Thursday Thirteen FREEBIES!

Since most of our humans are experiencing a severe shortage of green papers right now, I've found the following Thirteen Freebies for them ... to make sure their green paper shortage doesn't affect we kitties!

1) Free Safety Pack from the ASPCA, including a window decal to alert rescue workers that we kitties are inside our homes in case of fire or other emergency, and a magnet with the Animal Poison Control Center's phone number.

2) Free "Purrfected by the Boss" Catnip

3) And since you can never have too much nip, free Catnip Budz Gourmet Catnip!

4) Free cat ringtones for your humans' cell phones. They can choose from a cat purr, meow, scream, screech or yell at the these sites: ASPCA ringtones and CoolFreeRingtones.

5) Free sample of Greenies Treats.

6) Free sample of Pet Greens Treats at Bell Rock Growers.

7) Kitty grass! Free Natural Oat Grass Seeds!

8) Free sample of BLUE Spa Select Cat Food.

9) Free sample of Life's Abundance Cat Food.

10) Free sample of Flint River Rance Premium Cat Food.

11) Free 5-pound bag of Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Cat Food.

12) A coupon for one free tube of Advantage Flea Treatment with purchase of one tube (there's a woofie coupon, too.)

13) And finally, a coupon for $1 off your next purchase of Fresh Step litter
... and don't forget to donate your Paw Points to Cat Friends Helping Friends!

Wordless, Whiskers Wednesday

Happy Memorial Day
to all our Cat Blogosphere friends
in memory of our fallen heroes and our angel friends.

We dedicate this magnificent video in memory of those kitties and woofies who came before ...

I know it brings leakies to your eyes, but it was too beautiful not to share.
.....................................

Like all holidays, Memorial Day at Artsy Catsy is all about family, friends, and FOOD! Yesterday, our humans went to a cookout at their cousin's house, and you'll see from the photos below why the cat staff decided to stay at home and just let them bring us leftovers!

There were blurpies with blue faces ....

And a woofie named Java standing on a blurpy-yet-to-be ...

And another woofie named Lily ...
And yet another woofie named Destiny ...
... who liked to put the bitey on each other ...

And a bunch of beans sitting around talking about something other than cats ...
So we just stayed home. But today we're having a cookout at our house, and my humans are grilling shrimp shish kabobs! Shrimp!!!

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Lucy ...

Callie ...

Fracas ...

Rocky ...

Ahhh ... life is good.

Happy Birthday hugs to ML ...

We love you!!

And on this Weekend of Hugs dedicated to Bonnie, we send our heartfelt hugs to each one of our precious Cat Blogosphere friends ... you have brightened our lives so much, and we love you all!

HUGS

It's wondrous what a hug can do;

A hug can cheer you when you're blue;

A hug can say, "I love you so"

Or "I'm sad to see you go."

A hug is, "Welcome back again!"

And, "Great to see you!" or "Where've you been?"

A hug can soothe a small child's pain

And bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug! There's just no doubt about it,

We scarcely could survive without it.

A hug delights and warms and charms;

It must be why God gave us arms!

Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,

Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers,

And chances are some favorite aunts

Love them more than potted plants.

Kittens crave them. Puppies love them.

Heads of state are not above them.

A hug can break the language barrier

And make the dullest day seem merrier.

No need to fret about the store of 'em;

The more you give ... The more there are of 'em

So stretch those arms without delay

And give someone a hug today!

Goodbye Bonnie

It's so very, very sad. Our sweet friend Bonnie Underfoot has gone to the Rainbow Bridge, so suddenly. We send all our purrs, purrayers, and love to Victor and Bonnie's family, and hope this poem will bring you some comfort. Bonnie was dearly loved and she will be with us all forever. Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there; I do not sleep.

13 New Things

Rocky: I've been very busy snoopervising and assisting my human artists with new product development ...... but I want to take a break to reveal to you 13 New Things we'll be offering over the rest of this year to help raise funds for Cat Friends Helping Friends and the Rescue Farm ...

1) Kitty ceiling fan/lamp pulls (Coming very soon!)

2) Crazy Cat Lady necklace & earring sets (Coming soon!)

3) Cat charm eyeglass holders
4) Kitty keychains
5) Kitty plastic grocery bag holders/dispensers
6) Kitty wineglass charms
7) Kitty napkins rings
8) Cat Christmas tree ornaments made from gourds
9) Hand painted litter pan privacy screens
10) Hand painted dried potpourri bowls made from gourds
11) Cat-themed gourd birdhouses
12) Woven wire cat pins
13) Lots of new cat-themed jewelry

Jump & Shout Contest

Rocky: My good buddies Kimo & Sabi are having a great contest to celebrate the NBA playoffs and to raise funds for Cat Friends Helping Friends ...

I'm a very demanding CEO (Cat Executive Officer), who has been known to jump on, and shout at, my cat staff on occasion, so count me in!

I had a jumping photo shoot done before I get too plump to jump:

And here I am shouting at my slacker staff:Join me and jump right in everykitty, and let's help Kimo & Sabi raise some funds for a very worthy cause!

