Winner!! A Bed for Kitty: Written and Illustrated by Yasmine Surovec of Cat Versus Human

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO THE LUCKY WINNER!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway






For the one or two of you who don't know that Penelope has a blog, you can visit it right here!

Cats and Humans! Enter to win the Tiniest Tiger Tote or Gracey Tote from Triple T Studios! World-Wide Give-Away!

Hi all! I am beyond excited to host a special give-away from our friends at Triple T Studios!

At the end of this post anyone in the world will be able to enter to win either the Tiniest Tiger Tote (featured on the upper left) or the Gracey Tote (featured on the right),

 THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!!!

If the Tiniest Tiger Tote above, (and below) looks "worn", it is because I carry this tote nearly EVERY day. That tote has logged more air miles  than I would have ever imagined. I have taken it on nearly every blogging trip I have been on (and that is quite a few!)

There are so many things that I love about the Tiniest Tiger Tote! See the way it "slouches?" That is because it is made out of microfiber with signature cat quilting that is unique and proprietary to Triple T Studios. It is also proudly made in the USA!

From Triple T Studios:

This one of a kind tote features The Tiniest Tiger's feline finesse quilted into the fabric creating a subtle yet cool cat appearance. The sleek black color is sure to complement all of your favorite fashions. The Tote is perfect for transporting your laptop, and all your other essentials.  The Tote features a magnetic snap closure for security.

The tote's inside zippered pouch keeps your small items ready for easy access.  The interior features a sturdy base, removable for washing. The bag is machine washable and can be tumbled dry.

Triple T Studios once again walked the Red Carpet when our The Tiniest Tiger Tote was part of the 2012 Celebrity Gifts in Honor of the Emmy Awards.

When I travel I use this bag as my main carry on bag. It has held my airline-travel-regulation-size bag of toiletries,  my standby banana and bottled water for the flight, a few magazines, a zillion pens, eye glasses, gum, tissue, business cards,  (get the idea?), with ease and I still had room for more! A must for any bag that I carry is that it has to work as an "over-the-shoulder" bag and this one fits the bill perfectly!

When not using my Tiniest Tiger Tote for travel, it is my "go-to" daily tote and currently holds all of my supplies and information for my weekly Weight Watchers meetings.

Product Specifications

13"H x12"W x 3.5"D

13.5" Strap Drop

6"H x7.25"W Interior Zippered Pouch

Magnetic Snap Closure

This year, for possibly the first time, my Tiniest Tiger Tote might not be attending the BlogPaws conference in May, why? Because Triple T Studios sent me the Gracey Tote!

Photo Courtesy of Triple T Studios

How adorable is that pattern? There is nothing I love more than looking at that bag and seeing the precious face of darling Gracey (who helped design the bag!) 

Because the BlogPaws Conference is being held in May in Nashville, (which translates to GOOD and WARM weather), the Gracey Tote will probably be making its debut  as my new carry-on!

From Triple T Studios:

The Gracey quilted fabric creates a fresh and fun tote to carry. The Tote is perfect for transporting your laptop, and all your other essentials.  The quilted interior is a bright cat eye green making it easier to find items inside your bag.

Photo Courtesy of Triple T Studios

The Tote features a magnetic snap closure for security.

The tote's inside zippered pouch keeps your small items ready for easy access.  The interior features a sturdy base, removable for washing. The bag is machine washable and can be tumbled dry.

Here is another inside view of the Gracey Tote,

 this photo is one I took of my tote:

Product Specifications

13"H x12"W x 3.5"D

13.5" Strap Drop

6"H x7.25"W Interior Zippered Pouch

Magnetic Snap Closure

Proudly Made in the USA

Now, you know you want BOTH of these bags, right?

 Well you are in luck!

USE DISCOUNT CODE:CATCHAT20

  FOR $20 OFF THE TINIEST TIGER TOTE

AND THE GRACEY TOTE

GIVE-AWAY!!

A huge thank you to our friends at Triple T Studios who are allowing us to have TWO WINNERS!!!! The winners may be located ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!!! The winners chosen can choose from either of the bags shown above! Entering is easy! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below, there are TWO MANDATORY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS,  SO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED!! Good luck!!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

In full disclosure:We received our Tiniest Tiger Tote a few years ago, and our Gracey Tote (a few weeks ago),  at no charge from Triple T Studios in exchange for a fair and honest review and to have a give-away. Receiving the free product did not influence our opinion in any way. 

