To Be Loved: A Message Inspired by Tiger Tim

There's a new angel flying free and chasing dandelion fuzzies over grassy hills. Those of you that have been following the inspiring story of Tiger Tim, the orange cat surrendered to a NY shelter because his owner chose a new sofa over him, have likely heard the news.

Tiger Tim ended his courageous fight this past weekend in the most beautiful way any of of could ever hope to leave this world. At home, in the arms of someone who loved him deeply, with peace, compassion and dignity.

Tiger Tim - Magnificat Rescue

Tiger Tim - the cat that just wanted to be loved
There's just something about this sweet and trusting orange cat that struck a chord with us... and with people all over the world.  It's not his overnight celebrity status. In fact, we're often saddened when the death of someone famous consumes the public. We think about the unsung heroes. Those that live their life with a quiet humbleness. They may not be known to the world, but they are the world to someone who loves them.

Tiger Tim was not an internet meme. He didn't have his own YouTube channel or Facebook page. We think that's in part why his story is so special to us.

Saved from a high-kill shelter, he at first appeared to be dying of a broken heart. But in a matter of days, he was bright eyed, affectionate and sharing his love with shelter workers, medical staff and the whole world. He was soon diagnosed with cancer, though it was just so hard to believe given how full of life and love he was. Everyone want to believe in a miracle, but those caring for him knew it was only a matter of time.

Magnificat Rescue wrote on their Facebook page that "Tiger Tim's last days were probably the happiest in his life." And that's the message we're holding close to our hearts as we remember this special cat. To love. And to be loved.

We want to thank Tiger Tim's first foster mom who scooped him up from the high kill shelter, the caring volunteers at Magnificat Rescue and Rehoming, the dedicated medical staff that fought for him with all they had and his foster mom who filled his last days with love.

And to Tiger Tim - Bless you sweet boy, for reminding us what really matters. 

Adopt an adult cat
Do you have room in your heart and home for another cat? When you're ready, please consider adopting an adult cat from your local rescue shelter. You may not change the world, but you'll change the world for that cat.


Related links
Our first story about Tiger Tim: I Love You THIS Much
Facebook Page with all of Tiger Tim's updates: Magnificat Rescue and Rehoming
Donate to help Magnificat rescue more cats like Tiger Tim.

Just Another Mani Pedi Monday

WAFFLES:  Uh oh. Boss at 10 o'clock.

WAFFLES:  I'm going to have to cut my mani pedi time short.

KATIE:  Mani pedi???

WAFFLES:  That's what all the cool metro-mancats call it, Boss. 

KATIE:  What happened to just regular scratching?

WAFFLES:  That's so 2041.

KATIE:  You mean 2014?

WAFFLES:  Uh, yeah that.

About Today's Photos

Location. Location. Location. Just a few feet from the kitchen sits our most coveted scratcher. It gets a good workout at mealtimes, that is when Katie & Waffles aren't doing the Patty Cake Salsa.

Though it's easily large enough for two... well, THAT's never going to happen!

Today's photos were taken just a few months ago during one of Katie & Waffles spirited exchanges at the scratcher. We suppose it's their version of dishing gossip at the water cooler. 

Volleyball Cats #SundaySelfies

WAFFLES:  Cool, Boss... crinkle ball volleyball!  Can I play too?

KATIE:  Depends.

WAFFLES:  Depends on what?

KATIE:  Do you even know how?

WAFFLES:  Uh, I just grab the crinkle ball and whap it around the floor, right?

KATIE:  NO, that's crinkle ball soccer.  *Rookie*

WAFFLES:  So how do we play the volleyball way?

KATIE:  I take the crinkle ball and serve it to you, then –

WAFFLES:  Serve? You mean like breakfast?

KATIE:  No, I serve it meaning I toss it and you have to toss it back.  Ok, I'm going to serve it really far... are you ready?

WAFFLES:  Ready, Boss!

KATIE:  And...

KATIE:  GO!!!

KATIE:  Keep going, Waffles. Keep going. Farther... Still farther.  

KATIE:  Now back to my regularly scheduled program.

About Today's Photos

Some of our favorite pictures come from our product review photo shoots. We always try to get the money shots with the products and kitties in focus, looking all model-like. But the really fun shots are often the ones that happen in-between our best laid plans.

