[Pete, is that you?]

The resemblance is uncanny. But while the grey tuxedo gracing the new eye shadow is a feminine feline – as evidenced by her eyelashes and white “tights” -  Petie prefers sporty ankle socks.

The two darling kitten-themed limited collections were launched this month in honor of the brand’s 10 year anniversary. It seems founder and designer Sophie Albou is “completely obsessed with cats.”  Sadly, I was unsuccessful in obtaining a photo of Sophie’s feline companions.

The collections runs the gamut from nail polishes ($14), to blush sticks ($28) and pressed powder ($42) with kitty-themed design/packaging and names like “Siamese, Please,” and “Cat-Flight.” And don’t worry, I checked and Paul and Joe do NOT test on animals (yay!).

[The other lady in the house must assess the new acquisition]

Just go to b-glowing now to place your order now, and it will ship on February 1st.

Be sure to read the adorable product descriptions like this one for the blusher stick “The creamy cheek powder glides onto skin smoothly to contour the face and cheeks for a flawless complexion. Feeling feline-like? draw three ‘whisker lines’ onto the cheek and blend evenly with finger tips. Super cute!

["Cat I eat it?"]

I would review the product except I think it’s too cute to actually use. Which Paul and Joe limited edition product is your favorite? I think we all know where I stand.

Now back to the fact that they co-opted my Petie. Well, they do say imitation is the  highest form of flattery. Right?

Though a public statement was never issued, so as not to put any unnecessary pressure on him (myself),  Petie has secretly been on a diet since October 8, 2011. It was my intent today to ask you to join me in celebrating his (my) achievement of the loss of 1.5lbs bringing his weight down to 18.5lbs. But sadly it cannot be so.

On what should be a joyous day, I’m here to tell you that Petie’s weight loss may very well prove to be the beginning of his undoing. Has his ego gotten to big? Is he demanding imperfect kibble shapes be removed from his bowl or that he ride in cabs rather than public transport? If only that were the case.

This past Tuesday, after returning from an early morning training session, I opened the apartment door and witnessed the horrific tableaux pictured below.

Note Kip's genuine look of guilt and shame during the reenactment. Method actor.

Disclaimer: this photo was taken during a reenactment of the events of the morning of January 10th based on a non-scientific investigation of the scene. 

After the shock of seeing Petie defy the laws of physics wears off, I ask you to direct your attention to the plastic bin behind him. Note the dislodged lid. Yes my friends. It seems the loss of 1.5lbs has resulted in making Petie mobile. Too mobile. I fear the next weigh-in. Though wishful thinking hopes the activity will off set the additional calories he’s been ingesting?

I guess the case of how a very large and heavy glass vase of wine corks ended up finding its way to my kitchen floor from the top of my fridge can now be closed. But in all seriousness, I’m thrilled about Petie’s weight loss but we still have 1.5lbs to go before his initial weight goal of 17lbs.

Evidence found at the scene (note the tear revealing a now-empty bag of Temptations)

Petie began his diet after his vet Dr. Maeda of West Chelsea Veterinary (she’s so awesome she literally has groupies) suggested we try prescription food. This would entail a shift from free-feeding to twice-daily meal times. Something I was not looking forward to.

Dr. Maeda suggested Hill’s Science m/d formula. When I asked why she’d selected that brand in particular, she cited their professional nutrition consult services. ***NOTE: I know the subject of pet-food is a very personal one and there are many strong opinions on the matter. I do by no means claim to be an expert nor do I intend to suggest that Hill’s Science is right for every pet.  This post is intended to convey my personal experience only*** After her conversation with the nutritionist I received an email with the following weight loss plan.

Trying to divide one and 2/3 cans of wet food into 2 portions is no easy task

Admittedly I haven’t been consistent with Petie’s work outs (unless Cat-flexing counts) and it seems he’s been helping himself to treats.  Wouldn’t it be nice if our physicians had nutritionists they could call to customize a weight-loss plan for us?

I’ve often heard companies like Hill’s Science criticized because they have corn in their foods. Well, it seems they were listening because late last year they launched the Hill’s® Science Diet® Ideal Balance ™line of corn-free dry cat and kitten food.  To be clear, Science Diet is the Non-Prescription line of food from Hill’s Science. These specific products are not made for weight-control.

Your kitty now has a chance to try it – for FREE!  The first 20 people to email ihavecat(at)gmail(dot)com telling me who they’d give the food to – their cat, a neighbor’s cat, a feral etc –  will receive a 15 lb bag ($49 value) of corn-free Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Dinner!

And…GO!

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NOTE: This is not a sponsored post nor was I asked to write this post. I was given the codes to distribute as I saw fit and I thought it made the most sense in the context of this post about Petie.

