Monday, August 30, 2010

Class structure in the cats of parkdale

These shocking images of Parkdalian cats are blowing the lid off the shameful class divide in the local cat world.


The Debutante.  Keeping up with the 1950’s sockhop ethos that’s all the rage right now in Parkdale cat culture, I caught this Deb released from her father’s estate for one night only to attend her cotillion (in an evergreen brush).







Blue Collar Kitty.  I want to buy him an actual blue collar.  That face has seen many a hard day’s work.  This tom cat works his paws to the bone on the rough streets of Parkdale lying on the side walk and romping through the cat jungle behind his apartment.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Cat of Parkdale - 69 Inwood Crescent Edition

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting two new black brother kittens who are owned by my best friend Meagan's sister Bronwyn.  Their names are Ruppert and Bollo.

I was really distracted by their cuteness and failed to get pictures that did them justice, but it was an exceptionally wonderful encounter - especially because i believe they are reincarnations of the Snyder family's dearly departed cats, Ritz and Spatz.  I love ghostly kitkats, and when you look at these pix, so will yoOoOoooouU!!



Oh.... hello!  My name is Ruppert (or Bollo - still trying to differentiate).  What a debonaire dandy.

When cats sit like this we call it a "loaf".  This is a mini-Bollo-loaf, with adorable petite haunches.

Oh Brother where art thou?

They were so squirelly that it was hard to capture their cuteness, but this is Bollo.  He has white whiskers on one cheek and black on the other, and a little white beard.  Not too shabby.

This is Bollo kicking the shorts out of the cord that hangs off of my camera.  The cord learned its lesson.

Rowr!  Mighty talons and fangs!

Bollo with Emmy.
I believe this is Ruppert.  He's the older, more mature brother if my cat senses are correct.  Very lovey-dovey.

The height of his maturity is matched only by the length of his tail.  Damn, that's a long tail!  I wonder if he will grow into it or he will just break the Guinness Record for longest cat tail?  Only time will tell...

See what I mean?  They should change his name to Ruppert "Long Tail" Snyder!  Somebody get the Guinness Records people on the horn.

Bollo's comparitively short tail.  I wonder if he has tail envy of his bro's long-ass tail?  Nah, that's some Freudian shit right thurr.  Bollo don't play that.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Cats of Parkdale, Mary Street Edition - Part One.

Although I reside in Parkdale now and fo lyfe, I was raised in a lil hamlet called Waterloo on a lil tree-lined street called Mary.  There I lived with many cats since the age of four: over the years Puss, Cookie, Shirley, Mini, Betty and Brenda filled 203 Mary Street with love and cat hair.

There have also been great neighbouring cats.  One of the more recent additions to Mary Street is Fella, and he lives with my favorite family not just on Mary Street but in the world, who live across the street at 202 Mary. 

I think Fella is the handsomest cat I've ever seen. He gets along great with our cat Brenda and is an arch-nemesis of my cat Betty.



Just look at that face and try to resist.

He loves to sit at the dining room table.  Great vintage chairs thrift shopped by Jacqui Smyth, my soul sister.




He is of the tribe of tiger.


He is extremely loving.

He likes to lick my hand with his rough tongue.
See what I'm sayin?

He's also a great hunter and kicked the ass of a catnip toy my Mom made for him.


Look at his great smile!!!!

After this nice visit, Jacqui sent me home with these beautiful vintage salt and pepper shakers.  Thanks J!!

100 Ways to Love A Cat

If you are extremely dedicated to cat care and comedy, definitely watch this 35 minute long video demonstrating 100 ways to love a cat. The advice is actually really good, and your dedication will pay off. You'll be loling in the aisles by #6. The song may get stuck in your head. Also the starring cat is really adorable and possesses a great temperament.

Monday, August 16, 2010

If I were committed to Mr Potter's Madhouse, I hope I'd have my cat Jeoffry with me too.

Christopher Smart was an English poet who in 1750 developed "a form of religious mania that compelled him to continuous prayer... from that time onward, Smart was confined, with one brief intermission, until 1763, in Mr. Potter's Madhouse in Bethnal Green.  During his confinement he wrote the lengthy manuscript of Jubilate Agno. Smart is also known for his distinctive and often anthologized homage to his cat, Jeoffry. This poem comes from the surviving fragments of Jubilate Agno."



Jubilate Agno, Fragment B, [For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry]  
by Christopher Smart
 
