Nibbles-n-Bits: Cat vs Human

Nibbles-n-Bits is a bite-sized, semi-sorta-regular feature where Catladyland spotlights bloggers who teach us, give us paws for thought, and make us laugh.  Today I have the delightful opportunity of sharing an interview with Yasmine Surovec, the comic-genius behind the hilarious comic (and now book), Cat vs Human.  

I'm sure those of you who regularly read her comics agree her take on catlady-ness really hits home.  In addition to being one of  the funniest catladies I know, she is also an incredibly friendly and kind person; I am so grateful to know her!

As I mentioned above, her new book was recently released and available for purchase through Amazon.  I've also added it to my Amazon Picks on the ride sidebar of Catladyland so you can always hop over and click.  

Before we dive into the interview, I have to share one of my favorite Cat vs Human comics with you.  I don't know about your cats, but Cosmo in particular won't let me visit the loo with any sort of privacy.  And he looks upon bathroom time as our "special" time.  The entire time I am trying to take care of "business," he paws at me, rubs against me, and will not be satisfied until I pick him up and hold him in my lap. And you might ask, "Why do you even allow him in the bathroom with you?"  Well, I find it is waaaaay more distracting to listen to him pawing on and crying at the bathroom door.  It's just the way we do things around here.  And apparently, that's also the way they do things at Yasmine's house.

Look familiar?  Well, enough about toilets and on to the interview!

Catladyland: When did you start writing/drawing Cat vs Human? Have you always loved cats?

Yasmine: I started the blog itself around the middle of 2010.  But the comic itself started as a doodle I posted on Facebook.  I was feeling burnt out and a bit frustrated with certain things. Usually when this happens, I like to draw things I like -- like cats.  I've always absolutely adored cats since I was a kid.  I love their independence, their little quirks.  And I especially love it when they curl up on my lap to take a nap.  They keep me calm -- and sane,  To be honest, I barely remember the times when I didn't have a kitty in my household. They're a big part pf my life.

Catladyland: Introduce us to your kitties.

Yasmine: My cats are Money and Shelley...Dumpling is no longer with is, but I think about him often.  He was the sweetest thing.  And I think Money still misses him so much.  They were best friends.  Money is the alpha male amongst my cats.  He's such a handsome boy.  He was very feisty when we adopted him, but Victor, my husband, quickly fell in love with him.  He's pretty aloof and doesn't like to be cuddled with much.  But when he's tired and sleepy, he would crawl next to you and nap.  He definitely only shows affection on his terms.  Shelley is the alpha lady at home.  She's getting up there in age -- close to 20.  But she is still as sweet as ever.  I call her "Mama" because I feel like she takes care of me.  She grooms me.  She cuddles me when I'm sad or sick.  Oh, I also have a 90-lb dog named Puppy.  He was Dumpling's friends as well, and he wants nothing bu love.  He's very drooly though!

Yasmine with Money and Shelley 

Catladyland: Tell us about your new book!

Yasmine: I am SO excited about this book, and I feel very fortunate to have an awesome agent and publisher (Andrews McMeel).  The book is a collection of over 100 comics from my blog as well as new ones.  It's a labour of love, that's for sure.  It's an illustrated narrative of what happens in most cat ladies' (and guys') households.  In my case, it's pretty much a self portrait.  And it feels strange reading all the comics all over again because, oh my goodness, this IS me, and every cat lady I know.  I just hope people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed drawing each comic.

Catladyland: How are you most like a cat?

Yasmine: Much like cats, I'm very independent and aloof.  I'm also very flexible.

Catladyland: Random question: What is the weirdest item in your purse right now?

Yasmine: I have a large faux gold pendant with a kitty sculpted on one side and three mice on the other side.

Thanks, Yasmine and mega-congratulations on your new book! If you don't currently follow Cat vs Human, you simply must!  On her blog, you can find the links to Facebook, Twitter, and all the spots you can find Yasmine and her funny kitty comics.

Nibbles-n-Bits: Your Daily Cute

Who doesn't love a daily does of Cute?  Dorian Wagner knows the answer to that question: NOBODY!  That's why she created Your Daily Cute three years ago.  No matter how bad your day is, you can skip over to Your Daily Cute, take in a few adorable videos, and suddenly the clouds part and you leave with a sunshiny smile on your face.

Dorian took a break from her Cute duties, as well as her new gig writing the cat blog at Catster, to answer a few questions for the Nibbles-n-Bits feature.  

Catladyland: What is something you've learned since you began writing Your Daily Cute?

