Paws Up for the Paw Project

KATIE:  A friend and fellow blogger, Miss Marjorie from DashKitten.com, tweeted us a message last night about a design contest for The Paw Project. What a wonderful opportunity to help raise awareness for such an important cause. Paws UP!

What IS The Paw Project?

The Paw Project's mission is to educate the public about the painful and crippling effects of feline declawing, to promote animal welfare through the abolition of the practice of declaw surgery, and to rehabilitate cats that have been declawed. The Paw Project is a nonprofit organization supported by private donations and the sale of Lala cards, a line of animal-themed greeting cards.

The Documentary

Veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Conrad was inspired to make a difference. After seeing the horrible effects of declawing on big cats living in captivity, it dawned on her that there were likely millions of domestic cats suffering from the same terrible effects. And that's how it all began.

You can watch The Paw Project documentary online for as little as $2.99. It's available on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes and Netflix.

The Bubble

As cat bloggers, we forget that in some ways we're living in a bubble. Our readers love animals, our fellow blogging friends love animals and we love animals. We're also much more informed and educated in this bubble of ours. The fact that declawing is cruel, isn't a new concept to us. But it doesn't take long once we step outside the bubble to realize there are SO many people that just don't know. The vast majority are not inhumane, they don't lack compassion... they're just uninformed. Education is so important.

And because there will always be people for that simply don't care, are selfish or heartless... well that's why changes in laws are so very important.

The Design Contest

If you're an aspiring designer, a seasoned pro or just have a passion for drawing ... and of course CATS... we encourage you to enter their t-shirt design contest. We're already working up a couple of entries! Your design could help make a positive difference in the lives of our feline friends.  Click HERE for contest details.

"Laws can't change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless."

~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Resources
Waffles and I... well we're just a couple of funny cats and we don't ever claim to be experts on much of anything. ...except for Waffles thinking he's a chicken expert. We'd like to share some wonderful articles that fellow bloggers who are far more informed and eloquent than us have published. 

And we promise to create a brief tutorial on how Glogirly is able to easily trim both my and Waffle's nails in the coming weeks. Yes, there are treats involved.

Declawing Cats: Inhumane and Unnecessary
~Ingrid King, The Conscious Cat

How To Trim Your Cats Nails
~Ingrid King, Answers.com

Scratching the Surface on Declawing Cats and Trying to Uncover the Reality of Martha Stewarts's Opinion on the Controversial Subject
~Deb Barnes, Zee & Zoey's Chronicle Connection

Catlady Fun At The CWA

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Glogirly finally found her way home from the Cat Writers' Association conference. She was quick to unpack the Muse Medallion awards she received for best color photography series and best black & white series. I question the sense of awarding HER the medallions for photos that clearly featured ME. ...and a couple of Waffles.

(If you're curious, you can check out the winning photos HERE & HERE.)

Those medallions are awfully big and heavy too. Not exactly cat-friendly. I can barely bat them around the townhouse.

And considering she STOLE my mouse for her so-called Halloween costume, I have nothing to bat around here except a certain orange ...ok, not such a bad idea after all.

Glogirly had a great time hanging with all the cat ladies. There were lots of laughs, lots of cat ears and even MORE awards. Big congratulations to our friends Angie Bailey of Catladyland, JaneA Kelley from Paws & Effect and Cat Wisdom 101's Layla Morgan Wilde for their Muse Medallion wins. And a special congratulations to Deb Barnes of Zee & Zoey for winning Friskies' Writer of the Year Award!

Glogirly's favorite part was rooming with Maxwell, FaRADay & Allie's mother from A Tonk's Tail. They stayed up late, painting their nails, talking about boyz and comparing wand toy stories.

Another exciting part of the conference was the unveiling of the new CWA logo that Glogirly had a hand in designing. She did the t-shirts and conference program covers too.

So Glogirly claims to have some special kitty swag for us in a bag that has yet to be unpacked.  Waffles and I are hopeful that she'll crack it open later sometime today. If not, we may have to resort to a joint covert operation.

Thank you so much to our friends & readers for so kindly visiting us while the girl's been away. We hope to catch up on our visiting and commenting very soon!

