Miss Cuddlywumps Converses with Puri Gagarin: Cosmocat

Puri Gagarin, Cosmocat, has his eyes on the Moon.
Photo courtesy Puri Gagarin.

 Friends, please help me welcome a very distinguished guest to the blog today. He’s a Siberian who’s got his sights set on the Moon—and beyond. While you and I are napping, he’s training in the Apawllo Program and preparing to leave the Earth’s atmosphere. Who is this cat, I hear you asking? He’s Puri Gagarin, Cosmocat. I can’t wait to learn all about him.

Hi, Puri! We’re so excited that you could join us today. Tell me, how did you get the excellent name Puri Gagarin?

Thank you for having me! My name originates from the fact that I am a Siberian Forest Cat, so it was decided that I should have a Russian name. When it came to actually selecting a Russian name, the fact that I wanted to be a cosmocat really meant that the obvious choice would be to name me after Yuri Gagarin, who was the first man in space and a fellow Russian. That being said, there was concern that if I had the exact same name, then people would become confused—one Yuri Gagarin would be the first man in space, while the other would be the first feline on the Moon. Frankly, it would be a public relations nightmare and could wreak havoc with the history books. To distinguish the two of us, I adopted the first name “Puri,” which is an homage to both Yuri and my feline roots.

It is a distinguished and fitting name, since you will be the first cat on the Moon. Have you always been interested in space?

I was about 12 weeks old when I joined the Apawllo Program and moved to the Training Base, and I certainly wanted to become a cosmocat long before that great day arrived. If I had to pin down a turning point, it would be shortly after I opened my eyes for the first time. I remember looking out a window and seeing the Moon shining in all its glory, and all I could think about was how amazing it would be to chase toys across its surface. Little did I know the technical challenges that would be involved, but that is where the dream was born. Ever since that day, this goal has been basically all I think about.

Yuri Gagarin, first man in space, in a celebratory
parade in Warsaw, Poland, 1961.

Photographer unknown. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

It would be fun to chase toys on the Moon, wouldn’t it? I’m surprised no cat seems to have thought of this before. But space is a harsh environment, and your cosmocat training regimen must be intense. Can you give us an idea of a typical training day?

In a few words: “Rise and Grind.” Every day is intense, and I only average about 16 hours of sleep a day because of these activities, so mentally overcoming exhaustion is a huge component of my preparation. Generally, I break my training up into three segments during a day, so that I can recuperate with lengthy naps between sessions. Activities include chasing toys (reflex training), watching out the window (observational training), reading (important to train the mind), stretching (key for preventing training injuries), and running around the house at full speed (cardio). At least once per week I will also go on extended missions from the Training Base, as it important to get out and explore.

Only 16 hours of sleep? That’s incredible. Tell me, we’ve seen you eyeing the International Space Station. Any plans for a visit there?

Absolutely! It is a great place to spend extended periods in space conducting experiments. I also understand that they have mice on board, so I am planning some specific experiments, such as mouse hunting techniques and testing how far I can bat a mouse in zero gravity. That being said, I promise that no mice will be harmed or eaten during these experiments. I will rather engage them as co-experimenters and work collaboratively for the purposes of science. It is time that we put our inter-species differences behind us and mend these fences.  

Puri studies the International Space Station. He plans to conduct experiments with the help of some
mouse friends when it is his turn to join the crew.
Photo courtesy Puri Gagarin.

Fascinating. Since you want to be the first cat on the Moon, do you have a “first pawstep on the Moon” speech prepared, like Neil Armstrong’s famous “One small step for man…”?

To be honest, this will really depend on what the Public Relations team for the Apawllo Program determines. The program is bigger than me, so I respect that I am part of the team and that whatever those first words are will become an iconic part of feline history. That being said, I know that the current view is to adapt Neil Armstrong’s words, primarily as a sign of respect for the technology developed by humans that will make this feline achievement possible. Most likely, the opening words will be “One small meow for a cat, one giant roar for feline kind.”

Puri visiting the David Dunlap Observatory, just north of Toronto, Canada. It's important for a

cosmocat to understand the mysteries of the universe, and an observatory is the purrfect place to learn.

Photo courtesy of Puri Gagarin.

I’d love to hear that being broadcast from the Moon. What would be your ultimate space adventure?

Puri checks out a transport option. In space, a cat must

be thoroughly familiar with his or her vehicle.

Photo courtesy Puri Gagarin.

In a word, it would be Mars. Going to the Moon is really a starting point, but in the grand scheme of things the Moon is relatively close to the Earth and it has already been visited by humans. Mars is the next big milestone, as it will be the first time anyone sets paw or foot on another planet. The challenge is that humans are already eyeing this prize, so the Apawllo Program has some stiff competition from the likes of NASA. Ultimately, I see this as the next big Space Race similar to the 1960s. Whether man or feline gets there first is hard to predict, but I expect it will be a photo-finish either way.

