Win a Copy of Catify to Satisfy by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin

Our cats are beloved family members, and creating comfortable, safe areas for them in our homes is key. We all want to feel "at home" when we're at home, right? Nobody knows more about getting inside a cat's head, and designing feline-friendly spaces than Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin.

I was super excited to receive a review copy of their newest book, Catify to Satisfy: Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly Home. It's the perfect follow-up to their first collaboration, the New York Times Bestseller, Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You).

Jackson and Kate, the dynamic duo!

I want to do cool things for my cats, but I'm someone who becomes easily overwhelmed with the prospect of DIY projects. Plus, I've never really considered myself a handy person. When I get the confidence to try something, I always surprise myself. What he heck? I am kinda handy! "Kinda" is the key word here -- but still, it's a start!

I'll be straight with you. The main reason I'm in love with Catify to Satisfy is that it gives me complete confidence that I can indeed create interesting, fun, and cat-friendly areas in my home. I feel like Martha Stewart when I read this book ... except without the prison background. 

I can do this!

The book of packed with photos, along with detailed instructions for creating simple design tricks to enrich your cat's environment. Jackson and Kate are the perfect team because he focuses on teaching us about cat behavior and the reasons behind cats' preferences, and then she shows us easy and advanced ways to support the behavior by using our creativity and applying the coolest design hacks. She had me at "hack." I can do "hack"

Form and function.

I especially connected with the "Faces in the Nation" sections that feature how real people, inspired by love for their cats, created unique catification projects. Their stories are heartfelt and fun, and they demonstrate the variety of ways we can each put our personal stamp on our passion projects. 

Catification can happen indoors and outdoors.

Catify to Satisfy is a must-read for anyone who shares their space with a cat. It's educational, inspiration, and a totally fun read.

You, my friends, can win your very own copy of Catify to Satisfy!  Here are the details:

• Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Giveaway runs now through midnight Central, November 26, 2015.
• U.S. only.
• Giveaway subject to change.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was given a review copy of Catify to Satisfy; however, Catladyland only shares information we think would be of interest to our readers. The opinions are our own.

Book Review! Purr Prints of the Heart

I consider Deborah Barnes a good friend in the cat blogging world -- heck, she's just a good friend! She has a gift for heartfelt storytelling. This is something that doesn't come especially naturally to me, so I respect her gifts in a big way.

You may remember her first book, The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey, an inspirational tale that's written from Deborah's point of view. She made me cry. OK, it's not that hard to do -- I'm a sucker for those coffee commercials where the soldier comes back and surprises his family. Oh, and anything animal-related ... obviously.

Deb and I at the 2011 Cat Writers' Association conference. Yes, she's always in spots!

I was excited and grabbed an extra box of tissues when she sent me a copy of her newest book, Purr Prints of the Heart: A Cat's Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond. Seriously -- even the title makes me tear up a little. Thanks, Deb! This book is another sweet story, but this time told in the voice of Mr. Jazz, Deb's beloved ragdoll cat who came to her as a sick little kitten. Throughout the chapters, Mr. Jazz shares the day-to-day ups and downs of his life in Deborah's home. I loved reading about his relationships with the other animals in the household. In my mind, I saw everything play out like a Disney movie, but without the Lady and the Tramp-style spaghetti kisses.

More gorgeous cover art from Deb.

Mr. Jazz relates his story from the time he joins the family until the day he passes over the Rainbow Bridge at age 15. What's unique about this book is the look at illness and death from a cat's point of view. We see it as his beloved animal friends pass, and as he moves through sickness into his final days of life. It's beautiful, and will certainly strike a chord for anyone who's lost a much-loved pet.

Purr Prints made me smile just as much as it sent me to tears. It perfectly captures the wide range of beautiful emotions we all feel during a lifetime. And the grief guide in the back of the book is a solid way to end the story. Again, carefully and thoughtfully written.

Mr. Jazz at his tip-top!

