs and heaven forbid we have another doggie!).

My brother, Dakota

So... she had my brother, Dakota and I go through our old toys and some food and blankies that we don't use anymore to give the kitties and doggies less fortunate than we are, who don't have homes this holiday season.

 Here is what we came up with!

Bye-Bye Mousies, I will Miss you!

"Let me just tuck in one extra mousey right here"

Cody's gifts for the kitties

Dakota's gifts for the doggies

Have a great day all and if Mom can get some make-up put on before she leaves this morning then maybe you will see a picture of Mom and Linda on a future Wordless Wednesday! If she can't get it on in time, trust me....you don't want to see her!!

Love, Cody

Wordless Wednesday-"A Holiday Gift"

"Who Is This Guy And Why Is He Here?"

"They Say He Is A Cat But He Doesn't Smell Like A Cat"

"This Guy Is A Little Too Close For Comfort"

"He Still Doesn't Smell Like A Cat"

"Are You Gonna Just Sit Here Or Are You Gonna Say Something?"

"Awww Geeze, I'm A CAT! NOT a HORSE!"

"First The Fake Cat, Now a Fake Doggie, Will It EVER END?"

**NOTE:no "fake cats" or "fake doggies" were harmed in the creation of this blog post.


Please visit your local PetSmart today to get a "fake cat" or "fake doggie" for YOUR special somekitty or somedoggie! You will be helping ALOT of kitties and doggies if you do! My Mom bought my "fake cat" and "fake doggie", we were not given them by PetSmart. You can also order your "Luv-A-Pet Holiday Gift" online!