Does your family support your career as a cosmocat?

They do and, frankly, I don’t think I could train properly if I didn’t have their support. As an example, I haven’t been able to master opening a can of wet food and there is no way that I could train so hard without this nourishment. They are also excellent at piloting the Lunar Rover for hours on end to take me to museums and observatories, which are an important part of my educational regimen.  

What does a cosmocat do to relax? Do you have any hobbies?

Could Puri be the first earthling
on Mars?

By NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team

(STScI/AURA) [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons.

I think it is important to carve out some private time to relax with family and I definitely keep that a priority. Sometimes I spend my downtime just snuggled in bed with family watching a movie. On an ideal night, we will set up the telescope and spend a family evening under the stars.

That sounds nice. Family is so important, isn’t it? Anything else you’d like to add?

I would like to thank all of my supporters. Sometimes when I am completely exhausted, those moments when I simply have nothing left in my tank, then I will read through some of the comments I receive, and they inspire me to push through and keep training. My supporters are a key element of the Apawllo Program, and without them this mission simply would not be possible.

Thanks, Puri. It was great meeting you and learning about what it’s like to be a cosmocat!

Thank you so much for having me today!   

Puri takes a break in the Apawllo capsule mockup.
Photo courtesy Puri Gagarin.

Follow Puri Gagarin the Cosmocat on Instagram to keep up with his training progress!  

Find more Cats in Space.  

Cat Travel: Gettysburg Museum Uses Cats in Civil War Dioramas

Friends, today we’re excited to be kicking off a new occasional series about cat travel—not traveling with cats, mind you, but traveling to see cat-related attractions. And we’re even more excited to share what we think must be the most interesting attraction in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Just in case you’re not up on your Civil War history, Gettysburg was the site of a major battle between North and South in July 1863. These days the town is full of little shops and museums, and it is a fun place to visit.

Joining us today is  Rebecca Brown, one of the owners and creators of the Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Rebecca, welcome to the blog. You and your twin sister, Ruth, have a very unique museum. Can you briefly tell us what it’s all about?

 Thank you for having me.  Civil War Tails is a museum of the dioramas that Ruth and I have been making for over 20 years.  We make all the soldiers by hand, and most of the other features as well, from forts and ships to horses and cannons and coffeepots.  The twist is that every soldier is actually a cat.  Currently, we have over 5,500 cats on display (out of over 8,000).

This diorama captures the moment in the Battle of Gettysburg
when the 20^th Maine began their forward movement
on Little Round Top.
Photo courtesy of Civil War Tails Diorama Museum.

Since the figures are all to-scale and the dioramas each show a specific point in time, they let us see what the scene might have looked like in real-life.  It’s like a glimpse back in time.  And, each diorama is inspired by the stories of the men (and women) involved, so it’s a great way to learn about the people of the Civil War and see how we can really relate to the stories of these people from over 150 years ago. 

Fascinating! Why did you decide to use cats in your dioramas?

When we were 11 years old, I read biographies on Generals Lee and Grant.  Then I made the generals out of clay—only I made them cats.  It was just natural to do it and now, looking back, I think it’s because we’ve always had cats as pets, and we’ve always pretended we were cats, even if we were playing Robin Hood (of course, the Sheriff of Nottingham and his bad guys were always dogs).  As we continued to read about the Civil War, we continued making cats of officers who were gallant or brave or just looked cute in their photos, and we would make cats for them to command.  Eventually, we began making dioramas with them, to commemorate the various stories we read about.  So, this really has just been our hobby since 1995.

So, aside from the fact that the soldiers are cats, how historically accurate are the dioramas? Do visitors get a feel for what really happened in the battles?

We try to make the dioramas as accurate as possible (besides the tails).  Each one is to-scale, so six feet on the ground is six feet for the cat.  Each cat represents one soldier, which helps to give an idea of what the overall scene would have looked like during the Civil War. 

This is the Homestead. It used to be

part of an orphanage, and now it’s home to the

Civil War Tails Diorama Museum.

Photo courtesy Civil War Tails Diorama Museum.

On the individual level, we add detail to all of our figures.  So, Confederate officers have the Austrian knots on their sleeves, identified officers and men have correct facial hair if a photo is available, the 72nd Pennsylvania cats have red piping and buttons on their jackets (each one took Ruth 30 minutes to make, instead of the usual 5–7 minutes), and so on.  On our Little Round Top diorama, each three-quarter-inch-tall Union cat will have a tiny Maltese cross on top of his kepi (cap) as a corps badge. 

