Some "Bunny" Loves Us!

Mom and I couldn't believe how great the timing was that the runner's up gift that we won from our buddy Speedy arrived on Thursday, it was purrfect for us to use to wish all of you who celebrate, a HAPPY EASTER!

After all, how many kitties are lucky enough to actually be furiends with the REAL Easter Bunny?

Here he is!

This is a small photo of the adorable card

with the lovely note that 

Speedy and his Mum wrote

And here he is close up

in all of his bunny splendor!!

Thank you Speedy for helping us out with our Easter post!

We are honored that

"some bunny" as special as you,

LOVES US!!

To our furiends who celebrate, HAPPY EASTER!

To the rest of us "YAY SPRING!!!!"

Love, 

Cody and Caren

#Laurel Burch Cat Products at #Petsmart! Enter to win!

Hi everybody! It's Cody!

I am so excited to present to you the FIRST of FOUR give-aways that I will be having in honor of my BIRTHDAY which is Monday, April 1st! (and that's NO JOKE!)

My furiends at PetSmart asked me if I would like to show you some really cool items that are a part of the NEW  Laurel Burch line at PetSmart, and are available for a limited time only!  Instead of napping the day away I JUMPED at the chance! If I can show you items AND host a give-away,  then I am one happy cat!

From PetSmart: Laurel Burch has been a phenomenon since she began making jewelry by hand and selling it on the streets of San Franciso when she was only 19. Over the next 40 years, she became an internationally known artist and designer with an instantly recognizable palette and style.

Her vivid and vibrantly colored images are whimsical creations from a mythical world of her own imagination. Recognized for her iconic cat figures and handmade jewelry, Laurel created art that is timeless, joyful and uplifting.

The first item I received was this super comfy bed!

This bed is super soft, the interior is made out of a cushy fleece and it has become one of my favorites! Mom could kick herself because she took photos of me IN the bed which were lost on her fried computer. You can see from the pillow indentation that I DO use this bed! The pillow is also reversible! (The opposite side has the same pattern as the side of the bed). Mom keeps a stash of my toys there so that I have furiends to sleep with as well!

I also received a bed/hide out, 

called the:

KARLY CAT HUT

check this out!

Now look at MY photos of ME with the REAL THING!

That's ME checking it out!

Mom couldn't believe that I went right in the second she put it down on the floor!

This bed is soooo comfy that it is making me drowsy!

I also received some super cool toys that are also a part of the Laurel Burch line

Isn't this the coolest thing?
It's the Cat Face With Wings!
It makes a really neat
CRINKLY SOUND!
It's the purrfect size for whappin'
and bunny kicking!

Some super cool KICKERS!
which are called
Cat Face Roller Toys!

Mom has always been a huge fan of Laurel Burch's items, she has a purse, pajamas and many other items that were designed by her. Mom LOVES the artistic appearance of these toys and the fact that they are safe (There are NO SMALL BELLS, which Mom HATES on cat toys, they are a CHOKING HAZARD!) and these appear to be super well made.

Mom and I were BOTH super impressed with this dangle toy! There are RIBBONS!!  It is called the Ribbon Streamer w/Feather Boa Cat Teaser! There are few cat danglers on the market with ribbon and Mom and I both thought this was pretty darned clever. They float through the breeze just BEGGING me to come closer!

Can you see how MESMERIZED I am by the ribbons and feathers? This is such a fun toy and I love to watch it gliding ever-so-smoothly in the breeze. Mom said she loved how my attention was just riveted on this toy!

Guess what? The kind folks at PetSmart are allowing me to have a GIVE-AWAY! TWO LUCKY WINNERS FROM THE U.S. will win Laurel Burch products valued at $25.

HOW TO ENTER:Just leave a comment telling me that you would like to be entered into the contest. That's it! The contest is open NOW and will close on MONDAY, APRIL 8TH AT 5PM. The winners will be chosen by www.random.org and will be announced TUESDAY, APRIL 9TH!!!

Wishing you all the BEST of luck!
Don't forget, come back Monday to wish me a Happy Birthday
and for another FUN give-away!
I gotta run and play now!
Love, Cody


In full disclosure. I was not compensated for this review. I was given all of the above items to test and share with you. All opinions are my own. The prizes awarded might not be the items that are shown here. They will be from the Laurel Burch line at PetSmart and will be valued at $25.