Today is #WorldVeterinaryDay!!

Hi my furiends!! It's Cody!!

Today is a super special day! Now I know that many kitties and woofies cringe when they hear the word "V-E-T", but I gotta tell ya, we would be in deep cat litter if we didn't have a good Veterinarian! Dakota and I are blessed to have one of the best! Today is World Veterinary Day  a day when I can give my Vet and his associates a high-paw and tell them all how much I love them!

From the World Veterinary Association:

Veterinarians are a special group of health care professionals and scientists because they prevent disease in animals and treat animals of all kinds around the world.  Healthy animals also contribute to happier and healthier people.

In 2000, the World Veterinary Association initiated World Veterinary Day on the last Saturday of April each year to bring attention to the many ways veterinarians contribute to the health and well-being of animals and people around the world.  Most people know veterinarians as the “animal doctors” for our pets, livestock, horses, and a variety of more diverse animals such as zoo animals and exotic pets such as birds, reptiles, and small mammals.

 I know that my Vet (and the staff at DePorre Veterinary Hospital), love me and are always looking out for me.  Our Vet is gentle, caring and kind. He always tells Mom and Dad about what a "great cat" I am and that makes me purr with delight!

I started going to the vet when I was just a young kit and I remember the day like it was yesterday! Dr. "Smiley" (he is REALLY Dr.Lewis!), got the biggest kick out of me! He pulled out a pen and let me play with it while I was on the exam table, and he told my Mom "This one is FEARLESS!" He went on to say, "this can be a good thing or a BAD thing!"

This photo is from 2013
Before DePorre moved into their "new digs!!"
And before Dr.Lewis had his beard!

Thankfully it turned out to be a GOOD thing!

When I was neutered all of the lady Vet Techs fell in love with me and called me their "cuddle bug." They said that all I wanted to do was cuddle!!

Dr.Lewis always has time to talk to my Mom and always helps ease her worries, he always gives her the best advice. This past winter when I had my mysterious illness, he helped calm my Mom down (trust me that is no easy task!), and he was in constant communication with her. Mom, Dad, Dakota and I would be lost without him!

Mom, Dad, Dakota  and I consider our Vet to be an important member of our family! Dr.Lewis used to care for Grandpa Bobo and he helped him cross the bridge. He helped Mom know when it was "time" to help Grandpa Bobo on his journey. When Mom felt guilty adopting me a mere two weeks after Bobo left her, Dr. Lewis said, "You aren't REPLACING Bobo, no cat could ever do that. You are making NEW memories with a NEW cat. Bobo would want you to give the same love to another cat that you gave to him." Those words helped my Mom more than he probably even knows!

We are truly blessed to have such a professional, caring, and knowledgeable Veterinarian and the other Vets, Technicians, Receptionists, etc. at DePorre Veterinary Hospital , are pretty darned good too!

Today we salute our Veterinarian (who deserves a medal just for putting up with our babbling, hyper and over concerned Mom!) and the staff at DePorre Veterinary Hospital, as well as Veterinarians all over the world!!! Thank you for all that you do!

Love from,

Cody

#NationalHairballAwarenessDay !! We are Celebrating With FURminator Inc.

Hi furiends it's Cody!

As many of you know, tomorrow is a special day, it is:

National Hairball Awareness Day!!

I have been blogging almost six years now and during that time it has been my pleasure to help support FURminator Inc. in their quest to spread awareness about those pesky hairballs! FURminator  began celebrating the holiday in 2011, (and even though the holiday is technically on April 25th, according to Days Of The Year,  FURminator has traditionally been celebrating it the fourth Friday in April, so today is our official celebration!)

Hairballs are uncomfortable and dangerous to cats' health— they can even be deadly! They can cause blockages and all sorts of distress. Hairballs are easily prevented with regular grooming, which reduces loose hair and the potential for hairballs. 

Now, I wasn't particularly "gifted" in the fur department, but my Grandpa Bobo was and many of you reading this post are blessed with the most luxurious fur!

Even if I don't have long fur (except on my ample belly), I do clean myself and can ingest some fur just like the rest of you more fur-gifted  cats!  Mom helps keep my ingesting fur to a minimum by using my FURminator which I love and have been using for three years!!