On a diorama level, we try to calculate the number of soldiers that would be present in the given units, we check all our sources and maps to place identified officers and men as accurately as possible, we take note of “minor” details like the fact that the ironclad ship CSS Virginia (Merrimack) had her boats shot away on the first day of fighting (i.e., they wouldn’t be present on our diorama of the second day), and so on. 

I do think our dioramas help people see history in action.  We’ve had visitors comment on how helpful it was to see the Angle populated as it would have been during Pickett’s Charge, after having gone to the battlefield itself.  Or, if people come to the museum before going, they can then picture the action later, as they stand on the actual ground and look across the fields.  Of course, we have non-Gettysburg dioramas too, so people can see other scenes like the ironclads CSS Virginia and USS Monitor duking it out. 

I’m amazed at the level of detail you add, down to the specific uniforms and even the facial hair. What materials do you use in the dioramas, and roughly how long does it take to create one?

The older cats are made out of modeling clay, which doesn’t harden.  Now, we use Sculpey, which is a clay that we bake.  The great thing about Sculpey is that the cat can be glued down and he won’t melt, fall over, drop a rifle barrel or arm, etc.  This is also true of our horses (over 80% of all our horses are handmade) and cannons. 

The Browns include a remarkable level of detail,
right down to facial hair on identifiable individuals.
This is Captain Spear on Little Round Top.
Photo courtesy Civil War Tails Diorama Museum.

For ground cover, buildings, ships, trains, and other features, we’ve traditionally used ordinary materials you can find around your house, like toothpicks, paper clips, cardboard, and wire.  We also use materials you can find at any craft store, like reindeer moss for treetops or “turf” for grass.  On our larger dioramas, we tell how to make various aspects of the dioramas, like fences and trees, so kids can see how easy it really is.  The Angle looks complicated, but anyone can do it.  And that’s why we have some of our older scenes pulled out, so kids (and adults) can see how we started out—with blue and green paper for water and grass—and know that making a diorama isn’t all that scary or daunting.

How long it takes to make a diorama depends on the size of the diorama and the number of cats.  The Angle has probably taken about 4½ years, and we’re actually in the process of tweaking it.  When we’re finished, it will have 3,000 cats on it.  Little Round Top has been in the works for four years, but we’ve probably only put about a year and a half of work into it so far (it has been “overcome by events”).  It’ll probably take two or three more focused years of work to finish it.  On the other hand, the ironclads took about a year and a half to complete, since most of the work was making the ships, with only a couple hundred cats on them, instead of thousands.  Smaller scenes might take a few months.

I’m guessing you haven’t always run a diorama museum. How did you end up there?

We were homeschooled, and in high school we did lessons on the Civil War for other homeschooled students.  The kids really loved seeing our dioramas, particularly The Angle.  We also began working at a retirement community, so each year we would take our dioramas over for a one-day display in their auditorium.  The residents also loved our dioramas.  One lady would tell us, every year, “You should take them into schools!”  In 2012, I decided I really should take her seriously and start thinking about it.  Well, by then we had not only The Angle (5.5’x7.5’), but Fort Sumter (~4’x4’ and really heavy!) and Little Round Top (11’x4’8”), among others.  Fitting them into a classroom did not seem feasible!  And, traveling is hard on the older modeling-clay cats.  So we began considering starting a museum.

In spring of 2013, we bought the old Homestead in Gettysburg.  The house was built in 1869 as a girls’ dormitory for the National Soldiers’ Orphans’ Homestead next door.  Not only is it awesome to have our museum up and running (we opened in the fall of 2015), but it’s mind-boggling to be in a building with a history related to the battle (for the connection, look up Sgt. Amos Humiston or “The Children of the Battlefield”). 

Are there any real, live cats at the museum?

Yes!  Kitty is 17 years old and has fully embraced the title of “Museum Cat.”  She enjoys saying “hi” to visitors and has been known to come downstairs specifically to greet people.  So, if you stop by, don’t forget to say hi to her—assuming she’s on duty.  Sometimes the pillow upstairs is just too cozy and warm, so she takes a day off from museum duty.

Here is Kitty, the 17-year-old real cat you
might be lucky enough to meet when you visit
the museum.
Photo courtesy Civil War Tails Diorama Museum.

Can you give us an inside tip on Civil War Tails?

If you come to Civil War Tails, there are a few fun things about the dioramas that I like to point out.  The ironclads have a couple surprises that I won’t spoil for you, there is a tunnel on another diorama, and there is one dog somewhere…  He’s a real dog, not a soldier, but it takes a while to find him.  If you want to search for him, you might want to tell me, because I have a habit of showing him to people, and that would spoil your scavenger hunt!

Do you have any special events or additions planned for this year?