Our crinkle ball pictures were outtakes from the Purina Muse campaign and Katie's lounging photo is from the Peach Pillow Bed blog post. 

The rest is just what Glogirly imagines Katie & Waffles are saying to one another. Something she spends hours and hours everyday trying to figure out.  Do you try to read your cats' minds too? 

#SundaySelfies

Today's blog post is part of the

Sunday Selfies Blog Hop hosted

by our dear friends at

The Cat On My Head.

Emergency Cats to the Rescue #TVTripCaturday

WAFFLES:  Squawk 51! Squawk 51! Ramp Art! Ramp Art!

KATIE:  Waffles, we're SQUAD 51. Not Squawk 51. Enough with the squawking already.

WAFFLES:  But what about the ramp art? What should we paint on the ramp?

KATIE:  Waffles, it's a good thing the 70's television people whose houses were on on fire didn't have to count on YOU to save them.

WAFFLES:  So Boss, where are we going? Does somebody need saving?

KATIE:  As a matter of fact, Waffles... there's a sweet mancat at the PAWS shelter who's been waiting a long time for a forever home. 

WAFFLES:  Does he want to join our squawk? ... I mean squad? You know the ladies really like a mancat in uniform. 

SPARKLE:  Why, hello ladies. I've got some burning love just for you.

Do you have room in your heart for  a little Sparkle?
Today's Cameo Cat is Sparkle, a handsome mancat waiting for a chance at a forever home. He's outgoing, friendly, affectionate and loves talking up a storm. Sparkle prefers to sit next to you or nearby rather than in your lap. (That's exactly how Katie is! Maybe it's a tuxie thing.) Sparkle would prefer to be an only cat, but he might be all you need!

He's got a sensitive stomach and food allergies and as a result is on a hyp0-allergenic diet. Sparkle was also diagnosed with Pemphigus Foliaceus - an autoimmune skin disease causing ulceration and crusting of the skin. Sparkle has severe crusting on his pawpads. Treatment is continued use of prednisolone, probably for life.

But you know what? Katie is on a special diet and she also takes prednisolone occasionally. And for us, it's no big deal. Our vet "compounds" many of the drugs they prescribe which makes everything MUCH easier. That means they take what would ordinarily be a pill and turn it into a liquid. They even add bacon flavoring to Katie's. 

Sparkle is about 8 years old. He is neutered, current on his vaccinations, micro-chipped and has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. Sparkle is available for adoption at PAWS, Pet Animal Welfare Society in Norwalk, Connecticut.

TV Trip Saturdays with the Shelter Cats!

Every Saturday we feature adoptable cats from PAWS Pet Animal Welfare Society in Norwalk, CT. in our #TVTripCaturday blog series. Through the magic of Photoshop, they join Waffles and Katie for some time-travel adventures to some of our favorite, classic shows.

We'll also introduce you to the 'Cameo Cats' and share a little bit about them. Maybe, just maybe... our crazy antics will help our shelter friends find forever homes.

Special thanks to Maggie Swanson, the talented photographer behind our cameo cats and a devoted volunteer at PAWS. Maggie is the author of the blog, Sundays at the Shelter, where she features adoptable cats from PAWS each and every week. Her beautiful photos have helped countless cats find loving homes.

Sparkle's shelter photos by Maggie Swanson

Emergency backgrounds from Eclecticarcania

The Kitty Muses Who Amuse: Waffles & Katie

KATIE:  Don't even think it, Waffles. I totally see you.

WAFFLES:  Really? But what about my invisible super powers? Aren't I invisible?

KATIE:  One can only wish.

WAFFLES:  C'mon, Boss. What's the password?

KATIE:  Password?

WAFFLES:  NO, password's not the password. You're never supposed to use password as your password. Everybody knows that. What's the password?

KATIE:  For what???

WAFFLES:  My clubhouse, Boss!

KATIE:  I'M not coming inside that thing with you. 

WAFFLES:  Well no, not if you don't know the password. What's the password? 

KATIE:  Fine. I need a hint though. 

WAFFLES:  What's your mother's maiden name?

KATIE:  WAFFLES...

WAFFLES:  That's a coincidence.

