Jack Gepetto And His Magic Tongue Find Fame On Instagram

Jack Gepetto

Say hello to Jack Gepetto! Like many famous pups and kits before him (see: Mr. Winkle and Lil Bub), the handsome black cat has a tongue that just won't stay in his mouth! The unusual trait has gained him a lot of attention on Instagram, where the fortunate feline, who just turned two on Halloween, has found thousands of fans. 



Jack was born with a fused jaw, but looked very much like a normal kitten.


Jack Gepetto B.T. (Before Tongue!)

He was welcomed into his family at six weeks old, and a vet check revealed that his mouth wouldn't open at all. 


The day Jack's tongue poked out for the first time.

His bottom jaw is much smaller than his top jaw, which is why his tongue always hangs out. 

"My tongue is usually somehow always wet!! I do a great job of cleaning myself and have never complained of (it) being sore," he says.



The vet advised Jack's owners to euthanize him because he couldn't eat properly, but luckily they refused, and took him home to be syringe fed. 



Surgery was not an option to repair his jaw, but he has undergone a few operations to remove his teeth (except for his front fangs). Each procedure was a huge risk because no oxygen tube would fit in his mouth


Jack bares a resemblance to another famous (animated) feline: Scratchy from The Simpsons!

Jack eventually figured out his own method of eating by experimenting with puréed food, and now he feeds himself 100%. He is able to ingest tiny bites of real cat food, especially as he has grown and his mouth is able to open slightly more.



Jack has defied the odds with his mystery condition, and his owner truly believes he has more than nine lives. The future looks bright for this special kitty, who is living a happy and healthy life thanks to a loving family who never gave up on him!

Via Instagram (@jack_gepetto)

Jack Gepetto And His Magic Tongue Find Fame On Instagram

Cat Cupcake Tuesdays

Halloween Black Cat Tutorial by Lynlee

I enjoy black cat cupcakes all year round, but they are especially abundant around Halloween! I recently stumbled across these spooky fondant feline toppers by the talented Lynlee, who spe­cial­izes in fon­dant and party inspi­ra­tion and tutorials on her blog.

She writes, "As soon as Fall rolls around, I always love mak­ing Hal­loween cup­cake top­pers and this year was no dif­fer­ent! Since this hol­i­day tra­di­tion can be trans­lated into scary or cute themes, I decided to com­bine the two and make these dar­ling black cats in their witch hats with a play on the idiom “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”!

If you're feeling ambitious, Lynlee has posted a step-by-step tutorial on how to recreate the adorable toppers over on the Craftsy blog. The process takes a little patience, but the end result is nothing short of purrfect!



Via Lynlee's / Craftsy

***
Have you created or spotted any kitty-themed baked goods (or other foods) lately? If so, please submit your sweet tips for Cat Cupcake Tuesdays to catsparella@gmail.com!

Cat Cupcake Tuesdays

Fuel Your Black Cat Addiction With Marc by Marc Jacobs Clothing & Accessories

1. Rue Cat Intarsia Sweatshirt / 2. Cotton Rue Printed Tee / 3. Rue Tablet Case / 4. Rue Lenticular iPhone 5 Case / 5. Rue Lenticular Bag Charm / 6. Art Cat Watch / 7. Rue Raised iPhone Case (also available for iPad & iPad mini) / 8. Lenticular Rue Ring / 9. Lenticular Rue Pin / 10. Rue Pouch / 11. Alternate view of the hologram on the lenticular iPhone 5 Case shown in 4.

I'm already a huge Marc Jacobs fan, so it's no surprise that I'm currently obsessing over the new Marc by Marc Jacobs collection of black cat-inspired clothing and accessories, that includes some of my favorite feline-themed fashions from the designer to date!

The "Rue" print, which made its debut last year in the form of funky flats and fluorescent iPhone cases, is all grown up, having morphed from a cartoonish kitty into a regal feline. The black cat brings the collection to life, on shirts and electronics cases, along with an artsy watch, leather pouch, and covet-worthy holographic accessories that I wouldn't mind crossing my path. I love it all!

