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!

10 Holiday Gifts For The Discriminating Cat Lady

Skip the basic kitty Christmas gifts this year in favor of 10 purrfect presents that any feline fashionista or connoisseur of kitty chic would love!


1. ASOS Christmas Cat Sweater (also available in Green and Petite Sizes)
Ugly Christmas sweaters are in style at the moment, but I prefer this cuddlier take on the holiday classic. Looking to purchase one for the cat-man in your life? Urban Outfitters has a Santa Kitten sweater that fits the bill.


2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Rue Kitty iPhone Case and Stud Earrings (sold separately)
I'm obsessed with Marc by Marc Jacobs kitty accessories (just check out my current iPhone case), and the latest addition is a cat named Rue, who can also be found on a pendant, or on a pair of soon-to-be-released smoking cat slippers.


3. 20" Big Plush Pusheen Toy
Bring home one of the most entertaining cat comics on the web (Pusheen the Cat), in the form of an adorable plush that you'll never want to let go. Pusheen is also available in a smaller version, if you just ain't ready for all that jelly.


4. Cat Eyeglasses Sweater, Cat Eyeglasses Mug, and Cat Eyeglasses Pillow
I've wanted this cat sweater by UK-based brand Louche forever, and was excited to see the addition of a mug and needlepointed pillow, that would add a touch of vintage charm to any home decor.


5. "A Cat's Life" by Gemma Correll
UK-based artist Gemma Correll is known for her cute, funny, and quirky take of what goes on inside the mind's of animals. Her kitty-themed illustrations are particularly popular, and have been compiled into this 128-page, must have collection, purrfect for any cat lover.  


6. Set of 6 Hand-Carved Linocut Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Ornaments
Fans of The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, the gorgeous blog dedicated to Laurie Cinotto's fostering efforts for the Tacoma/Pierce County Humane Society, will recognize the felines featured in this hand-crafted set of ornaments by Anagram Press. There are only 200 sets available, and part of the proceeds will be donated to help stock the Tacoma Humane Society's emergency pet food bank.


7. Meow Meow Tweet Birds of a Feather Set
This decadent bath set, which is available in Lavender Lover (yes, plz!), Grapefruit Gang, and Woodsy Wonderland, comes stocked with a bar of soap, soy candle, and liquid soap with a jubilant kitty-printed label. All of the the Brooklyn-based company's products are vegan, 100% natural, 96% organic, and never tested on animals.


8. Cats Are People Too T-Shirt
The Em and Sprout Etsy shop is chock full of super cute and creative apparel and accessories, including cat shoes, bags, jewelry and more! I'm always on the prowl for cool cat threads, and this hilarious advo-cat tee is just too funny to pass up.


9. Dogeared Lucky Cat Charm
The Maneki Neko, or Beckoning Cat is a Japanese symbol of good luck, and this sparkling charm is ready to wave some good fortune your way! The simple, yet stylish feline bling is made in the USA by Dogeared, and is available in sterling silver, or in 14k gold-dipped sterling silver, as shown.


10. Le Chat Poster
Feline-themed art that manages to be cute and chic at the same time? The heart-shaped nose on this mysterious kitty is a nice touch, and the French text makes it a little fancier by default, oui?

Still looking for even more feline-themed gifts ideas to help stuff their stocking? 

A donation to a local animal shelter or national pet welfare organization is a timeless gift that never goes out of style!

Sticking to a budget? Check out my Catster guide to 10 Cat-Themed Holiday Gifts for Less Than $25!

Also, I'd encourage you to stop by any of my amazing sponsors who help keep Catsparella running, including:

Pussies on Parade: Unique cat-themed art, apparel, jewelry, home decor and more.
Hey Kitty Kitty: An online boutique dedicated to bringing you the most awesome cat-themed items, as well as fun products for your feline friend. 
Portraits of Animals: Handmade creations inspired by artist Bernadette Kazmarski's household of felines and the beauty of nature.
Hotline Ink: An Austin-based screen printing company that focuses on animal-themed (cat!) totes and apparel.
Thirsty Cat Fountains: 100% food safe, handmade ceramic cat drinking fountains.
Magic Pots Handmade Cat Bowls: Handmade Polish pottery for kids, pets, cats, special occasions.
Shop Miss Ella: Illustration, jewelry, cute dresses, purses, patterns and toys, many cat themed for kitsch cuties and feline fancies!
Sweet Pickles' Designs: Gorgeous designer cat collars!

Happy shopping!

10 Holiday Gifts For The Discriminating Cat Lady

The 2012 Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Fundraiser!

Purring for your pledges!

It's that time of year again! The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee, the web's premiere source of adorable kitten photographs, is holding their annual drive to raise funds for Dog-A-Thon, the Tacoma & Pierce County Humane Society's annual walk for homeless pets, taking place on July 21st!

As I wrote last year, long before I was blogging about cats, I was visiting the IBKC for my daily dose of cuteness. The blog follows the adventures of families of kittens from the Tacoma & Pierce County Humane Society, fostered by Laurie Cinotto and her husband, Craig Miller. Also part of the mix is the irrepressibly floofy Charlene Butterbean, their six-year-old cat who "lends a paw" in raising the fosters, all of which have sweet names to match their whimsical little personalities. Since beginning the blog in 2007, Laurie and her family have fostered over 100 150 kittens to date!

Charlene Butterbean

The IBKC is an extraordinary website, and as such, this isn't just your run-of-the-mill animal shelter fundraiser, either. Cinotto uses her creativity and enviable crafting skills to turn it into an epic show of adorableless, where her current batch of kittens man the "phones" for your pledges (check out the evolution of the set here). In each of the four years since its inception, Laurie and her kittens have managed to raise increasing number of cash, from an impressive $23,000 the first year, to a staggering $66,000 in 2011. This year, their goal is $75,000 (or squillion, in kitten-speak), and with 19 days left and counting, they are well on their way!

Last year's donations were used to build The Petunia Louise Community Cat Room, with remaining funds going to help fund foster programs, shelter improvements, reduce the cost of spay and neuter surgeries for pets of lower income families, and feed and provide medical care for kittens, adult and senior cats. They are also working on a new program this year to help elderly pet owners on fixed incomes, who can’t afford to feed their beloved companions.

Limited Edition IBKC Poster by Boo Davis

Laurie keeps the fundraiser exciting with lots of pictures and daily posts, so even if you can't make a financial donation, it's still fun to stop by (and share!). There are daily challenges (today's is "Donate $25 if your Facebook profile pic is your cat. $50 if it's your dog."), matching challenges, kitten naming auctions, and more. This year, she will also be selling a splendid limited edition IBKC poster by Boo Davis, that will be available for purchase shortly.

I am so amazed by Laurie's hard work and dedication (and let's be honest, her incredible kitten photography skills!), and see her as a role model in my own life. She is someone who has taken what she is passionate about, and admirably turned it into a vibrant community, and a real way to help homeless cats in need.

Please visit the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee for yourself to peep some cute kitten pics, and learn more!

Update: The posters are now on sale HERE!

The 2012 Itty Bitty Kitty Committee Fundraiser!