In the specialized realm of British broadcasters who became household names in the late 1970s and '80s and who now own cats, one man towers above the competition. That man is Keith Chegwin. His kitten is called Lily. Marvel at her now.

All images of Lily and Keith Chegwin via Twitter

Affectionately known as Cheggers to his legion of fans, the presenter's chirpy and cheeky presence dominated the domestic television and radio waves as he fronted up legendary programming like the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Saturday Superstar, and his calling card Cheggers Plays Pop. While Keith is still active on the entertainment circuit these days -- and is available to appear at your next soiree -- he also seems just as happy to relax at home with his kitty.

"We got Lily from Cats Protection," says Keith of the newest member to the Cheggers mansion. "She’d had a tough few weeks of life, having hurt her eye quite badly. We popped into our local Cats Protection center and immediately fell in love with her. She appeared to take to us right away and we spent most of our time cuddling."

Talking to Keith about Lily, it's apparent there was an instant attraction between the two of them that was sparked the very moment they met. "Our old cat who passed away was such a joy, and I thought we could never find another one like her," explains Keith. "But as soon as I saw 'Cheeky' Lily, I thought there might be a chance. She’s such a character."

"From day one she's been an absolute joy," Keith continues, talking about Lily's introduction to her new abode. "She’s ever so friendly. She was a little bit scared of the dogs [two Staffordshires] we have at first, but after two hours she was ruling the roost."

Then Cheggers segues into a classic feline punchline: "We bought her loads of toys to play with -- what a waste of money! The only thing she plays with and loves is a tatty ping-pong ball!"

With Keith's esteemed history in the world of television and radio presenting, it seemed only right to ask which of his on-air spars Lily most resembles. "She's like a friendly Lorraine Kelly," he shoots back with rapier-like speed. "She's feisty and fun. She also has that very sort of caring nature, too." Sounds like perfect sidekick material to me.

You can keep up with Lily Chegwin's latest adventures over at her human's Twitter account.

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

According to legend, the reign of Choupette the feline muse began when designer Karl Lagerfeld refused to return an adorable white, longhaired, blue-eyed kitten to her owner, model Baptiste Giabiconi. Baptiste claims he'd merely asked Lagerfeld to watch over the kitten for a short while. But when Karl falls in love it happens quickly, and he falls hard.

What do you think Choupette could be thinking looking out the window of her private jet?

Lagerfeld promptly began parading Choupette around as his pride and joy.

"I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat," Mr. Lagerfeld said in a CNN interview. Choupette lives in the literal lap of luxury, documented in the newly released book, Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat.

Choupette celebrates her Birthday in style and spends time on her personal iPad (source: twitter.com/ChoupettesDiary)

Yes, she has her own iPad, it’s true, and she files on a private jet with Lagerfeld, but that is the tip of the iceberg. "When we go on a trip,” Francoise, Choupette's maid, told Harpers Bazaar UK, “Choupette has almost as many bags as Mr. Lagerfeld ... bags of toys and beauty products and a travel case made specially for her by Goyard."

Karl is quoted as saying, “She has lunch and dinner with me, on the table, with her own dishes. She never touches my food. She would never eat on the floor."

Choupette in her custom Goyard carrier, and dining in style at Karl's dining table (source: HarpersBazaarUKonline)

What’s the follow-up act for a cat after her every move has been documented in a book? Inspire a makeup line of course. Shu Uemura’s 2014 holiday's line, aptly named Shupette (a combination of both "brand" names), has Choupette’s “markings” all over it.

Shoupette packaging will feature original illustrations by none other than Karl Lagerfeld himself (source: WWD)

The international press-reveal in Paris highlighted packaging featuring Mr. Lagerfeld's own hand-illustrated images of Choupette. It’s said the collection will include four “cat eye” looks, one of which will have an eye shadow mimicking the color of Choupette’s blue eyes. The line is slated to hit the shelves this month.

sources: mariefranceasia.com (top) and makeup4all.com (bottom)

It seems Choupette is a very effective muse. A book and makeup line in one year isn’t all she’s inspired. Let me introduce you to “Monster Choupette,” a collection of bags, clothing and more, due for release under Karl’s own label in November.

From what we've seen thus far, the pieces feature a slightly creepy, cartoonish rendering of the cute fluffy kitty. Perhaps this is Karl’s attempt at being edgy after his previous upscale projects, an attempt to appeal to the hipster market for the holiday season? For me, however, the creepiness of the collection comes not from Karl’s attempts at making her look scary, but at his attempts to anthropomorphize a cartoon cat with lipstick and false eyelashes. To say I’m a tad concerned about this man is an understatement!

Monster Choupette due in store this November 2014 (source: pursuitist.com)

Choupette certainly has late-2014 covered between the publishing and fashion worlds. One can only hope that this adorable cat living on a pedestal in the midst of Lagerfeld’s empire isn’t lonely. Perhaps it’s time for a Carlotta or Charlette to keep her company? Karl, just think of the untapped male fashion market!

Follow the uber-busy Choupette through Twitter and Instagram to keep up with her latest adventures and business endeavors! 

Read stories of rescue and love on Catster:

• The Story of Buzz and How He Got His Fuzz Back
• Chase No Face Is Just Like Any Other Kitty -- Except With No Face
• Breaking News, You Guys: A Study Says That Cats Can Love!

About the Author: Tamar Arslanian is a singleton living in New York City with her cats Kip, Petie, and Haddie. She writes about felines, relationships, and life in the Big Apple at  I HAVE CAT. Recently she attended the LA Feline Film Festival and had the distinct honor of petting Lil BUB. Her official report, "She's very soft, cute and 'grunty' up-close." Tamar's biggest secret? She didn’t grow up with pets -- unless goldfish and a hamster count. Tamar adopted her first cat in her mid-30s, thanks to a man she was dating at the time. Follow Tamar on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Warrior lived next door to me in Oakland in 1990. He was a scruffy, white, long-haired cat missing an eye and most of one ear. His frame looked like a car undergoing extensive body work after a severe wreck -- more visible scars and patches than original paint. Warrior didn't really belong to my neighbor, Darcel. Warrior would get in hellacious fights and show up at Darcel's door. Darcel would then feed him and get him healthy again, at which point Warrior would go wild-eyed and claw everything in sight until he got let out. He was one of several homeless cats living in or around the small outdoor complex who certain people fed and watched over as best they could.

Around the same time, my dad, in Middle Tennessee, had adopted one indoor-outdoor cat and then somehow acquired a couple of others. Then he got a couple of more cats who lived outside. Then several more who came and went but didn't interact with humans. Eventually my dad cared for about 20 cats and got to know them all. He gave them names and knew their personalities, even if he never got to hold or pet them. He diligently executed a pretty complex feeding schedule. He eventually caught a couple of the "mama cats" and had them fixed.

Photo CC-BY-SA Martin Lopatka

I never knew what to call these cats, and to be honest, I never thought too much about it. Were they feral? Strays? Abandoned? All are possibilities. And until recently I never knew how common these types of cats are. Cats all over the United States and the world live in neither homes nor shelters. Some are feral. Some are not. The thing is, they're all cats, and they're just as deserving of food, love, and care regardless of whether they'll ever find a home -- or whether they could tolerate one.

Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell, talks about such cats in a video he made for Alley Cat Allies for National Feral Cat Day, which is today (Oct. 16).

Have a look:

I realized after watching the video that I've known cats like this but never knew much about them or how to help. In 1990, it didn't occur to me to check whether Warrior had been neutered. Now it would. And I knew my dad was doing the right thing by getting the mama cats fixed, but I had no idea that trap-neuter-return was an organized thing -- and back then, maybe it wasn't yet.

Alley Cat Allies offered me an interview with its staff attorney, Elizabeth Holtz. Our email exchange is below. It educated me, and I hope it does the same for readers who want to know more about this marginal feline population and how to help.

Cat Dandy: What’s your experience with feral cats, and what is your role at Alley Cat Allies?

Elizabeth Holtz: My primary role is researching policy issues surrounding cats and advising local governments on drafting positive legislation. I participate in trap-neuter-return and live with two cats: Pinguino (a kitten from a colony that I helped) and Jabba the Catt, as well as my dog, George.

I’m sure that a lot of people, some of them cat owners or advocates, see no evidence of feral or community cats in their everyday lives. How significant a problem do these cats represent?

Feral, or community, cats have existed alongside humans for more than 10,000 years. Their existence is not the problem. Instead, our approach to community cats has been problematic. For decades, the predominant method of animal control in terms of community cats has been trapping and killing. This is not only ineffective but it’s also cruel and has resulted in the high euthanasia rates at shelters with no impact on the community cat population.

Photo by Jason Putsche Photography

What’s the best way for people to actively help if they want to?

Two ways. First, you can participate in hands-on trap-neuter-return, or TNR. TNR is occurring in every part of the country, and you will probably be able to find a local TNR group in your area by searching online. Second, you can become an advocate for cats at the local government level. I suggest people read our Advocacy Toolkit to learn how to lobby for humane laws for cats at the city and county level.

What level of training, if any, is needed to be part of a TNR program?

There’s no formal training required, but we recommend people read about TNR before trying it. You can read our very detailed guide to TNR. Ideally, you will be able to trap with a more experienced trapper your first time. But that’s not always possible. I trapped for the first time by myself, simply armed with a guide I printed from a website. I didn’t trap any cats, but I learned from my mistakes and caught four the next time.

What are some rewards of such effort?

The rewards are great. You have a chance to make a wonderful impact on an individual cat’s life. Spaying or neutering a cat makes the cat happier and healthier. In terms of being a TNR advocate, you have a chance to impact hundreds, even thousands, of cats’ lives in a positive way. Good ordinances and shelter policies reduce euthanasia rates and shelter intake, allowing shelters to focus on lifesaving programs.

Here's the "return" portion of "trap-neuter-return." Jason Putsche Photography

How far has TNR come since your organization first supported it in 1990?

Trap-neuter-return is now mainstream and embraced by state and local governments across the country. It’s the only humane and effective approach to community cats, and governments are taking note. This is not something that is occurring in back alleys in secret. It’s a method endorsed across the U.S. from New York City to Dallas to San Francisco.

What are the next challenges with TNR? What are your organization’s ultimate goals?

Establishing trap-neuter-return in every community and animal control agency is the next step. Ultimately, our goal is to make TNR the predominant method of animal control and make it safe for people to care for community cats.

Alley Cat Allies refers to these animals mostly as “community cats.” What name does your organization prefer to call them, and why is the name important?

