Crazy For Calicoes...Art Auction on Ebay

Did you know that the state cat of Maryland is the calico cat? According to the state website:"Effective October 1, 2001, the calico cat became the official cat of Maryland (Chapter 194, Acts of 2001; Code State Government Article, sec. 13-317). Its colors of orange, black, and white are shared with the Baltimore oriole (State bird) and the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly (State insect).

"Calico is not a breed of cat, but an unusual coloring occurring across many breeds, including Domestic Short-hair, Persian, and Manx. Virtually all calico cats are female."

Pictured here are 10 miniature watercolor paintings of calico cat ladies that were a part of the 365 Cat Ladies featured in this blog during 2009. All are being auctioned off this week on Ebay...here is your chance to collect original artwork without breaking the bank, plus you will own a little piece of 365 Cat Lady history!

Place your bid today at:

http://myworld.ebay.com/whimsysu

Auction ends the morning of Tuesday Feb 16. Thanks for visiting!

CCCCLC Member Spotlight...Cat Lady Jana

Meet Cat Lady Jana, proprietress of Colorado Catnip Toys and newest member of the Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady Club!

Jana and her team of five expert assistants (who also happen to be fluffy felines) create colorful catnip toys, mats and quilts. Jana tells us:

"Organic catnip from the health food store is used in all my products, It is has a lasting aroma and carries an extra punch...I use the finest fabrics from the quilt shops because of the higher thread count and the fabric holds the colors after many washings. All fabric is 100% cotton (unless otherwise stated)."


It seems Jana was born to be a cat lady. "All but one of my 'kids' were orphans. I raised one from a kitten, and the others I have acquired for one reason or another. I have had cats all my life. Raised on a farm, my day had the cows, my sister had the horses, my two brothers had the dogs, I had the cats, and of course, my mother had all the animals, a husband and four kids to raise."

You'll find her delightful creations in her Etsy Shop: Colorado Catnip Toys

[Editor's note: Consumer reporter Buttonwillow put two of Jana's catnip toys to the test and gave them a big paws up as she merrily bounced off the walls and performed her wide-eyed "I am the tiger that's going to eat you" routine.]

It's easy to join the Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady Club! The membership kit includes a personalized I.D. Card, a members-only pinback button, Club Guidelines, and Club Creed. Gift memberships may also be purchased--just provide name, city, and hair color of the recipient.

ABOUT THE CCCCLC

Attention Cat Ladies and Lads! Do you have news to share? Send it to art@undertheoaks.net with "365 Cat Lady News" in the subject line.

Dog Dude or Feline Fella?

Does the guy in your life prefer cats or dogs? Please take my very scientific poll--you'll find it at the top of the right-hand column. Don't have a spouse? Tell us about your sweetheart, dad, brother, nephew or son...If you ARE a guy, tell us about yourself!

After you've voted in the poll, leave a comment at the end of this post that says "I voted!" You will be entered for a chance to win your choice of any one refrigerator magnet from my Cafepress online shop ! One name will be drawn at random when the poll closes at 11:00 p.m. February 11 PST.

Thanks for participating!

Would you like a Custom Dog Dude or Feline Fella Portrait? ...A one-of-a-kind and very affordable gift for any animal lover...For pricing and options, please visit my Etsy online gallery by clicking here: CUSTOM PET PEOPLE PORTRAITS

Featured Art Auction....Siamese Cats

"Their sleek lines, striking color contrast, finely chiseled aristocratic heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make them living art. Combine this beauty with acute intelligence, inquisitive personality and a loving nature and you have the essence of the Siamese cat. -- The Siamese cat as described by the Cat Fanciers' Association

Pictured are some of the miniature watercolor paintings that were among the 365 Cat Ladies featured on this blog during 2009. During the coming months, all of the remaining original artwork from the series will be auctioned off on Ebay.

This week's offerings highlight Siamese cats and their cousins, the Himalayan cats. These collectible art cards will be listed at an opening bid of $9.95. To participate in the auction, please visit Susan Faye's Ebay Auctions. ACEO collector cards are a wonderful way to collect original art without breaking the bank!










If you are considering adopting a particular breed of cat, there are a number of services to counsel you and help you find a homeless pet in need of your love. Examples are Purebred Cat Rescue in the Midwest, Persian & Himalayan Cat Rescue in California, or Texas Siamese Rescue, a coalition of shelters located in Texas, Virginia, California and Colorado.

Thanks for visiting!











To bid on any of these original miniature watercolor paintings please visit
http://myworld.ebay.com/whimsysu

Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady News

Welcome newest members of the Card-Carrying Crazy Cat Lady Club: Cheryl R., Joanne M., Shari S., Carm C., Marie G., Anne S., Teresa Y., Virginia B., Donna K., and Karen N.! Be sure to carry your I.D. card in your wallet at all times to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are a certified feline fanatic, and always wear your club pin with pride.

