Brotherly Love... The Fluffy Kind

Many fabulous felines will capture the heart of a Cat Lady during one lifetime, but her very first cat usually holds a very special place in her heart. Such is the case with Canadian Cat Lady Martine who shares her story about two special brothers:

In February of 1993 she and her college roommate adopted two cat siblings and named them Sable and Chipper. "She was the one who wanted them, but I soon fell in love and was hooked! I was the one who kept them when we went our separate ways. I have other cats, but none will ever take the place of my very first special babies...

"People had a hard time believing that Sable and Chipper were brothers, as they looked so different from one another! Sable was gorgeous! He looked exactly like a Birman, except for the white on his face, which to me, made him even cuter and unique! He was also the SOFTEST cat I've ever seen, truly!

He was a shy cat around strangers, but was very loving and affectionate with his mommy. People were always surprised to find out that he was dominant over Chipper, as Chipper was much more social and outgoing with people. They were the best of friends, always snuggling and licking each other. Unfortunately, Sable was diagnosed with a serious case of chronic renal failure fairly young, at 7.5 years. He was very sick for the first 4 months and it was touch and go. But things got better, and with treatments, he lived comfortably for another 3 years before I had to let him go.

Chipper looked like a Maine Coon, but was much smaller, as he never weighed more than 10 pounds. Chipper got his name because he was such a happy cat! He loved everybody and truly was the sweetest cat around! Even the vets couldn't believe how nice he was during his visits! He loved to lay on my outstretched legs when I was on the couch. You didn't even have time to get comfortable that Chipper was already trying to climb on you! His other quirk was that he was addicted to plastic! He had an uncanny sense of smell for plastic bags, and could find them anywhere. He would quickly chew them out and actually eat them if I wasn't careful enough! So I've lived 18 years with all plastic bags under lock and key! lol!

"I spent the last 18 years of my life with this little bundle of love! I just had to say goodbye to him this past February. It was hard to see him go, but I feel so lucky to have had all these years with him that I couldn't complain about anything. He deserved to rest and meet up with his brother Sable, who had been waiting for him for 7 years!"

Be sure to drop by Martine's charming blog Scrap.Cats.Love where you will see her latest beautiful creations and learn more about her current kitties and her travel adventures.

Do you live with cat brothers or sister? Are they more different than alike? Any sibling rivalry? Let us know in the comments section.

Thanks for visiting!

Weather Report

What is the forecast in your corner of the world today? In the Pacific Northwest, Mount Hood and its fellow Cascade Range peaks are resplendent in a fresh coating of shiny snowflakes!

To celebrate, I've added 6 matted prints to my online Etsy shop featuring some lucky Cat Ladies enjoying a winter wonderland with their feline friends.

Remember, as freezing temperatures approach here in the Northern Hemisphere, outdoor cats need some special attention such as providing a warm place to sleep, and making sure that non-frozen drinking water is available. Here are more great tips from The Conscious Cat: Winter Health Tips For Your Pets

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BRRRR...Is it getting chilly around here? These high quality reproductions of my whimsical watercolor paintings are the PURRfect gift for your favorite Snow Bunny or Feline Fanatic.

The image is 4.5" x 6.5" and comes in an acid-free 11" x 14" white on black double matting, ready for framing in a standard size frame. $12.50 each plus shipping.

Click on any image for more information.

Cat Lady Spotlight: Meet the Zoolatry Girls!

Cat Lady Ann belongs to that special breed of pet lovers afflicted with OCCPSD, known as "Obsessive-Compulsive Cat Photoshop Disorder".

One visit to her blog Zoolatry will tell you why: She's just having too much darn fun to stop!! Her absolute favorite subjects to photoshop are her Himalayan beauties Maggy and Zoey and her three gorgeous grandchildren.

By the way, Zoolatry is defined as "the extreme or excessive devotion to animals, particularly domestic pets". [I wonder if there is a special word for "extreme devotion to offspring, particularly grandchildren"...oh yes-- it's "grandma"!]


You might recognize Ann's work from previous posts, as she's the one who wields the creative mouse behind those fun seasonal headers on Crazy Cat Lady Carm's blog!