The term “community cats” is a more accurate representation of cats living outdoors. Feral refers to the socialization level of a cat. A feral cat is not socialized to people and would not make a good pet. The reality is that cats living outdoors have a wide range of socialization levels. Some cats might bond with their caregivers but shy away from strangers. Other cats might be comfortable approaching people but prefer to live outdoors with their families.

Your group states that more than 450 U.S. cities and counties have ordinances or policies endorsing TNR, and that more than 600 nonprofit groups practice it. How far is there to go? Why hasn't it been universally adopted?

by Shutterstock

As long as healthy cats are being euthanized in our shelters, we will still have work to do. Every day we are reaching out to local governments and shelters that have not yet embraced TNR. I think that the primary reason that some places have not adopted TNR yet is simply a lack of education about community cats and TNR. Change is difficult even when the old ways of doing things has proven to be ineffective.

Alley Cat Allies president and founder Becky Robinson has said that TNR “saves lives and tax dollars.” How does it save tax dollars?

Trapping and killing community cats is not only cruel, it’s ineffective. Because of a scientific phenomenon called the “vacuum effect,” when cats are removed from an area, cats from surrounding areas simply move in and breed to capacity. It creates an endless cycle that wastes taxpayer dollars. Local governments using trap and kill waste money year after year paying for officers to trap cats, impound them at the local shelter, and then kill them. Through TNR programs, cats continue to live in an area, keeping potential newcomers at bay but no longer reproducing. The population decreases over time. When fewer cats are impounded, shelter conditions improve for all animals. A decrease in shelter intake decreases incidence of disease (such as upper respiratory infections) saving taxpayer dollars that would be spent on medications and veterinary services.

Jackson Galaxy produced the public service announcement for your group for Feral Cat Day. How would you describe his role in helping these cats and your organization?

Jackson Galaxy has been an invaluable advocate for cats, TNR, and Alley Cat Allies. People trust and respect his opinions on cats and animal welfare. Having him in our corner lets us reach a far wider audience.

Galaxy expresses the need to love, support, and protect all cats. How does that attitude fit with your group’s mission, and how might it apply to educate people who don’t know much about community cats?

Alley Cat Allies values the life of every cat regardless of where they live. Sadly, many people mistakenly believe that community cats do not have the same legal protections of pet cats. All state cruelty codes protect cats, no matter their socialization level. Galaxy’s message perfectly aligns with our beliefs. As for people who may not know very much about community cats, it’s a great introduction because it values all cats equally.

++++++++++++++++++

Cat Dandy knows that a lot of cats have it pretty hard:

• What to Wear: Cat Fashion Rules According to Cat Dandy
• That Time Martha Stewart Helped Me Clean Up Cat Vomit
• If Cats Own the Internet, Why Don't They Get Spam?
• My Cat Thomas and I Reach the "I Love You" Stage of Our Relationship
• How Many Names Does One Cat Need, Anyway?
• My Cat Has a Foot Fetish
• My Cat Got Stoned and Spent the Night in His New Hot Tub
• Serious Question: Do You Have Sex While Your Cat Is in the Room?
• I Gave My Cat a Tarot Reading
• I Think of My Cat as My Friend; Am I Out of My Mind?
• Jackson Galaxy Interview: The Cat Daddy Meets the Cat Dandy
• I Got My First Cat-Sitting Assignment -- And I Blew It
• I Love Animals, Including the Ones I Eat: Thoughts from a Cat-Loving Omnivore

Laugh with us:

• 6 Things You Should NOT Do When Giving a Cat a Bath
• 10 Cheesy Pick-Up Lines From Smooth-Talking Cats
• The Rumors Are True: My Cat Is a Tape Addict

About Keith Bowers: This broad-shouldered, bald-headed, leather-clad motorcyclist also has passions for sharp clothing, silver accessories, great writing, the arts, and cats. This career journalist loves painting, sculpting, photographing, and getting on stage. He once was called "a high-powered mutant," which also describes his cat, Thomas. He is senior editor at Catster.

In a new public service commercial promoting early spay/neuter, trap-neuter-return, and the dangers of hoarding -- and maybe Diet Coke (?) -- Taylor Swift drinks a Diet Coke, and every time she sips, cats magically appear.

The ad starts simply, with one cat, but after Swift drinks from her bottle of soda (Diet Coke), we suddenly have two cats, highlighting how quickly cats can reproduce and also perhaps something about Diet Coke.

When Taylor drinks again, there are more cats, again showcasing the swift manner in which cats multiply and presumably more things about Diet Coke (maybe the levels of aspartame in it?). More cats appear with each sip, almost like Swift is a tomcat impregnating generations of females through some new rapid-fire Diet Coke-based fertilization technique discovered by ... T.I., let's say.  

Finally, the ad jumps to the future, where Taylor, decades from her last hit song and enmeshed in an extreme hoarding situation under hundreds of cats, raises her Diet Coke one last time before, off-camera, the door is busted down and the cats are rescued.  

The tagline "What if life tasted as good as Diet Coke?" flashes on-screen, nonsensically. 

Don't believe us? Watch it: 

OK, it's just a Diet Coke ad, and it's a pretty good one, too, if you like cats. At the end of it is Taylor's own cat, and she's adorable. There's also a pitch for Taylor's next album, because someone saw a nice opportunity for a little cross-promotion and is probably getting a raise. 

But still, all those multiplying cats. We can't help think there's an cat activist with a lot of pull somewhere in Coke's ad company. Early spay/neuter, people. 

Via CatChannel.com 

Learn more about your cat with Catster:

• I'm Willing to Bet That Your Cat Hates Her Litter Box -- Here's Why
• Weird Cat Facts: 8 Reasons Your Cat Likes to Lick You
• Our Best Tips for Getting Your Cat to Let You Sleep

A British cultural touchstone for the last 50 years, Doctor Who debuted on November 23, 1963. It is only since its revival in 2005 that it's really started gaining mass appeal here in the U.S., where it airs on BBC America. If you're unfamiliar, Doctor Who is about an alien called "the Doctor" who travels through time and space in a blue police box that's bigger on the inside.

We all know the first rule of cats: "If it fits, I sits." The TARDIS is normally more accommodating. BBC promo image from "Flatline," cat photo by buddhathesphynx on Instagram.

"What do you think of the new look?"

Change is at the heart of Doctor Who. The lead actor changes on a regular basis, as do his traveling companions. In August 2014, Peter Capaldi's tenure as the Doctor officially got under way.

What does any of this have to do with cats? Well, I wrote a piece recently about the singular challenges of owning hairless cats. As I finished writing, an uncanny resemblance struck me with the force of revelation.

Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi looks like a hairless cat! Doctor Who still from "Deep Breath," cat photo by alf_and_dips on Instagram.

I was simultaneously reminded of and inspired by Red Scharlach's infamous Tumblr gem, "Otters Who Look Like Benedict Cumberbatch." Since Peter Capaldi's first episode, he's absolutely owned the role of the Doctor. He is a great actor, and his dynamic facial features play their part. It was quite a task to represent the range and scope of Peter Capaldi's remarkable face using only hairless cats, but I had to try.

Turns out hairless cats are just as expressive as Peter Capaldi in Doctor Who. Still image from "Deep Breath," cat photo by erintorola on Instagram.

"Who frowned me this face?"

Although the character of the Doctor is continuous, thirteen actors have now played the lead role since 1963. From Colin Baker, whose 6th Doctor wore a series of cat lapel pins, to Paul McGann's 8th Doctor, who became a cat for a short time in the comics, each delivers a unique interpretation. Peter Capaldi's Doctor comes across as gruff and aloof at times, and is clearly impatient with anything that isn't strictly relevant to the crisis at hand.

Peter Capaldi is more distant from humans than his predecessor. Still image from "Into the Dalek," cat photo by Sphynx (Canadian hairless) kitten on the black background by Shutterstock.

It's a gross oversimplification, but during the David Tennant and Matt Smith eras of Doctor Who (2005-2013), the Doctor tended to be a genial, welcoming, and tolerant character. With Peter Capaldi, Doctor Who reminds us on a weekly basis that while the Doctor may look human, he is an alien who has "walked this universe for centuries untold" and seen "stars fall to dust."

Peter Capaldi's iteration of Doctor Who highlights the Doctor as essentially alien. It's marvelous. Still image from "Kill the Moon," cat photo by operrelx on Instagram.

"Basically, it's the eyebrows."

That alienness -- and the prominent orbital structure of their faces -- made hairless cats the ideal feline analogue for Peter Capaldi's Doctor. The points of comparison between hairless cats and Peter Capaldi's Doctor Who don't stop at the frontal bones, nor the fine lines and wrinkles that endow them with such character.

Oh, you have opinions about Doctor Who? Hairless cats? Do tell! Still image from "The Caretaker," cat photo by dani_shaisphynx on Instagram.

Fans of hairless cats are just as opinionated about the Sphynx cat as fans of the show are about Sylvester McCoy's 7th Doctor. They are as knowledgeable about the Peterbald cat as Doctor Who fans are about Peter Davison's 5th incarnation. Pedantic Who fans will protest that Peter Capaldi is not bald; they're not alone, since, technically, neither are hairless cats.

Hairless cat owners can match Doctor Who fans for encyclopedic knowledge of their favorite subject. Still image of Peter Capaldi from "Into the Dalek," cat photo by inkedxoxo on Instagram.

"Please ... just see me."

Regardless which actor inhabits the role, the Doctor is at his best when he shares his adventures, usually with a human companion. The Doctor has a tendency to go off the rails when he is alone for too long. Any hairless cat owner will have a similar story. Hairless cats are extremely social creatures, bordering on clingy, who only truly thrive when they have constant companionship. Many hairless cat devotees solve this with a second hairless cat.

Hairless cats need constant attention and interaction; Peter Capaldi's Doctor Who is skeptical. Still image from "Into the Dalek," cat photo by indira_the_sphynx on Instagram.

Companionship takes a number of forms, as Peter Capaldi's companion, Clara, would easily attest. Where the previous Doctor, Matt Smith, was a big fan of affectionate interaction, Peter Capaldi is decidedly not. "I don't think that I'm a hugging person now," he says, uncomfortable at Clara's friendly embrace in the season premiere. Hairless cats, on the other hand, can't get enough of physical contact.

Enjoyment of physical contact is an important difference between Peter Capaldi's Doctor and hairless cats. Still image from "Deep Breath," cat photo by alf_and_dips on Instagram.

"I was hoping for minimalism, but I think I came out with magician."

When companions travel with the Doctor, their lives and perspectives change substantially, if not irrevocably. It is much the same with hairless cat owners. People who like low-maintenance relationships do well to steer clear of both. Any relationship worth having is worth working on and committing to. That goes double for hairless cats and Peter Capaldi's brand of Doctor Who.