Sooper Toosday

Rocky: It's Sooper Toosday (again). I call on all DemoCats in Kentucky and Oregon to get out and vote and put an end to this lo-o-o-o-ng campaign season. It's time for our humans to get their faces out of network news and resume the important business of Temptations distribution, affection allocation and scritches sharing!

As you know, I've been appearing with both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in front of their audiences of 75 squillion on the campaign trail. Here I am with both of them at their recent appearances in my hometown ... (note that neither of them are wearing flag pins; I alone am displaying my patriotism) ...
And now, once again, on this 948,327th Sooper Toosday, I urge them both to drop out of the race before they destroy the DemoCatic party. Cheysuli is the only true Candidate for Cheynge ... who is not only ready to lead on day one, but also has the experience to knock the phone off the hook at 3 a.m.!!

Mancat Monday

Rocky: I'm taking today off to rest up after yesterday's Carnival of the Cats ...

Well, that is, after I give Callie her Monday whapping for disturbing my rest ...

Carnival of the Cats #218

Carnival Barker Rocky: Ladiezzzzz and gentlemen ... step right up to see the greatest traveling cat show on earth! For the modest price of internet access, you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll shriek in amazement at the magic and acrobatics and sheer wonder of cats across the world! .........

The Carnival's first attractions are real treats: It's a whirlwind of flying Temptations, towels, toys & toilet paper over at Missy & KC's, where the Texas Tornado (aka Faith Boo) strikes again!

And at This, That & The Other Thing, Cubby picks up where Sox left off in whapping out the Temptations hiding place. (On a serious note, their humans are having a difficult time, but Mouse is helping them take their minds off their troubles.)

Free treats! Devin kitty tests Greenies Dental Treats on Woman Tribune -- and tells you how to get a free sample!

Speaking of treats, Cece the cow kitty is waiting impatiently at iInfidel.

Now this is definitely a treat! Kashim and Othello's momma built them a great new scratching post for their balcony at The Catboys Realm.

At Life from a Cats Perspective, sometimes you have to recover from too many treats. Samantha and Mr. Tigger are recovering from Mr. T's surprise birthday/gotcha day party at M-Cats Club.

Oh, this is simply magic: A stunning photo of the actual Rainbow Bridge at Blog d’Elisson ... Oh, look! ... Who's that we see?

At Mind of Mog, the Friday Ark is NOT spam ... and Meowza drinks to that!

Now, feast your eyes upon this cuteness: Poppy, a little feral mom and her newborn baby kittens over at Cat Care, Breeds and Resources.

But This is Cyprus proves that a kitty's mom doesn't have to be a cat. Don't miss The Tale of Tessie and the Turtle.

Oh, poor Parker! She's lonely and in need of some serious scritches at Perfectly Parker.

There are kitties of all kinds in the Carnival ... and some are very busy ... At Chica & Pumuckl in Egypt, Pumuckl has assumed all entertaining and stalking duties while Chica is in quarantine ...

Estate manager Babe is busy snoopervising groundman Tuck over at sisu.

Edison has been very busy having whapping matches with Clara at anniemiz... and is sporting the scars to prove it.

Aloysius is completely occupied with trying to figure out why the humans at Catymology moved all his furniture.

Abby, Jinx & Gracie are busy waiting for the mysterious door to the forbidden room to open at Manx Mnews.

"Oh hai. In teh beginnin" ... The kitties at Meeyauw are busy presenting LOL Cat Bible: Lectionary Readings for the First Sunday after Pentecost and Ceiling Cat has the really hard job of creating the universe! ...

At Chey's Place, presidential candidate Chey is busy getting lost on the campaign trail. See if you know where she is!

That "uncooperative little cuss" Kismet is ... well, not too busy squeaking out a very quick video hello at TacJammer.

Meowza is busy rolling in the dirt over at iMeowza.

Their old friend Matilda is visiting the Ranger kitties while they're recuperating from the Snot-bonic Plague at Strange Ranger.

Mischief and Hi are involved in their exhibition of how two kitties can get along in the same condo at Your Moosey Fate.

They've been very busy at Cats with a wonderfully educational post about the African Lion.

Mr. Sebastian is preoccupied with using the laundry to demonstrate his skills as a hair relocation stylist at Furry Paws.

But not all kitties are busy. Things start to calm down a bit at Composite Drawlings where TiGrr and Peanut have called a truce and are doing an imitation of two attached meat loaves.

Luna stretches out to beat the heat -- as always, with style -- over at CatSynth.

It's all easy -- and very beautiful, too -- with Snow and Forest.

Pretty Willow is taking it gorgeously easy on her favorite chair and blanket at Willow's Cat blog.

China Cat was taking it somewhat easy ... until she was rudely interrupted by the flashy thing at China Cat's Blog ...

Jax, a rescued furbaby, is easily living the good life at Texas Oasis.

All the way over in Jerusalem, Missy enjoys peacefully gazing out the window over at Elms in the Yard.

Beautiful Bebe is a picture of purrfect contentment at The Poor Mouth.

Lovely Munchkin is luxuriating on video with some lavish mom attention at Cathouse Chat.