This book is a wonderful gift for any cat lover, but especially one who's recently lost a pet. My cats are ages 10, 12 and 13. They're older than any cat with which I've shared my life. I can't imagine the pain and grief I'll feel when they pass, but I'm grateful to have this book close at hand. I know it will help guide me through the healing process. And make my cry again.

Give your kitties an extra hug today.

You can buy Purr Prints of the Heart on Amazon by clicking here.

Stink Outside the Litter Box: It's a Book Giveaway!

Cats think they know everything, right? So why wouldn't they write an advice book? Well, they have. Well, Jeremy Greenberg has ... in the voices of many wise cats who are ready to dole out wisdom suitable for cats and humans alike. You may know Greenberg from Sorry I Barfed on Your Bed (and Other Heartwarming Letters from Kitty), among other fun books and projects.

Stink Outside the Box: Life Advice from Kitty is the Greenberg's newest cat-humor creation, we're giving away three copies! That's one copy for each winner -- one winner doesn't get three copies. If you want three copies, you can buy more here.

Click for larger image.

The photos are just as fun as the feline advice -- there's a smile on every page, and I'm not just being cheesy. I especially like the kitten named Cuty Patooty, who is certain she and the vacuum cleaner are in rival gangs, because she's put in solitary confinement every time he's transported through the house. Along with some sage advice, the kitty counselor tells Cuty "It wasn't until being locked up that I realized our feline existence is just one big cage."

Phoebe: "I've got some advice for you."

Want to win your own copy? I'm sure you do, and it's easy! Enter via the widget below, and type your name, email address and mailing address on the same line. If you have trouble entering, please comment and I'll manually enter your information.

This giveaway is for U.S. readers only.

You'll receive an additional entry if you follow Jeremy Greenberg on Twitter -- you can do that through the widget.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Andrews McMeel Publishing sent me a free review copy of this book, but Catladyland only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Andrews McMeel Publishing is not responsible for the content of this post.

It's a Whiskerslist Calendar AND Book Giveaway!

Friends and comrades who reside with me here in Cathumorland, this is a very cool day for all of us. You may have heard the 2015 whiskerslist boxed calendar was released last week, and it's the truth!

The calendar is a companion to my book, whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, that was released last October. Maybe some of you have read it -- or even own your very own copy (lucky you).

If you're completely unfamiliar in the ways of whiskerslist, please allow me to sum it up for you: It's a parody book, which means it takes something that really exists (craigslist), puts a spin on it (cats) and hopefully makes you laugh. In the calendar, you'll notice a few favorites from the book, but most are brand new pages of pure feline silliness. Oh, there's also a whiskerslist site where you (um, your cats) can create their own ads and comment on existing ones. Haven't visited? Go ahead, click over!

So whiskerslist is like the cats' version of craigslist. Imagine what cats would post on a site like whiskerslist: personals, lost and found, for sale/wanted, services, discussions, rants and raves ... but with cat themes. And like craigslist, some of the ads are a little offbeat and sometimes edgy. I'd probably give the book and calendar PG-13 ratings.

A page from the book.

As a way to celebrate the calendar's release, I'd like to give away TWO whiskerslist calendars and TWO copies of the whiskerslist book -- all signed (I'll contact you for inscription details).

How's that? Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. After you click to enter, you'll be asked for your name, mailing address and email address. No one sees this information but me -- promise! Please remember to place all the information on the same line. If you enter before including all the info, Rafflecopter won't allow you to edit your entry. Just leave me a comment on this post and I'll make sure you're entered.

Good luck!

WINNERS BELOW: Esther and Judy each won a book, and Kristin and Kelly each won a calendar!

Congrats!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pre-Order Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin's Catification Book and Help Cats

I've been excited about Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin's upcoming book Catification: Designing a Happy and Stylist Home for Your Cat (and You!) for quite some time. I'm always looking for ways to appease my kitties and create more comfortable, fun and interesting spaces in my home for them. I was thrilled when I received my advance copy in the mail recently, and immediately set off to see how I could further catify my home. It seemed the actual book was all Saffy needed.

Catladyland's catification tip: Place book on sofa and watch cat enjoy surface.