Glogirly's Endless A-Muse-ment

The cat-inspired folks at Muse by Purina® asked Glogirly to share with our friends and readers how Katie & Waffles inspire her. Just how exactly does she come up with their silly antics and dialogue? 

Her answer, in a word: Muse

Muse

[myooz] 

noun
1. In Greek mythology, the Muses were nine goddesses who symbolized the arts and sciences. 
Today, a muse is a person ( or CAT ) who serves as an artist's (or CAT Lover's) inspiration.

a. Katie, i.e. Feline Goddess
b. Waffles, i.e. sorry, there is no documented translation for Waffles.

Glogirly has always been inspired and amused by cats. From their light-footed grace to their olympian-like playing & hunting prowess, to their mad napping skills... she's been in awe (and just a little bit jealous) of cats her whole life. 

But it wasn't until she started blogging, way back in 2009, that she realized there was something more. Not knowing where to start or what to write, her husband (the now semi-infamous Gloman) suggested she let her cat do the talking. "Just write in Katie's voice."  

Well it stuck. All these years, Glogirly has barely muttered a word on the blog. Good thing too because Katie & Waffles are WAY more interesting. 

The Muses: Katie & Waffles

Every single day, Katie and Waffles get into something that inspires Glogirly. And if she's lucky, she's got her camera in hand. Sometimes it's just a look or glance between them. Other times it's a tag team breach of the treat cabinet in the kitchen. No matter what they're doing or what they've done, she's always imagining their conversation. 

Waffles has more expressions than any cat Glogirly's ever met. Most of which are silly and goofy. He's the consummate teenager, or more often toddler. An innocent trouble maker too cute to ever be mad at. King of Crazy.

Katie is Waffles' counterpoint. Queen of the deadpan stare, a sarcastic and quick wit just oozes from her stylish tuxedo coat. She's delicate and ladylike, but watch out for her right hook. Chances are you'll never see it coming.

Oh, and note to Waffles: Yes, as a matter of fact she DOES have eyes in the back of her head.

Katie & Waffles are polar opposites and purr-fect muses. 

Muse by Purina®
New and only at PetSmart, Muse is their latest line of natural cat food. Broths, patés, chowders and toppers... 18 recipes in all, there's a variety of tastes and textures to choose from.

•  Grain free
•  Real poultry or fish is the first ingredient
•  No corn, no wheat, no soy
•  No added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives

Though our mainstay is a whole food diet, we really enjoy using canned and broth-type foods as special treats and snacks. For us, it's a nice alternative to dry treats or kibble. Waffles really enjoyed the toppers and Katie's favorite was the Natural Chicken Recipe Paté. ...she's a paté -girl at heart.

Learn more about Muse and join the conversation by sharing your own feline inspiration at MuseCatFood.com.

FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Muse by Purina and PetSmart. We received free product samples to try out as well and were paid to feature this content. Regardless of product and payment received, all sponsored posts on GLOGIRLY will always reflect our honest opinions and feature products we use or believe would be relevant to our friends and readers.

The Tiny Kitten with the BIG Voice #ThrowbackThursday

WAFFLES:  La! La! La! Laaaa!  ♫♩

WAFFLES:  LA! LA! LA! Laaaa! ♫♩

WAFFLES:  LALALALALALALALALA LAAAAAAAAAA!  ♫♩♫♩

 WAFFLES:  LA!

KATIE:  Welcome to my life.

About Today's Photos

Waffles' #ThrowbackThursday photos are from WAY back in November of 2012. In fact, they're some of the very first photos ever taken of the tiny orange kitten with the BIG mouth. It didn't take long for Glogirly to realize he'd quickly become one of the most expressive cats she'd ever know and love.

And it didn't take Katie long to make her own realizations. 

Tiny Dancer #WafflesWednesday

WAFFLES:   Hold me closer, Tiny Dancer!   ♫♩

KATIE:    Yeah? Hold THIS!



About Today's Photos
While running errands today, Glogirly tuned into one of the local radio stations. She's a big Elton John fan, so when Tiny Dancer started to play she had to turn it way up. And all of a sudden she couldn't get the image of Katie and Waffles and their pre-dinner dance out of her head.


A pink tutu? 

Don't forget to pick up some milk.

How about a matching stage curtain? 

Are we out of eggs too? Garbage bags.  