Somebody is going to be super THANKFUL today!

Hi everybody! Today we know of somebody who is going to be super happy when they see they are the winner of a customized plate from THREE SISTERS PLATES!

Thanks to everyone who entered! 

Th eligible winner was chosen by www.random.org and the winner(s) are:

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THEIR BLOG!

Their winning comment was:

The Island CatsMarch 22, 2013 at 3:49 PM

That is quite the story! We visited her site and think all the plates are great. But of course, we love the cat plate the best!

FYI...we have sun now!! :)

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Cody and I know that you are going to LOVE your plate! Enjoy!

The Battle of the Coffee Stirrer! Wordless Wednesday!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to all who have been voting  for me in the AmazeCats competition!!! Please continue to vote for me by clicking here and for my furiends by clicking HERE!

You can vote til noon ET Friday!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Love, Cody
xoxoxo

Tabby Tuesday, A Prize I will cherish forever!

Some months ago I entered a contest that was on one of the 100s of blogs that I follow. The contest was called the:

Purrfect Pet Lovers' Valentines Giveaway

and it was on the blog

CindyLu's Muse

That day CindyLu was featuring an artist, whose creations have a gentle quality that touched my soul. The artist is Becky Sorrentino, and she has an Etsy shop called:  BecArt.

Please take a a few minutes to visit her shop, her work is incredible!

The prize I won was a gift certificate for a personalized  mini-pet portrait.

My dilemma was which pet should I choose to appear on the painting? The answer came rather quickly, it was a no-brainer. My Angel Bobo. Bobo allowed me to share his life  long before I had started blogging, after-all, he is the main reason that Cat Chat exists, (Cat Chat was begun as a living testament to Bobo and the joy that cats bring to our lives),  it had to be Bobo.


This is the photo that I submitted (along with a couple of others).  The photo I sent couldn't have been worse. I had to take a photo OF a photo. This is the photo that is on Bobo's urn.

I submitted a few photos to Becky via email (the process couldn't have been easier) and throughout the process Becky sent me photos of her progress on the painting.

Step One

Painting I approved
Rebecca made a slight change
to improve eye color

When the Personalized Mini Pet Portrait arrived, I was first blown away by how beautifully wrapped the package was. (This photo does NOT do it justice!) The gift box is HAND MADE!

When I removed my painting from the box, I was overcome with sadness (that was NOT a bad thing!), it is a glowing endorsement of  the superb work that Becky does. It was as if my beloved Angel Bobo had literally come to life through the magic of Becky's  talent. Every detail was so perfect, from the color of his eyes, to the EXPRESSION on his face, it was a replica of a most cherished face that I spent 18 glorious years kissing over and over again.

Here is the finished product (I keep mine hanging on my kitchen cupboard where I may see it numerous times throughout the day). My Bobo was my "Kitchen Assistant". Whenever I cooked, he was at my side eagerly tasting my latest culinary creations. Now he is again.

Here are some details about  the Personalized Mini Pet Portraits . This verbage was taken from Becky's Etsy Shop.

Miniature Pet Portrait 
Watercolor and Mixed Media
Approx. 3"x3" 

Customized Pet Portrait 
Send me a photo of your furry friend and I will create an original hand painted portait! These adorable little decorative ornaments feature a small square (approx. 3"x3") watercolor painting of your friend on one side and a wire-shaped word or two about them on the back! 

The back of Bobo's ornament
isn't it just fabulous?

(their name, the year, best friend, meow! woof!) The watercolor paintings are always hand painted by me, based on photos of your furry friend. The word (or words) you wish to have attached to the back of the ornament are made of 24 gauge metal wire and, once again, shaped by yours truly! All ornaments come with ribbon attached to the top for easy hanging around the house year-round or even on your Christmas tree for the holidays *Great decorative little piece of art!*

*Handmade gift box (shown above)included! Color will be same as ornament choice.



My personalized pet portrait is clearly one of the most cherished pieces of art that I own.  It is something that I will never tire of looking at, just as I never tired of gazing at my precious Bobo's face, for every second of the 18 years I was blessed that he allowed me to share his life.