This year FURminator teamed up with five YouTube creators to help spread this important message (if you cruise around the blogosphere I know you will see them on some of the cat blogs and they are posted on the FURminator Facebook page), but guess what? I happen to like this old video from a post I did in 2012 for FURminator Inc., which shows you just how much I love MY FURminator,  much, much better!

Regular grooming with a FURminator deShedding tool reduces loose hair and the potential for hairballs. Plus, grooming allows for quality time with your cat!  Look at me rolling around in ecstasy above, and you can tell just how much I love mine! It also  creates a bonding experience with your kitty! 

For more information visit the FURminator website, follow them on Facebook,  (where you can also see all of the videos of the creators that they teamed up with),   or on Twitter  use #NationalHairballAwarenessDay and on Instagram at furminator_inc too!

I was not compensated for this post. I just love my FURminator and hate hairballs so I wanted to help spread the word!

Love, Cody

Winner! PURE cat portraits by Lucas

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

THE LUCKY WINNER IS:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HUGE CONCATULATIONS!!

It's Administrative Professionals Day and I'm Hiring!! (Just a few words on Wednesday)

FROM  CODY: This post first appeared two years ago. Sadly, things haven't changed, hence the reason I am posting this today! Love, Cody

Learn about Administrative Professionals Day here

Happy Earth Day!! (A few Words On Wednesday)

The above sunset was photographed by me in the Winter of 2014. It is a view from our balcony. May we protect our Earth so that there will be many more beautiful sunsets to come!!

Winners!! Book:The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues:A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper by Cindy Vincent

Hi all it's Cody!

Boy oh boy am I ever excited to announce the lucky winners of my give-away for:

Thanks to all who entered!! I know I said I would announce the winners tomorrow, but tomorrow is a special holiday, so, since the give-away ended at 5pm EST yesterday, I got Mom to sit her butt down and help me pick the winners (from random.org). What is super cool is that ALL of the lucky winners have blogs!!!!!

Here are the lucky winners (and their blogs), in the order in which they were randomly selected!!!

Huge concatulations to all!!

PAM AND SAM FROM

ONE SPOILED CAT:

MARG FROM

MARG'S ANIMALS

Pam and Sammy and Marg, I have your addresses already so no need to send!!!

Last but certainly not least:

"LUCKY LADY" FROM:

LUCKY LADY'S COUNTRY PICTURES

(this might be a blog that some of you do not know, please stop by and say hi! I linked to her blog on her name above.) Lucky Lady, Mom will be in touch to get your complete mailing address!

You are ALL going to love this book!!!! 

Love, Cody and Mom

A Bed for Kitty: Written and Illustrated by Yasmine Surovec of Cat Versus Human: (World-Wide Give-Away!)

Cover Photo Courtesy of Amazon

One of the first blogs I followed when I began blogging was Cat Versus Human, the exceptionally witty  comic about "cats and their people."

It is illustrated and written by Yasmine Surovec, who in my opinion is  cat woman royalty. Yasmine, however, remains humble as is evidenced on her  "About" page on her blog :

"My name is Yasmine.

I draw stuff for a living.

I like cats. I like a certain boy. 

I've been told that I'm socially inept and that I have the personality of a blank piece of paper. Thank god for the internet.

At least my parents think I'm special. It says in the birthday card they sent me several years ago. It had a picture of a Persian cat with a pointy party hat, with the words "You're Special" printed in glitter.

Anyway, thanks for visiting. Someone other than my parents has to."

Simply stated and hilarious, the above is pure Yasmine.

Yasmine truly "gets" cats AND their people, Her comic strikes a chord with cat lovers around the world. It is a gift to be able to reach people through drawings and few words, and Yasmine is one of those who are blessed to have that "gift."

It was an incredible honor for me when I reached out to Yasmine asking if I could review one of her latest books, A Bed for Kitty, to have her respond YES! 

A Bed for Kitty is an adorable children's story that speaks to the quirkiness that is cats. Most of us can relate to buying new things for our cats that they promptly proceed to ignore. No amount of cajoling will make the cat use the new item.

In A Bed for Kitty, little Chloe is full of excitement to give "Kitty" her new present!!!  Kitty loves to sleep and Chloe feels that a new bed will be a most appreciated gift!!

