Meet Sir Stuffington, The One-Eyed Pirate Kitten With A Heart Of Gold

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

September 13, 2013 was the first day of Sir Stuffington's new life, because that was the day he was rescued, along with his two brothers, from the streets of Troutdale, Oregon. The tiny kitten, who tipped the scales at just over a pound, was suffering from calicivirus, a severe flea infestation that caused a heart murmur, a missing eye, and a jaw fracture that has since healed. 


Sir Stuffington, center, with his brothers pictured left and right.

After being successfully treated at Multomah County Animal Services, the kitten was turned over to his loving foster mom, Blazer Schaffer, who told KOIN, "Everybody has beauty, it's just how you choose to see it."



In less than a week, images of the extraordinary feline have gone viral, with people drawn to his big blue eye and Grumpy Cat-channeling grin. His Facebook page has already racked up nearly 25,000 fans (probably way more by the time you read this), along with love and well wishes from around the world.


Fans can buy this pirate print to benefit Multnomah County Animal Services.

Although only weeks old, Sir Stuffington has made it his mission to bring awareness to the importance of local animal shelters, and the lives they save every day. All proceeds from the sale of his pirate print, shot by Amy Who Photography, will go to Multnomah County Animal Services, who are currently providing his veterinary care. 




Sir Stuffington and Foster Mom, Blazer Schaffer

In addition to being just another pretty face, Stuffington's foster mom wants the spunky kitten's story to show that anyone can make a difference. "If you see a homeless kitten, pick it up take it to the shelter, take it to the vet, don't just leave them. They can survive and thrive and have somebody to love them," she said.

Via CNN / Facebook (Sir Stuffington) 

Meet Sir Stuffington, The One-Eyed Pirate Kitten With A Heart Of Gold

EVA Air Hello Kitty "Hand-in-Hand" Jet Makes Its U.S. Debut

EVA Air Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand Jet 

Yesterday, the EVA Air Hello Kitty Hand-in-Hand jet landed at Los Angeles International Airport in California, making its inaugural international flight from Taipei. This incredible plane is a Hello Kitty fan's dream come true, and when I saw pics from the event popping up on my Instagram feed from @sanrio, @catfancymag, and @japanla, I must admit I was pretty jealous!



The super kawaii aircraft is painted nose-to-tail with Hello Kitty & her Sanrio friends, shown hand-in hand, on both sides of the fuselage.




Pilot Dear Daniel and a beary cute airplane mechanic.

Of course, the plane's arrival was greeted to much fanfare, and after landing, it was moved to a special event area where fans could take a cabin tour, and enjoy special appearances by the cat herself, and lead Hello Kitty designer, Yuko Yamaguchi.



When they say this jet is "all Hello Kitty everything," they really mean it!



The experience begins before you even get on the plane, with Hello Kitty boarding passes and baggage stickers waiting for you at the airport. Onboard, passengers are greeted by flight attendants wearing pink aprons with Hello Kitty designs!





There are more than 100 feline-themed in-flight service items to choose from, including headrest covers, pillows, tissues, hand cream, liquid hand soap, napkins, paper cups, utensils, and snacks and meals. 





I mean, even the freaking toilet paper has Hello Kitty on it! 



Fans can also shop from a selection of limited-edition Hello Kitty duty-free products that will be available inflight.



The new jet will operate weekly international flights between Los Angeles and Taipei, so for now, you'll have to head to California if you want to fly the kitty skies. EVA Air currently operates five shorter-range Hello Kitty aircrafts in Asia -- with regional flights between Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Guam.   

Images courtesy of Sanrio.

EVA Air Hello Kitty "Hand-in-Hand" Jet Makes Its U.S. Debut

Morris The Cat Lends A Paw To Ailing Alaska Cat Mayor

Mayor Stubbs, enjoying his catnip laced water in happier times.

After the untimely passing of Tuxedo Stan, former mayoral candidate of Halifax last weekend, I'm happy to be able to report that another prominent member of the feline political party is on his way to recovery after suffering from a brutal dog attack.

Mayor Stubbs rose to fame after the story of his fifteen year reign as honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska made headlines worldwide. After landing the position through a write-in ballot, he made his home at Nagley's General Store, where every day at 4 p.m. he could be found sipping catnip-sprinkled water out of a wine glass.


Stubbs recovering in the hospital just days after the attack.

"While at this point in time it is impossible to know whether my attack was politically motivated, I do hope that the government will seriously consider providing me with some Secret Service protection in the future to assist in preserving my remaining 8 lives," Stubbs wrote shortly after the alleged assassination attempt on August 31. 

