50% Off Gwen Cooper's "My Life in a Cat House" -- 3 Days Only!

For 3 days only (August 30 through September 1), you can pre-order first-edition hardcover copies of Gwen Cooper's new book My Life in a Cat House for only $11 (50% off the $22 price)! 

Just click here and use the promotion code 20CATS at check-out.

Gwen will be donating 100% of her royalties from all sales during this 3-day sale period to Blind Cat Rescue in Homer the Blind Wonder Cat's name!

You can only use the coupon once, but you can use it that one time for as many books as you want!

You know you'll want at least one, and with the holidays around the corner, you can't beat an $11 stocking stuffer! 

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Why Mudpie Was Threatened With Eviction

Meows from Mudpie!

Over the weekend I mentioned that I found myself in a bit of trouble recently to where I ended up being threatened with eviction! A few of you guessed that it may have had something to do with Mommy's Conway collection, which I find really funny because it's obvious everyone understands where her priorities lie!

This summer Mommy bought a portable Victrola record player as an early birthday gift to herself. (Now she's eyeing a Victrola CD player shaped like a jukebox.) She decided to put it on a bureau in our bedroom surrounded by a bunch of her Conway collectibles and wall of photos. One night last week she was getting ready for bed, heard a noise, and turned around to find this.

Something wrong, Mommy? 

She didn't yell (much) or try to make me get down out of fear that I would wipe something out (my "wide load" was mentioned), but she wasn't happy and watched me like a hawk. Each day since I've hopped up there and given Mommy heart failure, but she does admit that I'm not a bull in a china shop and I step pretty carefully. Hey, I value my life!!!

I think I've come up with a credible story to get me out of trouble though. Did you notice the piece of cloth between me and the record player? It's a scarf that was sold at his concerts with his picture on it and the words I'd Love to Lay You Down, the title of one of his biggest songs.

I heard that when he would perform that song in concert women would throw blankets on stage as a not-so-subtle invitation. (Mommy is far from alone in her belief that he was the sexiest man to ever walk the planet.) Well, brilliant little tortie that I am, I'm just doing what the scarf says...I'm laying down on it!

So for the time being we've arrived at a truce...Mommy lets me do my thing as long as I step very, very carefully. But if anything tragic "happens" to anything in her collection, I still may be looking for some new digs!

The Purrfect 10: Ways To Honor Your Rainbow Bridge Cat

We love reading and researching anything and everything about cats, and wanted to find a fun and unique way to share the interesting facts we learn with you! Since top 10 lists are very popular in the blogosphere, we created The Purrfect 10 as a way to present 10 educational or fascinating tidbits about a wide variety of cat-related topics, everything from health issues to cat breeds to famous felines.

Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a special day created by Deborah Barnes – author, award winning blogger, and cat advocate in tribute to her cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her most recent book, “Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond,” a warm and heartfelt book that is written in the wise and comforting voice of Mr. Jazz himself as he shares his life and death journey to offer guidance and understanding through a cat’s perspective as to why sometimes letting a pet go can be the greatest gift you give them.

Since every single one of us who loves cats either has or will experience their devastating loss one day, we decided to do a Purrfect 10 post with ideas on how to honor their memory and keep them alive in our hearts for all time...

1) Create a memorial in your home. Truffles is the first cat I had cremated because I wanted to keep her close to me always. Her portrait, paw print, various angel statues, and ashes rest on their own special table in the living room. You can also display a few of their favorite toys, their collar, favorite photos and a lock of their fur. A shadow box is a lovely way to preserve and display the items you can't bear to part with after your pet is gone.

2) Start new holiday traditions. During the holiday season when Truffles' table needs to be moved to make room for the tree I create a Christmas memorial area in another part of the room with her very own small tree and other various decorations. I also have ornaments on my tree that honor all the cats I've shared my life with. If you've saved any of your pet's fur (or if you haven't this is a good tradition to start with your current pet), it can be put inside a clear plastic or glass ornament so they're always watching over you.

3) Create a memorial in your garden. If your cat is buried in your yard, or even if she's not, consider adding an engraved marker or memorial stone with her name on it. A statue of St. Francis (the patron saint of animals), an angel, or even a peaceful water fountain can contribute to a special memory spot outdoors.