Waffles will be disappointed he doesn't get to wear the tutu...

Am I wearing two different sandals?



Yup, that's how her brain works.

KATIE:  Seriously Waffles, when will you ever learn? When it comes to the Patty Cake Smackdown, I always come out on top.

What a Difference 15 Minutes Can Make

Two minutes to dinner.

One minute to dinner.

Après dinner.

About Today's Photos 

The timestamps on today's photos don't lie. Welcome to dinner at the Townhouse. The pre-game typically kicks off with a bop to the head. Waffles is usually the instigator, though Katie is quick to turn things around with moves even the great Muhammed Ali would've been proud of. 

While Glogirly is dishing things up, Katie & Waffles waste no time getting in a few rounds of Patty Cake. 

But last night, the post dinner game shocked everyone. What??? Katie & Waffles cat loafing a mere 12" apart? Either we need to go buy some lottery tickets, or prepare for the apocalypse. 

Crossing the Line with Waffles & Katie

WAFFLES:  So Boss, which side of the line is mine?

KATIE:  The other side of the line, Waffles.

WAFFLES:  But how do I know if this side of the line is this side of the line, or if this side of the line is the other side of the line?

KATIE:  Waffles, all you need to remember is that whatever side of the line I'm on, that's MY side of the line. Your side of the line is the other side of the line.

WAFFLES:  But Boss?

KATIE:  What.

WAFFLES:  You're standing on BOTH sides of the line.

KATIE:  Waffles, I think you're catching on.

 WAFFLES:  I guess the Boss takes her lines very seriously.

About Today's Photos 

Repairs continue in the Townhouse. Today's photos are from our lower level guest bedroom, a.k.a the Red Room. Glogirly wants to rearrange the furniture when it comes back in so she put down some blue painters tape to make sure there was enough room for the big pieces.

Of course the camera wasn't ready when she started positioning the tape so you'll just have to take our word for it when we tell you what happened next.

Every time she positioned the tape to represent a piece of furniture, both Katie and Waffles would immediately go inside the shape and sit down. It was like the blue tape represented walls they couldn't pass through. This happened with each virtual piece of furniture, one after another after another.

By the time Glogirly was done taping (and giggling) she ran for her camera. But by the time she came back it was too late and the game was apparently over.

Have you ever seen such a thing?

To Gloman With Love: Letters to a Cat Daddy

Deer Gloman,

Thank you for being my sofa buddy every night after dinner. It's my favorite part of the day.

And I know I'm not supposed to lay on your laptop on account of it makes it hard to type and stuff.

But thank you for letting me do it anyway. 

And thank you for remembering how cute I am when I get in trouble. 

Like with I want to play with your camera straps and eat your Cheetos. 

And thank you for having the BEST LAP EVER. 

Glogirly's nice and all but she's too squirmy. 

This is my favorite place to be.  

I love you,

Waffles 

Dear Gloman,

Thank you for choosing me. For looking into my kitten eyes and knowing that I was the one for your girl. Thank you for adopting me and giving me the best forever home ever.

Thank you for understanding me like no one else, for our long conversations and our special time every morning when you're getting dressed. And thank you for never letting Waffles horn in on our time... or on my dinner.

Thank you for loving me, loving my girl... and well, even loving Waffles. I suppose he does sort of grow on you. Or maybe it's just all that orange hair everywhere.

I know you think Glogirly spoils Waffles and me. And that's probably true. She spends a lot of time taking our pictures and writing our blog. But I happen to know that you are her world, her everything. She loves you so, so much. She tells me that all the time.

Gloman, you are what makes our little foursome here in the Townhouse a family. 

Love,

Katie

About Today's Fathers Day Photos

You've likely seen today's photos before... they're some of our favorites. They remind us of the special bond we share with our Gloman. For us, Fathers Day is about cherishing those memories we keep close to our hearts and for enjoying today, enjoying all those little moments.

Whether you're a father, mother, brother, sister, cat mom or cat dad, we wish you a wonderful day today. Filled with those moments that become tomorrow's memories.

With love,
Glogirly, Katie & Waffles

Mister Waffles' Neighborhood #TVTripCaturday

♫♩ 

It's a beautiful day in this cardigan,  

A beautiful day for a neighbor cat,

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

♫♩

FIGARO (middle):  Dude...what's up with the cardigan?

