Coolest (Craziest?) Cat-Themed Decorations

By Langley Cornwell

There’s a gal in our neighborhood who is a self-proclaimed crazy cat lady. Of course, so am I, and we have a good time comparing the many over-the-top things we do for our feline friends. There is one area where she beats me hands-down, however. It’s her house. She has the wildest cat-themed decorations I’ve ever seen. Some are very cool and some can only be described as pure crazy… in a good way.

She wears cat earrings and has a cat scarf. Her house is resplendent with cat artwork - mainly paintings and prints but she does have some cool photography. She also has interesting cat statues. Her office desk is cluttered (don’t tell her I said that) with cat-themed desk accessories. Her kitchen has a soap dispenser in the shape of a cat but one of my favorite things is the cat butt magnets on her refrigerator. In fact, there’s even a hairball magnet. If you ask me, that’s funny.

I asked some online friends if they had cat-themed decorations in their homes. I was surprised at some of their answers.

Lots of friends collect cat figurines. Wendy has cat collectibles as well as a cat door mat and a cat throw. She has a black cat good luck token that her landlady brought her from Ireland that sits above the door frame between the dining room and the kitchen. She also has a cat curtain in her front window (which she says is actually a valance). I’ve never seen feline window treatments so I’d say that qualifies as, well, crazy. Thanks for sharing, Wendy.

Almost everyone who responded to my query has cat-decorated drinking mugs. Cate collects figurines and has blankets with cats on them. Virginia no longer has cats, but she has cat ornaments for her Christmas tree that reminds her of them each year. Sweet.

Debbie has a “wrought iron cat that wiggles and wobbles.” I’d like to see that.

Isn’t It Time to Retire the Crazy Cat Lady Stereotype?

By Julia Williams

I read an article recently that described cat ladies as “quitters” and lonely sad sacks who never leave the house. By contrast, dog ladies were said to be outgoing, athletic, adventurous and full of life. Stereotype much? The article went on to claim that while dog memoirs (aka dogoirs) are inspiring, life-changing things of beauty, no comparable thing could exist for cat memoirs because “cat ladies only get to be one thing: lonely.” Seriously? Excuse me while I hack up a hairball on that article. cough. gag. urk.

Ah, I feel so much better now! =^..^=

I wish I could say this article was satirical, that this stereotypical characterization of the sad sack cat ladies was a joke. But I can’t…because it wasn’t. And this, I must admit, did peeve me just a bit. It doesn’t surprise me though, given that Crazy Cat Ladies are perhaps the last group we – and by “we” I mean society – are still allowed to make fun of. In fact, many people get a big kick out of ridiculing women who love cats, as though there is something wrong with it, something so “abnormal” about it that these women couldn’t possibly be functioning, happy, friendly people who engage in life and with others. Again… cough. gag. urk.

I watched a dumb show once where one of the characters said “Women with candles replaces women with cats as the new sad thing.” Claiming that loving any animal can be sad just seems so idiotic to me. Dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, gerbils or bunnies – why should it matter to anyone else who or what we choose to love? Newsflash! I’m a woman, I love cats, and I am definitely not a sad sack. I’m not lonely either, not one teeny tiny bit. I even leave the house on occasion to interact with society! And guess what? I’m not an anomaly either. I happen to know many women who love cats, and none of them are lonely old spinsters hiding away in a house full of felines.

Dogs Rule…and Cats Just Sleep!

By Keikei Cole (Canine Guest Blogger)

Recently, Julia Williams – aka the Crazy Cat Lady – wrote an article that posed a question, “Which one makes the best pet, cats or dogs?” Well, when I was reading that one over the boss's shoulder, I almost choked on my CANIDAE TidNips™! As I licked the chewed up pieces of my treat off the boss's computer and desk, it was obvious a rebuttal article was necessary.

When I adopted the boss, I didn't realize there would be fleabags (oops, I mean cats) in the deal. Don't get me wrong, cats are fun to chase, but they sleep most of the time. What fun is that? The boss plays with them wiggling some stupid string on a pole they like to chase. Watching them jump around like their tails are on fire is so funny to watch! Oh, sorry, I was munching on something I found in that sandbox thing and forgot what I was doing. Woof!