The mayor underwent emergency surgery after he was brought in to Lake-Susitna Veterinary Hospital suffering from traumatic right-sided chest injuries involving penetrating wounds, collapsed right lung lobes, and fractured sternum.

 
Stubbs resting comfortably 4 days post-trauma.

After the attack, supporters began sending in donations for his mounting medical bills, but another famous feline stepped in to lend a helping paw. Morris the Cat, the legendary ginger kitty behind 9Lives cat food, offered to cover the expenses, which reportedly topped over $3,000. The two formidable felines became friends last year after Stubbs joined Morris on his bid to become elected president.

Fortunately, after a week in intensive care, Stubbs was able to return home on Monday. To celebrate, he posted the following message on his Facebook page, thanking everyone for their support:

I'm happy to report that I am now back home in Talkeetna, where I continue to mend. I must thank my brother from another mother, Morris The Cat, for helping to cover my medical expenses. All donations I've received that exceed my expenses will be donated to the Mat-Su Animal Shelter, to support fellow animals in need. 

Unfortunately due to my strict recovery diet, I am unable to drink my usual catnip-laced water from my wine glass, but I do hope to be back in my normal routine in the near future. Thank you all for the cards, packages, donations, and Facebook love you've shown me during this difficult time. I do hope you will all consider moving to Talkeetna so that I can repay you with town-wide dance parties and mouse hunts, because let's be real, there will be a party as soon as I'm back on my feet.

Love,

Mayor Stubbs

Via Facebook (Stubbs Mayor Cat) / Big Lake-Susitna Veterinary Hospital's Animal Blog

Morris The Cat Lends A Paw To Ailing Alaska Cat Mayor

In Memory Of Tuxedo Stan, Halifax's First Feline Mayoral Candidate

A bright light in the world of feline politics was extinguished over the weekend, with the death of Tuxedo Stanley, the cat who achieved fame for running for mayor of Halifax in the 2012 election. 

Stan, who ran on the platform of "A chicken in every pot and a litter box in every house," gained endorsements from Ellen DeGeneres and Anderson Cooper, as he advocated for equal and humane treatment for cats throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, and the rest of the world. 

He died from kidney cancer, and went over the bridge while lying on his favorite rainbow rug, his owners announced yesterday on the Tuxedo Party Facebook page. He was only three years old.



Stan was not officially allowed to run in last year's mayoral race, but when asked if they would actually vote for a cat mayor, over 58% of readers in a CBC News poll responded, "Of course, Stan is the purrrfect candidate."

Shortly before his passing, supporter Henri, le Chat Noir offered up some sage parting words for his fellow tuxedo cat, writing, "Stan, losing you would certainly be a sad loss for the world but remember, as Seneca once said, "The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity." You have done a lot of good for a lot of cats. Safe travels, brother."



Stan is survived by his owners, Hugh and Kathy Chisholm, and his brother Earl Gray who intends to uphold his legacy by running for premier in the upcoming provincial election.



This picture of Stan lounging on his rainbow rug was posted on his Facebook page last month. I think it's a fitting, and touching tribute to the politically minded feline, who dedicated his short life to improving the welfare of cats everywhere.

RIP Stan. You will be greatly missed, and never be forgotten.

Via Facebook (Tuxedo Party)

In Memory Of Tuxedo Stan, Halifax's First Feline Mayoral Candidate

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

Holy Hairballs! Colonel Meow Sets World Record For Furriest Feline

Colonel Meow

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the furriest of them all?

Guinness World Records announced earlier this week that Colonel Meow, the Muppet-Ewok-Himalayan-Persian hybrid with a penchant for scotch and world domination, has set the record as cat with the longest fur.

The feline's luxurious locks were measured by three independent vets, who recorded an average length of  9 inches on ten strands of hair. 



Meow, who lives in Los Angeles with his masters (his word, not mine) Anne Marie Avey and Eric Rosario, and a jolly Golden Retriever named Boots, was found abandoned on the side of the road and rescued by the Himalayan & Persian Society. 

Despite his old man looks, the 10-pound cat will only be turning two in October.


Colonel Meow - The Longest Fur On A Cat!

"His hair gets everywhere in the house, but it's worth it," Avey tells Guinness. He gets brushed (only) 2-3 times a week, and his excess fur is used to knit sweaters for the sick and elderly (not really, but maybe?!).

And just how did the Colonel, who already enjoys a massive Facebook following, react to news of such a monumental accomplishment?



"Just doing a little celebrating after crushing my world record for longest fur. Even though this is exactly what I've done everyday for the past 3 years. #spreadthefrown #guinnessworldrecord #suckitboo."

