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

Kitty Cops Find Purrfect Home At Korean Police Station

"Freeze! It's the purr-lice!" - Mango and Mango Kobun

I always love a feline officer of the law, and my heart was warmed once again by the story of Mango and Mango Kobun, two kitties who have taken up residence at a police station in Seoul, South Korea.



Kotaku reports that Mango was brought to the station back in June, after being discovered in a dumpster. Things weren't looking good for the kitten, who was facing euthanasia if his owner wasn't found. Worse yet, after taking a trip to the vet, they found a lump in his stomach that required costly surgery to remove. 



Thankfully, a compassionate officer attempted to raise money to cover the procedure, and when the vet heard about his plight, offered to operate at a discount. The surgery was a success, and Mango was able to return to the police station in purrfect condition.



If that wasn't a happy enough ending,  another cat, almost identical appearance to Mango, showed up at the same precinct a short time later. The kind officers once again decided to take in the starving stray, and now both cats live at the station where they are paid in playtime and snacks!



Via Kotaku / 망원파출소의 묘(猫)한 경찰관?!

Kitty Cops Find Purrfect Home At Korean Police Station

Backyard Buddies Program Gives Barn Cats A Forever Home

Cobra and Straymond

I'm constantly impressed by the hard, important work that New Jersey-based shelter and rescue groups in my area do, and my attention was recently drawn to a fantastic program by The Monmouth County SPCA that helps give feral cats a second chance at having a better life.

The shelter, headquartered in Eatontown, NJ with an adoption center also conveniently located within Freehold Raceway Mall, recently shared a heartwarming success story from the Backyard Buddies program on their Facebook page:

This is Great Road Farm in Skillman, NJ. Farmer Steve Tomlinson adopted two barn cats late last summer and these are photographs from a recent visit. The two kitties, Cobra and Straymond, who were not doing well at the shelter, are obviously doing great now! 


Cobra


Straymond 

They are very happy, healthy and now very friendly boys! Steve takes such good care of them and they in return keep the rodents away. The farm is organic so having the cats is in line with that concept, as he doesn't need chemicals or traps to keep the barn pest free. Cobra even helps get stray chickens back into their coops! The MCSPCA Backyard Buddy and Barn Cat program truly saves lives!





When Sally Williams, a longtime shelter volunteer and adoption counselor first heard about how The MCSCPA placed unadoptable cats on farms, she knew had to help. She made phone calls, sent emails, and used social media to connect to Farmer Steve, who she says has "been amazing" throughout the process. 


Sally sneaking in a cuddle with Cobra.

"Both Cobra and Strayond are the picture of health, happiness and farm living!!!!," she says. "Cobra is Mr. Personality and very friendly to everyone he meets. Straymond was a bit shy at first, but before long was winding in and out of my legs and happy to receive full body pets!!! I was overjoyed!!!"





"I spent some time chatting with Steve before he headed out for some potato harvesting and he expressed what a wonderful experience this has been for him and his staff. He clearly loves his cats. Cobra and Straymond are living the good life at their home at Great Road Farm."



The Backyard Buddies program saves lives by taking healthy, feral cats who cannot be placed in a home environment, and relocating them to farms and other safe outdoor areas, where they can thrive and be cared for. The shelter provides each cat with a spay/neuter, microchip, flea/tick preventative along with vaccination against rabies and distemper. Assistance is given during the relocation process, and caretaker responsibilities include providing daily food and water. As their website states, "There is no cost for this service, and the reward of saving a life is priceless."

To learn more about the Monmouth County SPCA, visit their website or follow them on Facebook here.

Images courtesy of Sally Williams/MCSPCA.

Backyard Buddies Program Gives Barn Cats A Forever Home

Ke$ha Adopts A Little "White Lion" Named Mr. Fluffy Pants

Ke$ha and Mr. Fluffy Pants

Everyone knows that Ke$ha loves her animals, so it comes as no surprise that the singer recently added another furry member to her feline brood. "Someone just got rescued..." the pop star tweeted over the weekend, before sharing pictures of a large, fluffy white cat she later named Mr. Fluffy Pants.


"New kitty was in a tiny cage for 8 months ....I couldn't just leave him!! Now he has his own bedroom... just need a name ..." she wrote. 