About Cleanliness

I enjoy a relaxing bath, especially when it's hot outside. The boss scratches my back all over and never gets mad when I get her wet. It's her fault for getting water in my face. In between baths, I get combed, get my nails done and my ears cleaned out. It makes me feel close to my favorite human and I smell good. None of that wet doggie smell here. Think about it for a minute. How clean can a cat be? Come on, they wash themselves with cat spit! Hey, I'm just telling it like it is.

Physical Activity

OK, you don't have to walk a cat, and I'm sure cold walks on a dark and snowy night may not be as much fun for humans as it is for us dogs, but it keeps the humans healthy and fit. (Although the boss could use a few more walks, if you know what I mean). Dogs get their human out of the house which helps stimulate their senses. We hardly ever pay attention to the, “Hurry up, it's cold out here” because we know how important exercise is for them and us. We get humans to join dog clubs, we teach them how to run agility, show them off at dog shows and get them involved in other fun activities that we love to do.

The Cat Commandments

By Rocky Williams (Feline Guest Blogger)

I'm told you hoomins have something called the Ten Commandments. Now, I like the sound of that because I have things I want to command my hoomin, aka the Warden, to do. And I should think that all felines might want to adopt these cat commandments too, for they are the word of one who clearly knows how to manipulate his hoomin, and is known throughout the land as King of the castle. Which is exactly as it should be, of course. But being a crafty cat, naturally I have more than ten commandments.

Here are my 18 Cat Commandments:

You shall not put any other cat before me, nor any dog, horse, hamster, gerbil, rabbit, chicken, or other creature that inhabits your world.

You shall honor all things Feline as divine.

You shall not call me Boo Boo, Bubba, Bugaboo, Chi Chi, Fatty, Floppy, Fluffy, Moo Moo, Noodle, Pookie, Snookums or any other any silly name that makes people laugh when they hear it. I am a dignified cat, and I shall not respond to any name that is beneath me.

You shall not ration my Tidnips Treats, for my desire to nom these tasty things knows no bounds, and my appetite for them is insatiable. 

You shall not baptize me in water for any reason whatsoever!

Cat Versus Dog: Which One Makes the Best Pet?

By Julia Williams

Pet owners often engage in friendly – and sometimes not-so-friendly – discussions on whether cats make better pets than dogs, or vice versa. While there are quite a few pet owners who love both cats and dogs equally, others are adamant in their stance that one species is better than the other. Where we stand in the great ‘cat versus dog debate’ is often a result of which pet we had growing up, or a particular experience we had with one, either positive or negative. Sometimes a preference emerges for no apparent reason; it just is, and it’s how we’ve always felt.

Over the years I’ve been a pet mom to a dozen cats. I like dogs too but have only shared my home with one, so my experience with them is more limited. However, just because my BFF’s have always been cats doesn’t automatically mean I think cats make better pets than dogs. The relationships are different, not necessarily better. Nonetheless, for the sake of the debate I’ve come up with a few reasons why one might want a cat instead of a dog. Don’t think I’m bashing dogs though, because I’m really not. Rather, this is just my attempt at humor.

The Cleanliness Factor

Dogs need to be bathed regularly and even then, many breeds have a distinct ‘eau de dog’ shortly after getting squeaky clean. Cats win this category paws down because they are remarkably self cleaning. My cats wash themselves after every FELIDAE feeding frenzy, in between mealtimes, and pretty much every waking hour. Bathing a cat is rarely necessary, which is a good thing because it’s not exactly easy to do without getting shredded.

How to Tell if You Are a “Crazy Cat Person”

By Julia Williams

When I was thinking about writing this article, I initially decided it would be about ways to tell if you are a Crazy Cat Lady. But then I realized that even though a lot of men won’t admit they love cats, I have seen plenty of evidence that they do. Take for example, my new favorite show Must Love Cats. Every episode has at least one story, and usually more, illustrating manly devotion to felines. Many of these guys are so over the top in their cat worship they’d certainly qualify as Crazy Cat Men. So I opted to make this a unisex quiz because hey, we should all know if our cat adoration is out of control, right? Not that we need to defend ourselves or do anything about it – as if that would ever happen! Now answer truthfully, and tally up your “yes” answers to get your score.