Jacket Photo Courtesy of Yasmine Surovec
and Roaring Brook Press

When presented with the new bed, Kitty ignores it. (Of course! She's a cat!)

Kitty  proceeds to sleep EVERYWHERE.... but on the bed!!!

Then, Chloe plops down on Kitty's new bed frustrated. Her eyes catch Kitty sleeping in Chloe's bed.

Chloe has an idea...

She lays down on Kitty's new bed.............

What do you think happens next?

True cat lovers will  know what happens next, but you know me, I will NEVER reveal an ending of ANY book. You will have to get the book to find out!

A Bed for Kitty is a hard cover book that is brightly illustrated, (in Yasmine's trademark simple yet vibrant style), that will surely delight the little ones at bed time, story time, ANY time! It is the perfect size for little ones to clasp tightly and laugh at Kitty's antics!

ISBN 978-1-59643-863-7 (hardcover)


You can purchase A Bed for Kitty: 
AMAZON // AMAZON INTERNATIONAL // POWELL'S // INDIE BOUND //BARNES & NOBLE // CHAPTERS (CA) // LIVRARIA CULTURA (BRAZIL)

And you are in luck!

Yasmine has agreed to have a give-away!!!
 ONE LUCKY WINNER LOCATED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WILL WIN THEIR OWN COPY of A BED FOR KITTY!    Don't have a little one? Enter to donate to a local school, library, or for a friend to give to THEIR child! (An approximate $20 value). Entering is easy! Just enter on the rafflecopter below! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway







I was not compensated for this review/give-away. As stated above, I contacted Yasmine (and I rarely contact ANY authors asking to review their books! ) asking if I could review this book. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

KROGER STORES AND MICHIGAN HUMANE SOCIETY TEAM UP TO FEED PETS IN NEED

Pet food drive at 41 Michigan Kroger locations

 will help keep families together

Forty-one Kroger stores are hosting a spring Pet Food Drive through Tuesday, April 28 to benefit the Michigan Humane Society’s (MHS) pet food bank and help keep families together. A pet food donation bin will be placed near the exit of each participating location for donations of dry and canned dog and cat food. Customers can select these items while they are there to do their own shopping and conveniently donate the pet food after checking out. MHS will distribute the pet food at no charge to qualifying low-income pet owners who otherwise might have to give up their companions. The MHS pet food bank relies on donations from the public.

“The ability to assist struggling families in keeping their beloved pets through programs like our pet food bank is priceless and only possible through the generosity of the community,” said Matthew Pepper, Michigan Humane Society President and CEO.  “We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Kroger and their customers to help prevent pets from going hungry or losing their home.” 

Currently, more than 2,100 families depend on the MHS food bank and other services that help keep families together, such as an annual series of low-cost Protect-A-Pet vaccination and microchip clinics in Detroit.

“Kroger welcomes the opportunity to help low-income families feed their companion animals through the Michigan Humane Society pet food bank,” said Brandon Barrow, Community Affairs Manager, The Kroger Co. of Michigan. “We have kicked off a sale on our entire line of pet foods and supplies to assist customers with their donations to the Michigan Humane Society while helping them care for their own animals.”

Kroger offers a complete assortment of pet food, treats and accessories, with special sale pricing continuing through Sunday, April 19.

For a list of participating Kroger stores, visit http://www.michiganhumane.org/Kroger.

About the Michigan Humane Society

The Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to our care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values.

About The Kroger Co. of Michigan

Incorporated in Michigan in 1909 and headquartered in Novi, The Kroger Co. of Michigan includes 18,000 associates, 123 Kroger stores, 64 fuel centers, 103 pharmacies and the Michigan Dairy.

Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs more than 375,000 associates who serve customers in 2,640 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's.  The company also operates 786 convenience stores, 320 fine jewelry stores, 1,240 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and grassroots organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club.

"Catch of the Day!" NEW from Rachael Ray! It's #NutrishZeroGrain Whitefish and Potato Recipe for Cats!!

Hi My Furiends it's Cody!! It has been longer than nine lives since I have meowed to you about  Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats, why? Well, while I have been busy eating Nutrish around my house, I didn't really have anything NEW to tell you, that is....until NOW!!

Gather round kitties, wait til you see!

A few weeks ago I was just lolling around enjoying a sunbeam, when I heard noise outside of our door. My ears perked up, my nose twitched, I sensed it was something super exciting and boy oh boy was I ever right!