Fuel Your Black Cat Addiction With Marc by Marc Jacobs Clothing & Accessories

Real Simple Gets Lucky With Black Cat Cover Model

I always love a kitty cover model, and was so excited to come across the latest issue of Real Simple magazine on a recent trip to the store. The Halloween-themed shoot features a shiny black puss who is so perfectly perched inside of a jack-o-lantern, I had to get a closer look to make sure it wasn't an illustration!

PeoplePets reports that the feline model, who is very much real, is a Bombay kitty named Tajari. The tiny panther apparently "rocked it out" on set, but don't be fooled - getting the purrfect shot was no easy feat. Think the life of a supermodel is all fun and games? Check out a video clip of the kitty posing for a few snaps before bolting off to her next gig. Obviously, she wanted to give photographer Stephen Lewis a run for his money!

The October 2013 issue of Real Simple, which also includes a 1-page article on the historic link between black cats and Halloween, is on newsstands now.

Via PeoplePets

Real Simple Gets Lucky With Black Cat Cover Model

A Tribute To 'Walking Dead' Star Norman Reedus's Black Cat, Eye In The Dark

Norman Reedus with Eye In The Dark
(Terry's Diary)

It's cool to be a cat lady these days, but I'm still stoked when I stumble across the unexpected cat dude. It's not surprising when Katy Perry and Taylor Swift posts pics of their beloved felines on social media, but it's always a treat when stars like Ricky Gervais, Chris Colfer, James Taylor, and Gilles Marini post candid pics of their beloved kitties, announcing their cat man status to the world.


(@bigbaldhead)


(@bigbaldhead)

Perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising that The Walking Dead's resident badass Norman Reedus (aka Daryl Dixon) is a cat guy. When he's not busy fighting walkers and hunting squirrels with his crossbow, he's really just a sensitive soul at heart.


(@bigbaldhead)


(@bigbaldhead)

I was recently inspired by an awesome BuzzFeed post highlighting Reedus's black cat, a gorgeous specimen named Eye In The Dark. The darkly mysterious feline makes sporadic appearances on the actor's Twitter and Instagram feeds, proving that just like us, celebrities can't help but share their proud kitty pix with the world. 


(@bigbaldhead)


(@bigbaldhead)

Reedus, an animal advocate who just made headlines for his stance on banning cosmetics testing on animals in the U.S., opened up about Eye In The Dark in an interview with GQ last year.

"It's just this fat, black alley cat. My son wanted a black kitten when he was a kid, and I found it in the East Village in some rescue shelter, but it was born in a box and the guy that was getting rid of it was like, "You don't want this cat. This cat's never gonna love anyone." And the first time I saw it, it was like just hissing and scratching everything it saw and now it's like this big, fat, chill cat."


(@bigbaldhead)


(@bigbaldhead)

Since animals are not affected with the zombie plague that inhabits TWD, is it too late to start lobbying for a kitty companion to accompany Daryl and the crew on their journey? They can name it after one of their fallen comrades, or just stick with Little Ass Kicker 2.

Follow Norman Reedus on Twitter and Instagram. The Walking Dead returns to AMC for its 4th season on October 13.

Via BuzzFeed / Instagram (@bigbaldhead) 

A Tribute To 'Walking Dead' Star Norman Reedus's Black Cat, Eye In The Dark

Resident Nursing Home Cat Celebrates First Birthday With Adorable Bash

While I was busy dressing Charlie in little cat bow ties and eating more corned beef and cabbage than you can shake a stick at this St. Patrick's Day (Thanks, Aunt Elaine!), one Lawrence, Kansas nursing home was throwing the cutest cat party in recent history.

The guest of honor was a black kitty named Patrick, who celebrated his first birthday to much fanfare from adoring residents at Brandon Woods nursing home. The cat moved into the facility last month with his 87-year-old owner, Frank Carlson, and has been capturing hearts ever since.