High-maintenance relationships: hairless cats and Peter Capaldi's Doctor Who. Still image from "Time Heist," cat photo by 2sphynx on Instagram.

One of my favorite Doctor Who podcasts, Verity!, recently described traveling with the Doctor as similar to "wrangling 12 children." To be sure, Peter Capaldi's Doctor can be mercurial and reckless. That's not a problem with hairless cats, but their limited fur means they need weekly grooming attention from their human friends, and their high metabolism means they are always looking for high-quality food.

Living with a hairless cat and traveling with the Doctor each present unique challenges to humans. Still image from "Robot of Sherwood," cat photo, Young cat sphynx isolated on a white background, by Shutterstock.

"You can't put pictures of me online!"

In "Kill the Moon," Peter Capaldi's Doctor is distressed to find that a schoolgirl has been posting pictures of him on Tumblr. His desire for anonymity is not surprising. It was a missed opportunity, though. The Doctor should have advised her to stick to the true purpose of social media: sharing cat pictures. Pictures of cats make everyone happy.

Everyone loves kitten pictures. Still image from "Mummy on the Orient Express," cat photo by pernellthesphynx on Instagram.

"It's the end" of our look at Doctor Who and hairless cats, "but the moment has been prepared for." Which fandom do you represent: hairless cats? Doctor Who? Do you occupy the intersection of the Venn diagram? Catster's covered both before! We want to hear from all of you! Which Doctor is your favorite? What breed of hairless cat do you like best? Let us know in the comments!

Taylor Swift has been spotted carrying her cat, Olivia Benson, around town, causing us to wonder: Should we be carrying our cats around town? Are cats the new breathing accessory of the smart set? Is carrying dogs around town passe? Do cats even like being carried around town? Is Taylor Swift's new album any damn good?

Where the hell are we going now?

Rather than simply shout questions into the air for a few hours -- which we could do, but still -- we decided to ask our cat, Stella, if we could carry her around town.

You want to carry me where? What the hell is this?

So, Stella, Taylor Swift has been --

Stop right there. Taylor Swift?

Singer/songwriter? Shake it off? I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake --

I LOVE that song.

Really? Huh. Well, Taylor does this thing where she carries her cat around town, and I was wondering if you'd like to try it.

Taylor is going to carry me around town? Get my blue sweater! Where's my bowl? I bet we go to Spagos.

No, I'm going to carry you around town.

You?

Me.

Oh.

Yeah.

Huh.

I know. 

Well, where would you carry me?

Oh, I don't know. We could get a taco or something?

You want me to get a taco with you.

Maybe a hot dog.

Nah, it's cool. I'm fine here.

How about we go shopping?

Gucci? Kate Spade? Godiva?

I was thinking the dollar store to buy a strainer.

I'm fine here.

Hey, I know! I could carry you in a fancy bag like Taylor does.

What kind of bag do you have?

I have a sack from Trader Joes.

It's OK.

It's reusable.

It's OK.

I could carry you to a show?

The Palladium? The Ritz? The Bowl?

How about the docks to watch that guy who acts like a statue until you give him a --

Really, I'm fine here. I have my bowl, my food, it's all right here. Go out, have a good time.

But I really want to carry you around town.

Go get your strainer.

How about a coffee?

You mean a cappuccino?

Yeah, that.

Can I lie on the counter and let the baristas praise me?

Er, sure.

Deal. Go get your posse and meet me back here in ten. I need to groom my privates.

Posse?

Your associates? Hangers-on? Underlings on the payroll?

How about Paul?

Suspenders Paul?

He doesn't always wear suspenders.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think you have what it takes to carry a cat around town.

Come on! I'm cool. I could carry you.

Maybe try it with a dog first. One of those little guys. See how it feels. Hit me up again in the spring.

I just wanted to carry you around town.

Doesn't everyone, man. Go get your strainer. I gotta sleep for a few dozen hours.

Come back at me when you have a Porsche.

Swift photo via her Twitter.

Read more funny stuff:  

• Homebuyers Pay an Extra $100,000 to Keep the House Cat
• We Ask a Sphynx Cat What It's Like to Be Bald
• Does Your Cat Have Pet Peeves?
• Should I Worry About My Cat Bending Like the iPhone?
• New Wave Bands of the '80s -- If Cats Were in Them
• Drinking Water Sources for Cats, Ranked from Best to Absolute Worst
• Further Observations on My Cat's Relationship With My New Baby
• GASP: Celebrity Cat Nudes Leaked!
• We Ask a Cat: How to Fight Procrastination
• 40 Blankets for Cats, Ranked
• Should You Bring Your Cat to Burning Man?
• Hot Takes: What Cats Think of the 2014 NFL Teams
• Dos and Don'ts for Taking Your Hipster Cat to San Francisco's First Caturday
• In Honor of Bird Day, Here Are Cats' Favorite Birds, Ranked
• Do Cats Have to File Income Tax Returns?
• Will the Heartbleed Web Security Bug Affect My Cat?
• What to Expect When You're Expecting (to Give Birth to a Cat)
• Why Your Cat Is Obsessed With You on the Toilet
• How to Host the Perfect Summer Party for Cats (Because Why the Heck Not?)
• How to Throw a Birthday Party for Your Cat
• We Interpret 6 Wacky Medieval Cat Illustrations
• Why Cats Love the Start of Baseball Season  

Taylor Swift has been whisking up a grand old brouhaha lately. If the former country kid turned pop princess isn't inspiring think pieces on the ethics of carrying your cat around town, she's stoking up the ire of curmudgeonly long-time New Yorkers for daring to pen an ode to the city with her new "Welcome to New York" single. So why not attempt some sort of mediation and combine the two? Voila, here is a feline-friendly guide to New York City for Taylor and her cat, Olivia Benson.

For a sense of Big Apple history, Taylor and Olivia might want to take a pilgrimage to the site of the country's first cat cafe. Situated downtown on the Bowery, the venture tested the waters as a pop-up spot earlier this year, and there are plans to turn it into a permanent fixture. A selfie of Taylor and Olivia outside the spot, possibly holding a sign saying "Will shake for coffee," would do wonders for the cause.

Photo via Instagram

Despite the odd Department of Health warning, the trend of bringing dogs to bars in New York City shows no signs of grinding to a deserved halt. Canny cat fanatics know about a feline gem in the rough though, as Post No Bills bar in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn is a relaxed watering hole with an in-house feline resident. His name is Daniel.

Probably because of the public health mandates, the trend of bringing your cat to a restaurant in New York City has never really taken off. Nevertheless, the bathroom at the locavore-centred Vesta restaurant in Astoria, Queens, has a restroom that is basically a shrine to deliberately kooky cat art. I, for one, have spent way too many minutes in there running the hand dryer and pretending to wash my hands.

Photo via Algonquin Hotel

Whenever Taylor and Olivia feel the need to surround themselves with high class, they should head to the Algonquin Hotel. The establishment became renowned for its Round Table, where writers such as Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley would meet, discuss writing, and get blotto. It also claims a feline presence in the form of a resident cat. The current fixture is named Matilda -- and she even celebrates her birthday each year in the grand old hotel.

Photo via YouTube

Taylor and Olivia seem like BFFs, but sometimes a cat needs a little same-species socializing. In those cases, I'd recommend hopping a cab to the BARC animal shelter in Williamsburg -- a no-kill place brimming with cats (and a rooster). It's one of the city's most renowned adoption centers. I scooped up my own cat, Mimosa, from there, and recently the current kitties were given the chance to audition for Meow The Jewels, the world's first rap album made up of cat sounds and samples. What price an Olivia Benson cameo on the project?

• Ever Considered Adopting an Older or Disabled Cat? You Will After Seeing These Comics
• 5 Ways Cats Are Easier to Live With and Care for Than Dogs
• Are Laser Pointers Actually Good Cat Toys?

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

A revolution is afoot. Or at least a gradual change in American society. Although more American households have dogs than cats as pets, domestic cats outnumber dogs in the United States by more than four million. This is according to the most recent statistics I could find online from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Yet "cat vs. dog" doesn't really matter here. What matters is that more people are getting pets. And as cat ownership becomes more common, stigmas associated with it -- especially among men -- should start to dissipate.

Meanwhile, the chance also increases that any given pet owner is a human who happens to love animals rather than one who loves animals and devotes most of his or her life to animal rescue and adoption. Rescue and adoption are remarkably worthwhile efforts, to be sure, but if we're to end the killing of homeless animals we're going to need a whole lot more men who consider themselves just "guys with cats" alongside all the dedicated and devoted, wholly immersed "cat guys." It's my hope that one day, we won't need nearly as many rescue-and-adoption advocates because we'll have far fewer cats and dogs searching for homes.

One way to make more people aware that men (namely, handsome, well-dressed men) are part of this feline revolution is to show cats and guys together. The 2015 Tomcats Calendar, which benefits the Tenth Life rescue group in St. Louis, does this well.

"Everyone involved in the production -- the models, the photographers, and crew -- donated their time and talents to make this very special project possible," Tenth Life wrote in a press release. "All proceeds go directly to Tenth Life and will be used to help stray cats and kittens with special needs get the medical care, love, and forever homes they deserve."

I interviewed one of the men featured with a Tenth Life rescue cat in the $20 calendar, Doug Hall. His photo is below, and our exchange follows.

Doug Hall and his calendar cat for February 2015.

Cat Dandy: What is your personal background with cats?

Doug Hall: Until recently, I was what most would consider a dog person. Our family didn’t own cats growing up, and I never thought I would. Up until my 30s, I had little to no interaction with felines.

What role do cats play in your life now? Do you live with any?

My ex-wife is a cat person. During our marriage we adopted a cat. A couple of years later a stray showed up on our back porch and refused to leave. Milo stayed with me through my divorce and lives with me to this day. As far as his “role,” I would say he’s in charge and I just pay the bills.

Are you (or have you been) directly involved in any rescue or shelter work?

For the last three years I have volunteered for a local shelter for stray dogs. Milo prefers to be the alpha in most situations, so adopting a dog would not go over well. I get my dog fix at the shelter and my cat fix at home.

There's Doug again, in the upper left corner.

I see you have a background in entertainment and public relations. Tell me a little more about that.

I’ve been in the entertainment business for close to 20 years now; I am currently the president of TalentPlus Entertainment in St. Louis. We broker live entertainment and program venues throughout the country as well as internationally.

One stereotype about men who love cats, or people in general who love cats, is that we’re socially awkward, ill-adjusted shut-ins who redirect our emotional needs onto our pets. Your life runs in direct contradiction to this. What can you say about the “cat guy” stereotype and your own life and experience?