Last year we had fun with our first anniversary, and we are looking forward to celebrating again this fall.  On Labor Day weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Monday), we will be offering discounted admission and having a scavenger hunt with prizes.  If you’re interested, just keep an eye out on our Facebook page or website (www.civilwartails.com) as Labor Day approaches.

As far as additions go, we do have several older dioramas in storage that we would like to bring out.  We just brought out a couple for display—Capt. Bigelow’s 9th Massachusetts Battery at Gettysburg, and Gen. Joe Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry leaping off a 25-ft cliff into the Duck River.  The cats and horses are all cleaned up, repainted, and happy to be out of the closet!   

This has been really fascinating, Rebecca. We're so glad you could join us today and tell us about the diorama museum. It sounds like an excellent place to visit! Friends, if you want to learn more about the Civil War Tails Diorama Museum, check out the details below.

Information

The Civil War Tails Diorama Museum is located at 785 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325.

You can reach them by email at info@civilwartails.com or by phone (717-420-5273). Also check out their website (www.civilwartails.com) and keep up with them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/civilwartails).

Civil War Tails is a family-run museum, so hours can vary a little, but they are open most evenings until 8:00. Be sure to email them or check their hours page before visiting.

Miss Cuddlywumps Converses with Barn Cat Buddies

Barn cat, a.k.a. Rodent Control Technician.
Photo courtesy of Barn Cat Buddies.

You know, it’s great being a housecat with a loving home, but not every cat has that opportunity. Not every cat even wants to live in a house with people. Who takes care of those cats? Well, it’s really special people, like our guest today, who step up and volunteer to look after feral cats. Toni Levine is a co-president and member of the board of directors of an organization called Barn Cat Buddies. Let’s get right into our conversation.

Hi, Toni. We’re so glad you could join us today to talk about Barn Cat Buddies. Can you start by telling us exactly what this organization is and what it does?

  

Hi!!! Thank you for the opportunity to talk about ourselves!!! Our mission is to stop the population of feral cats and to create a safe environment for them while they are waiting on their forever homes. We offer a trap/neuter/return program when funding is available. We sterilize as many cats as we can under this program and pay for the vetting. It includes sterilization, rabies shot, distemper shot, and pain meds. We also tip the ears so that anyone that sees them understands they are vetted and being fed. We have created four sanctuaries that house approximately 300 cats. We provide food and vetting services to these cats until they are placed in a forever home. In addition, we provide food to low income people that are feeding feral colonies.

We already mentioned your roles as co-president and board member. What else do you do for Barn Cat Buddies?

I also am one of the sanctuaries, application processor, and one of the food providers as a food bank.

That sounds like a lot of work! If someone has a barn and needs a cat to patrol it and keep mice away, what is the process for getting a cat from you? Is there a fee involved?

Barn Cat Buddies adopts their cats out in pairs. They
work hard to put just the right cats in the right place.
Photo Courtesy of Barn Cat Buddies.

Just go to our website at www.barncatbuddies.org and fill out an application for adoption. There are two applications…one is for indoor friendly cats, which is quite lengthy, and the other is for outdoor hunters/barn cats. We contact the applicant to find out exactly what they want and go to work locating the right cats. We do adopt in pairs, as they are social animals and will tend to stick around better with a “buddy.” We deliver, set up, and instruct as we go. There is no adoption fee for barn cats, but donations are always greatly appreciated. That is how we keep doing what we do.

Wow—it sounds like you really do a lot to make sure these cats end up in a good place. I understand you’re in Virginia. What areas of that state does Barn Cat Buddies primarily serve?

We work closely in Roanoke County, City, Salem, Vinton, Bedford County, Franklin County, Craig County, and Botetourt County, but are not limited to those areas. Our sanctuaries are in Bedford County, Botetourt County and Craig County.

Two cat buddies on patrol for rodents.
Photo courtesy Barn Cat Buddies.

How long has Barn Cat Buddies been around, and roughly how many cats have you helped in that time?

We have been around for a decade but have been a 501C for about five years. I would have to get numbers from our bookkeeper/founder, but I can tell you that we sterilized and vetted well over a 1,000 cats in 2016.

Thank you for helping so many cats! I heard you did not get renewed funding this year for one of your major programs—the Free Feline Fix. What does this mean for Barn Cat Buddies?

A Rodent Control Technician's work is never done.
There's always some part of the barn--or stable or
greenhouse--to be checked out.
Photo courtesy Barn Cat Buddies.

This means that our main mission has been altered. We are not doing any intake in the year 2017 and will gear ourselves to adopting from our sanctuaries so that we can begin to pull from kill shelters and non-thriving or hoarding colonies in the next year. For now, we are concentrating on feeding and vetting (keeping healthy) our sanctuary cats and those colonies that we have committed to prior. We will reapply for our grant this coming year and hopefully will receive it for 2018.