Mom pushed Dakota out of the way, and brought in the most wonderful box from my friends at Nutrish!

Hmmm...what have we here?

I could barely wait to get my paws on the goodies inside!


My furiends at Nutrish had sent me a super cool package all wrapped up in fish net!! (No silly kitties, not stockings, but fishnet that you use to catch REAL FISH!!)

This was getting super exciting!!

My nose KNEW that inside of this bag was the NEW Rachael Ray Nutrish Zero Grain Whitefish & Potato Recipe dry cat food, and I sooo wanted to get my paws on it!!

Well, in my house, this kitty sometimes has to work for his supper, and since Nutrish was nice enough to also include a super cute fish cat toy, I thought I would humor my Mom and pose for just ONE obligatory shot. Mama didn't raise no fool, and I knew the sooner I posed, the sooner I could get my paws on the new cat food!

Knowing that this would make my Mom happy, it was SHOWTIME!!!! Mom pulled out the bag of deliciousness,

Because Rachael Ray Nutrish may offer different ingredients than your cat is used to, it may take up to ten days for your cat's system to become acclimated to Nutrish. Slowly mix with his or her other food over a five- to ten-day period until your cat is solely eating Nutrish.

  (Normally kitties, it is impawtant to ALWAYS have your human slowly TRANSITION you to a new food, but since I have been eating nothing but Nutrish for Cats for the past year, both wet AND dry, Mom and I didn't feel it was necessary to do that with me for this new formula.  She was right!)

Mom put the bag on the table and let me check it out on my own:

I was thrilled when I learned that:

   Zero Grain Whitefish has:

    Real whitefish is the #1 ingredient: “Cats love Nutrish Zero Grain Whitefish & Potato Recipe. It is made with real white fish — a tasty and highly digestible protein that helps to maintain strong muscles and helps minimize litter box odors.”

   Zero grains, glutens or fillers

    Zero meat or poultry by-product meal


    Zero artificial preservatives, colors or flavors

   It is the FIRST zero grain dry cat formula

 from Rachael Ray Nutrish!!

Mom makes it a point to try and keep me at my happiest and healthiest and she knows that playtime is super impawtant, as well as feeding me food that is not only "delish", but that is GOOD for me!

Enough of the "good-for-me" stuff! Bring it on Mom!!

Come to Papa!!!!! (excuse the blur but I was moving so fast, I just had to get my paws on it!)

FINALLY!!!!

I am not normally allowed to be eating on the table but Mom said I could this ONE time, just so you could see me eating and for you to notice the super cute fish tray that I have been eating my food on for months!!! Once I finished, I couldn't believe that Mom wasn't giving me more! This was one time I could have used opposable thumbs for sure! Step on it Mom!  

About Rachael Ray Nutrish:

In 2007, with help from pet nutrition experts, Rachael Ray created Nutrish ultra-premium food and treats for dogs. My woofie brother Dakota, has been eating Nutrish since 2008 and that is the ONLY dog food that he eats! In 2014, Nutrish was super excited to grow the brand into the world of cat food and I was super excited about it too! Whether intended for dogs or cats, Nutrish recipes are made with simple natural ingredients and do not contain meat or poultry by-product meal or fillers. Real meat is the #1 ingredient in their cat food and all recipes were inspired by Rachael’s kitchen.

 Rachael’s personal proceeds go to Rachael’s Rescue, created to help shelter pets. As of today, over $9 million has gone toward food, medical supplies and treatments for animals in need!

Nutrish prides themselves on bringing pet specialty quality food to the masses. They are the first premium brand that is only available in your local grocery store (I get mine at one of our local Krogers), as well as mass retailers like Target, Walmart and Amazon.

Get YOUR $3 off coupon to try Zero Grain Whitefish and Potato Recipe for Cats!

For more information:

• follow Rachael Ray Nutrish on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
• Tell them Cody sent ya!

PURE cat portraits by Lucas- are "Pure" Perfection!! Enter to Win!

There are coffee table  books that feature cats, and then there are MAGNIFICENT coffee table books that feature cats. PURE cat portraits by Lucas falls into the latter category.