4) Donate leftover food and supplies. Every cat in your life is going to have their own personal likes and dislikes just like people do. Thanks to long expiration dates on pet food, when Tara passed away I bagged up and set aside her leftover cans of food with the intention of keeping it for the next kitty. Then Truffles came along and her tastes were very different. So the bag of food sat there. For 14 months. As silly as it seems, I could not let go of that food. It was Tara's. Finally a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that Tara would want that food to be in the tummies of kitties in need. It felt so good to donate that leftover food in Tara's honor, just as it did with the food Truffles left behind after Mudpie came into my life.

5) Commission artwork. Shortly before Truffles ran off for the Bridge I received an unexpected package in the mail from our friends at Chewy.com - a commissioned painting of her as thanks for our work for them as a Chewy Influencer. It meant the world to me then, but even more so after she was gone. There are many artists that specialize in creating memorial paintings for grieving pet parents.

6) Get creative. Whether you draw or paint, write stories or poetry, journal or scrapbook, get your creative juices flowing to honor their memory. Writing about Truffles, both a detailed account of her last day and a short story including all my cats who now reside at the Bridge, was very therapeutic for me.

7) Wear your heart on your sleeve, around your neck, & throughout your home. I have Tara and Truffles' images on countless pieces around my home - t-shirts, bracelets, necklaces, blankets, pillows, even a tote bag. Surrounding myself with these one of a kind items that I can see and enjoy on a daily basis brings me such comfort. Today you can even purchase special jewelry made to carry a portion of your pet's ashes, the ultimate way to keep them with you at all times.

8) Organize a supply drive in your cat's name. Shelters are always in need of food, treats, toys, bedding, cleaning supplies, and a multitude of other things. Reach out to those close to you, or even your entire community, for donations so you have a large amount to bring to the shelter in your pet's name.

9) Volunteer at your local shelter. It's so easy to get lost in your sorrow after losing a pet, choosing to stay at home and dwell on your grief. Instead, why not volunteer some time at your local shelter to help other animals in need? They crave one-on-one interaction with caring humans, and you can soak up the love that only a four-legged friend can provide. Who knows, you might just fall in love...

10) Open your heart to another homeless cat. After suffering the loss of a cherished pet it's the easiest thing in the world to say you never want to go through such pain again and decide not to adopt another cat. That's not the way to honor their memory though. Millions of animals are euthanized in this country every year because there aren't enough homes for them. Adopting another cat when the time is right for you will not only save a life but will also help to heal your broken heart. You're not "replacing" the friend you've lost - you're giving another deserving animal the gift of a beautiful life with you.

What have you done to honor the memory of your cats waiting for you at the 

Rainbow Bridge?

Wine, Whiskey & Whiskers

The topic of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is songs that mention beverages in the title. If that's not a theme tailor-made for country music I don't know what is!

Before we begin, would anyone care for a refreshing glass of Mudpie merlot?

For this topic Conway once again posed a bit of a challenge. It was a well known fact that he never touched alcohol so drinking songs just weren't his thing. (Yet other musicians who spent the majority of their lives/careers either drunk, stoned, or both, lived far longer, showing just how cruel life can be.) Fear not, I found a beauty, featuring my favorite adult beverage (and pretty much the only one I ever indulge in)...

While I'm not a huge fan of drinking songs myself, these are all songs I've greatly enjoyed through the years.

Do any of our choices catch your ear?

Next week our freebie topic is all about birthdays, mine and my #1 guy's! 

We hope you'll join us then!

Summertime Blues #SundaySelfies

Meows from Mudpie!

You may think I'm bemoaning the unofficial end of summer with Labor Day right around the corner. Actually, I'm thinking, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!! Mommy and I are ready for some cuddle weather!"

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Caturday Art

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mommy's answers:

1. Cat love brings out the best in me.

2. Summer heat makes me grumpier than Grumpy Cat.

Mudpie's answers:

3. If money grew on trees, I would buy lots of new toys for myself and then donate the rest to help homeless kitties.

4. I have a fear of needing to find a new home. Now I'm sure you're all thinking this is an irrational fear, but believe it or not Mommy threatened me with eviction the other night!!! We'll tell you more about it next week. Unfortunately there's photographic evidence of what I did that precipitated the threat...so just in case she's serious, maybe I should ask if anyone has room in their heart and home for this little tortie?

Gettin' Fancy With Gourmet Naturals #ChewyInfluencer

Meows from Mudpie!