What can people do to help Barn Cat Buddies?

Donate food, money, or items that we can sell at our large yard sales, which help provide a large amount of money for our food and vetting. Our mailing address is Barn Cat Buddies, P.O. Box 111, Salem, Virginia 24153. If someone would like to talk to one of our board members, please feel free to give them my email address, which is barngrama2@hotmail.com and I will be glad to call them.

Well, a Rodent Control Technician just needs a break
sometimes, but just their presence can warn pests away.
Photo Courtesy Barn Cat Buddies.

Thank you so much for any attention you can give us. We are ALL volunteers (there are no paid employees) and every dime contributed goes directly to run our program, provide food and vetting, and funds our Free Feline Fix program. 

This has been a really enlightening conversation, Toni. Thank you for joining us today. We have really enjoyed it. Readers, we really hope some of you will chip in however you can to help out the Barn Cat Buddies!

Miss Cuddlywumps Converses: With Cat Cozy Author Mollie Hunt

Mollie Hunt is an author of cat cozy mysteries,
a volunteer with the Oregon Humane Society,
and more.
All photos courtesy of Mollie Hunt.

Welcome to this latest edition of Miss Cuddlywumps Converses. Please join me in welcoming author Mollie Hunt to the blog. Mollie is here to tell us all about her cozy mystery series, which of course features cats (because they all should, right?). Let’s get right into our conversation.

Mollie, we’re so glad you could join us today. Could you start out by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you got into writing cozy mysteries?

Mollie: Hello, Miss C. I’m excited to be here. As you know, I’m the author of the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series. I am a native Oregonian and live in Portland with my husband and a varying number of cats.

Though I read many types of fiction and nonfiction, I’ve always enjoyed cozy mysteries, beginning with Mary Stewart, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers. When I discovered there was such a thing as the sub-genre cat mysteries (Lilian Jackson Braun, Shirley Rousseau Murphy, Miranda James), I was happier than a cat in catnip. I’ve written in several genres, but cozies are my favorite (along with cat science-fantasy, but that’s another story). Everybody needs a happy ending once in a while.

Yes, happy endings are so refreshing, aren’t they? Please introduce us to the Crazy Cat Lady mystery series. Is the cat lady in the series really crazy?

As my hero Lynley Cannon will be the first to tell you, she isn’t crazy, yet. Sixty-something Lynley enjoys a quiet life of retirement. She is a dedicated cat shelter volunteer, a doting grandmother, and an active senior. She never looks for trouble, but it seems to find her anyway. Whether it’s a diamond heist that lands in her lap thanks to a curious cat (Cats’ Eyes), a cat counterfeiting ring that infiltrates her shelter, Friends of Felines (Copy Cats), or a crazy string of murders beginning in the tranquil setting of a famous animal shelter and ending up on her own doorstep (Cat’s Paw), Lynley’s cat-like curiosity gets the best of her every time.

Lynley isn’t in it alone though; family and friends (including a mystery-solving, 80-something mother, a sweet but way-smart granddaughter, a hunky animal cop who knows the ropes, a cat-savvy shelter buddy, and a lesbian lawyer to get her out of fixes) have Lynley’s back.

The first two books in the Crazy Cat Lady series,
Cats' Eyes and Copy Cats.

Wow, that sounds like quite a cast! The latest title is Cat’s Paw. How does this book continue the series?

Cat’s Paw (launched November 10) carries on where Copy Cats leaves off: After a brush with death at the hands of a serial killer who murders with a lethal cat-like claw (Copy Cats), Lynley is ready to relax. She attends an elite art retreat at the world-famous Cloverleaf Animal Sanctuary in the San Juan Islands, but the tranquility is sundered by a shocking double homicide. Lynley is briefly accused, and once released, she can’t get home to Portland  fast enough, but the murders aren’t over yet. Suspicion falls on a dear friend, and Lynley must fight through fear, assault, and her own anxiety disorder to keep from becoming the next victim.

Can you tell us about the cat or cats in these stories? Are they talking cats or “normal” cats, and what role do they play in the plots?

Though no one loves a talking cat more than I do, the cats in this series are normal cats. That said, I believe cats are truly gifted with a full array of superior senses, and if sometimes those senses help solve a crime, why not?

Cat's Paw is the newest book in the Crazy Cat Lady series.
In the center right, author Mollie Hunt poses with Tinkerbelle the cat.

Cats are superior in many ways, aren't we? Are any cats in your stories based on real-life felines, or are they all totally fictional?