I’ve never been someone that confines themselves to social norms. I love my cat. He and I get along just fine. And frankly, a cat is a perfect partner for someone with a work/social calendar as complicated as mine. I never have to run home to walk my cat. And at the end of a long day he’s right there chilling with me on the couch. I’ve always thought of pets as partners. You live an interdependent lifestyle. Some people need pets for comfort or solace. In fact, we all do (some just more than others). They provide unconditional love, and we provide them with affection, shelter, and sustenance.

I’m man enough to admit that my cat gives me joy. And his personality suits me completely. He’s been the screensaver on my phone for years now. I’ve never had someone look at my phone and give me grief for loving my cat. So, I must be doing something right, regardless of stereotypes.

What led you to appear in the Tomcats Calendar? Did your professional life inform that?

Centro Models, our model division at TalentPlus, was contacted by Julie Dietrich, stylist, for the shoot to see if we would donate models for the cause. Sarah Landa, our director of development and placement, thought it would be a good idea to throw me in the mix given my relationship with Milo. I honestly thought they were joking, considering the professional models in the submission, but they asked me to shoot. I did get February, the shortest month, as I’m sure those other guys have at least two to three more days of hanging power than I.

What would you say to people who insist that there must be something wrong with you if you’re a man who loves cats?

I’d probably thank them for their opinion and remind them that I just needed directions back to the city or at least somewhere with indoor plumbing and decent cell service.

I see that you, like me, are a man who takes his wardrobe and appearance seriously. Can you draw any parallels to that and cats, or your love or admiration of the species?

Any parallel would reinforce those aforementioned stereotypes. I’m a heterosexual man who prefers dressing well, supports LGBT rights, is open with his emotions, and owns a cat. I do exactly what I want to do and the way I want to do it. I don’t believe the image of a strong man is some slouch in flannel sweats, sitting in the back of a pickup truck eating Chunky soup. I believe a real man has convictions, a strong ethical code, and does what he loves in spite of other peoples’ opinions. I’m not judging Chunky soup guy; I’m just doing me.

How do you see a project such as the Tomcats calendar, which involved well-dressed, handsome men and cats, promoting cat rescue and adoption overall?

I think it’s a great concept for a wonderful cause. Awareness is key but so is raising funds. A constant reminder that cats need homes and that men do love cats is a great way to inspire people to adopt or donate.

What can you tell me about Tenth Life? Have you worked with the organization before?

The calendar shoot was my first experience with Tenth Life Cat Rescue, but I’m sure it won’t be my last. I was very impressed to learn what the organization does for cats, especially those with special needs. Injuries and physical or chronic issues can be too expensive for other organizations. Tenth Life prioritizes cats who couldn’t be helped elsewhere. I believe the species’ natural sense of independence leads people to believe they can take care of themselves, but many cannot.

How can people get one of the Tomcat Calendars?

The easiest way is to visit the Tenth Life website order form. Just make sure you do it before February or else you’ll be missing out on remembering all those national holidays and a crushing picture of yours truly with a Tenth Life rescue. Or, you can quickly make friends with my mother. She’s giving them out as holiday gifts.

Is there anything I haven’t asked that you want to say?

Have you ordered your Tenth Life Tomcat calendar yet?

"Yes I have!" said Cat Dandy. "Have you, dear readers?"

Do you think handsome, well-dressed men are a good way to raise awareness about rescue and adoption? Has someone ever made an assumption about you after learning that you love cats? Tell me in the comments.

Cat Dandy is humbled by the words of this fellow guy who loves cats:

• What to Wear: Cat Fashion Rules According to Cat Dandy
• That Time Martha Stewart Helped Me Clean Up Cat Vomit
• If Cats Own the Internet, Why Don't They Get Spam?
• My Cat Thomas and I Reach the "I Love You" Stage of Our Relationship
• How Many Names Does One Cat Need, Anyway?
• My Cat Has a Foot Fetish
• My Cat Got Stoned and Spent the Night in His New Hot Tub
• Serious Question: Do You Have Sex While Your Cat Is in the Room?
• I Gave My Cat a Tarot Reading
• I Think of My Cat as My Friend; Am I Out of My Mind?
• Jackson Galaxy Interview: The Cat Daddy Meets the Cat Dandy
• I Got My First Cat-Sitting Assignment -- And I Blew It
• I Love Animals, Including the Ones I Eat: Thoughts from a Cat-Loving Omnivore

Laugh with us:

• 6 Things You Should NOT Do When Giving a Cat a Bath
• 10 Cheesy Pick-Up Lines From Smooth-Talking Cats
• The Rumors Are True: My Cat Is a Tape Addict

About Keith Bowers: This broad-shouldered, bald-headed, leather-clad motorcyclist also has passions for sharp clothing, silver accessories, great writing, the arts, and cats. This career journalist loves painting, sculpting, photographing, and getting on stage. He once was called "a high-powered mutant," which also describes his cat, Thomas. He is senior editor at Catster.

"Interior design" and "cat furniture" often inhabit different planets, conceptually speaking. If one didn't know better, one might believe the best piece of cat furniture, aesthetically speaking, is the least-ugly item at Walmart, one whose color, materials, and form detract from a room's surroundings the least. But we live in the DIY-crazed 2010s, and one can know better -- and do better -- than taupe carpet monstrosities and garish plastic nightmares.

Knowledge, thy name is Catification, the new book by Kate Benjamin and Jackson Galaxy and published by Penguin Random House. (Read on to learn how you could win a copy.)

Benjamin's design knowledge (see: Hauspanther) is mixed with Galaxy's behavior expertise to tell readers what is good for cats and also looks good to humans. A design expert reading Catification, for example, will learn what makes a cat happy in a given space, while a cat behaviorist will learn how to build perches, trees, and catios to improve and enhance that happiness.

Kate Benjamin and Jackson Galaxy

Being neither an interior designer nor a cat behaviorist, I found the book remarkably informative and also accessible. It asks you gauge the behavior and preferences of your own cats to better know their needs, and it also give case studies that demonstrate challenges and their ultimate solutions.

Plus, it has a lot of really cool pictures of projects people did themselves for their cats.

In November, Catification reached No. 1 in the Animals category on the New York Times best-seller list. Being a cat-loving man who's also conscious of aesthetics and style, I knew that an interview with Benjamin (who is also a regular Catster contributor) would be a great fit for Cat Dandy.

Cat Dandy: Catification starkly demonstrates that if you have cats, your home needn’t resemble a collection of every cheap, garish cat tower, window perch and day-glo toy you’ve ever seen at the likes of Petco. Is there more to it, though, than the human angle? Does it help cats, too?

Kate Benjamin: We catify primarily for our cats, but the people have to be happy, too. That’s exactly the reason Jackson and I partnered on this project. Together we are the Catification Team -– Jackson knows what cats need and I know how to make the people happy. Both sides are critical. When we go into someone’s home and add all kinds of Catification elements, even if the cats love it, if the people hate it they will just tear it out as soon as we leave. Catification aims to show cat guardians that they can accommodate their cats' needs in a way that makes them happy, too.

A cat tree inspired by nature, in the home of Rebecca and Richard Brittain of Clearwater, Florida. Photo by Rebecca Brittain

A first-time cat owner who has lived with other pets -- such as dogs -- might believe he or she understands pets (and cats) enough to accommodate their indoor needs. How does Catification address this?

The first part of the book goes into detail about the natural instincts of cats and how we need to design with these instincts in mind. Jackson uses the term “the raw cat” to talk about how cats naturally behave in the wild. We describe how cats really are unique since they are closer to how they were in the wild than other pets. It’s important for pet owners getting a cat for the first time to understand these unique needs of indoor cats and how Catification can help enrich their lives.

Catification encourages readers to think of themselves as interior designers and their cats as clients. How does this work?

Any designer must get to know their client. It’s the same with Catification. We included some worksheets in the book to help people observe their own cats and take notes on the cats’ particular preferences. Armed with this information, cat guardians can then install different features that appeal specifically to their cats, increasing the likelihood that the cats will actually use the new features. It’s the same way with any design process -- if the designer just does what he or she pleases with no regard for what the client wants, there’s a good chance that the client will be unhappy.

This kitchen plan for cats Olive and Pepper was taken from a case study from "My Cat From Hell."

What was your motivation for writing Catification?

Animal behaviorists have written many books over the years that address environmental enrichment for cats, but none of them showed examples of what’s possible. We wanted this book to be inspirational, to show cat guardians the possibilities and get them excited about catifying.

What is “cat mojo,” and what can it tell you about a cat’s feelings toward his or her environment and what you might need to correct or augment?

Cat mojo is the key to good catification. When a cat is expressing her mojo, she’s comfortable and confident in her environment. She’s not feeling threatened in any way, and she securely owns her territory. We want cat guardians to spend time observing their cats so they can better understand where in their home their cats are most confident. You can tell if a cat is confident or unconfident through body language and other behaviors, sometimes unwanted behaviors like spraying or going outside the litter box. Catification is about guiding cats away from places where they are unconfident and insecure and giving them other options that bring out their mojo.

I’m sure that some people who’ve lived with cats for a long time might believe they can learn nothing from Catification. What would you say to them?

We want to help even the most experienced cat guardians look at their homes in a new light –- with their cat glasses on! Ideally, all cat guardians, old and new alike, will find some nugget of inspiration or insight that will motivate them to try something different for their cat.

This climbing structure leads to two catwalks. The whole assembly is known as Kitty City. Photo by Marjorie Darrow and Ryan Davis

Catification includes examples of projects from your own homes and offices but also from followers. Tell me more about what was submitted and why you included it.

Jackson and I received submissions from readers all over the world, showing that there are some very creative things happening in what we call “Catification Nation.” For this book, we looked for a variety of examples that show the commitment people have made to their cats and how they came up with creative, and attractive, projects.

Some things in the book are absolutely stunning -- there's the network of vertical structures created by the two people in Colombia made up of dark wood boxes on the ceiling and multiple shelves on the wall, some connected by tiny, cat-size, rope-and-wood walking bridges. Were you surprised by some of what you got?

This and the next several photos are of "Arana's inside playground," in the home of people named Nico and Katu of Bogota, Colombia. Photo by Nico and Katu

It was wonderful to see such elaborate designs that people had created for their cats. It definitely shows that there’s a growing awareness of the need for environmental enrichment in order to provide indoor cats with what they require to thrive. And to see so many examples that are not just functional but also beautiful signifies that cats are being celebrated as an integral part of our families.

Photo by Nico and Katu

Photo by Nico and Katu

Photo by Nico and Katu

Some people recycled or reused things that I’d never have considered -- such as the folks who built a cat tree using discarded desk drawers. Did such things surprise you?