1. Do you find it hard to resist buying a new cat toy every time you go shopping for household stuff?
2. When strangers come into your home, are there obvious signs that you have a cat, such as furry mice and other cat toys on the floor, a scratching post, cat tree or pet bed in the middle of the living room?
3. When you’re sitting down and a cat is sleeping peacefully on your lap, do you forego getting up because you don’t want to wake them, even though you really, really need to get up?
4. Do you have any clothing with cats on it, and more importantly, do you actually dare to wear it in public?

How Many Cats Makes Someone a Crazy Cat Lady?

By Julia Williams

Although I couldn’t find any information on who actually coined the term “Crazy Cat Lady,” it supposedly was first used to describe a cat hoarder, i.e., someone who collects hundreds of cats. Hoarders have serious mental health issues; hence, these cat collectors were called “crazy” despite the very un-pc nature of that slang term.

Later, the term Crazy Cat Lady evolved as a stereotypical label for a lonely, (usually older and always single) woman who either has a house full of felines, or one who likes cats “a little too much.” The Crazy Cat Lady is the butt of many jokes, and she’s made out to be someone who is unnaturally obsessed with cats. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard someone mocking the Crazy Cat Ladies, I’d be rich.

I’ve often wondered, though, how people determine whether someone fits the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype. How many cats does it take to qualify? How much “cat love” is too much? Are you a Crazy Cat Lady if you wear something emblazoned with a kitty, or have cat knick-knacks in your home? Why do we never hear of Crazy Dog Men? Do the same rules even apply to men?

So many questions, and the only one I have a definitive answer to is how many cats it takes to be called a Crazy Cat Lady. I know it has absolutely nothing to do with the number, and everything to do with attitude and lifestyle. You can be a Crazy Cat Lady with one cat, or a dozen. If you dare to choose cats over the traditional route of marriage and children, then you’re most definitely a CCL.

For years, I had a cartoon on my fridge with a woman who said, “My husband told me I had to choose between him and the cats. We miss him sometimes.” It still makes me laugh when I think of it, and I only threw it away because it became tattered and unreadable.

I haven’t always been a Crazy Cat Lady, because I was married for five years. But I am a CCL now, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I really don’t care what anyone calls me, or who judges me because I choose to love cats. My three cats are among my very best friends, and they bring me the greatest happiness and joy. If someone thinks this is wrong or weird, so be it. I’m content with my choices and lifestyle, and this is all that matters to me.

However, I was a bit surprised to see that the Crazy Cat Lady stereotype has become so ingrained in our society. I discovered this by accident when, out of curiosity, I googled the phrase one day.

I found out there is a Crazy Cat Ladies Society whose purpose is “to use humor to counter the stereotypes made about people who love cats.” They say that claiming the CCL phrase on their own terms takes away its power to offend. Whether it actually does or not, I do appreciate that they’re using humor instead of indignation to counter the stereotype. I don’t personally see the need to be a member, but good for them for taking a stand.

Would it surprise you to learn that there are dozens of products out there devoted to the Crazy Cat Lady? It did me. There is a Crazy Cat Lady Board Game illustrated by four goofily dressed women with silly expressions on their faces. The aim of the game is to collect cats, of course, and the player with the most cats wins.

Then there is the Crazy Cat Lady Magnetic Sculpture Kit, which includes a figure and 12 metal cats that will jump on her the first chance they get. There is a Crazy Cat Lady Nightshirt with a cute illustration on the front, a Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure that comes with six cats (only six?) and a hardcover book titled Outing the Cat Lady: Embracing Your Feline Addiction with Style.

Last but not least is a product that isn’t specifically associated with the Crazy Cat Lady label, but leaves no doubt who the target market is. The Cat Butt Magnet Set includes five furry feline behinds and a hairball. Um…cat butts? I must admit, I find the notion of displaying cat butts on your fridge a little bit strange. It takes the CCL concept to a whole different level. But hey, to each their own.