Several of her cats—and Lynley has many: 8 at the moment!—are or have been my own wonderful kitties; others are cats I’ve fostered for the Oregon Humane Society where I volunteer; and still others are made up though based on someone I’ve known personally.

Are you working on any new writing projects you’d like to tell us about?

Yes! I’ve just finished the initial draft of the next book in the CCL series, Cat Call, where Lynley takes over as cat wrangler for a television show after a friend is injured by a mysterious “hex” that is sabotaging the set. (I’m applying my own experience as an assistant cat handler for the cult classic Zombie Cats from Mars.) The fifth in the series, Cat Café, which revolves around a mystifying murder in a cat lounge, is in the planning stages right now. I previously mentioned cat science-fantasy: I have been working on a tetralogy involving sentient cats saving the world from various unthinkable fates. Divergent from the cozies, these are works of pure imagination and very close to my heart. I hope to publish them someday.

Mollie Hunt relaxes with four cats, all of whom show up in
her stories. The cats are (from left to right)
Tinkerbelle, Dirty Harry,  Little, and Big Red.

We hope you do publish them, because we’d love to read them—they sound like such fun, and we think more cats should get involved in science and fantasy. Do you have any other thoughts you’d like to share with us?

Thank you. I would like to note that though my books are full of kitty-fun for the reader, I try to inject a bit of realism as well. Since Lynley is a shelter volunteer, she is in the perfect position to explore such subjects as the plight of homeless pets; the crisis and control of animal abuse and neglect; and other issues relating to animal advocacy. At the beginning of each chapter, I include an interesting cat fact or tip, such as “If you think you smell cat pee, you probably do.”

I’d also like to spotlight my fabulous cover art, done by cat artist Leslie Cobb. Check out her website at Cat Art by Leslie Cobb.

Yes, we will be sure to check out Leslie’s site, and we hope our readers will too. Thank you for being here today, Mollie. We’ve had such fun conversing with you and learning about your books!

Thank you so much, Miss. C, for having me. I’ve enjoyed our conversation immensely.

Adopt – Volunteer – Love!

Mollie Hunt

Connect with Mollie Hunt

You can find Mollie Hunt’s books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and if you’re in Portland, at Another Read Through Bookstore.

Visit Mollie online:

 Facebook

Mollie’s website

Miss Cuddlywumps Converses: with Oliver of the Oliver Poons Children’s Company

Oliver the cat, the inspiration behind Oliver Poons and the
Oliver Poons Children's Company. What a handsome boy! No
wonder he inspired a whole company.

  Welcome to this edition of “Miss Cuddlywumps Converses.” Today I’m excited to be speaking with Oliver, the feline inspiration behind the character Oliver Poons of the Oliver Poons Children’s Company and #YellowHatsforCats.

Hello, Oliver, and thank you for joining us today. We’re very happy to meet you. I understand you are a rescue cat. Can you tell us about how your person, Lauryn, found you and a little bit about your relationship with her?

From kitten in a shelter to being in
his very own book, Oliver has come a
long way!

Oliver: I was a baby kitten at No Kitten Left Behind in East Hartford, CT. I had a meet and greet with Lauryn to see if she met my standards! J Our colors were alike that day as Lauryn was dressed in black and white too! As our eyes met, I knew in an instant, she was the one. We’ve been bonded ever since.

Every day, I used to spend a lot of my time waiting patiently for her to come home from work. Lately, though, things have been different. For the past four and a half years, Lauryn has been home most of the time recovering from Lyme disease. Although this has been rough for Lauryn sometimes, I’ve enjoyed our bond and the lots of extra time we get to spend cuddling. I even have a book named after me now!

Miss C: I am sorry Lauryn has been ill, but it is great that you get to be in a book. I think more cats should be in books. Really, I don't know what else humans have to write about. Tell me, how did your person get the idea to start the Oliver Poons Children’s Company?

Oliver's first book,
Oliver Poons and the Bright Yellow Hat.
Get it in print or as an e-book.

Oliver: I’ve always considered how cute I might look in a yellow hat, and the idea just happened to pop in her head! My friend Orange Kitty and I spied each other through the sliding glass door in the kitchen. I felt the world needed to hear our tale and Lauryn was the perfect one to tell it.

Miss C: You are very cute in a yellow hat! You’re the inspiration behind the character Oliver Poons in the children’s books Lauryn writes. Please tell us briefly about the books and what role Oliver Poons plays?

Oliver: Of course I’m the protagonist and have the lead role! My co-characters, Orange Kitty and Myrtle, offer me much guidance on my adventures. With a little help from friends, anything is possible! You’ll have to read and find out what we’re up to in our two books, Oliver Poons and the Bright Yellow Hat, and Dreaming in Color. Young children are delighted by our whimsy and antics!

