Moochy Monday

Don't feel sorry for Cody!!! He had a few pieces of chicken in the kitchen before these photos were taken. I was working on the computer eating my OWN chicken when I looked over and saw Cody had appeared on the chair next to me.  Rest assured he DID have chicken!!

We are happy to FINALLY be remembering to participate in the:

Blog Hop hosted by our dear furiend Sandee at Comedy Plus!!! Head over and visit all of the other cute posts there!

First Day of "Spring?"

Is Cody Moonlighting for ChocStars? #NationalChocolateDay

Hi all and Happy National Chocolate Day! The day where we celebrate all things chocolate!!!

Truth be told I am NOT a huge fan of chocolate. Yes, I enjoy a chocolate candy bar here and there and sometimes I enjoy chocolate cake,  but I have always been more of a fan of vanilla.

That being said, the other day when I was shopping at OFF 5TH Saks Fifth Avenue, I nearly died laughing when I discovered a REAL candy bar that had Cody's doppelganger smack dab on the front of the bar.

See for yourself and then tell me if YOU think Cody has a moonlighting gig that I'm not aware of?

Have a great National Chocolate Day, and you can check out the candy bar website here they appear to be made in the United Kingdom. Have any of our UK friends heard of this candy bar?

My New Name

Today my woofie brother, Dakota is taking my place in the "Picture Me This" Photohunt!! Go on over and check it out, he did a SUPER good job!! 

Love, 
Cody

Book: SHOP CATS of New York by Tamar Arslanian, Photography By Andrew Marttila

A Cat Book Brilliant in Concept and Execution

SHOP CATS of New York

When SHOP CATS of New York arrived at my home, I was immediately taken by the cover. It is intriguing, gorgeous and captivating. I thrive on tactile and visual stimulation.  The book is hard cover, (it even FEELS good!), printed on high quality paper that does justice to  the magnificent photos.

Like  a cat cannot wait to climb into a new box, SHOP CATS of New York became MY brand new box, and I couldn't wait to jump in!

Cover Photo Courtesy of Shop Cats

A book that features two of some of my favorite things in the world, Cats and New York, written by one of my favorite cat bloggers whom I have followed from way back when I first began blogging, Tamar is  PURE (or "PURR") NEW YORK! Quirky, animated, artsy, unique, a trend-setter, full of passion and enthusiasm for the cats, people and life in the city that she loves, NEW YORK.  I knew this was going to be GOOD. I was NOT disappointed. It is BETTER than "good." It is a must have for anyone who loves New York and cats and is curious about cats who reside in shops, and for those who love superb photos of cats that you can gaze at daily, it is a "whack-yourself-on-the-side-of-the-head-saying-why-didn't-I-think-of-that?" kind of a book, a "PURR DELIGHT."

FROM THE PUBLISHER:Shop Cats of New York introduces forty of New York’s favorite felines—all who have an extraordinary story to tell. Popular cat blogger Tamar Arslanian and Instagram pet photographer Andrew Marttila capture these deeply loved and well cared for animals in their city habitat and reveal how they came to reign over their urban kingdoms.

Photo Courtesy of Shop Cats "Lionel"

I was born on Long Island, NY and both of my parents were from Brooklyn. I still have family there, I have friends there. New York is a place that makes you come alive, it is a place where I feel that with my boisterous and loud personality  I don't stand out, I blend in. I feel at home there. But what about these cats? How were they discovered?

For Author Tamar Arslanian, resident New Yorker and cat lover.  It was "only natural" that she noticed cats wherever she went. As she started meeting cats in various shops around her neighborhood she became curious as to where she could find others throughout the city.  After doing some research and meeting superb photographer, Andrew Marttila "at a cat event-where else?" SHOP CATS was born.

"From the Algonquin Hotel to a local yoga studio, felines rule their urban domains. Arslanian and Marttila  expose witty stories of:two meat eating cats who live in a vegan shoe shop, a pharmacy cat with the title "Her Royal highness Princess Ivy of Neegard",  who has one human disciple
who travels two hours to bring her gifts. A pharmacy cat named Allegra, an allergy medicine,

whose owner is highly allergic to cats, a wine store cat with his own chiropractor, (he has a bad back),  a cat who is a the mascot at a dog boutique." Any many more!!!

Photo Courtesy of Shop Cats "Bobo"

Of course I HAD to feature "Bobo" shown above (since my first cat and "soul kitty" was named "Bobo"). The Bobo featured above resides at JAPAN MARKET INC., Chinatown, Manhattan. 

Lest you think that the cats in these shops are merely used as "mousers" and not cared for, think again. That couldn't be further from the truth. The cats often get more mental stimulation and love than cats who are in a traditional "home" environment. They have customers who visit them regularly, who "oooh" and "ahhh", whisper sweet nothings and caress sweet kitty faces more than we might have time for with our cats at home. They have all they could hope for, and then some. Most importantly they are LOVED. As a result, SHOP CATS of New York hopes that shelters in their area will consider allowing more businesses to adopt cats, and that the myth that cats who reside in businesses are strictly used to control mice and insects will be dispelled. 