Ann tells us about her Zoolatry girls: "Maggy arrived first, born November 2003, and adopted to the Zoolatry home in January 2005. She is a purebred tortie point... not a lap cat, only wants affection on her own terms... but the Siamese in her genealogy comes forth, loud and clear, when she wants something, as she is definitely a talker. She's gracious, elegant, independent... her full given name is Mary Margaret, but she's often called Mags, the Magster, Magoo or MagMag.

"Zoey arrived next at the Zoolatry home, born April 2006 and adopted in August 2006. Zoey is our resident clown, always good for a laugh, not a lap cat but always ready to be caressed, petted, or use her human as a scratching post. She's a blue point himmie and her most distinguishing feature is her little snaggle tooth. It sure suits her personality. She doesn't meow, she squeaks. She gets into enough trouble on a daily basis that it's quite possible she's already used up her 'nine lives'. It's a daily event to 'find Zoey' or play 'where's Zoey', as she'll explore every nook and cranny and often get lost on her adventures. Also called ZoZo or even the Zozster..."

For more Fun with Photoshop creations, visit Ann's second blog

Collectibles by Zoolatry

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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

Cat Lady No. 364...A Lucky Girl

Cat Lady Gale has been owned by a cat her entire life. As her sister Cat Lady Flora tells us:

"We both learned to adore animals from our mother, who always made room for them in our lives.

"Sam [Gale's current kitty] is about 14 and her background makes her a lady of mystery. She is obviously a purebred Himalayan. When she was about 5, a friend found her abandoned at her apartment complex. She seemed to have been abused and it took weeks for my friend to get close enough to catch her.

"My mother's cat had just died, so the friend gave her to my mother. Sam spent 4 days hiding under the piano, much to my mother's dismay. On the 5th day, for no apparent reason, she just marched out from under the piano and onto the sofa next to Mom. They were boon companions for 5 years until Mom died suddenly in 2005.

"Gale took Sam, who mourned Mom's death deeply. It took her about a year to realize that Mom wasn't coming back, and then she settled in and has bonded closely with Gale. She is at least 14 and has battled some health issues but is doing okay at this point. Sam is tiny -- only 5 pounds, but the Queen of her Domain and can be a bit sniffy with the help (i.e. Gale) when things aren't done to her satisfaction. She loves to cuddle and sleep in the sun and has a loud purr that is out of proportion with her size."

Thanks for visiting!

Can you believe it? We've arrived at Cat Lady No. 364!!

Tomorrow is the big day when I will post Cat Lady No. 365! What happens next? I will keep counting, but with a few changes and surprises. In the mean time, take a stroll down memory lane if you'd like, and meet all of the Custom Cat Ladies and Pet People that I have had the joy of getting to know over the past 14 months: Gallery of Custom Portraits.

Stay tuned!

Cat Lady No. 323...Book Buddy

Library-cat-in-training Professor Purrlots is enjoying today's lesson from School Librarian Patricia. Today she is reading the story about a real-life cat named Dewey Readmore Books who was dropped into the book return of the Spencer Public Library in Iowa one fateful night.

Dewey took his new job as the library cat quite seriously and spent 19 years running the place. His "Basic Rules For Cats Who Have a Library to Run" is a must-read for any aspiring library cat.

The library cat's golden rule, according to Dewey, is: "Never forget, nor let humans forget, that you own the joint!

To find out more about Dewey and his illustrious career, visit this wesite: Dewey Readmore Books

Enjoy!

Cat Lady No. 267...Keeping Toasty

Feline Fanatic Jerrilee and her Himalayan Honey are looking forward to cozy autumn nights in front of the fireplace.

The chimney has been inspected and cleaned, the flue is open and there is a nice stack of dry fire wood just outside the back door. Kindling, old newspaper, and matches are at the ready.

Next, it's time for a refresher course on How To Make A Good Fire In Your Fireplace. This link has step-by-step instructions.

Now all that's left to do is to check the cupboards for hot cocoa and marshmallows.