Full disclosure: After my physician prescribed Hills Science for Petie I met one of their Education Specialist at the most recent Blog Paws conference and was ultimately invited to visit their headquarters in Kansas. I was quite impressed by the facilities and every one I met seemed to have great respect, love and concern for the well-being of cats and dogs (their own and those at the campus).

As 2011 draws to a close there are three defining moments that come to mind.

The first, a joyous one. The celebration of my 40th Birthday. I purchased a ball gown, had my hair and make-up done, hired a photographer and threw myself a big bash! It was the perfect evening. Actually, it was the perfect celebratory weekend I jokingly refer to as my three-day Indian wedding! It was one of the most joyous times I can remember. I was truly surrounded by love.

The other two markers of the year for me are solemn ones. The 10th Anniversary of 9/11, and the freak accident that took the life of Suzanne Hart a few short weeks ago.

Barely a day has passed since December 14th that I haven’t thought of  Ms Hart.  A single 41-year-old, she worked in the New Business Department at Young & Rubicam, one of original Mad Men-era advertising agencies that maintained its Madison Avenue address. She walked into the elevator at work on an unremarkable Wednesday morning not knowing it would be her last day on this planet.

Young & Rubicam is where I began my advertising career so many years ago as a member of the New Business Team. I rode those very same elevators. I currently work in New Business at an equally prestigious agency.  She so easily could have been me. Or one of my friends.

I won’t call it a resolution. But in the New Year, I want to do a better job of recognizing what is good in my life. To recognize what I have rather than focus on what I “could of” or “should of” have. To appreciate the people in my life who love me and who are there for me. To feel like I did on my 40th Birthday more than just once a year.

Love to you all. I’m so grateful for my family and friends, and for their good health. The friends I’ve been fortunate enough to have in my life for 20+ years and those I’ve never even met in the flesh. The animal loving friends and those who don’t necessarily understand my love of cats, but who respect my love for them.

Happy 2012 to you all. And may we all be here next year to ring in 2013.

xo

Tamar, Kip, Petie and Haddie (and Max in the bedroom who finally made a New Years Eve poo!).

My Mom, being as health conscious as always, tried to convince us that what Santa really wanted was a tall glass of water with carrots and cottage cheese.  My Dad, on the other hand, felt Santa would appreciate a tumbler of scotch after a long night of gift delivery. Nice try.

This year, my parent’s surprised us with the most beautiful tree ever.  We weren’t even expecting one given the work it takes to put up and take down.  I literally squealed for joy like a small child when I saw it.

I hope you were all good this year, and that Santa pays you a visit (I don’t think Santa is visiting me, my parents are already in bed! ha!).

Remember, gifts don’t always come in boxes (unless they are Maru!).  They’re our cat(s), family and friends – both “real” and on FB – who are with us all year round.  Take the day to recognize them and tell them how much they mean to you or just hug them (but not too hard!).

Thinking of my fur-babies at home but know they are in good hands.

Good night everyone. xo

If you have pet owner of any kind you still need to shop for -  cat, dog, hamster, duck, mouse, goat, rabbit, gerbil, bird -  a gift certificate for a custom portrait by Cindy at Hot Dog Digital has you covered.

By using the code HADDIE at check out, I HAVE CAT readers receive 15% off the retail cost of a custom gift certificate ($49)!  24 hours after purchase the lucky receipiant receives a cute e-certificate alerting them of their gift.

Here are a few more of Cindy’s original portraits along with customer testimonials. I wonder if she’s ever done a gold fish…

 ”OMG. OMG. OMG.” – satisfied customer

“I have never seen my Dad laugh so hard.” - satisfied customer

Tony the Mafioso Guinea Pig

“How did you get Kitty in a dress?” – confused, but satisfied customer

Do you have someone on your holiday list who loves cats but can’t have one because of allergies or building regulations? Maybe a friend who recently lost a kitty companion, or one that’s just plain old cat crazy? We have the perfect last-minute gift for you. A gift from Tabby’s Place! 

Tabby’s Place is an amazing cat free cat sanctuary in New Jersey if you don’t know about them, read my post from last year. They have great gift options you can pick and purchase in a flash. Give the gift of virtual cat adoption (starting at $12/month) – you can even select the kitty – or make a donation in the name of a beloved pet ($25+). You can even purchase and give virtual gift baskets and supplies!

Here’s how it works. Go to Tabby’s Place online gift catalog and select what you’d like to give. Your lucky friend or family member will receive an email or card alerting of their gift (you can also opt to have both sent).  If you select a monthly sponsorship/virtual adoption, the recipient will receive monthly updates on “their” cat!

Here’s a video from my trip to Tabby’s Place this past summer with Dawn (Lola The Rescue Cat’s human) and Leslie (On All Fours Cat Sitting) among others (you can’t see us, only hear us! the stars are the kitties!).

A few photos from our trip.