For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.
For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.
For he rolls upon prank to work it in.
For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.
For this he performs in ten degrees.
For first he looks upon his forepaws to see if they are clean.
For secondly he kicks up behind to clear away there.
For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the forepaws extended.
For fourthly he sharpens his paws by wood.
For fifthly he washes himself.
For sixthly he rolls upon wash.
For seventhly he fleas himself, that he may not be interrupted upon the beat.
For eighthly he rubs himself against a post.
For ninthly he looks up for his instructions.
For tenthly he goes in quest of food.
For having considered God and himself he will consider his neighbor.
For if he meets another cat he will kiss her in kindness.
For when he takes his prey he plays with it to give it a chance.
For one mouse in seven escapes by his dallying.
For when his day's work is done his business more properly begins.
For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary. 
For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes.
For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.
For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him.
For he is of the tribe of Tiger.
For the Cherub Cat is a term of the Angel Tiger.
For he has the subtlety and hissing of a serpent, which in goodness he suppresses.
For he will not do destruction if he is well-fed, neither will he spit without provocation.
For he purrs in thankfulness when God tells him he's a good Cat.
For he is an instrument for the children to learn benevolence upon.
For every house is incomplete without him, and a blessing is lacking in the spirit.
For the Lord commanded Moses concerning the cats at the departure of the Children of Israel 
            from Egypt.
For every family had one cat at least in the bag.
For the English Cats are the best in Europe.
For he is the cleanest in the use of his forepaws of any quadruped.
For the dexterity of his defense is an instance of the love of God to him exceedingly.
For he is the quickest to his mark of any creature.
For he is tenacious of his point.
For he is a mixture of gravity and waggery.
For he knows that God is his Saviour.
For there is nothing sweeter than his peace when at rest. 
For there is nothing brisker than his life when in motion. 
For he is of the Lord's poor, and so indeed is he called by benevolence perpetually--Poor Jeoffry!
            poor Jeoffry! the rat has bit thy throat.
For I bless the name of the Lord Jesus that Jeoffry is better. 
For the divine spirit comes about his body to sustain it in complete cat.
For his tongue is exceeding pure so that it has in purity what it wants in music.
For he is docile and can learn certain things.
For he can sit up with gravity, which is patience upon approbation.
For he can fetch and carry, which is patience in employment.
For he can jump over a stick, which is patience upon proof positive.
For he can spraggle upon waggle at the word of command.
For he can jump from an eminence into his master's bosom.
For he can catch the cork and toss it again.
For he is hated by the hypocrite and miser.
For the former is afraid of detection. 
For the latter refuses the charge.
For he camels his back to bear the first notion of business.
For he is good to think on, if a man would express himself neatly.
For he made a great figure in Egypt for his signal services.
For he killed the Icneumon rat, very pernicious by land.
For his ears are so acute that they sting again.
For from this proceeds the passing quickness of his attention.
For by stroking of him I have found out electricity.
For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire.
For the electrical fire is the spiritual substance which God sends from heaven to sustain the 
            bodies both of man and beast.
For God has blessed him in the variety of his movements.
For, though he cannot fly, he is an excellent clamberer.
For his motions upon the face of the earth are more than any other quadruped.
For he can tread to all the measures upon the music.
For he can swim for life.
For he can creep.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Cats in Costume.

A dear anonymous reader directed me to this amazing article at the Gothamist about a Cat Fashion Show at the Algonquin Hotel.

Now, to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of dressing up cats because I don't think they like it, and I don't think they care how cute and funny they look in little superhero/jailbird/princess outfits.  And even though they're smaller than us and we can do what we want to them, they rely on us to respect their boundaries! 

HOWEVER, this event was for a good cause, and they obvi love their kits, and since these people have already dressed up these cats and I can't do anything to stop them now, let's just enjoy the cuteness of these fantastic little pageant kits!!!


Marilyn Monroe cat.  Not surprised this classic cat beauty was chosen to rep one of the greatest beauts of the 20th cent.  Look at that face!

I'm not sure if this Carmen Miranda kitty is sleeping or trying to escape her reality.  Reminds me of my last art therapy session. 


"Raggedy Ann Cat, I want you to make a pinch-pot and tell me the things that scare you."


Are you dissociating yet, hairless smoking jacket and daisy chain kitty? I am!

Suffering in Solidarity,
Cat Lady of Parkdale.  

Friday the 13th Kitchener Waterloo Edition.

With my hectic lifestyle as princess and CEO of Parkdale, and Kalim's packed schedule of doing God's work saving lives at St Joe's, it's been hard to find the time to stroll around tha neighbourhood checking out cats.  This leaves me with no other option than to give catsofparkdale readers an exclusive, behind the scenes, insider sneak peek at the home life of catsofparkdale photographer Kalim Baker.

Kalim and I both originate from Waterloo county, and boy does that county value pet care above all else!  Kalim headed back to K-W last weekend to visit his folks, who have adopted a million pets since Kam flew the coop.  Recently, they added Oliver, a kitten no bigger than a can of coke that they found in a parking lot in Hamilton and couldn't resist.  The other pets, Thomas, Ricco and Ezzer just love him!  Big dog Ricco has been carrying him around in his fearsome jaws as tenderly as an immaculately concieved mother!


Here's Oliver!
Thomas and Oliver share from the same bowl (of milk?).  Too bad most cats are lactose intolerant and even though they love milk it's not very good for them.  Vicious cat myths exposed!! I feel like a jerk.


Tommy's drunk as f@&! and Oliver's cute. 

Ricco and Oliver posing for the "All Mammals Get Along" charity calendar 2010.

They love each other.  Out of control cuteness.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Cats of Parkdale - Kingston Edition.

My dear sister Emmy just moved home after a few years living in the fair towne of Kingston.  My friends Meagan, Eric, Ellie and I visited to say bon voyage to K-town with her, and while we were at it, we visited some great local cats.


This beautiful kitty said hi to us in Emmy's parking lot as we were leaving for the day.  Landlord Wayne "the Stain" and his hobo friend commented on how sweet she was, but how she didn't like to be picked up.  But who would like to be picked up by weird strangers in weird parking lots.  Cats and ladies have a real cross to bear in that respect.

We took the ferry to Wolfe Island, and there were a few indicators that this was a cat-loving island.


But most of the kitties were half wild and hard to capture on film.  This one let us get a good shot of his paws, but wouldn't let us touch.



Photos by dear friend Eric Akaoka. 

Night Cats.


Kitkats are creatures of the night.


So am I. 


This statuesque marmalade smelled a car.  Careful kitty.  Cars and cats don't mix well.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Remind you of anyone?

Beautiful alley cat girl by Parkdale artist Jack Dylan for Pop Montreal.