Jerrilee's work is done. "That's easy," thinks Honey to herself. "Try growing your own winter coat..."

Thanks for visiting!

You'll find this "feline fanatic" design on a selection of t-shirts and gifts in my Cafepress shop: Himalayan Gifts and Tees

Cat Lady No. 253...Fluffy Fur Factories

Cat Lady Diedre is always delighted to see the beginning of fall color, because that means sweater season has arrived and her knitting needles will be flying.

Fur will be flying too. You see, Dierdre enjoys knitting things out of cat fur.

She is particularly excited about the arrival of new Himalayan kitten Buster, who joins fluffy fur factory Theadora. Because that means by next spring, there will be TWICE as much fur to spin and knit!


Thanks for visiting!



This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale in my Etsy shop...add it to your collection by visiting Cat Mom No. 30 ACEO

Cat Lady No. 223...Himalayan Honeys

Cat Lady Lindsay is enjoying the exceptional fluffiness of her current foster family: Himalayan momcat Maya and her four kittens.

Lindsay will find loving homes for each one, but not before they are neutered and spayed...Plus, because Persian cats such as the Himalayan breed can have special needs, it will be important that any prospective owner be aware of grooming and health issues in particular.

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!




This original ACEO watercolor illustration has just been listed for sale...add it to your collection by visiting my Etsy shop:
Cat Mom No. 27

Cat Lady No. 196...Mischief Makers

Cat Lady and veterinarian-in-training Jolinda studies a textbook on exotic cat psychology while Norbu, her Himalayan book buddy, dreams of mischief.

Apparently mischievous cats such as Norbu enjoy boasting first-hand about their pranks...It turns out that many felines have sent in their own entries for the 365 Cat Ladies Giveaway. Here are some startling examples ...

Skeezix The Cat [who happens to have his own blog Skeezix's Scratching Post and his own Etsy shop: The Feline Fashionista]: My faverite game is to have Mr Tasty Face play the string with me. He drags it underneeth this little Perzhun carpet in the living room, and win I see it I do a slide-n-dive under the rug to git it, kinda like a baseball player sliding into home. Then I wate under the rug fur my big bruther Mao to come by and then I pownse on him!!!!

DaisyMae Maus [who ALSO has her own blog DaisyMae Maus & The Feline Americans]: Charmee loves to play a game with Mom called "Taco Press" where Charmee vaults from the countertop to the refrigerator top to the catwalk above the kitchen cabinets an' Mom climbs up onto the countertop with the taco press (those tong-things that you use to fry crunchy taco shells) an' tries to squish (gently, of course) Charmee's tail an' paws. He LOVES this game an' gets totally 'xcited when Mom is lurking near the counters ... hee, hee.

The beautiful pride of cats known as 8GR8TCATS report: Our favorite game is called Cat Food Hockey! We PURRtend we are the Buffalo Sabres! Our PURRson Carm shoots one of our kibbles at us. Candy is the goalie and if she makes the save she eats the kibble-puck. If one of the other cats intercepts it- we eat it! If our PURRson gets it past all of us- we give her hugs and kisses after the game! [Their Purrson Crazy Cat Lady Carm oversees the blog in this family...]

Read more fun entries at the end of the July Giveaway post...and be sure to enter if you haven't already!

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 164...Perennial Favorites

Cat Lady Tamara has earned Garden Goddess status with the help of Winifred, who has a discerning eye for prize-winning perennials.

Some of Winifred's purrsonal favorites are: Foxgloves, Butterfly Bush, and Black-Eyed Susans.

For answers about perennials, Tamara often turns to Backyard Gardener, a website with tons of useful information and links about every aspect of gardening.

To find out more about perennials visit this link: All About Perennials

Thanks for visiting!


This brand new design can be found on a variety of gifts and apparel for your favorite Garden Goddess, including garden totes, journals and aprons, at my Cafepress online gift shop:
Garden Cat 01













The original artwork is also available for sale at my Etsy online shop: Garden Cat ACEO

Cat Lady No. 143 ...Counting Cat Years

Cat Lady Amber and Himalayan Cat Mom Suki are enjoying the newest additions to the household--Gemini twins!