Founder of Tabby’s Place Jonathan Rosenberg, with a tabby (naturally).

The wonderful Angela Townsend, Development Director, with her “desk” cat (they all get one!).

Me loving on Nuttin who is FIV+ and has diabetes (I wasn’t looking so cute and had to be cropped!).

Two happy kitties enjoying one of the many well-ventilated tunnels at Tabby’s Place.

As I sign off I leave you with a friendly reminder to make sure your home is cat-proofed for the holidays.

• Poinsettias and mistletoe are highly toxic to cats as are lily’s and a list of other flowers.
• Tinsel and other ribbons can cause internal damage that can result in thousands of dollars in medical bills and can lead to death.
• Don’t feed food scraps, you never know what’s in them that could be bad for kitty (like onions, grapes, raisins, tomatoes etc

If you aren’t sure, Google it.  Better safe than sorry!

I recently received my second wine shipment from The California Wine Club, after having convinced Jon Boring (son of founders Bruce and Pam) that cat owners spent a lot of time at home with their cats drinking copious amounts of wine. At least I do.

As you can see from the photo above, Kip has a very refined palate and appreciates the intensity of Tulip Hill’s 2009 Cabepulciano on the nose

Do you have a wine snob (or wine drinker) on your list? If so, you still have time to gift them with monthly deliveries of California wines.  The Premiere Club is only $49.45 and includes shipping and handling (anywhere in the US except Utah).

• Your recipient will receive 2 bottles of wine for as many months as you select (from 1 month onward).
• You can customize the gift to be 1 red and 1 white each mont or 2 bottles of the same white or red.
• Have wine delivered each month, or to make it last longer, every other month.
• Wine notes included with each delivery.
• SATISFACTION GUARANTEE. If your recipient doesn’t enjoy one of the wines they have received, they get a replacement bottle – no questions asked!

Read my first post for more details about the California Wine Club.  You can send the recipient of your gift an ecard or print out a post card from their website letting them know all about your generous gift. And don’t forget, you can receive a 10% discount through 1/31/12 by using the promo code  ihavecat at checkout!

Well, your cats also deserve more than paper plates and mismatched orphan bowls. Plus, they don’t look very pretty should a friend or suitor drop by.

So today I’m sharing a few of my favorite pretty and practical cat bowls and water fountains from ModaPet, Modern Cat Designs and Pioneer Pet.  Plus, IHC readers get a special 30% discount code for the Raindrop Fountain, and a chance to win a ModaPet bowl so read on!

ModaPet describe themselves as an “US based company with Italian influenced design,” the pairing of form and function.  And I have to agree. I love the color options (you’d think they were glass), shape and practicality. Key features:

• Non-skid bottom (you won’t find the dinner bowl halfway across the room and water sloshed about)
• Wide whisker-accommodating design (I only recently learned that whiskers touching the inside of a bowl can be irritating to kitty)
• Made with ABS food grade and BPA-free plastics
• Dishwasher safe (they molded the rubber-like bottom to the bowl rather than using glue)
• Reasonably priced at $14.99 for the smaller 2 cup bowl, and $24.99 for the large 4 cup bowl

For the holidays ModaPet is offering free domestic shipping (they ship internationally with a surcharge based on location sorry!). US residents (sorry again!) can enter win either the “Some Like It Hot” (pink) 2 cup bowl or the 4 cup “Cinnamutt” bowl by leaving a comment with your preferred bowl by 5pm EST 12/16. One entry per household please.

 Modern Cat Designs, the company that brought you the Modern Cat Condo, believes kitties should “dine in style.”  With the “Cat Bowl Tray” (pictured below) I no longer have to mess with place mats under the food bowls to catch spillage and I like how clean and tidy the feeding area looks. Two quips. The price tag ($59) and they need a 3-bowl model (hey, I have three cats!).

Key features:

• Easy-Clean, lightweight ABS plastic
• Silicone non-skid base
• Removable stainless steel bowls (1 quart each)
• Rim around the edge to keep food and water contained 
• Wide whisker-accommodating design 

PioneerPet’s Raindrop water fountain is hands down my favorite water fountain to date as my regular readers know well. I love the way it looks and how easy it is to clean (for a my detailed product review go here).

The Raindrop comes in stainless steel ($69.99) and white or black ceramic ($59.00). I recently received a ceramic fountain to review and so far so good, up until now I’ve had the stainless steel version.

From now until 12/18, I HAVE CAT readers can get 30% off any Raindrop or Funshui fountains (US and Canada only – sorry!) by using promo code CatNYC at check-out. And, if you order by 12/18 you can have your fountain by Christmas!

* Back to my registry story. At the time, you could only create a registry for weddings. So  I had to put down the name of the person I was supposedly marrying. I put down the name of the only man in my life at the time. Yup. Kip. I wish I’d taken a screen grab.

