Cat-Loving Men of the Week: Georgia’s Rescuers

Posted on February 19, 2008 by janine

The cat-loving men of the week this week are New York City Transit workers Mark Dalessio and Efrain LaPorte and Con Ed meter reader Christopher Cuddy. These three men helped find a missing cat, Georgia, who had been lost in the New York City subway system for weeks when she escaped from her carrier as her owner was transporting her via subway.

Not only did these men find the cat in the NYC subway system – no small feat in itself – and return her to her rightful owner, they are actually donating their reward money to the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals and the ASPCA.

Mark, Efrain, and Christopher – You are menandcats.com’s Cat-Loving Men of the Week!!!

Picture of Georgia recovering from leg surgery from Daily News

Love is in the air

Posted on February 8, 2008 by janine

Ah, February. Love is in the air, with Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching. Two things I love are pets and New York City. So let me remind you, dear readers, it’s I Love NYC Pets month!! It’s a month-long celebration including adoption events, extended shelter hours, and spaying and neutering promotions. So if you’re looking for love, head over to your local shelter and adopt a cat (or two) or a dog. You’ll get many years of unconditional love from an animal who needs you. Don’t get me started on how many pets in New York City get euthanized each year. So have a heart – adopt a pet.

Switching Brains

Posted on December 7, 2007 by janine

At the menandcats.com HQ, the cats are usually fairly predictable. Thurston will generally be snuggling with me when I wake up and waiting for me on the bed when I get out of the shower; Charley will regularly wait for me outside of the bathroom when I’m in there and likes to be picked up and draped over my shoulder – but only if it’s the RIGHT shoulder, not the left.

Occasionally, however, the cats seem to temporarily “switch brains” and start acting like each other (sometimes I joke that they actually share one brain). The frightening thing is that now my husband I do this too sometimes. Usually I am always cold, he is hot… but one day he will be cold, and I’ll say “We’ve switched brains like the cats!” Recently he had a dream that seemed like a dream I should have had instead of him. Brain switching!!

Nooooooooooo!!!

Posted on November 5, 2007 by janine

Oh no! I just found out that Kitty Kong has been discontinued!!

I have a hard enough time finding this toy as is, but I went to a pet store that usually stocks it and they were out. When I asked if they had any more Kitty Kongs I was told they were discontinued. This is unfortunate – as Charley, aka “the black and white menace” (among other nicknames), loves to chew on things… very odd for a cat, I know. Charley is an infamous wire-chewer. Kitty Kong is not only his favorite toy, but he is less likely to chew through my cell phone charger, my i-pod charger, my i-book charger, my lamp cord, etc. if he has a Kong around (yes, he has actually chewed through all of the above items – several times, in some instances).

I found some Kitty Kongs online and stocked up. But still, a future with no Kitty Kong?! I tried to call the manufacturer, Kong Veterinary Products, but their number is out of service.

If anyone has any suggestions as to how to convince Kong to start making Kitty Kong again, please let me know!

Vacation

Posted on August 8, 2007 by janine

The menandcats.com HQ is preparing to go on a much-needed, long-anticipated vacation. The cats, of course, will be staying home. I always have such a hard time leaving them, even though I know they will be in good hands with my 2 friends who are on cat-sitting duties.

The husband was making fun of me this morning for all the time I spend cuddling with Thurston just before leaving for work. “First, you have the waking-up cuddle in bed. Then, when you get out of the shower, he’s waiting for you on the bed and you have more petting and cuddling. Then, he sits on your lap while you’re having coffee! You spend half an hour each morning cuddling with that cat!”

And that’s on a normal day. Pre-vacation cat-cuddling and toy-buying due to guilt and anxiety on my part goes through the roof.