But in all seriousness, the book is so cool! It begins by helping the reader understand their cats and their needs. This is important because it totally guides the catification process. Most all felines are alike in some respects; however, each cat is an individual with his or her own likes, dislikes, comforts and experiences. These are all aspects needed to take into account, and the Catification book helps us understand all of this. Throughout the book, cat-style maven Kate and Cat-Daddy Jackson offer tips and observations, which I loved. It really felt like they were sitting beside me, looking through pages together.

I enjoyed the reader-submitted catification projects because they each reflected a personal style and assured me all the projects are not super time-consuming or involved. You see, I'm not super-handy, and honestly, neither is my husband. There are definitely some ideas that would make Handy Andys (and Andreas) drool, but are also some really simple ones like placing basic shelves on the wall to help cats gain height. I think most of us can handle that -- I believe I can safely swing a hammer. I just realized how violent that "swing a hammer" phrase sounds. I promise to swing softly ... maybe with some Fleet Foxes playing in the background.

Catification is scheduled for publication October 14, but you can pre-order it! And there's a benefit to your awesome pre-order: For each pre-order, Tarcher / Penguin will donate $1 to FixNation.org! That means you get a great book, and you contribute to an organization committed to helping bring pet overpopulation to an end. Plus, your pre-order scores you discounts toward purchases on Kate's Hauspanther site, as well as Jackson Galaxy's own site. Email your digital receipt or a photo-image of your paper receipt to catification@gmail.com to receive your discount codes.

Pre-order your copy of Catification on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, or from your favorite bookseller!

Speaking of Jackson Galaxy, he will be a guest on our good friends' blog radio show, Pets Teach Us So Much tomorrow, July 31 at 6:00 PM, ET. He'll be discussing the One Picture Saves a Life Project and the free event at North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington, NY on Sunday, August 3. Be sure and tune in!

Whiskerslist Online Book-Signing Event This Week Only!

If you  regularly read Catladyland, you know I wrote a book called whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds. It's a parody humor book based on the idea of cats having their own version of craigslist. Silly? Of course, but if you don't like ridiculous humor, you probably shouldn't read most anything I write.

The companion whiskerslist calendar is scheduled for release on August 1, and I'm tickled to share it with you. It's a 2015 page-a-day box calendar -- so every day you can read a weird ad "written" by a cat! There are a few favorites from the book in the calendar's pages, but most of it is comprised of brand new ads for personals, sale/wanted, community, rants/raves/hisses, discussions and more. It's really fun and a little edgy, like the book. You can pre-order the calendar online or from your favorite book seller.

A page from the new calendar.

To celebrate the coming release of the book, I'd like to offer a great deal on the whiskerslist book:

From July 28, 2014 -- August 1, 2014, I'm hosting an online book-signing event! You'll have the opportunity to purchase a signed copy of whiskerslist for $16 ($12.95 + the US cost of media mail/please contact me for international rates). I'll sign the book however you'd like (think ahead to the holidays), and include a Texts from Mittens postcard that you can use as a bookmark, hang on the fridge, use as a tiny litter box liner, whatever.

The whiskerslist book cover. "Casual encounters? Are your neutered?"

So this whole deal is kind of like attending a bookstore book-signing event -- except you can do it all in your jammies, from in front of the computer. Easy-peasy. Sure, you'll pay a small amount of shipping, but you're saving on gas, right?

Sweet, desperate Hector from the book.

Here's how it works:

• Email me (do not comment here) with your name and mailing address, and indicate how you'd like to pay: catladyland@gmail.com.
• Payment is available via Paypal (catladyland@gmail.com), or check (book will be mailed after check clears).
• Again, the cost is the retail price of $12.95, plus $3.05 for media-mail shipping = $16 even. Please contact me for international shipping rates.
• You receive the book and postcard!

Thanks so much, and I'll let you know when the calendar's released and we'll host a fun giveaway to celebrate. 