Fluffy, whose appearance she likened to a "white lion," spent the first few hours in his new home hiding under the bed, and getting to know Ke$ha's other famous feline, Mr. Peep$. Their first encounter was caught on tape -- and yes, he did eventually come out!


Mr. Fluffy Pants and Mr. Peep$ bonding under the bed.


He finally came out!

This isn't the first time that the cat loving singer has opened her home to an animal in need. Last year she took in Mr. Peep$, a Siamese kitty, after he was handed to her through a car window. The pampered puss now has his own Twitter account, and also makes frequent appearances on the songstresses own feed.

Via Twitter (@keshasuxx) / Instagram (@iiswhoisis) & (i_is_mrfluffypants)

Ke$ha Adopts A Little "White Lion" Named Mr. Fluffy Pants

The Sweater Store Ugly Vintage Cat Sweater Giveaway!

New York Fashion Week is in full swing, but while the designers strut their latest creations down the catwalk, none of them can compare to the cutting edge chic of multi-colored cat cardigans and sweaters from The Sweater Store!





I hate to use the word "ugly" to describe these, because (most) of them are just too darn cute, but it got your attention right? 

I mean, who wouldn't want to wear this vintage hot pink and purple mouse-killer sweater?



And I'm all sorts of obsessed with this Warhol-esque feline masterpiece:



The Sweater Store recently "raided the closets of some of the world's most fashionable cat ladies," to add a whole new category on their site dedicated exclusively to feline inspired designs. The best part is, all proceeds from sales of these cat sweaters go the ASPCA!





The online shop is home to the world’s largest selection of vintage ugly Christmas sweaters and holiday accessories. Based in Minnesota, "where Ugly Christmas Sweaters once roamed the prairies and Holiday party circuits unfettered," they strive to find good homes for great sweaters...and help kitties too!

Enter To Win!



TheSweaterStore.com has generously offered one lucky Catsparella reader the chance to WIN THE VINTAGE CAT SWEATER OF THEIR CHOICE!

I've posted just a few of my favorites, but you can choose from any sweater available here, and there are tons to choose from!

To enter, leave a comment on this post with your name and some way for me to contact you if you win (email, link back to your blog or profile, Twitter, etc.) The winner be will chosen in a random drawing next Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 5:00PM EST. This giveaway is open to everyone, so our international friends can participate too! One entry per person, please.

Good luck, and be sure to check out The Sweater Store and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for all of your ugly sweater needs.

(If you have trouble leaving a comment, email me at catsparella@gmail.com)

[Comments are now closed. Thanks for entering!]

The Sweater Store Ugly Vintage Cat Sweater Giveaway!

NYC Subway Kittens Find Foster Home, Appear On The Colbert Report

Arthur and August

Two wayward kittens who single-handedly shut down subway service in Brooklyn last week, are back in the news. Arthur and August, who are approximately 8 weeks old, suspended service for nearly two hours and delayed thousands of commuters on the Q and B lines, while rescuers desperately tried to lure them off the tracks. 


Rats!!

The delay caused controversy for mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, who said he didn't think it was appropriate to halt subway service just to spare their lives. 


The kittens during their Colbert debut.

Last night, the kittens made an appearance on The Colbert Report with foster dad Steven Liu, where Colbert challenged Lhota's position as a "pro-dead kitten candidate," putting him in the category of "sociopaths, rats large enough to vote, and Alf." (If you don't have a sense of humor/are easily offended, I would encourage you not to watch the clip). 


Arthur

Yesterday, The New York Daily News also reported on the duo's luxurious foster home accommodations in Bushwick, which they share with Liu and his roommates. Arthur and August have all of the toys, scratching posts, and cardboard kitty towers they can shake a paw at, making me wonder if they didn't get lost on purpose.


August

Liu runs the Scratching Pad blog, and says the kittens are shy and scared, but still enjoy "some good old chin and butt scratches."

He tells me that the infamous pair will be up for adoption in roughly four weeks, and interested parties can file an application through Animal Care & Control of NYC.

Visit the The New York Daily News for more adorable pics of the kittens in their new digs, and check out Steve's blog for ongoing updates on Arthur and August, and adventures in foster cat care.