When I read Tamar’s recent post “The Human Benefits of a Multiple Pet Household,” I got to thinking that it isn’t me that needs convincing to get a third cat (I hate even numbers) but another member of my household. So I compiled my own list titled “Benefits of a Multiple Pet Household for Boyfriends!’ (And by multiple I mean more than 2!)

While the list below is directed at a certain someone I live with, I’m sharing it with you in the hopes boyfriends – and husbands – everywhere will come to understand the necessity of an additional cat for the well being of their relationship.

Sarah & Dan's lucky kitties Ollie (back) and Bosco (front)

Ten Ways Your Boyfriend (or Husband) Will Benefit From a Third Cat

1. Much more time can be spent surfing and fishing* with less complaining from your girlfriend.  *insert relevant outdoor/away-from home activities here.

2. You won’t have to hear “I want another kitty” for a long time (well, at least not another year or so).

3. You’ll be empowering your girlfriend to do good by saving another life if adopting from a shelter (which I’m an advocate for!).

4. When we go out of town, your girlfriend will worry less that the cats aren’t happy without her, and therefore be less likely to annoy you while she frets over the cats the whole weekend

5. Wanting to spend more time with the cats, your girlfriend won’t drag to the shopping mall in an attempt to fill the third-cat-void with material things. This in turn will save money.

6. There will be no issues if you want to watch more sports on TV or play Playstation*, because your girlfriend will have even more kitties to distract her attention!  *insert relevant indoor activities here

7. If you need to go out of town, your girlfriend will feel safer with three cats at home. (I mean look at Gwen Cooper, author of Homer’s Odyssey – if she’d never adopted that third kitty she may have been raped or murdered when an intruder broke into her home. Adopting that third cat literally saved her life!) 

8. When your girlfriend is out of town there’ll be more cats for you to cuddle/talk to/play with/ make you laugh.

9. Your cats will be happier. And don’t deny it, you love those little fur balls, and their happiness is important to you too!

Okay, if they aren’t buying the argument this far, #10 is guaranteed or your money back!

10. You’ll have a happier girlfriend – and a happier girlfriend means a happier boyfriend. Right?

Curious to see how far the similarities went, I compiled a list the likes of which you’ve never seen before (and affirmed why I live in NYC – with cats).

20 Traits Shared By Felines and New Yorkers

Cats Over New York (origin unknown)

1. Opinionated.

2. Land on their feet. Usually.

3. Guarded, but once trust is earned will bare their soul – or belly.

4. Obsessed with shoes.

My friend Laurence's sweet old lady Noisette.

4. Nocturnal (I’m an exception).

6. Misunderstood, vilified even.

7. Polarizing.

8. Love boxes (studio apartment).

9.  Are an acquired taste.

10. Have superiority complexes.

11. Believe – falsely – that they’re self-sufficient.

12. Non-conformist.

13. Act like they don’t care (but do).

Audrey Hepburn and "Cat" from Breakfast At Tiffany's (source unknown)

14. Predators not prey.

15. Don’t pander, but tell it like it is.

16. Can’t be bothered with casual acquaintances.

17. Intolerant of mediocrity.

Cat at Shea Stadium (source unknown)

18. Don’t want to be in any club that wants them.

19. Territorial.

20. Finicky, particularly when it comes to food.*

Are there any I missed? It does make me wonder if I could come up with a similar list for dogs and Los Angeleans (is that a word?)…

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Speaking of cats and New York…

As some of you know, I recently went on a vacation to Vieques PR with my friend Sharon and came back with a cat. A kitten actually.  If you don’t yet know about Gracie, you can read about how she ended up in NYC here.

My friend Nancy summed it up well when she said, upon hearing the tale, “Some people go on vacation and hook-up. You come back with a cat. I guess it’s safer.”

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone in PR and the FB universe who helped my friend Sharon and I bring her to the States. We raised $600 in less than 24 hours through a ChipIn! We raised enough money to bring Gracie back in the cabin of the plane (she slept on our lap the entire way), replace the carrier we borrowed from a kind woman by the name of Ingrid Bergman (you can’t make this stuff up!), cover her vet visit in Vieques and her upcoming spay surgery and booster shots.

If it all works out as planned, we will also have $15o to split between two shelters in San Juan who need it very badly.

The video below is from Gracie’s first night at the W Hotel (from the beach to the W Hotel and NYC in under one week!). Click here if you don’t see the video below. Gracie was with me for a while and now she’s with Sharon and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that her cats fall in love with Gracie (or at least tolerate her!).

Oh, and here’s the cat photo I originally thought I’d be sharing with everyone upon my return. The resident W Hotel cat who doesn’t seem to have a name. A super friendly girl (?) who has the cutest tongue curl I’ve ever seen!