If there is a Crazy Cat Lady in your life, now you know what to get them for Christmas!

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Introducing Julia Williams: RPO Blogger & “Crazy Cat Lady”

By Julia Williams

I started writing for this blog more than a month ago, but neglected to write an introduction because, frankly, writing about myself is my least favorite topic. Nevertheless, it’s only proper that I tell you a little bit about who I am and what I’ll be writing about here, in the future.

Although I do like dogs, bunnies, horses and a host of other creatures great and small, I am primarily a cat person. I don’t mind the stereotypical “Crazy Cat Lady” label either, since it’s mostly true. I’m crazy about cats, and couldn’t imagine a life without them.

I’m not sure where my affinity for felines comes from, because neither of my parents are “pet people.” Yet, as far back as I can remember into my childhood, I’ve felt deeply connected to animals. I vividly recall watching Western movies, not blinking an eye when dozens of men got hurt during the fight scenes, but bawling my eyes out the moment a horse went down. When Bambi’s Mom was shot, I was inconsolable. In my young mind, I didn’t understand that all of this was just “make believe.” As an adult, I still feel this profound connection to the animal world. Forced to choose between people and animals, I would probably choose the animals. If that makes me an oddball in any human’s eyes, so be it; I can’t change the way I’ve felt since birth, nor would I want to.

On an old episode of Sex and the City, Samantha said to Carrie, “Women with candles replaces women with cats as the new sad thing.” It's not the first time I've heard people say how bad they feel for women who love cats. I fail to see what’s so sad about loving, and being loved by, cats. They are affectionate, intelligent and always-amusing creatures. I know many people think cats are incapable of loving, but here’s the thing: you get what you give. Cats are anything BUT aloof to those who really, truly love and respect them.

Over the years, I’ve had many wonderful feline companions. My only regret in loving my cats so much is that their time here with me is so short. Yet, while they are here I feel blessed by their presence, and honored to be their “Mom.” My current cat menagerie includes Mickey, Annabelle and Rocky. The gorgeous long-haired black cat in the photo with me is Rocky.

My friends call Rocky my “problem child” because he is always in trouble for something. Thanks to Rocky, I had to install baby-proof latches on my garbage cabinet. When I eat, I need to guard my dinner like a hawk – I learned the hard way that Rocky can grab a chicken breast and run off with it much faster than I can stop him. He’s also prone to swishing his big fluffy tail in the caramel foam of my homemade version of a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato, and then flicking the foam all over my wall. Rocky has also gotten up into the cupboards where I store the Felidae dry cat food, dragged the bag down to the counter, chewed a hole into it and spilled six pounds of kibble onto the kitchen floor. Talk about a feeding frenzy!

Annabelle is Rocky’s sister, and she’s the belle of my house. If I’m having a hard day, I need only look at her sweet black-and-white face with a little black diamond on her nose, and my spirits are lifted. Belle is a cat who can never, ever get enough brushing. We have a ritual of “brushing time” right after her breakfast, on my bed. If I’m late for this, she will sit on the bed, staring at the door, until I come in to brush her.

Mickey is my ten year old kitty, and he’s the “lap cat” of the house. He’s a very sweet, loving soul, but if breakfast is late because I have the audacity to sleep in, he will run back and forth across my body until I get up. He is also a black cat, but with short fur. I like to joke that “all my cats match,” since I have two black cats and a black-and-white one. I do have minor OCD issues, but I swear I didn’t plan that!

As for me, I have always been a writer. Some people are lucky enough to instinctively know what career path they are meant to take. As early as high school age, that’s how I felt about writing. I earned my Communications Degree, worked in “corporate America” for eight years as a copywriter, and then took the leap into freelance writing. Fifteen years later, I’m still doing freelance work and loving every minute of it. Truthfully, I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. Writing suits me, and it’s an intrinsic part of who I am.

My posts here will primarily be cat related. I hope to inspire, amuse, educate and entertain you with my words. If there is a particular topic you are interested in, please let me know and I’ll do my best to cover it.

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