Oliver's next book is Dreaming in Color.
Get it here.

Miss C: What is #YellowHatsforCats all about, and how can we participate?

#YellowHatsforCats is the Oliver Poons Children’s Company’s partnership with animal welfare organizations to which we donate 15% of all online sales. We have a number of different participating groups across the United States, and we’re starting to expand internationally too! Customers can select a participating group of their choice to benefit with their purchase on each of the product pages at oliverpoons.com. A list of all our participating organizations can also be found at yellowhatsforcats.com.

Oliver in his so-spiffy
yellow hat.
Such style!

Since Lauryn and I are best friends, we wanted to do something a little extra special to help the organizations who help humans find their future best fur-friends! Everyone can show their support for this campaign by posting a picture of their cat in a yellow hat and tagging #yellowhatsforcats on social media. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/yellowhatsforcats and participate! Humans and cats all over the world have started to join in our movement…we even got a post from Antarctica recently! #YellowHatsforCats has officially made it to ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS!

If you know of an animal welfare organization local to you that would like to take part in our campaign, you can have them contact us on social media or using the contact form on oliverpoons.com. We’re limiting groups to no more than three per state in the U.S.A., but the only other requirement is that the organization treats animals in a dignified, compassionate manner.

Real Cat Paisley dons a
yellow hat & scarf for
#YellowHatsforCats.

Miss C: Wow! Your worldwide reach is really exciting, Oliver! Do you have any advice for cats who’d like to inspire their humans to Do Good Things?

Oliver: In my scholarly kitty wisdom, I always like to say, “Bring a smile to a child and a cat and you shall bring a smile to yourself!”

Need your own Yellow Hat?
Oliver's company offers this
Children's Yellow Floppy Hat.

That is so true. You are a very wise kitty, Oliver! Thanks again for being here. It’s been a real pleasure to meet you and learn about your books and #YellowHatsforCats. I hope you’ll visit us again someday! In the meantime, friends, please take a moment to learn more about the Oliver Poons Children’s Company at these links:

Oliverpoons.com

Yellowhatsforcats.com

Instagram.com/yellowhatsforcats

Real Cat Webster chose a hard hat
for this image of him at work.
How appropriate!

All images (except the Real Cats!) courtesy of Lauryn Wendus and Oliver Poons Children's Co.

Product links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy a product through these links, old SoLT and I could get some coin for our kibble account.

Miss Cuddlywumps Converses: with Artist Beth Spencer

Friends, a few weeks ago we were prowling around on Etsy (as you do) when we stumbled across these really cute cat pins from Beth Spencer. We just knew that you all would love them as much as we do, and so we’re pleased to welcome Beth Spencer herself to our blog and to this edition of "Miss Cuddlywumps Converses" to tell us a little bit about herself and her work.

Beth Spencer with her cat, Sean. We think Sean must be a pretty
great cat since he got this dog person to start liking cats!

This Love Me Cat Pin is one
of the things that first caught
our eye. So cute!

Miss C: Beth, we’re really excited that you could join us today. You create so many cute cat items, but I understand that you didn’t always like cats. This seems impossible to me, but if it’s true, what made you start liking cats? 

Beth: Cats were sort of a mystery to me until I adopted my first one in 2013. I wanted a companion for my dog, Lisa. I applied to adopt a three-legged tabby kitten named Sean, and picked him up the next day. Since I've always had dogs, I was a bit nervous about what to expect.

Miss C: I’ll bet you’ve learned a lot from cats, right?

Might as well admit it: if
you're reading this blog, you can
probably relate to this shirt!

Beth: Cats have taught me to be open minded, patient and never stop trying new things! I can’t imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t adopted my first cat and learned what a joy kitties are. 

Miss C: Yes, lots of people would benefit from being around us cats, if only they’d give us a chance. We have so much to teach people! Let’s take a look at some of your art now. Tell us, where do you get your inspiration, and what kind of items do you create?

Beth: My own cats, as well as some whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at the animal shelters in town, are my main source of inspiration. Their mannerisms and personalities can easily turn into a funny greeting card or cartoon on my social media. I create pins, greeting cards, tote bags and magnets!

Detail of the cat lady shirt.

Miss C: Cats are inspirational, aren’t we? We love it that you decided to use your inspiration to create great items for people. My favorite is the SuperCat Lady Pin Collection. When and how did you decide to turn your talent into a business?

Cat Party magnet collection. We like them all, but we're
partial to the Calico-Oh yeah! and the Tortitude.

Beth: I opened my Etsy shop in June. It’s been magically fun and I’ve learned so much!

Miss C: What do you hope people will take away from your work, or how do you hope to touch people through your work?

Beth: I hope to make people laugh, find new perspectives and inspire them to do good things. 