And finally, what would a Carnival be without goodies and games of chance? Don't miss your chance to win some wonderful signs that were donated by The Wren's Nest over at Cat Friends Helping Friends ... but you should go now because the raffle ends tomorrow, May 19! All raffle proceeds will help build up funds to help kitties in need.

Also, Auntie Deb & ML’s Auctions end in just a few hours -- tonight at midnight ET. 100% of the money goes directly to Mokie, Orange Boy & Sissy, who has kidney/liver failure.

............

Don't miss the next Carnival of the Cats

Sunday, May 25

at the M-Cats Club!

Rocky's To Do List

Rocky: Ah, the power of the purr! Thanks to all of your purrs, I stopped sneezing yesterday and didn't have to go to the v.e.t. after all! (My mom says she thinks I just snorfled a chunk of Lucy furs up my nose.) Today I'm feeling great and I'm back in action, tackling my To Do List for the weekend:First, I want to let you all know that Lucky got lucky!! We found a wonderful home for that great little woofie, and he now has a kitty brother to play with!

Next, I want to remind everyone that you only have until midnight tomorrow to get your raffle tickets for the six terrific signs at Cat Friends Helping Friends. Don't miss out on this one!

Also, do you use Fresh Step Litter? If so, you can collect Paw Points from the boxes and donate them to Cat Friends Helping Friends to help pay vet bills for kitties in need. Grr, Midnight & Cocoa have posted full Paw Points instructions on their blog.

And don't forget all the blogosphere kitty action this weekend:

Weekend Cat Blogging May 17-18 at Chey's Place

Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos May 18 at Bad Kitty Cats Journal

The Carnival of the Cats May 18 right here at Artsy Catsy

Finally, please be sure to check in at the Cat Blogosphere to hear all the latest cat news and to send healing purrs to our kitty friends who aren't feeling well!

Finally Friday - but Sicky Rocky

Phew, busy week! Now I'm resting up on my Rocky rocker for an even busier weekend ...Actually, I'm not feeling so good. I've been sneezing and moping around and my mom is threatening to take me to the v.e.t. if I don't perk up. So I'm hoping all my friends will purr for me so I don't even have to think about ::shudder:: riding in the car and being poked by the v.e.t.!

Good thing I've already had my carnival barker suit fitting and have all my plans in place for this Sunday's Carnival of the Cats ....

Don't forget to submit your Carnival post here!

Also, Miss Lenda Paw and I would like to remind you that you only have this weekend to buy your tickets for the six wonderful signs being raffled at Cat Friends Helping Friends. For as little as $5 you can decorate your house with them, or save them to give as really unique gifts! And you'll be helping to raise funds for kitties' vet bills ...

... ::Atchooo! Sniffle sniffle:: ... I'd better go now and rest or I might be one of those kitties in need :-(

Want to "get Lucky"?

Rocky: Artsy Catsy has been busy with woofie rescue! Last week we 'rescued' a sweet little puppy from an abusive home ... she is now named Gracie and is living about an hour from us, free and safe and happy and very, very loved.

Now we have another woofie who needs a home. We're introducing Lucky to you today, in hopes that you, or someone you know, will email us at artsycatsy(at)yahoo(dot)com saying you would like to welcome this adorable little boy into your home ...

Lucky was rescued in Indianapolis by a young couple where he was frantically running around in the middle of a busy intersection, in great danger of being hit by a car. The couple has tried everything to find Lucky's owners, but no one has claimed him. They have a baby and a small dog already and can't afford another dog … and in August they're moving to Mexico and can't take another dog with them in spite of the fact that they are getting attached to Lucky. They want to find him a good home because they will have to take him to a shelter otherwise … and they don't want to do that to Lucky. Lucky was such a mess when they saved him that they had to shave off his hair so it’s hard to tell what he will really look like. He is a small dog. He loves the baby, he loves their other dog, and is so happy and grateful and he is very playful and very energetic. And, best of all, Lucky loves cats! The couple has been unable to afford any vet care for Lucky … so they can only guess that he is maybe a year old. He hasn't been neutered and it's unknown whether he's had any vaccinations, etc. Lucky: Please pass this around to everyone you know and help me find a furever home. Just maybe I really will be “lucky”!!

Wordless Wednesday: Fracas? Wordless???

::I'm dreaming squillions of words:: :-)

CEO Groundskeeping

Rocky: I've been away from blogging for several days because I've been snoopervising my human artist in some very important Artsy Catsy groundskeeping. Yes! I've been OUTSIDE!!

First I made sure our clematis is blooming properly ...

Next, I mowed the grass out of our garden plot ... I had to sound a floofy tail alarm about this weird thing ... I checked out the roots of our peony garden ... I made sure there were no invading critters in our catalpa tree trunk: I pointed out some weeding that needs to be done ...

I inspected the old wash tub my mom is going to paint and transform into a planter.

It belonged to her great grandmother ...

Then I visited the graves of our kitties who came before ... And I spent a long while visiting the grave of my precious Dustbunny ...

Finally, I took a long rest in the shade ... Whew! Groundskeeping is hard work!