Catsparella

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Proof New York City Men Dig Cat Ladies

Ladies, who says it's your cat that's keeping you single? Jen Doll of The Village Voice has uncovered a slew of Craigslist missed connections ads, posted by (presumably) available, New York City men *gasp* desperately in search of that one, fetching cat lady who got away.

Yes, you heard me. Despite their feline affliction, real live, breathing men still yearn for the companionship of these women. Who knew?

Doll cites several examples of postings she found, including this one, where the man fancies the woman's feline fashion sense:

Cat dress! - m4w (L train)

Date: 2011-08-03, 1:25PM EDT

To the girl with a nose ring that got on the L train this morning around 1st ave or so...I really liked your cat dress! I didn't want to say anything and come off as an AM creeper. But yeah, with the silhouettes of all the cats on there...cool dress!

Then there's also this poor chap, who couldn't even be deterred by a lady purchasing "a large amount of cat food":

Lots of Cat Food!!! 8/2 - m4w (CVS on Qns Blvd/67 Ave)
Date: 2011-08-03, 9:15 AM EDT

Last night, around 9:45 PM at CVS on the corner of Queens Blvd & 67th Ave, we had a very brief, but very pleasant exchange while you were purchasing a large amount of cat food. You were wearing a gray suit and have long dark hair. What did we speak about? What did I say as I was leaving? Coffee sometime soon or a drink after work? Looking forward to hearing from you.

And finally, this Proud Cat Dad just can't catch a break. Do you know the woman he's searching for?:

Woman in The Pet Market between w.108 & w. 109 - m4w - 28 (Upper West Side)

Date: 2011-08-01, 11:08PM EDT

It is The Pet Market on broadway between west 108 st. and west 109 st. I just want to say to the woman with the dark brown hair and glasses that you are amazingly beautiful. I stopped in yesterday to buy some things for my cats and showed you pictures of them. I forgot your name though. I wanted to know if you are single. If you see this email me through here. If anyone knows this lady can you please direct her towards this posting is would be great appreciated. Thanks.

Via The Village Voice

NYC Bodega Cats Documentary

Bodega Cats

For the uninitiated, bodega cats inhabit the small corner grocery shops of New York City, where they dutifully guard against rodents, and also have been to known to hang around looking cute.

"Bodega Cats," a short nature-style film by Internets Celebrities, documents the life of these majestic creatures, who, "While built for the fast pace of city living, are always on the lookout for a cozy box on top of a warm fridge."

Unfortunately, while the cats serve a great purpose, they must be kept under wraps. It's illegal to harbor one of these kitties, and any shop found doing so is subject to fines or closure by the Health Department.

The bodega cat in its natural habitat

Via BuzzFeed

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Cascades Cardboard Cat Teepee Giveaway Winner!

Thank you again to everyone who entered the Cascades Cardboard Cat Teepee Giveaway! I used Random.org to determine the winner, and it selected comment #49, belonging to Jennifer D., who wrote, "LOVE! My Blake and Lulu would totally fight over this :)"

Congrats to Jennifer and her lucky kitties, and everyone else stay tuned, because I have another fantastic giveaway coming soon!

If you're interested in learning more about Cascades Cardboard Pet Homes, please check out their website for more information. Also, from now until September 30th, be one of the first 10 readers to enter in rebate code CATSPARELL at checkout, and receive 25% off a cardboard cat Tipi or Chalet of your very own!

The Most Powerful Kitten in Canada

PM Harper with Stanley, and wife Laureen

Back in May, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his family adopted a kitten from the Ottawa Humane Society, and made headlines when they asked the public to vote on the tiny tabby's name.

Stanley settles into his new home

Since announcing the winning designation to be Stanley (a nod to the Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup bid this year), Harper has been periodically updating his Facebook page with glimpses of the kitten's progress, complete with images from a criminally adorable photo shoot, and a YouTube video of him happily romping around his new home.

So, what is it with politicians showing their pussycats on the internet lately? I think it might be time for the Obamas to bring home a feline companion for Bo!

Via Petit Petit Gamin / Calgary Herald

Key West Kitties: Visiting The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

Check out the paws on this guy!

The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum is a must stop tourist destination when traveling to the kitty friendly city of Key West, Florida.

My friend Alison recently visited to the historical landmark that is famously home to nearly sixty polydactyl cats. She also took a guided tour through the house, where Hemingway lived for over ten years, and wrote the final draft to "A Farewell to Arms."

She tells me she enjoyed strolling the grounds and seeing all of the kitties, who were "really well taken care of and always had a lot of food, treats, and water," but skipped out on the cat cemetery portion of the tour, because of the heat!

Thanks, Alison!

Cool Down With Some Cat Ice Cream!

Talk about ice cream dream! Flickr user Sarah Box recently celebrated her birthday with these amazing kitty creations found at Cat House and Ice Cream City in Tokyo. If I went to a shop that was selling these, I'd pretty much pass out on the spot.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Kitten Delays Morning Commute for 23,000 Train Passengers

Did you hear that? It was the sound of my heart breaking into a million pieces...

What could possibly halt 15 of Tokyo's notoriously punctual trains, and delay the commute of an estimated 23,000 passengers? Why, it was this poor little guy, who yesterday went on one ride he'll never forget.

After a passenger reported hearing meowing noises while traveling on the JR Keihin Tokohu line, workers made an emergency stop at Kamata Station where they found the tiny black kitten "clinging to the space between the floor and the wheels."

train cat by takadashinji2

Unfortunately, I'm unable to translate the news clip above about the incident (if anyone can, please let me know!), but it looks like the kitten was taken to a shelter, where he's now safe and sound.

Via Japan Probe