Everybody needs a tote bag, and you might as well
have a cute one, like this tote with a mother cat
pushing her kitten in a shopping cart.

Miss C: Thank you, Beth, for taking the time to join us today. We’ve really enjoyed it. Before you go, can you let us know where can people find out more about you and your art?

Beth: Please visit my website at BethSpencerDesign.com, or follow me on the links below! 

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Etsy 

Pinterest

Beth Spencer's work space, where she creates all of
these fun things. we love the green desk!

All photos courtesy of Beth Spencer.

A Revealing Interview with the Cats of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum

Pluto and Edgar, museum cats of the Poe Museum.
Photo courtesy of the Poe Museum.

We are very excited to welcome two distinguished feline guests to the blog today. Edgar and Pluto are joining us from Richmond, Virginia, where they have the great good fortune to be “museum cats” at the Museum of Edgar Allan Poe, otherwise known as the Poe Museum. Let’s get right into the interview!

Miss C: Hi, Edgar and Pluto! Thank you for joining us today. Being museum cats sounds so interesting. Can you tell us how you ended up at the Poe Museum?

Edgar: We were born in the alley behind the Poe Museum. One morning the human who cuts the grass found us under a crate and took us into the office.

Pluto: After they found us, the food providers put us in a box and took us to a mysterious place where other humans poked and prodded us until they said we could return home. Now we get to play in the Poe Museum all the time.

Miss C: I’ve been to that place where you get poked and prodded. It’s always nice to get back home after that kind of experience. So you got to go back to the museum and take up your official duties. Tell us, what exactly are your duties as museum cats?

Pluto: I’m the official greeter and tour guide. The humans rely on me to show them around the museum. They’d be lost without me.

Edgar: I am his supervisor. Pluto may have the looks, but I’m the brains of this operation. He thinks you have to follow humans around to get their attention, but you really just have to get in their way and wait for them to come to you.

Miss C: Fascinating… You have two completely different philosophies for interacting with humans. I’m guessing that means you find some parts of your work more enjoyable than others. What is your favorite part of being a museum cat?

Pluto: I love to meet all the humans and to get my back rubbed.

Edgar: I like finding new places to stretch out for a nice long nap.

As the official greeter and tour guide, Pluto has to
"know his Poe," so to speak. Here he is studying for work.
Photo courtesy of the Poe Museum.

Miss C: I’m with you, Edgar. A long nap in a perfect place…Purrrr… But let’s not get distracted right now. Just a couple more questions. As museum cats at the Poe Museum, you must be familiar with Edgar Allan Poe’s work. Do you have a favorite story or poem of his?

Pluto: I like the story with the cat named after me.

Edgar: I like the one about the hero cat who helps the police apprehend the murderous human.

Miss C: Lots of cultured cats dream of living at a museum. Do you have any tips for aspiring museum cats or those who just want to live like museum cats?

Edgar: If you are not lucky enough to have been born at the Poe Museum, you could try finding some other historic site, preferably one that has a nice, warm room in which you can spend the night. Just be sure not to sit on the old furniture. The humans get very uptight about that.

Miss C: I’ll keep that tip about old furniture in mind, Edgar. Humans do get excited about the strangest things, don’t they? Pluto, do you have any tips to share?

Pluto: Humans are very strange. They carry little flat boxes in their hands and point them at you. Just humor them for a moment, and they will get back to petting you.

Edgar and Pluto keep watch over things at the Poe Museum.
Visiting humans can pet them and take their picture, but no
feeding is allowed!
Photo courtesy of the Poe Museum.

Miss C: Yes, humans are so easily distracted by their little toys, but they always come back to the cat eventually, don’t they? Our time is almost up, but is there anything else you’d like to tell us about the museum?

Edgar: The humans will be having a Poe Film Festival on September 22, 23, and 24. In honor of me, they will be showing a movie called “The Black Cat.”

Pluto: Visit me and my brother at the Poe Museum. We’re on a special diet, so you can’t feed us. But you can give us lots of back rubs, and you can help our food providers and poop scoopers take care of us by donating to the museum’s black cat fund.

Miss C: Thanks again to Pluto and Edgar for joining us today. This has been fascinating and insightful look into the life of a museum cat.

If you’d like to visit Pluto and Edgar in person, you can find them at the Poe Museum at 1914–16 East Main Street in Richmond, Virginia. Check here for hours and admission details. You can also find the Poe Museum on Twitter and Facebook.

And when you go, remember to pet the cats, but don’t feed them!

Always something interesting to watch when you're a museum cat.
Photo courtesy of the Poe Museum.

Want a little more Poe? I wrote this post about "The Black Cat" a couple years ago. It's the excellent Poe story that features a black cat named Pluto.