Kitty Hearts Doggy! It's a Book Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and love is in the air! This time of year we celebrate all kinds of relationships -- even the loving, yet sometimes tumultuous, connections between cats and dogs. Jeremy Greenberg, author of hilarious titles such as Sorry I Barfed on Your Bed: And Other Heartwarming Letters from Kitty, has perfectly captured these unlikely connections in his adorable and witty book, Kitty Hearts Doggy.

The book profiles pussycat-pooch couples and asks each one how long they've been together and about the secrets that hold their relationships together. Then each one is allowed to share a few words from their viewpoint. Because both parties should get a say, right? Although I'm pretty certain cats usually get a little more say than their canine counterparts. 

Kitty Hearts Doggy is the perfect combination of cute and funny. It's appropriate for any age and I think makes a fabulous Valentine's Day gift for a loved one who is an animal lover. And who isn't an animal lover? Weird people, that's who.

Cosmo tries to hide the evidence of his kitty-canine-love curiosity.

Guess what? Catladyland has a copy of Kitty Hearts Doggy to give away to THREE lucky readers! 

Here's how it will go down:

• You must comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS and indicate interest in qualifying for the giveaway.
• The giveaway closes at 11:59pm CDT on Wednesday, February 5, 2014.
• Once contacted by email, you will have 48 hours to respond or another name will be drawn.
• Winners will be chosen via randomizer.org.

Good luck!

I Love Finding Interesting Little "Presents"

I love finding cat toys in shoes. Last week I was passing through the entryway of our house and saw a bright pink mouse inside my daughter's shoe. I was completely tickled at the thought of one of our cats purposely dropping that mousie in the shoe. She'd probably carried it around for a while, howling to announce her "kill." And then she decided, "I'll leave this little present right here." I'm sure she was so proud of herself.

It's the little things, you know.

Speaking of presents, my friend Melissa Haas wrote a book called Catula: The Misadventures of Dracula's Cat. You guessed it -- it's about Dracula's cat. It's aimed at both kids and adults, but I'd probably target it more to older kids. It's witty, cute and available here.

Review and Giveaway of Adventures in Veterinary Medicine!

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

I'm a big believer in following life's nudges, however gentle they may be. These little nudges sometimes take us places that feed our souls and ignite our passions. This is exactly what author Ingrid King writes about in her latest book, Adventures in Veterinary Medicine.

Ingrid found herself dissatisfied in middle management-type jobs and started getting the itch for something more fulfilling. While accompanying her cat Feebee to veterinary appointments, she began wondering about what it would be like to work in a vet clinic. This was the first nudge.

She decided she'd get a feel for what really happens behind a clinic's doors by volunteering. She had a feeling she'd enjoy the experience, but had no idea what a life-changing impact it would make. She saw that she could make a real difference in the lives of animals and their families, and finally understood what it felt like to have one's work be an extension of their heart.

After volunteering for a time, she received another nudge that guided her forward yet again -- this time to a role as clinic manager. She worked for doctors she adored, was able to have input on major clinic decisions, and felt valued and fulfilled.

As time passed, Ingrid felt another gentle nudge. It was time to move on to work of a more independent nature ... something of her own creation. Although it was scary, and she'd never been a risk-taker, she followed through on that nudge and is now an accomplished author (Buckley's Story and Purrs of Wisdom), blogger (The Conscious Cat), Reiki practitioner and animal advocate.

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine is an engaging collection of short essays detailing some of her experiences along the way, including heartwarming accounts of experiences with specific animals who made their way into the clinic where she volunteered and worked.

I know I'm a giant sap, but I read most of the book with tears in my eyes. Part of the reason is because I know Ingrid and I felt grateful for this little peek into an earlier part of her life, before I met her. I know she's a passionate, gentle, loving soul and I could feel her compassion and unselfish nature come through the pages. You don't have to know Ingrid to fully enjoy this book. You just have to love animals and have an appreciation for our human journeys and the sometimes subtle synchronicities and nudges that, when followed, can change our lives in magical ways beyond our imaginations.