You know I never met a bag of kibble that I didn't like, so I was super excited when my friends at Chewy asked if I wanted to try out a bag of Fancy Feast's new Gourmet Naturals. (Mommy always says I'm the only kitty she's ever known who doesn't love Fancy Feast wet food. Sorry 'bout that! I'm just a girl who knows what she likes and doesn't like...)

Before I give my verdict, here are the key benefits according to Chewy.com:

Key Benefits

• White meat chicken is the first ingredient, delivering a protein-packed flavor she'll crave.
• Made with delectable, natural ingredients plus vitamins and minerals to meet your kitty's nutritional needs.
• Naturally delicious crunch in every bite satisfies your feline's perceptive palate.
• Made without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives for a meal that's as real as it is delicious.
• Exceptional taste cats love will bring them back to their bowl every night.

I'm going to keep it short and sweet (like me) because I'm sure no one is going to be surprised to hear that I absolutely love this food. Mommy gives it to me primarily as a treat because I have other foods in rotation for my regular meals, and every time I gobble it right up. It gets four paws up and a lip-smacking seal of approval from Mudpie!!!

Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals comes in both white meat chicken (which is what I'm eating) and wild caught ocean fish. 3.4 pound bags are currently on sale for less than $9. Chewy offers FREE 1-2 day shipping for orders over $49, and with over 500 brands in stock they have something sure to make every cat or dog happy. Tell them Mudpie sent you!

Disclaimer: We received product compensation from Chewy.com as part of their Blogger Outreach Program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own and we never recommend a product we don’t fully believe in.

Wordless Wednesday: The Struggle Is Real

Slithery Songs to Sink Your Teeth Into

Last week the theme of the Mewsic Moves Me blog hop was songs with animals in the title, and I lamented the lack of such in Conway's country catalog. After posting, our good friends and fellow music lovers at Stunning Keisha reminded us of one of his duets with Loretta Lynn titled Spiders and Snakes. (Google, why did you fail me?!?!) No matter, because it inspired our theme for this week...snake-related titles!

SOMEONE SEND HELP!!!

I'll say right up front this is probably the silliest song I've ever heard, and Conway and Loretta rightfully chuckled through most of it. I love it though because it shows what a fun and flirty relationship they had.

Conway found his true home and superstardom in country music, but songs like this show he could still rock, even late in his career!

Back in the day I used to watch a ton of country music videos on the now defunct TNN (The Nashville Network). This one used to be on a lot. I can't get over the fact that it's been viewed nearly 100 million times on YouTube!

Charley Pride is the most successful African-American artist in country music, but this Mel Tillis written song, apparently too intense for country listeners, failed to chart. I had never heard it before doing this search for country songs to fit my snake theme and I really like it. 

Lastly, for this week only I'm making an exception and veering away from my tradition of only selecting country songs for these posts. Since our friends at Stunning Keisha inspired our theme, here's a song by their favorite band R.E.M.

Do any of our choices catch your ear?

Monday Memories: Truffles' 5th Gotcha Day

Five years ago today I adopted Truffles. There's no happier day than the day a new fur baby arrives, and I still remember picking her up at Petco, bringing her home and her settling in like she was always meant to be there.

She was so young, we were going to have so much time together...but that wasn't meant to be.

She's been gone for over 3 years now and I still have a hard time fathoming the little bit of time we had together. Would I have brought her home that day if I'd known the heartbreak to follow? Without a doubt.

And now I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain

But I'd have had to miss the dance

The Dance, Garth Brooks

Mommy's Earth Angel #SundaySelfie

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Tortilicious #CaturdayArt

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mudpie's answers:

1. I am going to love when fall arrives so I can cuddle in blankies again with Mommy.

2. Once in a blue moon, I eat wet food. It's a sore subject at our house.

Mommy's answers:

3. I want to be more patient. I completely missed the line when it was being handed out.

4. I have a large collection of Conway music. Anyone surprised? Didn't think so. Latest count is close to 80 records, 60 CDs, 40 singles and 30 cassettes. Then there's countless photos, magazines, DVDs, shirts, and other various collectibles. The Conway stuff in my house is only outnumbered by cat stuff!

Unboxing August's CatLadyBox

The theme of August's CatLadyBox was "MEOWNOCHROME"...here's what was inside!

Featured Cat Lady Artist Zoe Bones: Zen of Cat print

MEOW Throw Pillows: I need to pick up some pillows so I can use these because they are SO cute and stylish!