Wednesday Waffles EXCLUSIVE

Hello everyone, I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in the Situation Room.

Sources indicate Waffles, the mysterious ginger cat seen in and around GLOGIRLY.com, is planning on making an historic announcement sometime tomorrow.

It's not yet known if there will be an official press conference, or even if press will be allowed near the popular cat blog. Blogosphere pundits are busy speculating what the orange mystery cat will say.

CATHY KEISHA:  Yo! This ghetto kitty doesn't spill for no one! Na mean?

WALLY:  As a pawfficer of the law, I am not at liberty to comment on this particular situation.

RUMBLES:  Despite our guerilla tactics, the Waffles Task Force has not received any credible leads to date. I anxiously await tomorrow's announcement. ANXIOUSLY.

ZOEY:  Frankly, I've never understoood the fascination with this...what do you call him?  "Waffles?"  What kind of name is THAT?









WOLF:  Clearly you won't want to miss tomorrow's highly anticipated announcement. Until then, I'm Wolf Blitzer.

Behind-the-Scenes with Zoey & Twix, Jurors #5 & #9

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Can you believe it? Only 2 more days until The Friskies voting comes to an end. And only 2 more days to go behind the scenes with the cast of "Katie Is...ACCUSED." Today we're zeroing in on Jurors #5 and #9, Twix & Zoey.

You may not know Twix, a.k.a. Juror #5, but I bet you know about his famous Cat Balls!  NO, not THAT kind of balls! Twix's human is the creator of Jennas Red Rhino's Cat Ballsl!

Our second guest is Zoey, the beautiful bengal serving as Juror #9. Most of you will recognize her from The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey.  ...they're the ones that hosted the Cat Ruler of the World contest!

KATIE:  Twix I'd like to start with you.

TWIX:

KATIE:  Twix??  TWIX!!!

TWIX:  *muffled mew*

KATIE:  Twix, if you're ready to join us...we'd all love to know your favorite part of my video, "Katie Is...ACCUSED."

TWIX:  Oh, sorry. I was busy cat balling. My favorite part? Well I love the sound in your video!






KATIE:  Your kidding, right?  That piano dribble that Glogirly made up?  She can't even tell me what key it's in. If her piano teacher sees this video, she'll have some splainin' to do.

TWIX:  I also got a chuckle out of the newspaper headlines. "IF THERE IS NO SPIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT."

KATIE:  Gloman says those were HIS idea. But we all know they were MINE.  Ok, Twix...the $15,000 question:  Guilty or Innocent:

TWIX:  I feel the trailer is suggesting that the DOG got Katie framed...just sayin'.  Ok, gotta get back to my Cat Ball.

KATIE:  So Miss Zoey, thanks for being here. What was YOUR favorite part of "Katie Is...ACCUSED"?

ZOEY:  Well Katie, I must say I was quite partial to the fashionable tie that Cathy Keisha was wearing in your signature pink color. Being the diva that I am, I feel a properly accessorized feline is essential to one's image and I even thought your silver cuffs were quite becoming.

KATIE:  *tilts head, pats wrist with paw*

ZOEY:  That being said, I am quite disappointed that whoever created this video did not find it necessary to stylize me to the hilt while I was in the jury box, on camera. I wasn't even given a tiara...

KATIE:  *whispers under breath*  DIVA??? Well THAT's an understatement.

ZOEY:  I'm sure it was an oversight made by that inept charming assistant of yours, Waffles, and I hope if I am in another one of your law breaking escapades (which is bound to happen, given your prior propensity to breaking the law), that this glaring oversight does not happen again.

KATIE:  So Zoey, if you're done talking about yourself, how about you tell us what the other cats of Zee & Zoey are saying about the video.

ZOEY:  Truth be told, they are saying nothing. To this day, I don't think Zee even realized he was part of your Real Housecat Series, as he napped through the whole episode and we do not allow the kittens to watch videos, especially those that are FG rated (Feline Glorified.) I would prefer to be the star in our house.

KATIE: Ok, I'm almost afraid to ask. Guilty or Innocent?

