Is your cat star material? Is he or she mellow enough to relax around a lot of people? How would he react to lights, cameras, action? I don’t think I’ve ever had a cat that would tolerate being a movie star. Can you imagine taking your cat to a busy Hollywood studio where he would perform in front of a camera? They’d have to film my cats staring out from under a sofa or from inside a closet.
Yet there are chill cats all over the world. We’ve 
reported here on cats who like to go camping, hiking, swimming, flying, boating… There are cats that act like dogs in that they’re so friendly—well, maybe not quite as friendly as most dogs with the wiggly butt and jumping bean activity upon meeting someone new.
We’ve all seen cats in movies and most of us have wondered how in the heck did they get the cat to do that? I’m still in awe of the cat (or I guess the cat and her doubles), who played Sassy the Himalayan, in 
“Homeward Bound, The Incredible Journey.” You see cats in old Westerns—just strays with small roles, such as General Sterling Price, John Wayne’s cat in “True Grit.”
There are some more recent movies with cat cameos and even starring roles—there was Jersey, the tuxedo cat in “Can You Ever Forgive me” (2018) and Church, the part Maine coon cat that played in Stephen King’s 2019 version of “Pet Sematary.”
If your cat was in a movie what role do you think he or she could nail? Yeah, both of our cats, Sophie and Olivia would be best at hiding in the closet until all the people were gone. Olivia, however, appears in the latest Klepto Cat Mystery, “Calico Calamities,” and I’m currently working on Book One of Olivia’s Calico Cat Mystery series. “Lights, Camera, Action!”
How about a little cat culture today? Last week we featured a few cat artists. Here are some quotes I’ve collected and enjoy:
bird is a bird, but a cat is a person.” Mugsy Peabody said that.
Everyone comments on Olivia’s tail. She must have inherited it from her Maine coon ancestors. Yes, it’s pretty, long, fluffy, and you should see what it looks like on a dry day—it becomes electric and picks up every piece of lint and other debris in its path.
eating. She’ll curl it around her body and it covers part of her plate. I’ve even seen her get a little angry at it. She attacks it as if it’s a foreign intruder with a mind of its own.
Is your cat artistic? Does she create designs on your furniture with her claws, organize her toys attractively (one balancing on top of another or on a tabletop next to one of your decorative pieces or in the way so you step on it at night–ouch!). Maybe she leaves swirls or clumps of her food in interesting shapes after eating. Our cats sometimes leave interesting designs in the litter box—heart shaped clump, for example. You never noticed? Maybe you’re not paying close enough attention to their attempt at art.
Aesthetics,” by Heather Busch and Burton Silver. The pictures of cats actually painting are wonderful. And the premise of cats actually having the ability to create what they see and know—fascinating. Some say cats paint images upside down.
Cats are a popular subject for art now and always. In fact many famous artists have created art depicting a cat during their career—Picasso and Renoir, for example. Some artists always or almost always painted cats.
Henriette Ronner-Knip, for example.
Today would have been Lily’s 12th birthday. We lost her a year ago next month to chronic kidney disease. She was diagnosed when she was a kitten and under treatment all her life. She had two setbacks during that time and we were able to return her to health. The third time she fell into crisis mode and there was no recovery.
Book 51 of the Klepto Cat Mystery Series is ready for your reading pleasure. Calico Calamities is available in print form for purchase at Amazon.com. The Kindle version is on the way. In this story, I’ve invited Olivia, my charming, quirky calico, to join Glori, the Iveys’ resident calico and Rags in some wild and crazy adventures.
Some of you might be wondering how many of those ships stuck at the Suez Canal were carrying cats. Or is it just me? I didn’t get an answer to that question, but I did find out that some of those ships are/were carrying livestock—sheep, being most likely. Some say there could be thousands of animals in the hulls of some of those ships.
on boats and ships are common and have been for centuries. Here’s a fun article featuring some of the more famous cats on ships: 
about Trim falling off the ship at one point when he was still a kitten and climbing back up on a rope. Now that’s a nautical cat. He was so well-thought of that a bronze replica of Trim sits in a Sidney library.
There is something you can do to help abandoned animals and to protect our cats and dogs in the future. In fact, you may be surprised how many people are already helping and how.
Here are some more comforting stats:
Most of you who have lived with cats for many years, know that there is only one way to successfully pet a cat—that particular cat’s way. Rub a cat the wrong way and you may get a nip or a scratch. Or the cat will walk away and leave you wondering what happened. Here’s an informative site explaining how to approach a cat you’re unfamiliar with and also how to get along
with your own cats better when it comes to invading their privacy. Oh yes, a cat can become protective of that glorious fur we want to rub our hands through and bury our faces in. You cat lovers are with me on that, right?
yourself and just sit there and admire me.”
show you her belly. This is true whether you know the cat well or have just met her. Most cats, it seems, do not relish a belly rub and they’ll let you know it in the only way they know how. Warning: this may involve a little bleeding.
Book 51 of the Klepto Cat Mystery series is on it’s way through the production process. Calico Calamities will be ready to purchase in print form soon and the Kindle version will follow. So what’s the hold up? Olivia. You all know Olivia by now—our little pandemic calico—who has grown into a beautiful, interesting, creative, clever, and not so little calico. Well, she has decided to enter show biz—or maybe I should say book biz—and she debuts in Book 51. The book is finished—oh, I think you’re going to love her shenanigans. We’re still working on the cover. Since this is Olivia’s debut, the artist (Bernadette) and I want to get Olivia’s image just right. There may be a little touching up to do, as is common for actresses and models, right?