Thank you  Becky for bringing my "boy" back to me!

Passover Starts Tonight At Sunset

FROM CAT CHAT: Since we have many new followers, we decided to re-print portions of a blog post we did on April 6, 2011!


Hi everyone it's Cody! You know what I like about Passover?  You aren't allowed to eat any bread, now Mom can see what it's like to be on a grain-free diet!! Considering she is the Queen of Carbs, the next 8 days should be "fun" indeed!!

For those who don't know what the holiday Passover is, you can read about it here.

 

Happy Passover to our Jewish Furiends!

Love, Cody & Caren

Baby I'm Amazed! Am I AmazeCat's Next Top Cat?

Ok, ok I know that is a s-t-r-e-t-c-h because there are some awfully famous kitties who are contenders, but if you have a thing for gray tabbies with gorgeous green eyes and jelly bellies would you

I know the chances of my winning are slim to none

 but what fun it would be to make it to the top 32!

AmazeCats has gathered the hottest, cutest and most talented cats on the internet for a kitty-rific celebration of cats, cats, and more cats! It's time to show your support for these fantastic felines. Who has what it takes to make it to the TOP? Kitty stardom awaits! 

Voting is open until Friday March 29th. The 32 cats with the most votes will be awarded a place in the NEXT TOP CAT bracket and the tournament will begin! 32 amazing kitties, thousands of cat lover votes  - one kitty superstar! 

Follow all the action on their Next Top Cat blog!

I don't have great photo or video skills but what I do have is LOTS OF LOVE to give to YOU! Doesn't that count for something?

This is the video that Mom submitted showing me in all of my roly-poly tabby chubbiness!


To vote for me, click HERE

There are also other kitty contenders (and a number of them are my furiends, so I wish them the best of luck!) and you can check them out HERE

Remember! A vote for Cody is a vote for GRAY TABBIES EVERYWHERE!!

This is Cody and I approve this message

Enter to Win A Unique Gift For The Cat Lovers In Your Life! A customized plate from Three Sisters Plates!

I am a firm believer in Synchronicity.  

Synchronicity: from Wikipedia: is the experience of two or more events that are apparently causally unrelated or unlikely to occur together by chance, yet are experienced as occurring together in a meaningful manner.

Click here
to visit Three Sisters Plates

Some months back  I was shopping at my local market and noticed a man wearing a Cleveland Browns cap. I live in Michigan and Cleveland happens to be my home town.  Always one to strike up a conversation with a stranger, whether they like it or not,  I approached the man and asked if he was from Cleveland. He told me no, but that his daughter lived there. I asked her name, which sounded familiar and the kind gentleman proceeded to phone her. I got on the phone and explained how I had just met her Dad, pleasantries were exchanged. It turned out she didn't know who I thought she knew and that was that. I thanked the gentleman for calling her and we went on our way. Just a fun coincidence in a local grocery store,  nothing more. Or so I thought.

A month or so later I received this keepsake   for my birthday from my niece who has a knack of knowing the perfect gift to give to anyone for whatever occasion! It came from Three Sisters Plates, you can visit their website right here.

I couldn't have been more delighted!  I spent so much time going through every photo,  each one stirring up memories of my deeply loved and greatly missed home town. I couldn't wait to display this keepsake with  pride in my home.

I derived so much joy from this plate that it got me to thinking,  I wondered if the shop owner also made plates that featured cats  and I began searching. YES! She did!

I promptly ordered one, and a dog plate too! At the  time I placed my order, I contacted the shop owner (Sandie) and asked if she would be interested in holding a give-away for my readers. Through our conversation I learned that she was from Cleveland which of course, led me to start my interrogation. When she mentioned her last name, I asked some other questions and then came the SHOCKER. She said "Are you the same lady who met my Dad at the market some months ago?" I nearly DIED! Synchronicity at work! What were the odds of THIS happening?

It was  meant to be that I met Sandie's father in the market, it was meant to be that I received one of her gorgeous, unique, handmade plates for my birthday,  so that I may share these marvelous plates with you! Here are some  photos of my Personalized Cat Plate

How incredible are these plates? (The plate stand is sold separately and is super inexpensive).  These make the PERFECT and most UNIQUE GIFTS and with over 130 themes you are sure to find one that would be perfect for you, or the lucky recipient!