Hey ladies! Did you know that if you have a Custom Cat Lady Portrait, you can substitute that image for the generic cat lady on the I.D card? Here are some examples:

Cat Lady Teresa (aka Cat Lady No. 279)

Cat Lady Carm (aka Cat Lady No. 217)

Cat Lady Anne (aka Cat Lady No. 80)

Custom portraits start as low as $19.95 for a mini portrait with one person, one pet:

Mini Portrait

Club memberships with I.D. card may be purchased here:

CCCCL Club Kits

Price includes a personalized I.D. Card, a members-only pinback button, Club Guidelines, and Club Creed. Gift memberships may also be purchased--just provide name, city, and hair color of the recipient.

Did you know that Andy Warhol was a certified Feline Fella? What a surprise! Cat Lady Kate over at www.ModernCat.net wrote a wonderful article about his artwork featuring cats, and his paintings are delightful!

Attention Cat Ladies and Lads! Do you have news to share? Send it to art@undertheoaks.net with "365 Cat Lady News" in the subject line.

It's All In The Family...

If you shake your family tree, do cats fall out?

There is a belief within the scientific community that the love and adoration of cats (sometimes referred to as felinophilia) can be a genetic phenomenon, passed down from generation to generation. Take the family of Teresa and Tony (pictured above, aka Cat Lady No. 298 and Cat Lad No. 299), for example.

Teresa's mom and dad, Cat Lady Peg and Feline Fella Bob, exhibit the undeniable signs of felinophilia. They adopted kitties George and Gracie from Lollypop Farm in Rochester, New York, as a retirement gift for Peg.

Teresa tells us about their little feline rascals: "George is addicted to anything with carbohydrates and can be found dragging a loaf of bread around the house if you are not careful. Gracie loves treats--she will be your shadow until she gets fed. When my parents go away and leave the cats under their neighbors' care you can find dish towels in the bathroom upstairs. No cat has confessed yet."

As if that weren't enough evidence to confirm the felinophilia-genetic-link, the kitty love bug has also bitten Teresa's aunt and uncle, Cat Lady Carole and Feline Fella Jim. "They saw how much my parents enjoyed their cats and went to the same rescue organization to get their cats, Mirah (tortie) and Fred (orange tabby). Mirah loves bottle caps and Fred loves staring out the window at the birds."

Does felinophilia run in your family? Leave a comment at the end of this post and tell us if your family tree is crawling with cats!

Thanks for visiting!

Heart of Gold...Part 2

We met Cat Lady Kimberlynn a few days ago and learned about her miraculous heart transplant; now meet her band of furry friends. Kim herself tells us a little about the healing power of pet love:

"I moved to Florida in 2000, four years after my transplant. I had one dying 18-year-old cat named Rico. He was my joy and my best friend. Even when he was a small kitten, he would lay in bed with me when I had bad days before my transplant. Rico, being a small kitten, should not have been laying in bed with his mom--he should have been out playing like a normal kitten would have been. So Rico was an extraordinary cat.

"When he passed, I was in emotional pain, not for him but for the loss of a very special friend. My husband traveled quite extensively which meant I was alone...Not for long! I started to go to a nearby animal shelter to pet and entertain the kitties but always left with my huge Jackie Kennedy sunglasses on so no one saw the giant gator tears in my eyes.

"I eventually just started to adopt the ones that had the saddest stories. I even adopted a 13-year-old Siamese, Miss Missy, for my 88-year-old widow grandma. Grandma is still here at 95 but Miss Miss is gone. But she lived to 21. So that brings my total rescues from that shelter to 5.

"My neighbors in Florida were moving. When the movers came, they loaded up every one of their pets but Sly (the one on my shoulder in my portrait). I asked why they were abandoning him and Sly's mom said, 'I can't take him he pees everywhere'. So I took him. It took me 6 months of going up to where Sly used to live to coax him down to my house each night. Finally he moved into the garage, then the laundry room, then into our house and our hearts. He gets along with everyone and he's only peed once.

"In 2000 we moved back to Pittsburgh with my Pekingese Holly and the six cats ...Since then we have rescued our Lab/Airedale mix Cooper, our furry cat Chloe, another Pekingese Bentley and the kitten someone dumped in the woods, Sweetie."

Be sure to read more about Kim's inspiring story at her website:
Kim's Story. She is the creator of “Goodnight Lines” which is an overnight facial moisturizer and she donates $1 from every bottle sold to Angelcat Haven Feline Rescue.