On Caturdays, We Wear Cat Shirts! T-shirt: This is probably one of my favorite CLB shirts, but the truth is, I wear cat shirts most days!

Kitty Cat Planter: I have a black thumb when it comes to plants so this is going to hold pens on my desk.

Ross the Sloth Catnip Toy: I may have slipped this out of Mudpie's toy box to add to my own stuffie collection...don't tell her, okay? (Or do you think she already knows?)

Catnip Fluff Puff Toy: These are Mudpie's favorite kinds of toys to both bop around and use as a soft, furry pillow!

Not a subscriber yet? Visit CatLadyBox today!

Interested in purchasing individual items from past boxes? You can do that too!

Disclosure: I receive a discount on my CatLadyBox subscription as a thank you for my monthly review. Regardless of compensation received, we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Our 7th Blogoversary!!!

Meows from Mudpie!

Seven years ago today Mommy started our blog as a way to chronicle her reading life along with a little about her love of cats, but as we're known to do, the kitties took over.

Through Tara, then Truffles, and now little ol' me, our online friends have laughed and cried with us, and created a community of cat lovers that we cherish more every day. The outpouring of love Mommy received following the passing of Tara and Truffles meant more to her than she will ever be able to express, and the welcoming arms you all greeted me with when I arrived...how much luckier can a kitty get than to go from homeless to social media star???

Some stats that astound us: to date we've published over 2,500 blog posts and received nearly 1.5 million page views!!!

Pet blogging can be hard with way too much sorrow and loss, but in the end the good outweighs the bad. Even after 7 years we (well, Mommy...I haven't even been alive for 7 years!) look forward to sharing our lives with you each day, and if you don't mind maybe we'll stick around for awhile longer?

Niptinis for everyone are on the house!!!

Book Review ~ Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective by A.B. Greenfield

An egotistical royal cat and his dung beetle sidekick track a jewelry thief in this hilarious new series set in ancient Egypt.

Can a lazy cat and a dung-obsessed beetle really crack a mystery? Ra relishes his role as the Pharaoh's beloved—and spoiled—cat. So when an amulet goes missing from the palace, Ra has no interest in solving the mystery. He would rather enjoy his snacks and nap in the warm Egyptian sun. But Ra's friend Khepri, a wise and industrious scarab beetle, insists on investigating in order to save the young servant girl who has been framed for the crime. Once Ra gets going, he decides that being a Great Detective isn't so bad; in fact, he doesn't mind being hailed as “Protector of the Weak and Defender of Justice.” The comically mismatched duo is on the case!

A cat and a dung beetle team up to solve a mystery in ancient Egypt - can you think of a more unique and fun way to bring a love of history to children? I became completely entranced in this story from page one and easily could have read it in a single sitting but forced myself to put it down every now and then to make it last!

Ra the Pharaoh's Cat lives in the lap of luxury and prefers to do nothing but nap while waiting for his next snack delivery. His best friend is a dung beetle named Khepri whose own personal snack choices obviously disgust Ra, but Khepri is hoping for a bit more excitement in his life. It comes when lovely ladycat Miu asks for their help clearing the name of her friend, a little girl who has been unjustly accused of stealing a valuable amulet and is at risk of being executed. Ra is reluctant to get involved but is finally guilted into assuming the role of Great Detective with Khepri riding shotgun - literally - as his sidekick. While investigating they uncover palace intrigue among both the two and four-legged residents before uncovering the unlikely culprit.

I loved everything about this story - the setting, the adorable lead characters, their hilarious banter, and the sweet illustrations by Sarah Horne are just the icing on the cake. I only hope Ra and Khepri have many more adventures ahead of them because I already want to spend more time with the dynamic duo again! Ra the Mighty is feline fun for children of all ages.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our links and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank!

Squirrels and Dogs and Birdies, Oh My!

The theme of this week's Mewsic Moves Me blog hop is songs with animals in the title...how could we not participate? I'll say right up front that I'm embarrassed by the absence of cat songs. Apparently cats and country music don't mix!

At first I thought I was going to have to let Conway sit this one out (*gasp*) because he didn't record a single (country) song with an animal in the title, but then I found this one going way back to his early rock days. It got to #35 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 1960.

My guy got a shout out in Honey Bee, a 2011 hit from Blake Shelton...

If you’ll be my Louisiana

I’ll be your Mississippi

You’ll be my Little Loretta

I’ll be your Conway Twitty

Speaking of Blake Shelton, I love last year's I'll Name the Dogs...