ZOEY:  Why guilty, of course.

KATIE:  Of COURSE???

ZOEY:  What sensible cat could possibly resist pulling and chewing a good shoelace?  Oh dear, wait a minute, that came out wrong.

*gasps, meows, howls echo throughout the townhouse studio*

ZOEY:  Everyone, please calm down - let me rephrase. Why innocent, of course. On the grounds that it is engrained in the very nature of our feline being to pull and chew shoelaces. Cats cannot help themselves and therefore, KATIE IS INNOCENT. I rest my case - can we please go home now and nap? I need to polish my jewels.

________________________________________________________________________________

Please help us get the vote out! 

Now that the presidential political ads have gone dark and the flyers aren't flying anymore, we have just a couple days to recruit a few more votes for "Katie Is...ACCUSED." If you'd like to help, we have our OWN flyer that you can print to slip under your neighbors door or hand to the grocery store cashier. Every vote counts for this little tuxie from Minnie-Apolis.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLYER

Click to Watch+Vote for "Katie Is... ACCUSED" in Purina's The Friskies for Best New Internet Cat Video of 2012

*don't forget to validate your email address so your vote is counted!*

An Important Announcement

WAFFLES:  Um, hello?  Is anybody there?  Um, Boss?  I forget my line.

KATIE:  CATHY KEISHA!!!

CATHY KEISHA:  YO! It iz with great pleasure that I introdeuce you to our new Cat Ruler Of The World. Everyone! ...give it up for KATIE!

(apaws, apaws, crowd goes wild)

KATIE:  On behalf of Glogirly and me, I’d like to thank all of you amazing cats, humans, goats, squirrels, bunnies, birds and dogs out there for supporting Blind Cat Rescue and Team Katie in the Campaign For A Cause - Cat Ruler Of The World Contest.  

I’d also like to thank my fellow candidates.  Glogirly and I have the utmost respect and admiration for each and every one of you and the deserving shelters you support.  To Deb Barnes and Team ZeeZoey, Holy CAT!  Your creativity and passion knows no boundaries. But please Deb, you know how I feel about those cat ears.

I want to give a special shout-out to Waffles the intern and Cathy Keisha, my stunning campaign manager and confidante.  You two sure know how to make your mews heard. And a big round of purrs for Homer the Blind Wonder Cat.  We love you.

From the outside looking in, our quirky campaign may have seemed like it was all about fun and games and pink platform sandals. But underneath all that were the kitties of Blind Cat Rescue.  Underneath the silly imagery and funny anecdotes were the homeless blind cats with no place to go, cats that have been abandoned and forgotten.  THEY are the real winners today.  And the truly remarkable humans that dedicate their lives to helping them…THEY are the heroes.

To Alana Miller, the human behind Blind Cat Rescue, we thank YOU.  The world is a better place for blind and homeless cats because of you. And because of you, the WORLD is a better place.

WAFFLES:  Um, Boss? We got a special message from Blind Cat Rescue. Can I read it?

KATIE:  Do you know how to read?

CATHY KEISHA:  Waffles, just hold onto the card and don't drop it.

"Thank you so much to all of our supporters that worked so hard voting and sharing for Blind Cat Rescue to win this wonderful prize!! We are humbled at everyone's kindness and taking time out of their busy schedules to vote and share. This prize will help us supply the cats with the daily necessities and helps us stretch our funds for other needs. We are so grateful to Glogirly for believing in us, nominating us and working so hard to help us win."
~ Alana Miller, Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Be sure to check out the full-coverage and fanfare at ZeeZoey.com

BUT WAIT!  THERE'S MORE!***
All five runners-up shelters in the contest have been awarded a generous gift of 1,000 meals from Halo Pets! My fellow candidate, Austin of CATachresis, is located across the pond and since the meals can't be shipped to the UK, Zee & Zoey are having a GIVEAWAY!  They will be awarding the 1,000 meals to a US (501c) shelter based on YOUR comments! Winning shelter will be determined with a random drawing. Just one comment/shelter per person, so get your friends to help!