From Three Sisters Plates:

Visit me on Facebook for new product updates and show schedules

To visit the Three Sisters Plates website click here.  The Adorable Cat Plate is $35+shipping...(personalizing your plate by adding up to five of your photos is $45+shipping).

All plates are hand crafted. Yes, each picture is individually cut and glued.

They are meant to be looked at, laughed at and talked about!
Since all the work is done under the glass they can be used, but do not put them in the dishwasher. Most people put cookies, cracker and wrapped candy on them

Isn't Synchronicity the best??!

By meeting Sandie's Dad at a random market in Michigan, and receiving MY Cleveland Browns sports plate as a birthday gift, I decided to purchase a dog and cat plate, (yes, I BOUGHT my plates!!) which led to my asking if Sandie would agree to having a give-away for YOU, and she agreed! As she said in an email:  "after all, we're practically related!"

GIVE-AWAY! ONE LUCKY PERSON LIVING IN THE U.S. will win their own PERSONALIZED CAT PLATE!!   (a $45 value plus shipping). The give-away starts NOW and will end on WEDNESDAY MARCH 27TH AT NOON. WINNER WILL BE SELECTED BY www.random.org and WILL BE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY MARCH 28TH.

To enter, visit the Three Sisters website and leave a comment on this blog post telling me what your favorite plate is!

Good luck!

Oh and pay attention when you are at your local market, you never know WHO you will meet!

In full disclosure: I purchased my plates and chose to feature Three Sisters Plates because I LOVE these fabulous plates! I was not paid for this post.

Spring Arrives Today!

Dear Sweet Eric, We Will Miss Your Tummy ....

Not just on Tuesday...

but EVERY DAY....

You can visit Eric's
family here

We have no words......
we are in shock and disbelief
We offer our deepest 

sympathy and love

Caren and Cody

The NEWEST Litter in the World's Best Family of Litters!

Hi every kitty, It's Catvocate Cody! If you remember, back on February 18th I blogged about a MYSTERY litter that was going to be introduced by my furiends at World’s Best Cat Litter™

Well, guess what? It's here! I've tried it and now I am going to reveal the mystery litter! It's FOREST SCENTED CLUMPING FORMULA CAT LITTER by
 World’s Best Cat Litter™!

The new litter is available in 
6 lb, 12 lb and 24 lb bags!
To visit theWorld’s Best Cat Litter™ websiteclick here

Made with a blend of wood fibers, this natural scented clumping cat litter pairs the absorbency of whole-kernel corn with a fresh forest scent you’ll love. Safely eliminate nasty pet odors and simplify cleanup with the quick-clumping litter that adds a natural scent with no synthetic chemicals or perfumes!

When it arrived...I had one question:

My Mom was wondering about that too! 

You know that some kitties are super finicky about having their litter substituted too quickly. That is why whenever you introduce a new cat litter you should GRADUALLY introduce the NEW litter with the old.

That is why my Mom
kept my former bag of World’s Best Cat Litter™
so that she could GRADUALLY
mix it in with the NEW litter!
I have SUCH a smart Mom!

If you look closely you can see that the new litter is a MUCH lighter color than the previous World’s Best Cat Litter™ that I had been using. If Mom didn't listen to the advice that the World's Best people put on the side of the bag about GRADUALLY mixing the litter, I might not have tried it!

Mom didn't have to worry! I took to the NEW FOREST SCENTED Clumping Litter by World’s Best Cat Litter™ like a CHAMP!

Another concern that Mom had before she opened the new Forest Scented litter was would the smell be too strong?

Mom and I are pleased to tell you that NO the scent is pleasant, refreshing, it is NOT "perfumy" or overpowering which helped to put BOTH of our noses at ease!

Forest Scented Clumping Formula - Made with a blend of 100% natural wood fibers, this clumping formula is ideal for cat owners who prefer a fresh forest scent.

Why did the folks at World's Best Create this litter?