Photo courtesy of Lucas and cats

Sizable, (as a proper coffee table book SHOULD be), this book is heavy in weight and HEAVY in content. (It is 192 pages). The content being exquisitely photographed pictures of cats.Photos that capture the beauty that is cats. Photos that capture their quirkiness and the differences and similarities that all cats possess.

From Lucas and Cats:

For over a year, Lucas De Boeck has been photographing the most beautiful cats

in his native Flanders. True divas, hunters, “bon-vivants” and the furriest

cuties posed in front of the camera. From the thousands of pictures that emerged

from these photo shoots, we selected the best on the basis of the ‘ooh’s’ and

‘aah’s’ they elicited.

The Pure Collection is a selection of photographs by Lucas De Boeck, featuring all types of pedigreed cats. The photography is as pure as possible: on a white background, with as little distraction from objects or persons as possible, putting the cat front and central in the picture.

Each cat attributes something different to the picture: whether by their gaze, attitude or interaction with other cats. The models also get to choose whatever they want to do: they aren’t forced to pose, but are guided in front of the camera with a toy or treat.

Regardless of what they are doing, each cat is photogenic. They’re all gorgeous in their own, unique way, and they don’t need to pose to get a good picture: they just need to look themselves.

Each of the pages in PURE cat portraits by Lucas, are  printed on high quality glossy paper which greatly enhances the "pure"  aesthetic pleasure  that one will derive when gazing at the stunning photographs.  PURE features cats, cats and MORE cats. The breed featured in the photo is listed at the bottom, and many of the photos are broken down into various categories, but what adds to the enjoyment of this book, is that it focuses on the glorious photos and NOT words.

From Lucas:

We often link human emotions to our cat's behavior and since no cat is the same, very image in this book shows a unique personality. The captions at the bottom of the following pages merely reflect my interpretation of the pictures, and it's entirely possible that you interpret them differently.

PURE cat portraits by Lucas would make the perfect gift for the cat lovers in your life. It is suitable for any occasion and is likely to be placed in a prominent area in one's home. Mother's Day is right around the corner and PURE cat portraits by Lucas would make a superb gift! One that I am sure will be cherished for many years to come!

Hardcover: 192 pages
ISBN: 9789082302400
Dimensions: 30 x 24 x 1.9 cm

Available on Amazon.com

One lucky person who resides in the U.S. (Apologies to our International readers but due to the size and weight of this book, the give-away is limited to the U.S.), will win a copy of PURE cat portraits by Lucas. Entering is easy!!! Just enter on the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In full disclosure:I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of PURE cat portraits by Lucas in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review and Give-Away! The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues:A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper by Cindy Vincent

They are at it again!

Back in February of 2014 I had the pleasure of reviewing Black Cats Save Christmas in The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks, A Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper  and, I had the pleasure of getting to know the vivacious, personable and oh-so creative and kind author of this fun mystery series, Cindy Vincent.

Before I tell you a bit about The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues I would like to introduce you to the two feline stars of Cindy's mystery series, Buckley and Bogey.

Courtesy of http://www.buckleyandbogey.com/

Buckley Bergdorf , a newly adopted almost-2- year- old Maine Coon  with paws so huge that he wonders if he will EVER grow into them! (HINT:You will have to read The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues to find out if he does!)

Buckley idolizes his "big brother" Bogey, the top cat behind the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Agency,  who is the complete antithesis of Buckley, Bogey is sleek and slim and it has been rumored that he could run so fast that sometimes his feet barely touched the ground!  He also never seems to be without a stash of cat treats which he is constantly pulling out to help calm down the more nervous, Buckley.

Did you know?

BUCKLEY AND BOGEY ARE REAL CATS!!!

ABOUT BUCKLEY AND BOGEY CAT DETECTIVES

FROM CINDY VINCENT

"Bogey"
Courtesy of
http://www.buckleyandbogey.com/

Buckley and Bogey are real, live cats who inspired the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Capers

Bogey was adopted from an animal shelter when he was just a kitten, and he came to live with us and three much older female cats. About a year after we adopted him, we noticed a real disconnect between him and the other cats. Not only was Bogey the only male cat at that time, but he was also much, much younger and far more energetic than his sisters. Bogey believed in playing all day, every day, and frequently during the night, too. And since he had no other young cats to play with, he continually tried to engage his older sisters. Unfortunately, they got sick of him quickly, and they would hiss and swat until he left them alone. Then Bogey would flop on the floor and sigh. He wanted someone young to play with so badly, and before long, it became very apparent that he needed a brother. And though we really hadn't intended to bring another cat into the fold right then, we realized we needed someone else to join our little cat family. 