BUT WAIT!  THERE'S EVEN MORE!!!***
Zee & Zoey will also be giving away FIVE $20 GIFT CARDS from Meow.com for randomly drawn reader comments.

***This is all happening on the Zee & Zoey blog, so be sure to teleport over and leave a comment with the shelter you'd like to see win the 1,000 meals.

SPARKLE, of Sparkle The Designer Cat

CHEY, of The Cat Post Intelligencer

BRIAN, of Brian's Home 

AUSTIN, of CATacresis

ODIN, of Cat Wisdom 101

Blind Cat Rescue Video For The Kitties

Waffles:  Um, with just a couple days of voting left in the Campaign Cause Contest thing, I asked Miss Keisha if there was anything else we could do to get the vote out for the blind kitties. I mean I've already handed out buttons and banners. I helped Miss Keisha with campaigny stuff. I even dug around in my own litter.

Cathy Keisha:  So I axed Katie if she could put Glogirly's her movie-making skills to work. You know, pull on a few heartstrings, keep those tissue people in business and rally up a few more votes.

Waffles:  Um, you mean the tissues that came with our campaign platforms?

Cathy Keisha:  Interns. *rolls eyes*  And for the record, this video was MY idea.

Waffles:  Um.

Cathy Keisha:  We have a very special treat for you today. We'd like to dedicate this most pawsome video to the kittehs of Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, the shelter Team Katie is supporting in the Campaign For A Cause Contest.

Katie:  Although you might get a little teary watching, please don't be sad.  Be happy. Be joyful. Every single cat in this video has been shown the love, care and dignity by the generous people of Blind Cat Rescue. These kitties are truly loved.

Cathy Keisha:  Yo, Waffles...roll em. QUICK! Before YouTube makes us take it down cuz of the cool song and all.



Click HERE to watch Blind Cat Rescue Kitty Tribute on YouTube or just click below:

______________________________________________________

Don't forget to VOTE in the Campaign For A Cause Contest.

We hope we've made you laugh at our political antics and smile at our silliness. 

We hope we've touched your hearts by sharing with you the amazing kitties and people of Blind Cat Rescue.

Vote with your heart, all of the shelters are deserving. 

Glogirly and I ask that you think of Blind Cat Rescue when you click the box. 

VOTE HERE

Candidates' closing remarks appear in the same link.

"Please help the cats of Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary by voting for Katie in the Campaign For A Cause Contest. Remember, love isn't something you see with your eyes." - Homer, Blind WonderCat 

Voting polls open 9/11-9/14

One vote per person

Campaign For A Cause Candidate Debate Part Deux

Hi everyone, Katie here.

The Cat Ruler Of The World Campaign For a Cause Contest continues today over at Zee & Zoey with the second official candidate debate.

Today's Topic: Aloof

Some are saying us cats have a reputation of being aloof. That it might even inhibit some (obviously unenlightened) humans from adopting a cat... versus a dog, hamster, goat, ferret, bird, bunny or even squirrel.

You can read my full debate response at Zee & Zoey HERE.

But let me first provide you with breakthrough, concrete, photographic evidence that at least THIS cat is anything but aloof. And trust me, if I can break the aloof glass ceiling, EVERYCAT can.

It's worth noting that I have not played the cute kitten card here. If you're squeeing, it's not because I'm taunting you with irresistible kitten mojo.

 I'm like this everyday. Approachable, adorable. Unless you drive a big brown truck and ring doorbells.

Ok, now you can squeee.

CAT RULER OF THE WORLD

Campaign for a Cause Contest

VOTE KATIE & BLIND CAT RESCUE

voting runs 9/11-9/14

@ ZeeZoey.com

Whistle Stop-N-Stumping

Hi everyone, Katie here.

Hello?  Um, where is everyone?

Hello?    

HELLO???      

::crickets chirping::

WAFFLES!  CATHY KEISHA!  Where IS everyone?

WAFFLES:  Sorry boss, we had to switch everyone's signs.

CATHY KEISHA:  And dole out the bribes salmon.

Ok, that's more like it.