Home health aide Helen Bennett, who works at Brandon Woods told Lawrence Journal-World that Patrick has taken on the unofficial role of "cat therapist", and is "available to cheer up residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week." She also says, "At first, he was called “Snookums,” but his name was changed when folks found that hard to remember."

The residents enjoy entertaining the playful puss with fishing rod toys, and some have even become so attached to the resident feline that they won't come to dinner unless he is around.

As for the birthday festivities, Bennett revealed that she planned to have a catnip scavenger hunt for Patrick to follow from room to room, cat masks, presents, and even *drumroll please* ...cat cupcakes! There was also talk of someone dressing up in a black cat costume, and if I lived in Kansas, I would have happily volunteered.

If you're in the mood for some warm fuzzies, click over to LJW to check out this adorable shot of Frank Carlson giving Patrick a sweet squeeze. Unless you're a vampire, your heart will be warmed.

Via Lawrence Journal-World

Resident Nursing Home Cat Celebrates First Birthday With Adorable Bash

Kitty Crossing Guard Watches Over Students At Washington School

(Click here to watch if video doesn't load)

About a year ago, 15-year-old Sable walked outside of his home to greet students crossing the street at Enterprise Middle School in Washington state, and the sleek black feline has been on duty ever since. Every day, no matter what the weather, the dedicated kitty knows when it's time to cross, and is there just before the bell rings. Sable is smart enough to stay away from the road, and just hangs out waiting for the kids so he can rub against their legs and accept friendly pats. 

Says one student, "It's really cool because you always know that there's someone there, and you're never disappointed."


Can you spot Sable?

Via KiroTV.com

Kitty Crossing Guard Watches Over Students At Washington School

Gjon Mili's Portraits Of His Cat Blackie

Blackie, Gjon Mili's cat, as part of fashion shot with bride model.

Gjon Mili was an Albanian-American photographer best known for his work published in LIFE, where he worked as a freelance photographer from 1939 until his death in 1984. During his long career, Mili traveled the world documenting important people and events for the magazine, but also focused on more personal work, such as the images he captured of his cat Blackie in his New York City studio in the 1940s.

I wasn't able to dig up any details on the relationship between and Mili and the photogenic feline, however the care he took in capturing the beauty and mystique of the cat in a series of portraits seems to indicate that the kitty model was also a beloved companion. 


Portrait of Blackie


Blackie nibbling young acrobat's foot as she does a handstand.


Blackie being hugged by nightclub entertainer Maune de Revel.


Portrait of Blackie


Blackie looking at his portrait in mural by Saul Steinberg in Mili's studio.


Blackie sitting atop table held in unidentified man's teeth.


Portrait of Blackie

Via LIFE Photo Archive hosted by Google

Gjon Mili's Portraits Of His Cat Blackie

Kitten Rescued From Abandoned Six Flags New Orleans Amusement Park Flourishes In New Home

(willcrusta)

Six Flags New Orleans - Visit #3 - 23

Couldn't finish this visit to the park because we found this little guy! He was malnourished, dehydrated and was panting because it was so hot outside (the heat index was 108 degrees), but he was super friendly and cuddly and sweet. So we named him Mr. Six after the park's mascot, took him to a vet and got him checked out, then took him home. He's feeling much better now!

Mr. Six

Two years ago, Will Crusta and his girlfriend Tiffany Bailey visited Six Flags New Orleans to take a series of haunting images from the abandoned amusement park, which has fallen into disrepair since the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. BuzzFeed recently posted some of these pictures, including one of a forlorn black kitten (seen above), which instantly captured my attention (and heart). A caption under the photo indicated that the pair took the stray cat home, however I was interested in getting an update, so I reached out to Will and Tiffany to see how Mr. Six is doing today.