"Buckley"
Photo courtesy of
http://www.buckleyandbogey.com/

So we decided to stop into the adoption center at our local pet food store, and that’s when we spotted one-year-old Buckley. After spending some one-on-one time with him, we knew he’d be a perfect fit

At night, they often run around the house together and seem to be "investigating" and "running surveillance". And since cats are such imaginative creatures -- they can play with a stuffed mouse for hours, as though they're hunting big game in a dense jungle -- Buckley and Bogey seemed to be perfect characters for a cat detective series. Especially considering how well the two get along. Hence, the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Capers were born!

You'll notice in the books that Bogey is very outgoing and well . . . practically fearless. Nothing seems to rattle him at all. Whereas Buckley is kind of a nervous wreck. He's afraid of lots of things and always worried about the outcome. The real life Buckley and Bogey are very similar. Bogey knows no fear and believes everyone will love him. He's a very confident cat. But Buckley, who was a year old when we adopted him, and had originally been rescued from a kill shelter, really is a pretty anxious guy. He suffers from something called FLUTD, or Feline Lower Urinary Track Disease, which has recently been changed to FIC, or Feline Idiopathic Cystitis

Now, about The Case of The Jewel Covered Cat Statues

  Bogey (which happens to be short for "Bogart"),  the more suave, confident, outgoing and bold of the two cats, and the mastermind of their detective agency seems to watch his nervous-nellie, novice brother, Buckley with mild amusement.  In fact, he refers to Buckley as "kid" numerous times throughout the book. It was obvious to me when reading the first book by Cindy Vincent that she is  a Casablanca devotee.  The last name of the kitties:Bergdorf (Ingrid Bergman in the same movie).
 I was so proud when I cracked that case!  In The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues  there are actual Humphrey Bogart lines from Casablanca and the Maltese Falcon.  It is a bit of a spoof on the Maltese Falcon done in Buckley and Bogey style! Here is more about The Case of The Jewel Covered Cat Statues, it is their "most complicated case ever!!!"

A Message from Buckley Bergdorf, Cat Detective:
It all started when someone hid a mysterious package in our Mom's antique store-in the middle of the night! Of course, Bogey and I found it, and we put it in a nice, safe place, until we could open it...and, find the rightful owner. But that's when a whole bunch of suspicious people showed up in town, and every single one of them seemed to be after that package! Holy Catnip!

The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues is full of fun, as well as suspense. Cindy Vincent has a flair for humor, dialogue, twists and turns. The majority of the book is dialogue between the cats and her take on the various feline personalities is just hilarious. In this book, there is Hector "a Siamese cat who is a really big blabbermouth", who "talks" non-stop in the car (and everywhere else), which reminded me of how cats meow and "sing the song of their people" when heading to the dreaded Vet. There is a strong  and heart-warming message of the importance of friendship that is the heart of this mystery. Friendship, overcoming greed, believing in yourself and teamwork. It shows us  that often we must look "deeper" into things, (even things that are outwardly full of glitter, sparkle and shine),  instead of just  taking them at face value.

From The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues:

"Humans especially are easily taken in by anything that shines. Gold and silver and diamonds and rubies. To name but a few. And most certainly, there is nothing wrong with owning and collecting objects of great beauty. But, when the quest for those objects makes you do terrible things, that's when you've crossed a line."

Full of Heart, High-Jinx and Hilarity, this one needs to be on your MUST READ list!

TO PURCHASE:
ISBN:978-1-932169-28-7
Available for purchase in paperback, or Kindle or Nook versions at:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

VISIT:BuckleyandBogey.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cindy Vincent was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She lives with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.

GIVE-AWAY!!! Cindy Vincent has generously offered THREE of our readers (who reside in the U.S. and/or Canada) the chance to win a copy of The Case of the Jewel Covered Cat Statues. ENTERING IS EASY!! Just leave a comment telling us you would like to be entered. The give-away is open now and will end on Monday, April 20th at 5pm EST. Winners will be chosen by random.org and will be announced on Wednesday, April 22nd. GOOD LUCK, oh and....

"Here's looking' at YOU kid!!"