Images courtesy of Steven Liu.

NYC Subway Kittens Find Foster Home, Appear On The Colbert Report

Cat Accidentally Raises Over $1,000 For Charity, All By Lifting Her Little Paw

The face that launched over $1,000 in donations

When Redditor Akslfak's cat Refurb (short for Refurbished, after she lost one of her legs as a kitten), made it to the front page of photo sharing site imgur, he had a good laugh about it, and then turned the tortie's 15 minutes of fame into over $1,000 in donations for animal shelters around the world. 



After taking the story of his cat's unexpected popularity to internet forum Something Awful, another user joked that they would pay for an autograph from the famous feline. Thinking it was a joke, Akslfak sarcastically replied that if he sent proof of making a $10 donation to a local shelter, he would send him Refurb's pawtograph in the mail.



Much to the surprise of skeptic's everywhere, the autograph seeker posted proof of the donation right away, spurning others to make the same request. Less than a week later, there were 35 donations from around the U.S., and six different countries across four continents. 



The "Refurbographs" were created using washable non-toxic ink, and pressed on to custom made postcards. Akalfak says that Refurb "put up with the paw print making like a champ"... probably because she knew it was for a good cause!



"This is by a wide margin the silliest thing that I have ever done, and yet I don't feel that silly about having helped out some animals that need it," Akslfak says. "However, I will feel silly when I go to the post office with a postcard of my cat's paw print, asking for postage to Australia."

After raising $1,300 and running out of custom cards, Akslfak and Refurb are shelving the project for now, but they hope people will still be inspired to donate money to their local animal rescue organizations.

Via Reddit (Akslfak) / imgur

Cat Accidentally Raises Over $1,000 For Charity, All By Lifting Her Little Paw

Burn Survivor Justin The Kitten Showcases His Recovery On The View

Justin the Kitten - The View

A three and a half month old kitten who made headlines after being set on fire in April, appeared on The View yesterday to showcase his magnificent recovery and reunite with the good samaritan who saved his life. 

Damaris Sanabria rescued the cat, now named Justin, after finding him left for dead on the streets of Philadelphia. He was taken to Animal Alliance, a New Jersey based animal welfare society, where he endured many nights in the hospital, multiple surgeries, and much needed TLC, before being placed in his forever home last month.

According to View co-host (and noted cat lover) Whoopi Goldberg, Justin was attacked by "a yet to be identified maniac who the police better find before I do." According to The Star-Ledger, a $6,000 reward is still being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the heinous act. 

Despite losing most of his ears and having two-thirds of his body burned, Justin's fur has grown back with a fluffy new coat, and his owner, Kelley, says he can hear perfectly fine, especially when it's time to eat! Kelley, who has set up a Facebook page where fans can follow Justin's progress, describes the extraordinary kitten as, "full of life and full of love." 


Justin

Burn Survivor Justin The Kitten Showcases His Recovery On The View

Adoptable Kitten Makes Headlines After Chicago Tribune Homepage Mistake

The Chicago Tribune made headlines of their own yesterday when an error on their homepage caused a curious site for several minutes:



While the image of a kitten along with the word "test" typed over and over looked like a sure sign of a feline takeover, Tribune Social Media and SEO Manager Amy Guth revealed to Gizmodo that a routine CMS test was the much more mundane reason for the gaffe.


Benton

The technical error was quickly spotted and resolved, but as it turns out, the story doesn't end there. The featured feline wasn't just a random stock photograph, but rather one of the adoptable animals featured in the paper's "Pets in need of homes" gallery. 

Guth tells Gizmodo, "This cat, Benton, is up for adoption, though I now understand he’s become a very popular fellow in the hours since the front page error. Perhaps our mistake will at least turn into Benton’s good fortune."

The tiny tabby was born around May 1, and is currently in the care of Feline Friends in Chicago:

This tiny little macho man likes to be petted, but he doesn't have time for lots of snuggling—he's a ladies' man. Benton spends a lot of his time playing with, protecting and grooming the girl cats under his guardian's care. But don't worry, this suave little fella doesn't neglect his own good looks; that lovely silver-striped fur is fabulous. Come give this kitten a closer look; he loves the attention.