CAT RULER OF THE WORLD

Campaign for a Cause Contest

VOTE KATIE & BLIND CAT RESCUE

voting runs 9/11-9/14

@ ZeeZoey.com

Campaign For A Cause - Blind Cat Rescue

Hi, I'm Snicker. Probably because I'm super sweet. Read my story.

Hi everyone Katie here.

Are you sitting down? Put aside any sharp objects and leave the hot coffee in the kitchen. I'm checking my sarcasm at the door today.

One of the coolest parts of running for Cat Ruler of the World in the Campaign For A Cause Contest is the Cause. Glogirly and I have chosen to support Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary of St. Pauls, North Carolina in this first-of-it's-kind contest. Today I'm honored and humbled to share just a little bit about this amazing shelter, the cats, and the people who love and care for them.

I'm Emily, here on the left. I was born a stray and the people who were feeding me 

saw that I had problems with my eyes. They asked for help. Read my story.

And I'm LT here on the right. That's short for Little Thing because I'm small. They also call me 

a non-stop purr machine. A LOT of people worked together to rescue me. Read my story.

Their Mission - Their Compassion
Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary was established in 2005 to answer a desperate need for a safe place for blind cats that were deemed unadoptable by regular shelters and were going to be killed simply because they were blind.

To some, the term 'rescue' is cool.  As current and trendy as 'green.'  Drive a Prius, recycle regularly and adopt a rescue. But to those who know firsthand, rescue is anything but glamorous.  Alana Miller, the amazing woman behind BCRS explains, "It's about comforting a scared cat whose owners abandoned him at the shelter after living together for 10 years. It's about holding a young animal's head as they take their last breath when it has been determined that their previous owners abused them so badly they can't be saved."

"It's about restoring hope and dignity to creatures for whom no one else cares about."

"The responsibility is big but the returns on our emotional investment are greater. You cannot place a value on the look of contentment that comes when an animal is clean, exercised, warm, fed and safe for the first time in its life."

Hi I'm Rudy. I a sweet little guy that was born blind. They say it took a village to rescue me. Read my story.

The Inspiration Behind Blind Cat Rescue
When I asked Alana how the idea for Blind Cat Rescue came to be, she told me about her friend, Gwen Cooper and Homer the cat.  Many of you have probably heard of Homer's story. Gwen turned it into the bestselling book, Homer's Odyssey - A Fearless Feline Tale, Or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat.

Before Gwen wrote her book, she and Alana talked about who might read a story about a blind cat. They agreed, if Homer's story saved just one cat, it would make a difference. Homer's story has done much, much more. "Gwen has made a tremendous difference in the lives of blind cats. She's managed to change the mindset of if you're blind, you're dead." She's opened minds and opened hearts. All this has had a significant and positive impact on Alana and Blind Cat Rescue.

Just yesterday I connected with Gwen on Facebook. I'm hoping to do a very special post about her and Homer next week, so stay tuned!

Hi, I'm Miracle, a big fluffy orange miracle! I'm FIV+ and was moments away from being euthanized
when a shelter worker called Blind Cat Rescue hoping to save me. Read my story.

And I'm Fred. I'm blind and FIV+. I love to be touched and I'll follow you everywhere. Read my story.

A Lesson For The Human Race
Since 2005, the year I was born, Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary has provided safety, love and hope to more cats than I can count. This both warms and breaks my heart.

Glogirly tells me often how lucky we are, how much we have, how our lives are full.  When she was growing up her mom and dad tried to teach her about humility and generosity. They taught her to reach her hand out to the kid in school that was different or awkward.  They taught her to love those that didn't know love.

It's really not all that different, is it? I think that's why Blind Cat Rescue has touched her heart in such a profound way and why we have chosen to support them in this amazing contest.  The human race has much to learn about how they treat and care for each other, especially those that are hurting, lost or just different.  Imagine the world if everyone treated each other with the same respect, dignity and compassion that BCRS shows the cats in their care.

Hi, I'm Chester. I was found as a stray by some nice people that asked (ok begged) BCRS to help me. Read my story.