When I was a little girl I used to think this song was hilarious. I still do! 

You can't have a list of country songs with animal titles without at least one song about horses!

Do any of our choices catch your ear?

Do you have a favorite song with an animal in the title?

Abused Tortie #SundaySelfie

Meows from Mudpie!

You're not gonna believe what I have to tell you today!

Do you see the mop and Swiffer behind me in my selfie today? Mommy made me do ALL the clean-up after my grandma's birthday party yesterday!!! Call the ASPCA! My poor little paws are worn to a nub!

You're not falling for it, are you? I guess I'm not a very good liar...MOL!!!

We're joining our friends at The Cat On My Head for the Sunday Selfies blog hop!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!!!

Meows from Mudpie!

This is such a busy week for my family! Not only was Thursday my Gotcha Day, today is my grandma's birthday! (Was I the greatest birthday gift ever 3 years ago or what?!?!)

I love my grandma so much, and she thinks I hung the moon too! For my Caturday Art project this week I made her a card featuring a picture of me happily curled up on her lap last winter. I hope she likes it!

Visit more artsy kitties at Athena's Caturday Art blog hop!

And now our weekly answers for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by 15andmeowing and Four-Legged Furballs!

Mommy's answers:

1. I have faith in the human race when someone goes out of their way to help an animal in need.

2. Yesterday, I made a blackberry cobbler for my mom's birthday (her request). YUM!

Mudpie's answers:

3. My favorite place to be is anywhere Mommy is.

4. If I was granted one wish, it would be for me and Mommy to be together forever and ever.

Happy 3rd Gotcha Day, Mudpie!

Meows from Mudpie!

We've been taking Thursdays off lately but not this week because it's an extra special day at our house!

Three years ago today my life changed forever when Mommy decided I was the kitty to fill the empty hole in her heart that Truffles left behind. We've told this story for the past 2 years on my special day, but it's a real life "fairy tail" and I didn't think you'd mind reading it again. I know that I never get tired of telling it!

It all began 10 days earlier with a series of photos posted on the shelter website. Mommy says she saw my picture and had the same feeling in her heart that she had the first time she saw Truffles. Still, she didn't want to make a hasty decision so she saved my picture to her PC and tablet and kept looking at it over and over. When she finally decided to call the shelter and ask about me it didn't take long for her to decide that I was the one.

She filled out the adoption application, gathered the needed references, and was immediately approved, but then we hit a bit of a snag. The shelter doesn't typically finalize adoptions before the prospective family meets the pet, meaning I couldn't be placed "on hold" (for lack of a better term) and when Mommy spoke to the shelter on Friday afternoon she learned that another lady had just stopped in and was very interested in me! Thankfully the nice shelter volunteer heard the panic in Mommy's voice when she reiterated that she just couldn't come get me until Sunday (they had already agreed to open the shelter just for us!) and said she'd do everything she could to steer the lady's attention to another cat. (People are just drawn to me...what can I say???)

So on a sunny Sunday morning Mommy and my Grandpa made the hour drive to make our union legal and bring me to my forever home.

She had never been to this particular shelter before and thought it was so beautiful. She especially loved the cat quotes on the walls.

She enjoyed spending a little time with Thomas, the shelter mascot, but her heart was pounding with anticipation to meet *me*!!!

There was a cute little tortie in the front holding room, and at first Mommy thought it was me! Then she was told that I was sequestered in the shelter director's office because I don't play well with others. Tattletales!!!

As soon as Mommy saw me it was all over...I held her heart in my paws!

In no time at all the paperwork was complete and I was on my way home. Mommy rode in the back seat with me and I barely made a peep. We just gazed at each other as well fell completely in love.

I made myself at home the moment I walked in the door, immediately gravitating to the toys set out waiting for me...

...and the pawsome cat beds too! (Geez, wasn't I a skinny, scrawny little thing???) I was totally tuckered out at this point!

The whole day was just a dream come true, one Mommy and I will never forget. Life is pretty darn amazing for this little tortie today. I have a wonderful family who worships the ground I walk on, and loads of friends in the blogosphere who welcomed me with open arms.

Of all the kitties in the world, Mommy picked me. And I thank Cod for her every single day.

Do you remember the day you moved to your forever home?

Wordless Wednesday: Pose Pretty, Precious!