This is catification creativity at its finest! We wanted to show that you don’t have to go out and spend a fortune on an expensive cat tree, but rather simply use your imagination and experiment with whatever you have on hand. We call this a “catification hack,” when you take something that wasn’t originally made for use by a cat and turn it into an amazing and unique piece of feline design that makes everyone happy. The dresser drawer example demonstrates this perfectly.

This is another image taken from a "My Cat From Hell" case study called "Thumbelina's Turf War." Photo courtesy Discovery Communications

Some people maintain that they’re no good at building things and can’t so much as drive a nail. I grew up in a fiercely DIY family, and still sometimes I’m a bit intimidated by certain projects. What would you say to folks who doubt their ability to catify their homes?

We tried to include a range of projects that appeal to everyone, from the most experienced DIYers to people who can’t draw a straight line. We don’t want anyone to be intimidated by Catification. It doesn’t have to be complex and expensive, even simple things like rearranging the furniture can make a huge difference. However, we did include some projects submitted by people who obviously have advanced woodworking skills, in the hopes that these projects would demonstrate the possibilities of Catification.

Chloe's catio in Portland, Oregon. Photo by Carrie Fagerstrom

One thing that gives me pause is the idea of investing time, effort, and money in building something my cat won’t use or even notice. Does Catification address this possibility or guard against it?

If people take the time to observe and get to know their cats, they will have a much better shot at creating something the cats will actually use. Once you build or create something that you think your cat will like, then you need to continue observing the cat's reactions and make modifications as needed. Catification is a fluid process, and cat guardians need to be willing to make changes and try new things in response to how their cats behave. Also, the household may change over time -– other pets and children come and go; cats age -– and the environment needs to be modified in order to accommodate these changes.

++++++++++++

We have two copies of Catification to give away to Catster readers.

How to Enter

1. Create a Disqus account, if you haven't already, and include a valid email. It takes just a minute and allows you to better participate in Catster's community of people who are passionate about cats. If you already have a Disqus account, check it to ensure the account includes a valid email address.
2. Comment below using your Disqus account, describing and showing us a project you're completed for your cat that's worthy of Catification. It could be as simple as a DIY window perch, or as advanced as an outdoor catio. Tell us a little bit about the project and post a photo. I'll choose two favorites based on creativity, ingenuity, and aesthetics, among other factors. You must be a resident of the U.S. to score this prize.
3. Check your email for a "You've Won!" message from us after noon PST on Wednesday, Dec. 17. We'll give each winner two days to respond before moving on to our next favorite.

Cat Dandy loves to find new ways to be creative:

• I Talk with a Calendar Model About Cats, Men, Clothing, Stereotypes, and Rescue
• I Shop for My Cat on a Jetliner: The Cat Products of SkyMall
• CatConLA: A New School Event for Cat Lovers Hits Los Angeles in 2015
• That Time Martha Stewart Helped Me Clean Up Cat Vomit
• If Cats Own the Internet, Why Don't They Get Spam?
• My Cat Thomas and I Reach the "I Love You" Stage of Our Relationship
• How Many Names Does One Cat Need, Anyway?
• My Cat Has a Foot Fetish
• My Cat Got Stoned and Spent the Night in His New Hot Tub
• Serious Question: Do You Have Sex While Your Cat Is in the Room?
• I Gave My Cat a Tarot Reading
• I Think of My Cat as My Friend; Am I Out of My Mind?
• Jackson Galaxy Interview: The Cat Daddy Meets the Cat Dandy

Laugh with us:

• 6 Things You Should NOT Do When Giving a Cat a Bath
• 10 Cheesy Pick-Up Lines From Smooth-Talking Cats
• The Rumors Are True: My Cat Is a Tape Addict

About Keith Bowers: This broad-shouldered, bald-headed, leather-clad motorcyclist also has passions for sharp clothing, silver accessories, great writing, the arts, and cats. This career journalist loves painting, sculpting, photographing, and getting on stage. He once was called "a high-powered mutant," which also describes his cat, Thomas. He is senior editor at Catster.

The year is coming to a close, so what better time to take a minute to look back on the most adorable, heart-warming and sometimes heart-breaking cats of the year? That's exactly what we'll be doing with the 12 Cats of Christmas. Now it's the turn of a feline who's living it up with pop-star royalty ...

9. Olivia Benson

Olivia Benson (with Meredith Grey napping in the background) via Instagram.

Taylor Swift spent much of 2014 ruffling the feathers of music snobs -- but her antics breached the closeted walls of cat Internet culture when footage was snapped of her carrying her latest cat, Olivia Benson, out and about in the New York City. Debate ensued! We even advised Taylor on cat-appropriate places in NYC to take Ms. Benson!

Snuggle buddies!

Beyond the heated arguments, though, Olivia looks like she's having a ball in the Big Apple. It helps that she gets to call a near-$20 million Tribeca penthouse home, but within those no-doubt platinum-gilded walls she already has a ready-made play-pal to call on in Taylor's first cat, the honorable Meredith Grey. The two frequently star on their shake-happy pop princess' Instagram account -- and recently they celebrated National Cat Day together by sharing a coy cuddle.

Rummaging deeper into Taylor Swift's Instagram account, it's refreshing to see that she is quite happily besotted with cats. When her parents cat-sit, photo sessions with Olivia and Meredith ensue, and Taylor recently partied-it-up on a night out by getting all wild and crazy and striking a cat pose. "Yes we are cats," is how she proudly captioned the following photo.

Looking past the media circus that follows Taylor around, it seems that Olivia Benson has found a loving forever home and an owner who adores her. It's hard to hate on that, right?

Enjoy the rest of the 12 Cats of Christmas here:

• 12. Bug-a-Boo
• 11. Stalin the Dictator
• 10. Sunny

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

Earlier this year, I visited New York City's first ever pop-up cat cafe. The venture was a hit to the point where ginormous lines snaked around the block as people went cat crazy to sip coffee in a feline-friendly environment. Now the grand old metropolis can claim its inaugural permanent cat cafe, called Meow Parlour.

Situated on the Lower East Side area of Manhattan, the spot officially opened today (Monday, Dec. 15). Billing itself as a place to enjoy "sweet cats with delicious treats," patrons can cop cups of coffee while mingling with a range of adoptable kitties sourced from the KittyKind no-kill shelter. There's also an online reservation system in place to help control the demand (and the request that all visitors remove their shoes, possibly to prevent the kittens from witnessing some heinous footwear faux-pas).

TV chef Rachael Ray also got in on the launch, turning up to pet cats and donate a whopping number of free meals to the first wave of residents with her Nutrish for Cats. The partnership between Ray, the cafe, and KittyKind will also give anyone adopting one of the Meow Parlour kitties with a couple of months supply of free food for the cat, according to a statement from Ray's publicist. The total donation is 174,000 meals, according to the statement. As for feeding the human patrons, the cafe will sell pastries as well as coffee and tea from a nearby storefront it calls the Meow Parlour Patisserie.

I'll be checking out Meow Parlour in person later this week, but in the meantime enjoy this extra photo of the cats enjoying their bespoke coffee lounge.

Read more about cat cafes on Catster:

• We Visit Oakland's Cat Town Cafe, the First Cat Cafe in the U.S.
• My Husband and I Visit Cat Cafe Miysis in Yokohama, Japan
• A Cat Cafe Is Brewing in Seattle
• A Trip to London's First Cat Cafe, Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

Rob Gronkowski is best known for being on the roster of the NFL football team the New England Patriots, for setting a single-season touchdown record for a tight-end -- and now for revealing himself to be a cat fancier par excellence.

Posing with a select number of tiny furballs as part of a recent photoshoot for ESPN, Gronkowski embraced his kitty-loving side as he hammed it up for the cameras. Here are five of the most historic pictures in NFL cat history.

Image via ESPN.

Behold this fine example of a classic kitten-on-the-head shenanigan.

Image via ESPN.

 Gotta love the way this little guy is pulling off a sly Miley Cyrus tongue-out pose!

Image via ESPN.

Behind the scenes, the kittens were the undoubted stars of the show.

Image via ESPN.

Technically this ginger tabby is committing the sort of heinous infraction that has no place on the modern football field.

Image via ESPN.

Personally, I think the leopard-skin garb totally clashes with the classy little kitty. Each to his own, eh?

Laugh with us on Catster:

• 7 Voicemails Only Cats Would Leave You
• Dos and Don'ts for Taking Your Hipster Cat to San Francisco's First Caturday
• Texts From Mittens: The Missing Green Rug Edition

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

We at Catster are all about celebrating stars and cats -- and, of course, stars who love cats. An Oscar- or Grammy-winning celebrity will impress me even more by being a friend of the feline. Some famous people you'd expect to love cats. Others, well, it might not be so obvious.

1. Jon Hamm of Mad Men

Recently, Jon Hamm showed up on Comedy Central’s late-night Internet-themed panel show, @midnight, donning an ah-maz-ing cat shirt and sharing his true feelings about our four-legged, whiskered friends. Hint: He loves them. That’s right: Don Draper loves cats. Just let that sink in. True, he may not actually own a cat, but he gets a spot on this list for his unadulterated enthusiasm. (We thought for sure he'd be into dogs -- see our "Dogster Magazine Presents the Dogs of 'Mad Men.'")

2. Evan Rachel Wood

Photo via Evan Rachel Wood's Twitter

Actress Evan Rachel Wood has been known to take on roles in dark and edgy productions, including Thirteen (in which she was nominated for a Golden Globe) and the more recent Ides of March alongside Ryan Gosling. Off screen, Wood was once engaged to controversial musician Marilyn Manson. That said, I can’t totally reconcile Evan Rachel Wood’s badass, alternative image with the idea of her cuddling up with a cat, but, alas, it’s the reality. The star got her cat, Nicodemus, in 2008, and seems to be completely enamored with him, sharing adorable snapshots on her Twitter page.

3. Ian Somerhalder

Photo via Ian Somerhalder's Facebook

He may play a smoldering vampire on CW's hit series, The Vampire Diaries, but in real life he’s a big softy and friend of the felines. In fact, he was one of our Sexiest Cat Guys of 2013. In this Instagram photo, he shared the story of Sohalia, whom he adopted from a shelter -- after the cat was mislabeled as “feral/not friendly.” Looks pretty friendly to me! Check out Somerhalder's Twitter and Facebook pages for more swoon-worthy cat posts. 