The internet famous feline's record will officially be recognized in the Guinness World Records 2014 Edition, on sale everywhere September 12.

Via Guinness World Records, thanks for the tip Mark!

Previously: The Tao of Colonel Meow

Holy Hairballs! Colonel Meow Sets World Record For Furriest Feline

Highlights From The Second Annual Minneapolis Internet Cat Video Film Festival

Grumpy Cat Takes The Golden Kitty

Thousands of feline fans gathered on Wednesday night at the Minneapolis State Fair Grandstand, for the second annual Cat Vid Fest, presented by Walker Art Center.

After attracting over 10,000 fans last year, a reported 13,000 people bought tickets to sit around and watch cat videos together last night, and celebrate internet cat culture in real life. The event was also streamed live online by Animal Planet, for unfortunate souls (like myself) who weren't able to attend in purrson.

The cat people of Minnesota are legion. #catvidfest: pic.twitter.com/Wmp9FxOp2d
— Tom Horgen (@tomhorgen) August 29, 2013

The three hour long program kicked-off with a (loooong) two hour introduction that included performances by Twin Cities band Brian Laidlaw & the Family Trade, and quirky dance duo, Koo Koo Kanga Roo. 


Brian Laidlaw

Comedian Julie Klausner served as the night's emcee, introducing appearances by noted feline viral video hit-makers such as Will Braden (Henri, Le Chat Noir), Charlie Schmidt (Keyboard Cat), Chris Torres (Nyan Cat), and Maddie Kelly (Kittens Inspired by Kittens), who all received Hall of Fame awards later in the evening.

 
From l to r; Charlie Schmidt, Maddie Kelly, Mike Bridavsky and Lil Bub, Chris Torres, The Bundesen's and Grumpy Cat, Will Braden.

In celebration of "the Great Minnesota Get-Together tradition," Animal Planet commissioned a butter cat sculpture, inspired by royalty (rumor has it that Tardar Sauce licked its ear).


Tardar Sauce cozying up to the butter cat sculpture.



No pets were allowed on the grounds per fair rules, but spectators were greeted to surprise appearances by some of the most famous cats in the world, including Minneapolis's own Pudge the Cat.

"@PudgeTheKitten do you have anything to say?" #myheart #catvidfest pic.twitter.com/jI4IZDcSxY
— Erin Good (@eringood02) August 29, 2013

The highlight of the event, however, was an epic meeting of the minds between Grumpy Cat and Lil Bub.

BUB and @RealGrumpyCat sharing stories. Telepathically. pic.twitter.com/ngzMuHsTJk
— Lil BUB (@IAMLILBUB) August 28, 2013

@RealGrumpyCat and @iamlilbub chatting at #CatVidFest https://t.co/dvlXFPiJB9
— Grumpy Cat (@RealGrumpyCat) August 28, 2013

Over 7,000 nominations were submitted for this year's festival, and a team of 70 jurors narrowed the field down to 65+ cat video clips that were shown in categories like Comedy, Drama, Foreign, Animated, and Musical. 

People's Choice award winners included the now classic Cat In A Shark Costume Chases A Duck While Riding A Roomba and Cat Licking Vacuum Cleaner, but the coveted 2013 Golden Kitty Award ultimately went to Grumpy Cat, who took home the Monopoly cat game piece inspired cat-uette, basically just for being her grumpy self.


Go Grumpy!

Of course, no event such as this would be complete without cat fashion, and people had no reservations about letting their feline freak flags fly. 

We found @RealGrumpyCat's biggest fan @ #CatVidFest! Watch our live stream NOW! http://t.co/4yUtEb6HiV #Meow pic.twitter.com/7u9x9oWHdu
— AnimalPlanet (@AnimalPlanet) August 29, 2013

#CatVidFest https://t.co/IrFOIpWgAc
— Brian Schroeder (@BrianTheVirgil) August 29, 2013

The night's festivities concluded with a fireworks celebration, which most cats probably would have hated.

And the #catvidfest goes out with a bang. https://t.co/eFGduR5IW4
— Ben Lashes (@BenLashes) August 29, 2013

In case you missed it, Cat Vid Fest is hitting the road again this year. The full tour schedule will be posted tomorrow, August 30 on the Walker Art Center website.

Highlights From The Second Annual Minneapolis Internet Cat Video Film Festival

Cola The Cat Turns 28 In November

Cola

With all the sad news this week, I was happy to come across the story of Cola, a black senior kittizen who at nearly 28-years-old, is poised to become one of the oldest cats in Britain, if not the world.