Cute: I think I used to think it was a funny thought that cats rule the internet, but I’ve come to realize it’s actually true. I’m pretty sure YouTube is 98% cat videos, with a random music video or news reporter blooper thrown in.

I started Your Daily Cute thinking it would be fun to have a bunch of cute videos in one place, but I had no idea that almost three years later I’d still have no shortage of cute cat videos to post! 

If they ever get the right to vote, we’re in trouble…

In all seriousness, though, I’ve learned that there is a huge group of people out there who care deeply about animals and go out of their way to help, support and do amazing things to help them. I don’t know if I would have met most of them if it wasn’t for the Cute. 

One of Dorian's cats, Moo.  Did you know he is running for President??

Catladyland:  Name three things that make you laugh.


Cute: Moo’s ritual of bring toys to my clothes every day. I always leave my pajama pants on the floor when I get dressed and leave the house in the morning (Everyone leaves clothes thrown around, right?), and without fail, every single day while I’m gone, Moo picks out his favorite toys and drags them through the house to my pants. Every time I come home and see a stuffed gator, a green feather boa and a wand toy or two on top of them, I can’t help but giggle. 

Silly short jokes. The stupider, the better.

Cute cat videos. (That was a gimme, though.)

Dorian's cat, Pimp -- the other half of the Cute team!

Catladyland: Fill in the blank: Something most people don't know about me is that I like to _____________.


Cute: .....do crafty stuff. I go through phases where I’m more into it, but I love to knit and crochet (although I’ve never actually completed a big project) and cross-stitch and stuff. Anything with something “stringy” I guess. When I grow up I want to be an old woman knitting outside on my front porch in a rocking chair surrounded by cats. :)

Nibbles-n-Bits: Cat Chat With Caren and Cody

Welcome to Nibbles-n-Bits, Catladyland's bite-sized interview feature!  Today I am particularly excited about the interview because it is with one of my favorite people.  Many of you already know Caren Gittleman, the fun, friendly, and knowledgeable co-author of Cat Chat.  I say co-author because if you read Cat Chat, you know her cat Cody is just as knowledgeable and (sorry, Caren) even cuter than his super-cute mama!

Caren and Cody's posts are enlightening, humorous, and I must add they are phenomenal about promoting other blogs and sharing information that is relevant and interesting.  Want to know more about Caren?  Of course you do!
 

Catladyland: What is the mission of Cat Chat?

Caren: Good question! The mission of my blog is to be a warm and welcoming place where other cat lovers can come to read funny stories, learn about important issues pertaining to cats, learn health information from cat experts (guest bloggers), and see funny photos/videos. It's a place where they can be touched, inspired, or made to laugh. I named it "Cat Chat" (and later added "With Caren & Cody") so that it could be a place where people can come and "chat" about all things "cat"



Catladyland: If Cody were a human, who would he be?

Caren: My brother and I always say that my dad is being channeled through Cody. My dad (whom I adored) passed in 2001 and was a curmudgeon!! He was an Editorial Cartoonist at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland for 30 years, (Ray Osrin), he was known all throughout the country. He was snide, sarcastic (guess they are one and the same)....he could give looks that could kill! He was funny and when he loved you he REALLY loved and cared about you. People used to say he looked like Ernest Hemmingway (I have attached a photo)....But...now that I am thinking about it for a famous human movie star he would be: Clark Gable, Cody is tough and loving at the same time, cunning and "Frankly my dear he doesn't give a damn!!!" Musician? Hmmmm.....that is a tough one. I think he is more of an actual song than a musician....for a song it would be "Food Glorious Food" from the musical "Oliver" with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. Ohhhh I got it! Of course!! He would be "Prince" because when I adopted him his name was "Prince!" He is "the cat formerly known as "Prince!!!"

Catladyland: Fill in the blank:  Don't mind me, I'm just: _______________________.

Caren: "Don't mind me, I'm just "ME", "I am what I am and that's all that I am!!" Love me or hate me, I gotta be "ME!!"

If you aren't already one of the many Cat Chat fans, you should definitely hope over for a visit and don't forget the Cat Chat Facebook page! Thanks, Caren for giving Catladyland readers a peek into the brain of Cat Chat's co-author! Give Cody our best -- we're sure he will approve of all your answers.

Nibbles-n-Bits: Paws and Effect!