(xshamethestrongx)

Mr. Six currently lives with Tiffany, who sent over a slew of pictures, and writes:

I'm proud to report that Mr. Six is healthy, happy, and mischievous as ever. He has two (not biological) brothers that he lives with, Minew and Rivers. He loves to bite my toes to wake me up in the morning and is friendly to anyone who crosses his path. He's adventurous and unafraid of new people and loves sitting in the window to watch lizards in the garden. He still eats whatever is put in front of him (his first meal in my car after we rescued him was a grilled cheese sandwich from Sonic). Sometimes I swear he's a dog, as he loves to carry things around his mouth (toys, paper towel rolls, and most impressively, my shampoo bottle.)

Remember when I told you Mr. Six was mischievous? There are two pictures in here that evidence that; one being him standing on his hind legs on top of my flat screen tv, and the next being the aftermath of my flat screen tv when he knocked it over by doing so. He's lucky he's cute and that I love him, haha. The black and white picture is he and his brother Minew keeping me company in the bathroom.

Below is a picture of Mr. Six and his brother in their favorite window in my bedroom. And the black and white shot is of Mr. Six with his paw on my leg - he always has to have one paw touching me when he naps.

And here's a few more shots of Mr. Six and his brother. The last one is of Mr. Six and I the day after Will and I rescued him from Six Flags when he was still a kitten!

(xshamethestrongx)

Special thanks to Tiffany and Will for sharing Mr. Six's story, and for rescuing him on that fateful summer day! It's clear that he couldn't have asked for a better home, where he receives all of the love and attention he deserves. I certainly didn't expect to find such a heartwarming story in the midst of such depressing photos, but this little cat just goes to show that even in darkness, there can still be a tiny ray of black furry light.

Kitten Rescued From Abandoned Six Flags New Orleans Amusement Park Flourishes In New Home

Celebrate Black Cat Appreciation Day With 21 Black Feline Inspired Fashions

Did you know that August 17th is Black Cat Appreciation Day? Not to be confused with Black Cat Adoption Month (July) and Black Cat Awareness Day (October 27), Black Cat Appreciation Day was started by Wayne Morris, who created the holiday in honor of his black cat loving sister who passed away on August 17.

Many of us who have been owned by a black cat know that they are some of the most loving companions on earth, but unfortunately they continue to struggle at shelters, where potential adopters overlook them because of old superstitions. I can say from personal experience that having a black cat cross my path is the luckiest thing that's ever happened to me, and I hope that one day the myth of the black cat being evil and unlucky will fade away, as more and more people begin to open their hearts and homes to these wonderful creatures.

In honor of Black Cat Appreciation Day 2012, I rounded up 21 of my favorite feline inspired fashions you can wear, to show the world that black cats are the coolest kitties ever!

Betsey Johnson 'Morocco Adventure' Stretch Ring - Nordstrom

Joyrich The Paris Cat Shoulder Tee - Karmaloop

Grey Cat Sweater - Wallis Fashion

Sterling Silver Black Cat Necklace - Every Bear Jewel

Reconstructed Black Panther Party Dress - I'm Your Present

Black Cat Pants - Ambidex Store

Alexander Henry Crazy Black Cats Clutch - The Tiny Bird

Happy Kitty Mary Jane Shoes - Em and Sprout

Wildfox Couture Cat Face Lennon Sweater - Revolve Clothing

Cat Print Tights - Yes Style

Markus Lupfer Intarsia Sweater with Cat Face - ASOS

Black Cat Dress - Leah Goren

Black Cat Leather Bag - La Lisette

Black Kooky Cat Round Coin Purse - Lulu Guinness

Black Cat Heart Earrings - Neighborhood Story

Up Your Alley Cat Flat - ModCloth

Black Cat Tote - T-Shirt 99

Cat Ninja Girls T-Shirt - Hot Topic

UNIF The Meow Sweater - Karmaloop

Liliana Mulberry Jeweled Cat Round Toe Loafer Flat - UrbanOg (See also: The Charlotte Olympia Cat Flat Knock-Offs You Asked For Are Here)

Maison Michel Yoko Embellished Cat Ears Headband - Net-A-Porter

Celebrate Black Cat Appreciation Day With 21 Black Feline Inspired Fashions