World’s Best Cat Litter™ created Forest Scented Clumping Litter to help retailers meet consumer demand for a high-performing clumping litter that combines the performance of whole-kernel corn with the added benefit of a fresh forest scent. In-home testing of more than 1,500 cat owners showed Forest Scented Clumping Formula met the high expectations of World’s Best Cat Litter™ while at the same time consistently outperforming competing litters.

Forest Scented Clumping Formula is different from other wood-based litters because it combines the naturally absorbency of whole-kernel corn with the gentle scent of 100% natural wood fibers.  The new formula is planet-friendly because the kiln-dried wood fibers are made of re-purposed tree shavings that might have otherwise gone to waste.  Be Among the First To Try This New Product!

The new litter began shipping to the stores on March 1st and should be on shelves by APRIL 1st! (and that is NO JOKE!)

It is also "no joke" that Mom and I are super happy with the new Forest Scented Clumping litter by World’s Best Cat Litter™ and we have a feeling that you will be too!

ATTENTION KITTIES!! Keep your eyes peeled!! We will be having a give-away soon!

Now go and tell your humans to pick up a bag and try this great litter!

So, from MY litter box to YOURS...

It's Catvocate Cody signin' off til next time!!

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review. I am one of a clowder of official "Catvocates" for World’s Best Cat Litter™ I was sent a GIANT bag of the new Forest Scented Clumping Litter by World’s Best Cat Litter™

May the luck of the Irish be with you!!

Illustration sent to us
from our friend
GARY PATTERSON
click here to visit his site!!

If any of our friends are unfamiliar with St.Patrick's Day, you may read about it here

Angelina's Avenue Online Pet Shop-Guest Feature

FROM CAT CHAT-Hi every furry it's Cody! While Mom is recovering from yet another lithotripsy for her kidney stones, I wanted to show you some adorable pet beds. I wanted to completely disclose that I did not receive a bed, so rather than this being a REVIEW, Mom and I agreed to allow Angelina to appear as a guest. We cannot give an honest assessment of the products, not having used them, but we think they are completely ADORABLE!

All About Comfort

  

 
Angelina’s Avenue online pet shop was founded in October of 2012. I wanted to start a small business that I could run myself, making high quality products that would last unlike what you’d find at a big box store. 



I love creating for pets with modest to luxurious tastes.  All of our products are sold at competitive prices and filled with 100% recyclable/non-allergenic stuffing.  And for more convenience our beds are machine washable!



As we all know, cats spend 2/3 of their days sleeping and are in desperate need of comfort.

  

One of our customers told us:

“It took my cat Lilac all of about 4 hours to fall in love with her new bed. She is almost 11 years old and needed a cozy and comfy bed. It is so soft!”


We offer two different styles of beds, and blankets too!  

Catered more towards curling up and sleeping comfort is our oval shaped beds.  They have bolstered sides that allow for any cat to curl up next to and have a soft and warm nights sleep.

Our other style cat bed doubles as a cat bed/decorative floor pillow.  I know personally I spent a lot of time looking for a bed that my pet would love but would look cute in my home as well.  I believe our flower shaped bed suits both my needs!

All of our beds come in a variety of different soft blizzard fleece fabric designs to accommodate every home.



For our more luxurious cats we’ve created faux fur pet blankets, made from the highest quality faux fur. 


Purina says “Inside or outside your bedroom, it may also be possible to calm cats down by providing them with an alternative source of comfort, like a warm blanket.”

 

Featured below is our blizzard fleece/faux fur tiger cat print blanket.

We hope you’ll come check out our shop at www.Etsy.com/Shop/AngelinasAvenue or like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AngelinasAvenue

.

 As a special treat we’re offering a limited time 10% off coupon with the code 10OFFAVE at checkout valid until March 30, 2013.

  

We hope your cats love our products! MEOW!

Just another day in "Paradise": Semi Wordless Wednesday

Mom  may not be around much today!

She is at the hospital

having another lithotripsy.

Talk amongst yourselves.............

Love, Cody

P.S. If you leave a comment

and do not see it

Mom and I use comment moderation

it will not appear

until it is cleared by Mom

she will get to them 

as soon as she can

Book Review: "Love Saves the Day" by Gwen Cooper

I had no doubt when I sat down to read Love Saves the Day by Gwen Cooper that I was going to love this book. What I wasn't prepared for was just HOW MUCH I would love it, and how much I would FEEL while reading it.