MARTINA (right):  No kidding. Did you see his sneakers? And this fake castle? Where ARE we???

WAFFLES:  Hi neighbors. Um, I'm Mister Waffles and this is my neighborhood. Oh wait, the castle... This is the place we do the puppet shows and stuff. It's called Fairy Land. 

MARTINA (right):  Well THAT's not very politically correct. 

FIGARO (middle): Yeah, well what do you expect from a cat in a cardigan and who puts on puppet shows in a paper mache castle?

WAFFLES:  Hey Mister McFeely! uh... I mean Boss. Nice hat, Mister McFeely.

KATIE:  Mister McFeely???  Wow. In what century exactly was this show made? You better go hang up that cardigan, Waffles.

About Today's TV Spoof

Glogirly's true confession time. A child of the 60's, she grew up eating French toast for breakfast with Mister Rogers playing on the tiny television in the kitchen.  She LOVED the mild mannered man in the zip-up cardigan. She watched it for more years than us kitties could possibly count. And she's pretty sure her mom was more than a little over his theme song.

Even today, he reminds her of a simpler time. When everyone knew their neighbors, there was such thing as a milk man and telephones hung on the kitchen wall with a big spirally cord that was all tangled up. 

Today's Cameo Cats

Martina has really come out of her shell. When she first came to what the shelter calls the Lobby Room, a room shared with other cats and lots of activity, she was pretty shy and spent a lot of time hiding. But not anymore! 

She gets along great with other cats and enjoys visitors bearing wand toys and lasers. 

Don't you just love a mancat in a tuxedo? Four year-old tuxie Figaro enjoys the company of other cats, people and loves playtime. He's a real charmer.

Both Martina and Figaro are spayed/neutered, up to date with their shots and very healthy. They're available for adoption at PAWS, Pet Animal Welfare Society in Norwalk, Connecticut.

TV Trip Saturdays with the Shelter Cats!

Every Saturday we feature adoptable cats from PAWS Pet Animal Welfare Society in Norwalk, CT. in our #TVTripCaturday blog series. Through the magic of Photoshop, they join Waffles and Katie for some time-travel adventures to some of our favorite, classic shows.

We'll also introduce you to the 'Cameo Cats' and share a little bit about them. Maybe, just maybe... our crazy antics will help our shelter friends find forever homes.

Special thanks to Maggie Swanson, the talented photographer behind our cameo cats and a devoted volunteer at PAWS. Maggie is the author of the blog, Sundays at the Shelter, where she features adoptable cats from PAWS each and every week. Her beautiful photos have helped countless cats find loving homes.

Martina & Figaro's shelter photos by Maggie Swanson

Mister Rogers set photos from playbuzz.com

Official Cat Holiday: International Box Day

WAFFLES:  So Boss, if it's a cat holiday today how come I have to work?

KATIE:  Waffles, you don't know the meaning of work. When I was your age...

WAFFLES:  But Boss, kissing is hard work. And with these new volume discounts, I don't even think I can make enough scratch to go to chicken ranching school.

KATIE:  Waffles, you have plenty of scratch. And when you do finally go to your chicken ranching school, I've got the perfect place for you to live. How do you feel about camping?

WAFFLES:  I don't know Boss. This looks pretty flimsy. And I can't really drive it anywhere, right? It's not like an RV or something. How will I get to chicken ranching school?

KATIE:  Well I was kind of thinking we could just ship you...

WAFFLES:  Ship??? Like in the water? I KNOW!!! And you can come too.

KATIE:  Uh oh.

We all live in a cardboard submarine,

a cardboard submarine,

a cardboard submarine.

♫♩

About Today's Photos
In honor of International Box Day, we picked out a few of our very favorite box photos from previous blog posts. Sometimes Glogirly draws on boxes with her big Sharpie and sometimes she draws on boxes in Photoshop.  For Katie, boxes have been more of a spectator sport. She's very cautious about getting into enclosed spaces... especially with Waffles looking on.

But for the orange daredevil, an open box is an open invitation to fun and games. A box to Waffles is like a playground to a little kid. We'd love to know what kind of adventures he's imagining.

International Box Day

Yup, it's a real thing.