Welcome to the second installment of Nibbles-n-Bits, Catladyland's bite-sized interview feature.  Today's guest is JaneA Kelly, self-proclaimed Webmaster and Chief Cat Slave at Paws and Effect, a blog that offers advice by cats, for cats and their people.  Weekly (sometimes more frequently), Siouxsie, Thomas, and Dahlia answer readers' questions about everything from FIV to helping your cat tolerate trips to the vet.  These "most esteemed and knowledgeable kitties" really know their stuff!  In addition to the wealth of practical advice the kitties dole out, Dahlia has recently been sharing her  life story with us.  It's been fun to read about life from a cat's perspective!

Now let's turn our attention back to JaneA, the woman behind the cats (we humans do always walk ten paces behind our felines anyway, right?).

Catladyland: Why did you start blogging?

JaneA:  I've had a personal blog since the late 1990s, but I got started with cat blogging about eight years ago. In March of 2003, I was laid off from a job as a website designer and content developer, and I needed something to do with my time other than the depressing task of looking for jobs in a terrible economy. 

My cats, Sinéad and Siouxsie, were sitting with me one morning as I was writing in my personal blog, when the light shone through the clouds and I realized I could combine my love for and knowledge about cats with the skills I'd developed in my previous job. And that's how Paws and Effect was born!

JaneA and Dahlia

Catladyland: If a magic lamp appeared and a genie popped out and granted you three wishes, what would you choose?

JaneA: Well, I've fallen in love with Seattle, so my first wish would be for meaningful work that would allow me to make a good living there and be close to my best friends.

Second, I'd wish for PurrEver Ranch (www.gotcats.org) to have a permanent, safe home. PurrEver Ranch is a rescue and sanctuary, "a hospice for senior kittizens and home for wayward pussycats" located in Tennessee, operated by a wonderful woman named Rita Wood.

Finally--and here's my extra-smarmy, Miss-America-Pageant answer--I'd wish for people to become more open-hearted. I think if we were able to open our hearts not just to other human beings but to animals and every living thing, the world would be a much better place.

JaneA with Siouxsie at an SPCA fair

Catladyland:  Fill in the blank: Never underestimate _____________________.
 

JaneA: Never underestimate the power of a cat to change your life.

 

JaneA and Thomas

Thanks to JaneA for participating in Nibbles-n-Bits!  And thanks to Siouxsie, Thomas, and Dahlia for your useful advice -- I learn something every time I read one of your posts.  Keep up the great work!

Oh, Phoebe... you better stick with what you know best:  stealing sweaters, pens, and popsicles.

Nibbles-n-Bits: Daisy and Harley!

Welcome to the first edition of a new monthly Catladyland feature: Nibbles-n-Bits!  Nibbles-n-Bits is a quick, three-question interview that spotlights fellow cat bloggers.  The first nibble is from our friends at Daisy the Curly Cat, Daisy and Harley!  Their fun and fashionable blog never fails to put a smile on my face!

Catladyland: What do you like best about blogging?

Daisy:   My very favorite part of blogging is meeting lots of nice friends.  I enjoy visiting other blogs and seeing what all my friends are up to, and I love it when they visit me.  I am friends with many cats, and also dogs and goats and peoples!  

I also like to dress up and model beautiful fashions.  Since I get delicious treats for modeling, whenever I see the camera and my new outfit, I get excited and run towards the camera and I usually start drooling in anticipation of many treats.   After modeling, I usually walk off wearing my outfit, and my Mommeh has to run after me to take it off for me.  I do not know how to wear pants though, just dresses and shirts and skirts. 

Harley:  I like getting my PICTURE taken.  Because I get to play with TOYS when I pose for pictures.  And I know how to SMILE real good for my pictures. Oh, and I also like FIGURING stuff out and EXPLAINING things to my friends.  If you THINK real hard for a LONG time, you can FIGURE almost anything out! 

Catladyland: What is something exciting that happened to you last year?

Daisy:  I got an Outdoor Funhouse!  I get to go outside and roll around on the warm bricks and bask in the sunshine and watch the birds.  It is even more fun than going outside on my harness and leash!

Harley:  We got GERBILS!   They are named Bert and Ernie.  They run around and PLAY and SQUEAK a lot. I wish I could play WITH them, but I can only WATCH. 

Catladyland: Fill in the blank: Life is too short to ______________________.

Daisy and Harley: Life is too short to be mean or unkind.  There are enough Bad Things that happen in this world, so our blog is a place to have fun and smile.  If we can bring a smile to even one person, it makes blogging worthwhile.  
 

Thanks again, Daisy and Harley! You're the cat's meow!
  Don't forget to tune in for next month's exclusive interview...