Years ago before I had a blog, I remember stopping into a Bird Seed shop with a resident kitty, as well as a cat boutique (that has since closed), that had cats regularly strolling in the shop on a daily basis. 99.9% of the reason I even visited those shops were because of the "shop cats" who "worked" there. It makes me wonder, could we be looking at a series of books featuring cats located in various cities around the United States and the World popping up???? Tamar and Andrew, are you listening? We can only hope!!!!

SHOP CATS (Harper Design; On Sale: November 1, 2016;

Hardcover; $21.99/$31 CAN; 176 pages; ISBN:

9780062432025) 

AMAZON

and wherever you purchase your books!


I was not compensated for this review. I was sent a complimentary copy of SHOP CATS in exchange for my always honest review.

CAT BOOK: CATLANTIS by Anna Starobinets

How about that title? When I was recently contacted to see if  I would be interested in reviewing Catlantis by Anna Starobinets, I hesitated.  I have been deliberately cutting back on the number of book reviews that are written on our blog, (for a host of reasons, too many to list!), but Catlantis "got me." Truth be told,  it was the title of the book that caught my eye. . The title is clever and eye-catching.  The title lured me in.  I am glad that it did!

Cover Courtesy of  New York Review Books

AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 13,2016

"A PITCH-PURRFECT ADVENTURE STORY

OF TIME TRAVEL, LOVE,

AND A TABBY'S SEARCH FOR NINE LIVES"

Catlantis is a contemporary Russian children's classic that will soon be available in the U.S. Do NOT let the word "children's" prevent you from reading this witty  "feline fantasy of the most amusing and strange kind. "

Catlantis is a thought-provoking tale that is full of wonder. The plot is highly inventive and will transport ALL readers, (not just those in grades 3 through 7 which is the intended audience for this book).  through time and space to a cat-ruled civilization. A "cat-ruled civilization?" Now you're talking!!! 

Having a heavy background in Philosophy,  Catlantis immediately drew me in with "its deep animal wisdom, reminiscent of Aesop."

Courtesy of New York Review Books

AN EXCERPT:

And the mighty Pussiedon took pity on the cats. He left each breed with one magical ability,

Striped cats were left with the ability to see without using their eyes; that is, they could look into the past and foretell the future.

Spotted cats were left with the ability to hear without using their ears; that is, they could read people's minds.

Courtesy of New York Review Books

Ginger cats were left with the ability to time travel.

Gray cats were left with the ability to cross the frontiers of space: that is, they could travel from east to west to north to south in a mere instant.

Courtesy of New York Review Books

White cats were left with the ability to practice white magic.

Black cats were left with the ability to practice black magic.

ATTENTION BLACK CAT ENTHUSIASTS!!! When you begin reading Catlantis, at first you might be put off, as I was,  by how black cats generally, and the black cat Noir (who is competing with Baguette for the love of Purriana),are described throughout parts of this book. I NEVER, EVER reveal book endings, but believe me when I tell you, at first  I was upset, I wanted to close the book and not review it, but I continued on......all I will say is you will be HAPPY that you did!

"Catlantis is a modern-day metaphysical fable for curious cat-loving kids (AND ADULTS) of all purr-suasions." The  "whimsical otherworldliness" quality of this book is reminiscent of Lewis Carroll.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:Anna Starobinet's tale chronicles the journey of the lazy Baguette----a house cat with few motivations beyond sleeping and watching birds out his window until he falls in love with Purriana, and, as by chance, discovers his magical ancestry.

A descendant of the magic Catlanteans, Baguette becomes implicated in a quest to restore cats' nine lives by retrieving the Catlantic flowers from the sunken city of Catlantis, fallen into the depths of the Catlantic Ocean long ago.

All the cats of the world have been awaiting his deed, but can Baguette, a lovelorn and terminally lazy tabby, succeed in fulfilling the prophecy?

You will have to read this winner to find out!

Catlantis is a "modern children's story written with the wit and grace of the old masters." The illustrations by Andrzej Klimowski, are "charming and graceful,  contemporary and memorable, they bring the Catlantean world in all its bewitching strangeness to life."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anna Starobinets is an award-winning Russian novelist, scriptwriter, and journalist. In addition to her children's books, she is best known as a writer of dystopian and metaphysical fictions for adults, including An Awkward Age, which was a finalist for Russia's National Bestseller Prize. Catlantis is her first children's book to be translated into English.

Jane Bugaeva was born in Russia, and emigrated with her family to the United States at the age of six. Bugaeva translates children's literature from the Russian.

Andrzej Klimowski is the author of graphic novels and a designer of film and theater posters as well as book covers, which include the entire Everyman Collection of P.G. Wodehouse.  He is Professor of Illustration at the Royal College of Art.

Catlantis

NYR Children's Collection
136 pages
ISBN: 9781681370002

What REAL Cats Are Cooking!!

Monday......

Sniffing out #Cat Swag from #BlogPaws 2014-Wordless Wednesday