4. Cher

Photo via Cher's Twitter Page

I almost feel like having a cat is too “normal” for Cher -- like she’d opt for a pet ferret instead. After all, the legendary performer and her ex-husband, the late Sonny Bono, performed their own wedding ceremony in a hotel room in Tijuana, Mexico; she filmed a controversial video in which she straddles a canon on a U.S. Navy ship; and she's been known to show up to appearances in outfits like this. But, despite her alternative image, she does have a cat, Mr. Big, who she loves just as obsessively as all us cat owners love our pets. (It was international news when Mr. Big fell ill a couple of years ago). The star shares photos of him on Twitter and Instagram, and he is insanely cute.

5. Jesse Eisenberg

Maybe it’s because I still picture him as cold, socially awkward Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, but it’s hard to imagine Jesse Eisenberg as a warm, fuzzy cat lover. But the actor, who also stars alongside Jason Segel in the upcoming The End of the Tour is not only a cat lover, but also a cat rescuer who fosters cats in need of homes. Here he is speaking out for “Team Cats” as part of the New Yorker Festival, alongside his best friend and cat, Mr. Trunkles. "You should rule in favor of team cat. If Mr. Trunkles is any indication, they are the greatest species on Earth," Eisenberg says. 

6. Morrissey

Photo via morrisseywithcats.tumblr.com

It’s true: Rock stars love cats, too. Just look at Morrissey, an English musician who has made waves for decades, as part of the band The Smiths and as a solo artist -- he was even named one of the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone. But we can't commend him only for his musical successes. The legendary rock star is a fierce animal advocate and PETA spokesperson, and his love of cats is so well known that there’s an entire Tumblr page dedicated to photos of him with cats. He likes them here, there, and everywhere -- including on his head. 

7. Russell Brand

Speaking of Morrissey, eccentric star Russell Brand has a cat with that name. And the pairing of Brand and a cat is so crazy that it just ... works. Brand is a comedian and actor who starred as the (fictional) erratic rockstar Aldous Snow in the movies, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek, and his off-screen personality isn't tame either. His autobiography, My Booky Wook, details his experiences with drugs and promiscuity. But with all that said, we still see a silly side to Brand -- I mean, just look at him hanging with the Internet-famous kid duo, Sophie Grace and Rosie in this video -- and that's what makes him being a cat lover not so radical. Enjoy this cat video Brand took to the Ellen show a couple of years ago, plus these photos of Morrissey (the cat) on his Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages. 

8. Kesha

Kesha, a singer best known for hits like Tik Tok and Die Young, burst onto the celeb scene as a unique personality, regularly sporting colored hair, outrageous outfits, and intense makeup (not to mention the, um, interesting dollar sign in her name, shown as Ke$ha). Though it seems she's toned down her image recently, showing off a more clean-cut look during appearances and as a judge on ABC's singing competition, Rising Star, we still see her as a funky, alternative celeb who wouldn't do something so "mainstream" as own a cat. But, not only does she have a cat (Mr. Peeps), but her cat his his own Twitter page. When you're not keeping up with Mr. Peeps' own social media, browse Kesha's -- her Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages are full of all sorts of cat love. She was even named the Humane Society's first ever Global Ambassador. 

9. James Franco

Another one of our Sexiest Cat Guys of 2013, James Franco doesn't necessarily initially strike us as a cat person, what with his "guy's guy" personality in films such as This Is The End, his toughness that comes through in others such as 127 Hours, and his, well, off-beat creativity in videos such as this one with Seth Rogen. But this A-lister does, in fact, love cats, and it seems he always has -- at least, that's what he tells Ellen in the above video. "We were raised as cat people," he says. His Instagram and Facebook pages feature the occasional feline photos for fans to enjoy. 

10. Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais brought us the hilarious series, The Office, but he also brought us some controversial awards-show moments as Golden Globes host that people are still talking about. And it's that somewhat abrasive personality the comedian (who currently stars in the Netflix original series, Derek), that doesn't quite match up with the gentler demeanors often associated with cat owners. But Gervais seems to be enamored with his cat, Ollie, who is a star himself on the actor's Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook pages. This video alone could be the key to winning back any haters he may have.

If there's one lesson here, it's this: Don't judge a cat owner by its cover. Or, before you hate on a celebrity, double check to see if he or she is really a lovable, kind, cat lover. Who knows? It just might change your whole view point. Who are your favorite -- or most surprising -- cat-loving celebrities? Does your cat have a celebrity personality, or name? Tell us in the comments! 

Read more about celebrities and cats on Catster:

• GASP: Celebrity Cat Nudes Leaked! 
• Which Human Would Play Which Celebrity Cat on the Big Screen
• NFL Star Rob Gronkowski Is a Total Cat Guy

Laugh with us on Catster:

• 7 Voicemails Only Cats Would Leave You
• Dos and Don'ts for Taking Your Hipster Cat to San Francisco's First Caturday
• Texts From Mittens: The Missing Green Rug Edition 

About Emma Sarran: After a stint in New York City (and a brief affair with thin-crust pizza), Emma Sarran returned to her native Chicago, where she grew up loving Michael Jordan, lakeshore beaches, and deep dish. An eclectic personality, she writes about topics including travel, fashion, and relationships, often on her blog, Sarrandipity. She spends more time than she should admit talking to her two cats, Harlem (who has no sense of personal space) and Squeak (who's afraid of her own shadow). Follow her on Twitter.

Cooper the Photographer Cat is one of the Internet's pioneering feline celebrities. With a mini-camera affixed to his collar, this former stray ginger chap was dubbed a "catumentarian" as photos documenting his day-to-day moves and musings piqued the world's interest.

We first met Cooper on Catster back in 2008, but what's he been up to since then? Well, thankfully his Facebook page brims with eye-candy updates. Here's our favorite new Cooper moments.

All images via Facebook.

He's been smooshing and lounging in his cat bed in many innovative and endearingly awkward ways.

Cooper has welcomed Apollo, a fresh mini-human addition to his house, by expressing his admiration for "the new hairless cat."

Cooper has dabbled in the often perilous world of capes, favoring a sensibly sober navy blue affair, which, in his mind, transforms him into Cat Man.

When it comes to the world of cardboard-box furniture, Cooper favors a colorful, bold, and artsy approach to the discipline.

Cooper is a staunch American football fan -- and loves to pun about the Cooper Bowl every year.

He has a cameo in the Famous Cats of the Internet playing cards deck.

And he's paid homage to a long line of esteemed cats before him who have ruined board games for humans the world over. Touché, Cooper, touché!

See more Pix We Love by Phillip Mlynar:

• Pictures We Love: Checking in With Oskar the Blind Cat
• The 6 Costumes Acceptable for Dressing Up Cats
• Pix We Love: Maverick Cats Who Love Bubble Baths

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

The world's most famous feline paid her second visit to the San Francisco Bay Area within the last two months on Saturday. Grumpy Cat, arriving amidst celebrity-worthy pomp, served as guest of honor at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society's sleek new mobile adoption center.

Heralded by a police escort past the Humane Society's headquarters and a horde of ardent fans, Grumpy Cat was there because -- well, because Berkeley had won her.

Last fall, Chronicle Books -- whose volumes Grumpy Cat: A Grumpy Book and The Grumpy Guide to Life are both New York Times bestsellers -- launched the #GrumpyTownUSA contest, challenging fans nationwide to submit proposals explaining why their towns merited a visit from you-know-whom. 

The staff at Berkeley Humane, as it likes to call itself, believed that winning this contest would be a great way to publicize their new state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled, custom-built 26-foot RV. 

Outfitted with modular and detachable kennels, with two doors permitting visitors to walk through and meet the animals lodged inside, and with roll-up windows also allowing access to the animals from outside, the mobile adoption center facilitates adoptions just about anywhere. 

This worthy cause won the contest, so Berkeley was transformed into GrumpyTown. At least, the usually sleepy intersection of 9th and Carleton streets was, as book-and-refreshment booths, live musicians, and a swelling crowd of fans bustled around the gleaming RV, which sported a podium where Grumpy Cat would later preside over the ceremony.

Having registered online to snap selfies with the celebrity kitty at 1 p.m., fans had begun lining up in front of Berkeley Humane's headquarters six hours earlier.

Friendly chanting burgeoned into delirious cheers as the police escort roared up Ninth Street, preceding the shiny black Escalade behind whose tinted windows sat Grumpy Cat and her sister-and-brother human companions, Tabatha and Bryan Bundesen. 

See them there, inside the car?

Cameras and phones jutted wildly from the crowd at every angle, just as they might at a Hollywood premiere.

With her enigmatic Mona Lisa-esque smile, Tabatha Bundesen carried lovingly from the car the cat whose sneer is not emotional but skeletal. Deriving from feline dwarfism and a serious underbite, that dour demeanor has earned the Arizona-based Bundesen family a fortune.

While the UK's Express tabloid reported last December that Grumpy Cat was worth some $100 million -- a branding bonanza entailing a Lifetime movie and cat-food, greeting-card, and coffee lines -- Bundesen promptly dismissed that figure as "totally inaccurate."

But hey. Given the devotion on display in Berkeley that day -- and given the amount of Grumpy Cat clothing, jewelry, and toys visible in the crowd -- specific dollar figures aside, she's still a pointy-eared, bewhiskered goose-kitty-who-laid-the-golden-eggs. 

And, as such, she glared obediently from the podium as local honchos gave speeches welcoming her to Berkeley and praising the shiny mobile adoption center.

"This van is going to rock the world of Berkeley pet adoptions," declared Berkeley Chamber of Commerce CEO Polly Armstrong, noting that certain family members had deemed the chance to share a stage with Grumpy Cat "a crowning career achievement."

"This van will make the love come to you. This van will come to you, bringing dogs and cats that will bring you love and affection," Armstrong beamed.

"In Berkeley, we like to call ourselves a world-class city. And if you're going to call yourself a world-class city, you have to take care of your people -- but you have to take care of your animals as well."

Displaying a commemorative plaque, Berkeley City Council member Linda Maio announced: "This is the moment at which I hold up the plaque that will permanently reside in the Mobile Adoption Center."

"It will live forever inside this van to commemorate this wonderful and terribly ungrumpy day," Maio said.

After the ceremony, it was time for what most attendees had been waiting for: photos with the famous kitty.

Sporting tie-dyed T-shirts, peace signs, Bob Marley memorabilia, and other Berkeley "uniforms," the Grumpy groupies (yes, we just made up that phrase) jostled for their few seconds of mean-face time with the event's fluffy guest of honor, who glowered drowsily from a sky-blue fleece Chronicle Books cat bed as cameras clicked. 

OK, everybody: One, two, three, frown!

All photographs are by Kristan Lawson. 

On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in Hollywood will be on display at the 87th Academy Awards. But some of the best names will be watching from their homes all across the globe.

Don't follow? Let us explain.