Ingrid agreed to give away a free download of Adventures in Veterinary Medicine. It's available only as a Kindle version, but you don't need a Kindle in order to read it! You can download a free reading app to read this and other Kindle books on your PC, Mac, iPad, android tablet and smartphone. I downloaded the book on my computer and read it that way -- it was easy!


Giveaway details:

• You must comment WITH YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS and indicate interest in qualifying for the giveaway. 
• The giveaway opens at 6:00 a.m. CDT today (10/24/13) and closes at 11:59 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, 10/30/13.
• Once contacted, you will have 48 hours to respond or another name will be drawn.
• Winners will be chosen via randomizer.org.

Thank you to Ingrid and good luck!

What Happens When Your Cat Hacks Into Your Computer? I Wrote a Book About It!

Excitement! After nearly two years since project conception, my cat humor book is finally available for pre-order and is scheduled for publication on September 3, 2013! Here's the 411:

• whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds is a cat parody of craigslist. It includes 160 posts of cat wheeling and dealing online while their humans are away. 

• whiskerslist has a Facebook page! You can LIKE it by clicking here!

• Like I mentioned, you can pre-order whiskerslist. Click here to pre-order on Amazon.com and click here to pre-order on Barnes & Noble. If you decide you'd like to pre-order later on, you can always come back and click on the little whiskerslist button on the ride sidebar. That'll do the trick.

• There will be an interactive site to accompany the book. Beginning sometime in early August, users can hop on whiskerslist and make their own posts, comment and connect with other cats online!

I'm really excited about this new adventure -- it's my first book and I really hope you love it as much as I do. Thank you for any and all support you and your cats will offer!

Purrs of Wisdom Review

Some of you know that, in addition to writing humor, I also love reading and writing more reflective pieces. When Ingrid King of The Conscious Cat blog and Buckley's Story allowed me to review her new book, Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style, I was thrilled. 

Purrs of Wisdom is a delightful and thought-provoking collection of 32 short essays in which Ingrid looks to her felines for lessons in living a fulfilling, peaceful life. I've always believed cats possess innate wisdom and are natural Zen masters; Ingrid believes this too and explores this wisdom in the easy-to-read essays. Three of my favorites are:

Gratitude: Especially when we see sadness happening in our world, looking inward and feeling gratitude for what's good in our life and the world is key. Ingrid suggests that, before getting of the bed in the morning and again before sleep, thinking about five things for which you're grateful. My suspicion is you won't have to think much past your fabulous felines.

Stop Rushing: Wow -- this essay truly spoke to me. My tendency is toward multi-tasking and setting sometimes-unrealistic expectations of myself. Cats remind us to slow down, breathe, and be present with what's at hand (or at paw). Ingrid offers excellent tips to keep this top-of-mind.

Simple Steps to Stop Worrying: Who can't use guidance and support in this area? I loved Ingrid's tip of setting aside 15 minutes a day to allow for any and all the worrying you can possibly release. The rest of the day is a worry-free zone. Genius.

I wish I could tell you about all 32 essays, but you'll have to pick up a copy of the book and experience them for yourself. I can tell you that some of the subjects covered are creating balance, technology addiction, embracing change, slaying energy vampires, and aging gracefully. And I recommend reading one each morning and then taking the day to really allow the lesson to sink in and look for ways you can integrate the wisdom into your own life.

You know, the holidays are upon us with a brand new year on their heels. How about gifting yourself or a loved one with this beautiful book and creating an intention to kick off 2013 with lessons learned from Purrs of Wisdom?  Be the best, most healthy, joyful and balanced YOU you can be -- do it for yourself and your human and 4-legged loved ones. And don't forget to look to your wise felines for tips -- they are masters at living consciously!

You can purchase your own copy of Purrs of Wisdom here. 

Ingrid King is a former veterinary hospital manager turned multiple award-winning author. Her popular blog, The Conscious Cat is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health, and happiness for cars and their humans. Ingrid lives in northern Virginia with her two tortiseshell cats, Allegra and Ruby. For more information about Ingrid, please visit her site.