Amber believes that because there are 7 cat years per human year,every cat should get to celebrate 7 times per calendar year; coming out to a new celebration every 7-1/2 weeks or so.

The twins will be weaned in a few weeks--just in time for their first celebration. Amber recently found a recipe for Cat Birthday Cake that she can't wait to try out...She'll save the party hats and favors for their 2nd celebration...it won't be a very long wait.

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Purrfect for keeping track of 7 cat birthdays per year:
This Wire-O bound, 160 page blank book has your choice of papers and measures 5" x 8", a handy on-the-go size to fit in your backpack.

• Back cover made of thin black flexible textured plastic, measures 16/1000" thick
• Front cover made of 12pt glossy paper, laminated for durability
• Filled with your choice of 60lb bookweight (24 lb bond) paper -- blank, dot grid, lined college-ruled, or a task journal.

I have dozens of journal designs to choose from at
Susan Faye Blank Books

Cat Lady No. 41...More Snow!

Cat Lady Norah and her Himalayan beauty Priscilla PrettyPaws always wear matching striped scarves when sledding. Imagine their delight when they awoke this morning to find a fresh blanket of snow.

There's nothing like sailing down a slope at breakneck speed with the wind in your whiskers. It's especially nice when you have such a luxurious winter coat, not to mention a tres chic scarf that Norah's 92-year-old grandmother knitted by hand...

When not sledding, Nora and Priscilla PrettyPaws enjoy sitting by the fireplace and looking at their ever-growing collection of ACEOs, a type of artist trading card. They are the size of baseball cards and are fun and easy to collect by going to places like Etsy.com. For more information on art trading cards, go to: ACEO

It just so happens that this hand-painted portrait of Norah and Priscilla IS an ACEO trading card and it is for sale on my Etsy site: www.SusanFaye.etsy.com
These very affordable mini watercolor paintings are adorable when framed and arranged in a grouping!

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady No. 26...Well-Groomed

Feline Fanatic April and her handsome Himalayan Rochester hope to win Best of Show in the regional Cat Show this weekend.

Rochester loves to be groomed, which is a good thing, because April faithfully brushes and combs his thick and silky fur each and every day, wearing her personal Cat Grooming Apron pictured below. Rochester is less enthusiastic about the weekly baths, but enjoys being fluffed up with the warm hair dryer at the end.

April is inspired by her favorite domestic goddess Martha who owns seven Himalayan cats named after composers. ''They are friendly and affectionate but not demanding; they are quiet and easy to care for; and they get along well with people and other animals,'' Ms. Stewart wrote about her cats in the ''Ask Martha'' section of her Martha Stewart Living magazine in February 1999.

April would love to have that many Himalayan cats, but only if she too had a personal grooming staff. Rochester thinks that one Himalayan is more than enough for any household...

The purr-fect Cat Grooming Apron comes with your choice of over 100 different cat ladies. Ties at neck and waist. Two center-stitched bottom compartment pouches for keeping tools handy. 35% Cotton / 65% polyester blend, twill fabric. Machine washable and guaranteed.
Available at: Susan Faye Cat Lady Aprons

Thanks for visiting...I'd love to hear your feedback!

Cat Lady No. 20...Hail To The Chief!

Cat Lady Robbi and Chief, her beloved Himalayan cat, are enjoying the Inaugural events of the day.

Robbi had tears in her eyes while watching the swearing in ceremony, and is looking forward to all of the galas and celebrations and the glamorous Inaugural Ball.

Chief always loves a parade, particularly the marching bands. Needless to say, his chest swells with pride whenever a band plays "Hail To The Chief", but he doesn't quite understand why Robbi doesn't rise to salute him ...

Can Valentines Day be just around the corner? It is for those of you who eschew procrastination and prefer to plan ahead...You'll find my latest designs for your Sweetheart at my CafePress Gift Shop for Cat Ladies...including T-shirts, cards, mugs, and tote bags. Just click here: VALENTINE GOODIES

Thanks for visiting!