If you or someone you know is interested in adopting this famous little fella, check out his Petfinder profile for more information.

Via Gizmodo / Petfinder

Adoptable Kitten Makes Headlines After Chicago Tribune Homepage Mistake

The 2013 Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Fundraiser!

Charlene Butterbean and Wylla Stout, live from the IBKC FUNdraising campaign headquarters 

It's that time of year again! The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, aka your other favorite cat blog and the web's premiere source of adorable kitten pix, is holding their annual FUNDraiser, in conjunction with the Tacoma & Pierce County Humane Society's annual Dog-A-Thon walk for homeless pets, taking place on July 20 in Lakewood, Washington!

Since 2007, Laurie Cinotto has been documenting the daily lives of the kittens she fosters along with her husband Craig, and their resident cats, Charlene Butterbean, and recent addition, Wylla Stout. The couple have opened their hearts and doors to 168 kittens over the years, and since 2009, have raised $260,000 for the shelter. This year, their goal is an impressive $100,000 (100 squillion in kittenspeak), and with 9 days left, Team IBKC is well on their way. 


Wylla's are standing by to take your call!

Although the event is called Dog-A-Thon, Laurie promises that all the funds raised will go to benefit cat initiatives: 

"All of the money we raise will go directly to the cats and kittens. It will help fund the foster program and in-house and off-site adoption programs. It will help make many shelter improvements for the cats. It will buy cats cozy little fleece beds and other comforting items. It will help reduce the cost of spay and neuter surgeries for cats of lower income families. It will also help fund a  program at the shelter designed specifically to help elderly pet owners on fixed incomes who can’t afford to feed their beloved companions. It will feed and provide medical care for tiny kittens, adult and senior cats. It will help make life better for our amazing shelter cats, while they wait for their forever families to come along."  


2013 Itty Bitty Committee Fundraiser Poster by Jay Bryant 

This year, the campaign has been focused on catching up with some popular IBKC graduates to see how they've grown from bouncing baby kittens, into refined felines. There's also plenty of matching donation challenges, and days dedicated to special causes, like the senior cat medical fund. 

Laurie recently unveiled a poster designed by Jay Bryant (Wylla's little tag reads, "I'm with Bean!") to benefit the cause, and the popular "Tea with the Bean" (your opportunity to have lunch at IBKC headquarters), is back on the auction block. To give you an idea of  just how popular these guys are, as of this writing, it's already up to $777.77!

Visit The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee to get your daily fix of charming kitten pics, and click over to their FirstGiving page to make a tax-deductible donation, and learn more about the event.

The 2013 Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Fundraiser!

Meet Wasabi-chan, The Cutest Kitten In The World

Wasabi-chan

Meet Wasabi-chan. The tiny Japanese kitten was found crying on the street last month after surviving a vicious crow attack, that left her with a fractured jaw and a hole in her throat.

Since then, her rescuers have been documenting the tiny tabby's progress on Twitter and Instagram, where she can be seen growing healthier (and even more adorable) by the day.

Due to her severe mouth injuries, Wasabi-chan had to be fed with a tube. She reacted violently to the treatment, so her owner's grandma crocheted tiny outfits to keep the kitten still, while she received her much needed sustenance. 

Marvel at Wasabi-chan's perfectly handcrafted mushroom outfit.



And her brief stint as cod roe.



Which inspired some incredible fan art, like a stamp by @Movie0girl,



And a wool doll by @Ayanya.



Once Wasabi-chan started feeling stronger, she started to explore! 



And quickly went paws up for new friends.



Like these friendly pups...





A parakeet...



And a red velvet cake (why not?).



She even had a top secret meeting with E.T., where they reminisced about their home planet.



Today, this lil' lady is doing great, and you can follow her adventures on Instagram, where there are videos of her too!



I've see quite a lot of kittens in my day, so I don't think I'm out of bounds saying that Wasabi-chan is quite possibly the cutest kitten in the world. Do you agree? 

Via Reddit / Twitter (@Jessiepon) / Images: Instagram (@shimejiwasabi)

Meet Wasabi-chan, The Cutest Kitten In The World