The best names will be attached to pets named after celebrities. Naming pets after famous actors and actresses is as old as the movies themselves. And to prove it, Banfield Pet Hospital, the world’s largest veterinary practice, recently scanned its database of more than 2.7 million pets in search of Oscar-worthy names. And sure enough, this year’s Best Actor nominees have quite the four-legged following.

Among the most interesting names are:

• Benedict Cumberscratch, a feline nod to the actor nominated for his role in The Imitation Game
• Bradley Pooper, an underdog looking to snipe the competition for Bradley Cooper’s role in American Sniper
• Bark Ruffalo, the name carried by two dogs in honor of actor Mark Ruffalo, up for his part in the film, Foxcatcher

There's simply no imitation for "Benedict Cumberscratch." (Courtesy Banfield Animal Hospital)

Other names in the Banfield files were nods to legends who are current nominees, including:

• Clint Eastwood; six dogs and two cats named after the director of the best-picture-nominated film, American Sniper
• Meryl; six cats and six dogs named after the actress nominated yet again for her role in Into the Woods
• Oprah; 35 dogs and 11 cats named after the icon who starred in the best picture-nominated film, Selma
• Bill Murray; 13 dogs and two cats named after the actor who starred in The Grand Budapest Hotel, including copycat, Bill Furray

And, of course, there is the name Oscar himself. The Banfield count is 4,373 dogs and 1,150 cats. Even Academy Awards host Neil Patrick Harris gets in on the fun -- in the form of a feline named, yes, Neil Catrick Harris.

"Neil Catrick Harris" is will be watching the Oscars for host Neil Patrick Harris. (Courtesy Banfield Animal Hospital)

Regardless of their names, animals in shelters will once again be huge winners on Oscars night, thanks to the nominees who don’t win an award.

For the second year in a row, Ellen DeGeneres’ natural pet food company, Halo, Purely for Pets, in partnership with Freekibble.com, is giving 20 non-winning Oscar nominees a gift that gives back by donating 10,000 meals of natural pet food to the animal shelter or rescue of the celebrity’s choice. The donation is worth $6,200.

The gift is part of the coveted $160,000 "Everyone Wins at the Oscars" gift bags from Distinctive Assets, the Los Angeles-based marketing firm that launched the craze of celebrity swag 16 years ago, and will once again be consoling non-winning Oscar nominees.

Last year, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Barkhad Abdi, and June Squibb took advantage of the donation for their favorite shelters. Los Angeles-based shelters received donations on behalf of the nominees as well. In total, Halo and Freekibble.com donated 200,000 meals on behalf of Oscar nominees.

Read more about cats and celebrities on Catster:

• Why Lil Bub's Celebrity Star Outshines Grumpy Cat's
• Which Human Would Play Which Celebrity Cat on the Big Screen?
• Confession: Jackson Galaxy Is My Celebrity Crush

About the author: Jeff Goldberg is a freelance writer in Quincy, Mass. A former editor for MLB.com and sportswriter for the Hartford Courant who covered the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team (Huskies!) and the Boston Red Sox, Jeff has authored two books on the UConn women: Bird at the Buzzer (2011) and Unrivaled (2015). He lives with his wife, Susan, and their rescue pup, Rocky, an Italian Greyhuahua/Jack Russell mix from a foster home in Tennessee, hence the name Rocky (as in Rocky Top).

Becket is the personal assistant to the gothic fiction maven Anne Rice, along with being an author and musician in his own right. On a day-to-day basis he's comfortable dwelling in a fantasy world where goblin queens and steampunk vampires galavant against a backdrop peppered with necropolis castles and dusky vistas. He's also a confirmed feline fancier and grew up in a household that at one point counted 15 kittens among its ranks; it's his adoration of cats that brings him into Catster's realm.

The influence of growing up in a cat-centric home has stayed with Becket to this day; he now calls on two cats, Smaug and Hobbit, for company. Deciding to buck his family's history of adopting from shelters, Becket indulged his passion towards British Shorthairs and their "distinct mien" and snapped up Smaug a year and a half ago. Hobbit followed six months later, and the two have bonded wonderfully, as you can see by perusing their shenanigans over at Becket's Instagram outlet.

Communicating via the magical wonders of email, I asked Becket how he deals with the eternal issue of cats attempting to get in the way of a computer, how Smaug and Hobbit get along with Anne Rice's furballs, and exactly how he'd go about turning the duo's daily feline adventures into a fantasy frolic.

Smaug (left) and Hobbit (right). All images via Instagram.

Catster: How would you describe Smaug and Hobbit's personalities?

Becket: Their personalities are night and day. Smaug is a tentative snuggler while Hobbit literally throws himself into my arms. She is very introverted and independent, although when she is around people she likes she is very affectionate -- and by affectionate, I mean she allows them to pet her. She loves to play right after I feed her in the morning and she loves to lie on my lap at night when I read a book before bed or watch an episode of something on television. She also has a hiding place in my closet where she will sleep during the morning, while in the afternoon she sits before a window and watches the birds in the backyard.

Hobbit, on the other paw, is extroverted and hates being alone. He sleeps right after he eats in the morning, and then is energetic all day long wanting to play games, and then he crashes in the late afternoon. But at night, like Smaug, he has another spot on my lap where he curls up beside her while I read, watch TV, and sip tea.

I'm assuming Smaug is named after the dragon in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. How do you think Smaug the cat would get along with Smaug the dragon?

She would utterly annihilate him. There’s no competition.

Looking at your Instagram account, both Smaug and Hobbit seem to really enjoy playing with the blue cat tunnel. If you were to write a story about them, what sort of world would be on the other side of the magic blue tunnel portal?

Both of them love that cat tunnel. My motto is: If I would like to play inside it, I'll get it for them. But I have often found that the toys they like the most are the ones that cost the least, like sheets of tinfoil wadded into a ball which they will bat around for an hour.

So about the blue cat tunnel, the story, I think, would not be what’s on the other side but what’s on the outside. The suspense for them -- which drives the narrative of their playtime -- is when they lie inside it and I press something against the tunnel’s outside. Which they bat at with incredible vigor! So it would be a story driven by the question: What’s that outside?

I've also noticed pictures of the cats attempting to get in between you and your computer while you're writing. What's your most effective tactic in dealing with an attention-seeking cat while trying to work?

Smaug does not like to be picked up and held, so when she is trying to get my attention she usually wants me to play with her. The unique distinction between the way she plays (which Hobbit does not like) is for me to chase her. She meows at me until I get up and chase her around the house, then I hide behind a corner and she comes to chase after me, bouncing the way cats do playfully. After that, I come out and chase her again. We’ve been doing this since she was a kitten.

But Hobbit is a typical boy and full of fears. He hates it when I chase him, but he loves many other games that Smaug does not care for. Still, when I am working, and he is meowing loudly by my ankles, he generally wants me to pick him up and stroke him while I work. That is usually when I cease typing and begin dictating my books, so I can hold him in one hand, stroke him with the other, and dictate into my microphone -- kind of like what’s happening now. (Say hi, Hobbit!)

Anne Rice is also a cat fanatic. Have your cats ever met her cats?

This question made me laugh because, yes, they have met Anne’s cats. Smaug spent the most time with them before Hobbit came along. It happened when I had to go out of town with Anne last year for about a week and I decided to leave Smaug in the care of Anne’s sister, Karen, who stayed in Anne’s house and took care of her cats. Karen is a natural caregiver with animals, especially cats. She is the true cat whisperer.

But when I returned a week later to retrieve my dearest Smaug, I learned that she spent many long hours with Anne’s rather matronly cat, Meribelle, who has never forgotten that her ancestors were worshiped in ancient Egypt -- and will never let you forget that fact, either. Smaug took something of that attitude with her after that visit. Now she absolutely demands the royal treatment, while Hobbit will one day grow into the feline version of Homer Simpson.

What's your favorite Anne Rice book? And if it were to be rewritten with a cat in the starring role, what sort of plot twists would take place?

I have to admit that, although I grew up on Anne’s vampire literature, my favorite book of hers is actually the book she claims to be her favorite too, which is Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana -- because I was there for the copious amounts of research that went into it, and I love the way her prose imitates the simple, stark prose of much biblical literature, as well as other literature revolving around first century Palestine. Now, I am not sure if I could actually see a cat in this starring role -- not because I doubt that cats lack any divine qualities, but because I believe that the inherently solipsistic nature of most feline creatures fundamentally removes them from any messianic role. In other words, cats would take one look at the human race and say, “Save yourselves, you bunch of lunkheads.”

Thanks for the interview, Becket! To learn more about him, head over to his website, Facebook, and Instagram pages to keep up to date with his latest projects, which at the moment include three new installments of his The Blood Vivicanti series of books and his second album, which he describes as "like orchestral trance music."

Read more about celebrities and celebrity cats on Catster:

• What's in a Name? Plenty on Oscars Night
• 10 Celebrities Whose Love for Cats Might Surprise You
• NFL Star Rob Gronkowski Is a Total Cat Guy
• The 12 Cats of Christmas: Taylor Swift's Cat, Olivia Benson
• Would You Carry Your Cat Around Town Like Taylor Swift Does?

About Phillip Mlynar: The self-appointed world's foremost expert on rappers' cats. When not penning posts on rap music, he can be found building DIY cat towers for his adopted domestic shorthair, Mimosa, and collecting Le Creuset cookware (in red). He has also invented cat sushi, but it's not quite what you think it is.

An announcement of near earth-shattering proportions rocked the children’s book world recently: the discovery of an unpublished manuscript by Theodor Geisel, known to many a kid (and parent) as Dr. Seuss.

Calvin reads his favorite Dr. Seuss book, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. (All photography by Susan. C. Willett)

The book, due July 28, is titled What Pet Should I Get? I can't begin to imagine the types of pets that will romp through its pages, considering the strange creatures that populated Dr. Seuss' many published works -- including the Bombastic Aghast of Scrambled Eggs Super and the Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz of Dr. Seuss’s ABCs.

But I’d be willing to bet whatever pet you get might cause you to fret -– or at least have a discussion -- over what to name the new family member. Why not turn to the good doctor as a great source for pet names?

Calvin and Elsa Clair could have been named Benjamin Bicklebaum and Sally Spingel Spugel Sporn after characters in The Cat in the Hat Songbook.

As a service to Catster readers -- and in honor of Theodore Geisel's birthday today (March 2) -- I took it upon myself to pick out a few names from Seuss’ books (with a little help from a list of Dr. Seuss characters on the Super Childrens Books site) that could be just the name for your next cat:

• Fredric Futzenfall (The Cat in the Hat Songbook)
• Gretchen von Schwinn (Oh Say Can You Say?)
• General Genghis Kan Schmitz (I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew)
• Miss Fuddle-dee-Duddle (On Beyond Zebra)
• Kitty O'Sullivan Krauss (Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!)
• Quincy Queek (The Tooth Book)
• Dr. Timpkins and Dr. Tompkins (You're Only Old Once)
• Gertrude McFuzz (Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories)
• Zooie Katzen-bein (I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories)

Wouldn't Athena make a great Kitty O'Sullivan Krauss?