On The Web
Glogirly and I first discovered Blind Cat Rescue on Facebook.  We love seeing the daily updates and photos of the cats. They take the time to thank every single donor whenever they receive gifts from their WISH LIST, often with photos or videos of the cats enjoying those donations.

Frequently there are contests BCRS is entered in to win food, supplies, even grants for their shelter. They do a great job of reaching out to their Facebook friends and making it easy to help. 

Monthly visitor days are documented with smiling photos of visitors getting their fix of kitty love.

Please LIKE them on Facebook. (Sorry, there's no love button.)  

Through the power and reach of Facebook, BCRS has helped find homes for hundreds of blind kitties from coast to coast.

Blind Cat Rescue also has a powerful website that enables them to share their message and mission. Every single cat has a link with their name, photos and a brief history of how they came to be at the shelter.

How Can You Help?  
Currently Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary is caring for 92 cats whose age, medical condition, temperament or other special needs make them even more precious to them. They hope you feel the same. BCRS is a private, non-profit organization and receives no government funds. They raise every single penny themselves from caring people like you.

Here's how YOU can make a difference.

• Go SHOPPING! Just pull out the plastic and shop the BCRS Wish List for everything from food and medicine to toys and litter. It couldn't be easier. 
• It's election year. Please consider casting your vote for homeless animals by making a generous gift to Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary.
• Sponsor a BCRS cat with a monthly donation commitment.
• Honor a loved one with a Tribute Gift.
• Matching Grants. Many large corporations will match your donation. 
• Leave a legacy in your will.
• Real Estate gifts.
• Life Insurance planned gifts.
•  (Visit BCRS Donation page for details.)

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in the lives of these cats.

...and finally, The Cats!
I asked Alana if she could share with us just one message, what would it be? With a smile in her voice, she was very quick to respond. "Blind cats don't know their blind. They just know they're cats. They jump, they climb, they chase bugs. They're brave and fearless." That's something we can all learn from.  They eat, purr and love just like any other cat. Please, don't hesitate to give a blind cat a home. They'll enrich your lives, surprise and inspire you.

These are just a few of the Blind Cat Rescue kitties. You can meet ALL of them here.

"The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

-Ghandi

VOTE!

The prizes in this contest are life changing and life sustaining for the shelters involved. I can't begin to describe the gratitude in Alana's voice when she explained to Glogirly and I how much this contest means to her and the cats of Blind Cat Rescue. They know how hard many families are struggling.  It's not easy finding the money to make donations to causes and organizations you really believe in when you're worrying about groceries and rent. Winning the Campaign For A Cause Contest will make a tremendous difference in the lives of these brave and loving cats.

YOU can make a difference! 

Vote Katie & Blind Cat Rescue

Voting begins on 9/11 at Zee & Zoey

Prizes for winning rescue organization:

*WINNING SHELTER – 5000 nutritious meals from Halo and FreeKibble.com to the winning shelter and 1000 meals to all runner up shelters, 2000 pounds of absorbent, natural whole-kernel corn litter fromWorld’s Best Cat Litter and 25 Trial Kits for each shelter to give away to new cat owners who have adopted a pet, a $250.00 financial donation and two cases of  any choice of odor product, stain & odor product, or litter spray to the winning shelter and a spray bottle odor assortment to runner up shelters from Zero Odor, a $250 financial donation from PetPlan Insurance, an exclusive offer from NVR Miss Litterbox – for each limited edition “Cat Ruler of the World” litter box purchased, $10.00 of the proceeds will be donated to the winning shelter, and, a special offer from Zee and Zoey themselves – for each copy of their book purchased, The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey, $5.00 of the proceeds will be donated to the winning shelter!!

No Rest For The Wicked

Hi everyone, Katie here.

While my opponents are taking it Easy-On-Sunday, I'm plotting preparing for Tuesday's big debate.

Don't miss Super Tuesday's Cat-idate Debate at Zee & Zoey's Election Headquarters.

Be sure to come back HERE for my exclusive interview with a major cable cat news network on the same day. Hint: Three letters. Begins with C. Ends with N.

John King and I are tight. I love his magic map.

VOTE KATIE

2012

Cat Ruler Of The World

Campaign For A Cause Contest