Cola's owner, Mary Goldsmith of Orpington, UK tells This Is Local London, "She may not be as sprightly as she used to be but she's still got some zip in her."



Cola, who was born in 1985, is described as a "very cuddly" and "very happy cat," who still enjoys eating her favorite foods like chicken, tuna, milk and cream, and haddock.

Her owner attributes the feline's longevity to "a lot of love and attention and just being looked after." While Cola's actual birthday isn't until November, Goldsmith doesn't take one extra day with her for granted.

"I'll probably do something for her in November but really every day is a celebration, every day I still have her is like a birthday," she said.

Earlier this year, another British feline named Wadsworth made headlines when he celebrated his 27th birthday in March. According to Guinness World Records, the world's oldest living cat is 23-year-old Pinky from Hoyt, Kansas, and the title of oldest cat ever is still held by Creme Puff, who passed away in August 2005 at the ripe old age of 38.

Via This Is London

Cola The Cat Turns 28 In November

The World Says Goodbye To Homer The Blind Wonder Cat

Homer, the inspiration behind Gwen Cooper's New York Times best selling memoir, Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat has passed away, the author announced yesterday on her Facebook page. He was 16 years old.

The black feline had been battling health issues since late last year, and his condition had deteriorated in recent weeks. 


Gwen Cooper - Blind Cat's Tale (Homer's Odyssey)

Cooper captured the hearts of cat lovers around the world in 2009, with the release of her book about the feisty blind feline who beat the odds and made an indelible impression on her life. From career changes, through experiencing 9/11 in New York City, to falling in love and finding the man of her dreams, Homer was always by Gwen's side to provide loving encouragement.


(Facebook)

Cooper wrote in an emotional blog post yesterday that Homer was "the world’s cat," and that she takes comfort in knowing that his spirit will live on in the memories of so many.

"I celebrate Homer and the life that he lived, the love that he gave, the odds he overcame to grow into a housecat with a lion’s heart who touched so many people and saved the lives of so many other cats like him," she said.

"And I grieve for the loss of my boy, my little, little boy, the heart of my heart and the very best part of the person I always wanted to be. I do try to take comfort in the knowledge that Homer is whole now, and at peace—and that he will always, always be loved.

Vaya con dios, my love. My great love,  You were the one who taught me that love truly isn’t something you see with your eyes. Eras much gato." 


(Facebook)

In lieu of cards and flowers, Cooper is asking that fans make a donation to their favorite local animal charity in Homer's honor. She is also setting up a Homer’s Heroes Fund, through which every year she will make a donation in his name to a shelter or rescue group that does outstanding work with “special needs” animals.  

Additionally, for every paperback copy of her latest book, Loves Saves The Day, pre-ordered now or bought online or in-store until October 27th, she will donate 100% of her royalties to a shelter/rescue group through the fund. 

On a personal note, I was very sad to hear this news, and send my deepest condolences to Gwen and her husband Laurence. I was a big fan of Homer's Odyssey, and highly encourage you to add it to your feline reading list. 

Rest in peace, Homer. Your legacy lives on, and you will always be remembered in the hearts of all who loved you.

Via gwencooper.com / Facebook (Homer Blind WonderCat)

The World Says Goodbye To Homer The Blind Wonder Cat

Giant Cat Monopoly Token Invades London, Finds Home At Animal Shelter

Forget the royal baby. A new larger than life figure has taken up residence in London Town, and she's all paws!



To herald the release of the new feline-themed Monopoly game piece, Hasbro unleashed the oversized token on London, where it visited landmarks like Picadilly Circus, the Millennium Bridge, and Hamley's Toy Shop. 







After hitching a ride on a double decker bus, the 6-foot-tall feline arrived at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where she made some kitten friends, and confused the heck out of one lucky dog.



“We're happy to help Hasbro out with a home for the new Monopoly cat” said Battersea’s Head of Cattery, Lindsey Quinlan. “After being given a thorough health check on arrival, as all our animals are, the Monopoly moggy has made herself at home outside our Reception area and making friends with all our visitors."



“We think this latest Battersea cat is just too big to fit into a regular home, so we’ve decided she'll be our very special ‘yard cat’ here at Battersea. We do have 116 smaller cats and kittens being cared for at our London centre who are waiting for new homes, so please come and say hi to Monopoly cat – and meet all our other animals too.”



Earlier this year, millions of Monopoly fans from around the world voted to replace the iron game piece with a cat shaped one. The classic game with the addition of the new kitty token, is available in stores now. 

Images courtesy of Hasbro

Giant Cat Monopoly Token Invades London, Finds Home At Animal Shelter