For those who want more simple names, you could turn to the Fuddnudler brothers of Oh Say Can You Say, any one of which would make a perfect kitty moniker:

There are Bipper and Bud
And Skipper and Jipper
And Jeffrey and Jud,
Horatio, Horace and Hendrix and Hud,
And then come Dinwoodie and Dinty and Dud,
Also Fitzsimmon and Frederick and Fud,
And Slinkey and Stinkey and Stuart and Stud.
And, down at the bottom
Is poor little Lud.
But if Lud ever sneezes,
His name will be MUD.

Because it is often recommended to adopt kittens in pairs, there are many Seussian duos to consider:

Perhaps I should have named Athena and Dawn Dr. Timpkins and Dr. Tompkins.

• Sneedle and Spazzim or Nazzim of Bazzim (& Nutch) (On Beyond Zebra)
• Mike McCobb and Mr. Glotz (The Tooth Book)
• Dr. Timpkins and Dr. Tompkins (You're Only Old Once)
• Skrink and Skritz (I Had Trouble Getting to Solla Sollew)
• Gack and Gox (One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish)
• Fibbel, Flummox and Foon (If I Ran the Circus)

Some of us already have incredibly creative names or nicknames for our cats. My cousin and his wife named their kitties PJ Pocket and Tuppence Sinclair. A friend of mine fondly remembers Melvin Mittens Kitowski. And I know a certain Mr. Fuzzmeister McWhiskers who is known far and wide for his toilet-paper-unrolling hobby. And my cats? While their names are pretty tame, I will admit I have been known to refer to Calvin as Calvin Tiberius Katz.

Tuppence Sinclair bears his name proudly.

Seussify your current cat's name

For those who don't already have fun names for their cats or would love a touch of Seuss in their homes, my poetic pussycats and I came up with a way to Seussify your kitty's name.

Replace the first letter of your pet’s first name with the fifth letter past it in the alphabet (skipping the vowels.) My cat Calvin’s first name begins with C. Five letters from C is H. So that makes Halvin. (If you get to the end of the alphabet -- if your cat's name begins with V and beyond -- continue to the beginning, counting on from A.)

If your cat is female, add “O',” and if he’s a mancat, add “Mc.”

Then add the name of your cat’s favorite toy of the moment, replacing the first letter of the toy with same letter you already used to start the first name.

Calvin likes crinkle paper today. So he becomes Halvin McHinklepaper.

Halvin McHinklepaper at your service.

If your cat’s name begins with a vowel, put the letter in front of her name. And if she already had multiple names, change out the first letter in each name. So my Elsa Clair (whose favorite toy of the day is a catnip banana) become Jelsa Jair O’Janana.

Do you know a cat with a Seussian name? Tell us in the comments, or tell us how you Seussifed your cat’s name.

And check out Dogster for how to Seussify your dog's name!

Read more about cats and names:

• 5 Names for the Common Kitty Position Known as "Cat Loaf"
• I Confess: I Change My Cats' Names All the Time -- Do You?
• How Many Names Does One Cat Need, Anyway?

About the author: Susan C. Willett is a writer, photographer, and blogger whose award-winning original stories, photography, poetry, and humor can be found at Life With Dogs and Cats. She lives in New Jersey with three dogs and four cats (all rescues) and at least a couple of humans -- all of whom provide inspiration for her work. Refusing to take sides in the interweb's dogs vs. cats debate, Susan enjoys observing the interspecies interaction among the varied inhabitants of her home -- like living in a reality TV show, only furrier. In addition to Life With Dogs and Cats, you can find more Lilah, Jasper, and Tucker (and the rest of the gang) on Haiku by Dog™, Haiku by Cat™, and Dogs and Cats Texting.

If you're a Scandal fan, you know Bellamy Young from her role as Mellie Grant, the bold and politically ambitious first lady. Unlike her onscreen persona, the actress has a warm and friendly personality, with a particular soft spot for shelter pets.

In fact, she has teamed up with the Humane Society of the United States, the Shelter Pet Project, Maddie's Fund, and the Ad Council to create a video in the "Meet My Shelter Pet" series. It features her adopted cat Sadie and dog Bean; Young wants everyone to know that "euthanizing healthy pets is a scandal." I loved the video and wanted to know more about Sadie and Bean.

Meghan Lodge for Catster: Are Sadie and Bean your first adopted pets? Tell me more: When did you adopt them? How old were they? Do you know what breeds they are?

Bellamy Young: I've always adopted rescued pets. I'm adopted myself, so adoption is, of course, very near and dear to my heart. I believe every little soul alive has love to give and that no life is disposable. I feel so lucky whenever I get to adopt or foster, like I'm getting to play my part in the grander scheme of things.

I adopted Sadie about eight years ago from the North Central shelter here in Los Angeles; she's a tortie and every bit as chatty as they're purported to be. You can have full paragraphs of conversation with Sadie, and she'll always get the last word in. Bean came from the Carson shelter in Gardena. I pulled her and a Terrier mix, then called Winston, at the same time that go around. Winston is now named Hank and living on a farm in Georgia. I thought Bean would make a great second dog for my mom in North Carolina, but it turns out she was meant for me all along.

What inspired you to adopt a cat and a dog? Is one of them the boss of the household?

I've spent my life in the company of animals; I can't imagine not. They bring such peace and unconditional love to every day. And, of course, with Sadie, I have the bonus of an extra opinion on everything -- she's the alpha in the house and always makes her preferences known. Luckily, she has unerring taste.

Did you grow up with pets? What encouraged your love for animals?

We always had animals when I was growing up. Everyone in my family did. And the animals were part of the family, not some strange subset or an afterthought. I think most of all it was my amazing Aunt Norma, who taught me what an honor and responsibility it is to love an animal. They put their whole lives in your hands, their complete trust, and they love you unconditionally. That is a sacred space to operate in and a real blessing in one's life. That kind of love heals you. And makes you more compassionate for the more conditional animals we deal with every day -- like other human beings.

Bellamy Young with Bean and Sadie. (Photo via Twitter)

What is your most memorable moment with Sadie?

I know it seems silly to say, but getting to shoot with the Humane Society of the United States for the Shelter Pet Project campaign commercial was such a special day. I'm lucky enough to get to work a lot, but to get to take them to work with me was just a dream. And they were such naturals! So calm and sweet. Once Sadie saw that all the lights and all the people were focused on her, I could feel her relax, as if to say, "Finally! Things are as they should be!" She was in heaven!

OK, fans want to know: Just how spoiled are Sadie and Bean?

They're pretty chill animals, honestly. My house is a no-divas zone, so nobody really acts up. Everybody's pretty fond of napping and of the word "treat." It's snuggly love all day long. Though I will say Bean needs to be covered up at all times -- she'll give the lowest, tiniest grrrrrr, more of a beg than a demand, until you notice her and pull the blanket up. Sadie needs a nice conversation every now and then. And she would be happy being petted until the end of time if she could be!

Bellamy Young with Bean and Sadie.

What's one piece of advice you'd give someone who is looking to adopt a new pet?

Don't expect everything to be perfect all at once. You know how long it takes to learn about another person; trust takes time. Just open your heart and let your new companion know that they are safe, that you're there for them, that you're listening -- and then really do listen. Believe me, they're trying to communicate and want to please you. Once you start understanding each other, the trust is built, and sooner than you know you'll have a love that lasts a lifetime.

Keep up with Bellamy and her pets by following her on Twitter. 

Read more about celebrity cats and celebrities with cats:

• We Chat With Cat Guy Becket, Anne Rice's Personal Assistant
• Berkeley Wins a Vist From Famous Feline Grumpy Cat
• Why Lil Bub's Celebrity Star Outshines That of Grumpy Cat

About Meghan Lodge: Fits the Aquarius definition to a fault, loves animals, and is always pushing for change. Loves ink, whether it's in tattoos, books, or writing on that pretty sheet of blank paper. Proud parent of Toby (cat) and Axle (dog). I'm a former quiet nerd who's turned bubbly animal-obsessed advocate.

You know we love Choupette, Karl Lagerfeld's celebrated cat, who models and has a makeup line. We can't say enough good things about her. Karl Lagerfeld can't either. Karl Lagerfeld is the master of saying good things about Choupette. At the end of an interview with New York Magazine's The Cut, the designer launched into nearly 600-word ode to his cat, extolling her virtues, proclaiming her magnificence, and comparing her to Greta Garbo. 

His passion was so intense, so melodic, and so crazy, we thought we'd present it to you in lyrical form, complete with a chorus. If you have the stomach for it, imagine Lagerfeld slow rapping the versus while Rihanna -- wait, make it Beyonce -- belts out the chorus. 

"The Center of the World," by Karl Lagerfeld, as rapped to Amy Larocca of The Cut last week

It’s a miracle in the story

Choupette was not even given to me

Choupette belonged to a friend of mine 

Who asked if my maid could take care of her for two weeks when he was away 

When he came back, he was told that Choupette would not return to him

She is the center of the world 

She is the center of the world 

She is the center of the woooooorld 

He got another cat who became fat 

And Choupette became the most famous cat in the world, and the richest

She did two jobs and made 3 million euros last year 

I don’t allow her to do foodstuffs and things like this. She’s too sophisticated for that

She is the center of the world 

She is the center of the world 

She is the center of the woooooorld 

She has something unique, she is like a human being

But the good thing is that she’s silent

You don’t have to discuss it

She hates other animals and she hates children

She is the center of the world

She is the center of the world

She is the center of the woooooorld

She stays always with me and she has two personal maids

They play with her; they have to take care of her beautiful white hair

The beauty treatments for her eyes, and they entertain her

If you saw her, you would understand

She is the center of the world 

She is the center of the world 

She is the center of the woooooorld 

She is kind of Greta Garbo

There is something unforgettable about her, the way she moves, the way she plays 

She’s an inspiration for elegance

For attitude

Well, that was lovely. The other day someone asked me about my cat and I said, "She's great!" Man, I'm such a tool. 

Photos via Choupette's Instagram

Read more about celebrities and cats on Catster:

• We Talk with "Scandal" Star Bellamy Young About Shelter Pets and Her Cat Sadie
• We Chat with Cat Guy Becket, Anne Rice's Personal Assistant
• Why Lil Bub's Celebrity Star Outshines Grumpy Cat's