It had been a while since I had read and reviewed another book by Gwen, Homer's Odyssey, and I had forgotten just how much I love Gwen's writing style, her development of characters is superb. She expertly crafts and describes their personalities and idiosyncrasies  in a way that we feel as if we KNOW them. Gwen's  ability to tug at our hearts,  and her ability to take a story plot and weave an intricate fabric of twists and turns, incredible highs and devastating lows are a talent that is unique.

In both Homer's Odyssey and in Love Saves the Day, it is obvious how much Gwen knows and loves her beloved New York.  The title, Love Saves the Day, "was the name of an iconic East Village store (where Madonna trades her pyramid jacket for a pair of rhinestone boots in Desperately Seeking Susan). Gwen says that "the phrase initially captured me as being both iconic of a certain era in New York 's downtown scene and also a great title for a book about the transformative nature of different kinds of love and relationships."


From the Publisher: Poignant, insightful, and funny, Love Saves the Day is a story of hope, healing, and how the love of an animal can make all of us better humans. It's the story of a mother and daughter divided by the turmoil of bohemian New York, and the opinionated, irrepressible feline who will become the bridge between them. It's a novel for anyone who's ever lost a loved one, wondered what their cat was REALLY thinking, or fallen asleep with a purring feline nestled in their arms.

Prudence, who is based on Cooper's own cat Scarlett (who crossed the Bridge a year ago) bore a striking resemblance both physically and in her behavior,  to my Bobo who passed seven years ago. From Gwen: "Scarlett was very aloof and very dignified but also capable of deep affection for the small handful of humans she allowed herself to get close to." Gwen wanted the feline narrator to "have a certain emotional distance from the humans she was observing, so that she wasn't always seeing them through a cloudy haze of adoration. But I also wanted her to be capable of that deep love those of us who love animals experience with the animals we bond with. Scarlett fit that bill perfectly." The above described my Bobo to a tee as well.

My "Bobo" who bore
a striking resemblance to "Prudence!"

Gwen Cooper also has to have an immense passion for the Beatles, as I  do. Their famous song "Dear Prudence" is quoted when Sarah finds Prudence as a kitten, hiding, and Sarah encourages Prudence to come to her by saying: " Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play?"  The Beatle's lyrics telling Prudence to "open up your eyes", "greet the brand new day", "the sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you" are not a coincidence, it was  a brilliant connection on the part of Gwen. Dear Prudence is saying that all will be fine, to look around, observe the beauty that surrounds you, just as the feline "Prudence" does in Love Saves the Day. The spirit of the song Dear Prudence, and the meaning of the  lyrics of the Beatles classic, are the soul of  Love Saves the Day. Not only did the feline "Prudence" learn to see life without Sarah in a "brand new way" but through her love and wisdom she enabled those around her to do the same.  In my opinion, only a true Beatles fan would appreciate and make this connection.

There were so many thoughts that went through my mind while reading Love Saves the Day, that taken individually, each thought could be shaped to form an endless number of reviews. Love Saves the Day is a book of substance, full of emotion, humor, history,  love... and... yes, sadness. You  will want to dive deep within it's pages and kiss the precious white paws of the sagacious Prudence.  This book has THAT much to offer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gwen Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Homer's Odyssey and the novel Diary of a South Beach Party Girl. She is active with numerous animal welfare organizations and is a frequent speaker at shelter fundraisers across the U.S. Gwen lives in Manhattan with her husband, Laurence. She also lives with her three perfect cats-Homer, Clayton and Fanny-who aren't impressed with any of it.

ISBN: 978-0-345-52694-6

To purchase through Amazon click here
To purchase through Barnes & Noble click here

Visit Gwen at www.gwencooper.com
Or on Facebook click here

Don't Forget!

Daylight Savings time arrives for those in the U.S. at 2:00am Sunday, March 10th!

For our Friends in the U.K. and Europe, you get more sleep! Your change doesn't take place until March 31st.

What does it mean for me?

Doesn't matter......my sleep routine will NEVER change!