Book Review – The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat

Belle loves Henri!

By Julia Williams

William Braden, the creative genius behind the Henri, le Chat Noir empire, has done what I’ve dreamt of doing for years. William not only put his cat to work, but now supports himself fully with Henri-related ventures!

Whereas most pet owners merely watch their cat or dog blissfully sleeping away and just wish they’d wake up and do something to defray the cost of their kibble, William had a vision.

Well…actually I made that last part up. I don’t really know if William had a vision for his now-famous French-speaking cat or not, way back in 2006 when Henry (the tuxedo kitty’s real name) appeared in his first internet video. But after the second video catapulted Henri to fame, lightbulbs surely went off in William’s brilliant mind.

He had created an unforgettable character — the world’s first existential cat philosopher – who was filled with ennui and bent on pondering his tormented existence. Filmed in black and white to parody French film noir, William’s video won the Golden Cat Award at the 2012 Internet Cat Video Film Festival, and late film critic Roger Ebert declared it “The best internet cat video ever made.” Yes, it’s that good!

Legions of Henri fans snapped up the t-shirts, coffee cups, posters, mouse pads, Henri “pawtographs” and other merchandise that followed, and now…William lives off his cat! At least that’s what the press release said for the latest Henri endeavor – a delightful little book titled The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat.

The hardcover book (in black and white, naturally!) is a collection of doleful Henri quotes that purrrfectly illustrate the disenchanted house cat’s cynical outlook on life. There are also 45 gorgeous photos, mostly of the handsome Henri but a few of his supposedly simpleminded feline roommate, aka “the white imbecile.”

If you’re a fan of the Henri videos, you simply must have The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat in your library! It also makes a great gift for a cat lover. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"When I watch you go about your activities, make no mistake about my intentions. I am not curious or coy. I am judging you."

"I sleep because every time I open my eyes, the world is still there."

"Looking into the garden today, I saw another version of myself meeting my gaze. A celestial counterpart, free in all the ways I am trapped, yet longing for the safety of my prison. It turns out it was just a raccoon."

“Cat treats are a poor substitute for real answers to the mysteries of our existence. Yet, I do not reject them.”

“My thumbs are not opposable, yet I oppose everything.”

If I had one itsy bitsy quibble with this great book, it would be that the experience of reading it is far too short. It’s certainly not a book you’ll take on summer vacation to while away a lazy day at the beach. In fact, you can finish the book in ten minutes. I definitely wanted more Henri after that last page! But here’s the thing – you’ll come back to the book again and again, and each time the experience will be just as enjoyable.

Buy it. Read it. Give it to a fellow cat lover. Or keep it on your coffee table to (in Henri’s own words) “make you look smart.” Indeed!

Henri, le Chat Noir: The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat is sure to become a cat classic.

Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review, but all opinions and philosophical musings in this post are wholly my own.

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Meet Quint, The Painting Cat!

By Julia Williams

I’ve profiled many talented felines here over the years, including therapy cats, photographer kitties, cat burglars, bestselling author cats and even a TV newsCATster.  Today it is my great pleasure to introduce you to another gifted feline – Quint, a cat who paints! Quint’s abstract art is just exquisite, and the kitty himself is quite the charmer. I know you will enjoy getting to know “Quint the Painting Cat” just as much as I have.

Julia: How old are you, and how long have you been painting?
Quint: I turned one year old at the beginning of May. Everyone says I’m still a baby, so I get lots of kisses. That’s not so bad. Officially, I took up painting last October. Unofficially, I’d been practicing my paw-strokes for about a year.

Julia: Your paintings are so beautiful! How did you pawrents discover that you had this artistic gift? 
Quint: Thank you! And thank you for calling it a gift! My pawrents didn’t think it was that at first. I’m not using names or anything but when I was little, I used to watch my dad get ready to face the world each morning and during that time somehow, little white dots would magically appear on the bathroom mirror. Well, no dot is safe with me! I’d touch and pat each one and sometimes, the dots would smear and swirl and that made me want to tug at each one even more. Mom wiped away my art every day and I had a fresh canvas to work on the next morning. When I was a little older, one day I thought the walls of our Cat Den looked boring and needed some help. The way mom tells it, I graduated from toothpaste on a mirror to cat litter smears on her walls. And that’s when I think I finally got through to them – I’m an artist and I needed a more acceptable outlet!

Julia: Why do you like to paint? 
Quint: Hmm, I think most artists don’t know why they do what they do. We just feel the need to express ourselves differently than most. This fall marks one year since I began painting and that milestone excites me. When something excites me, paint helps me express my excitement. Oh, and it’s fun to get colors on my big, white paws.

Julia: Could you describe your painting process? 
Quint: Sure, that’s easy. Usually, mom picks up on my restlessness and pulls my cardboard ‘studio’ together quickly. If I’ve been outside admiring flowers or sitting in my window watching birds, mom uses those color cues to set out a few paint dabs in a shallow bowl along with whatever I choose to paint on that day - small square canvases or heavy artist paper. When she tells me she’s ready, I find one of my mousies to take with me; for extra inspiration, and we get to work! I touch some of the paint and dab it on the paper. Sometimes, I’m in the mood for bold streaks and hard paw prints and sometimes I try to be more gentle and delicate. It all depends on my day!

Julia: What are your favorite colors to paint with? 
Quint: Yippee! I like it when asked my favorite colors! I like purple a lot and yellow. I have a hard time not putting yellow on everything. This summer I worked with red and that was fun, but I like orange and apricot better.

Julia: What inspires you to paint? 
Quint: Birds, leaves and the big open sky. Changing seasons, a vision, a memory, a mood. Mr. Mousie inspires me. The chicken cat treats I get after each painting session ain’t bad either!

Julia: How would you describe your painting style? 
Quint: Well, I’m no Picatso, Purrkirev or Pawicelli, that’s for sure. I like to think of my work as modernism with a touch of abstract spontaneous expressionism. Or maybe Cat-Meets-Paintism.

Julia: If you could get your paintings displayed anywhere in the world, where would you most like to see them? 
Quint: This is a hard question! Big fancy places aren’t terribly impawtant to me. Honestly, I’d love to see them decorating no-kill shelters around the world. I think that would raise interest and much needed money papers.

Julia: What kind of paint do you use? 
Quint: I like the child and pet-friendly acrylic water-based paint me and my dad find at our local craft store. Have you seen my pictures of shopping for art supplies? That was a blast! I wanted one of everything in the store!

Julia: How long does each Quint “masterpiece” take?
Quint: “Masterpiece” * paw covers snicker * That depends on the colors and how many I want to use. I have to fight my tendency to go for the light colors first before adding stronger, bold colors. That makes a muddy painting. Lately, mom gives me dark colors to begin with and then we take a break to let the paint dry. After play time, meal time and a short nap, me and Mr. Mousie are ready to wrap it up using lighter shades. 24 human hours later, give or take, it’s ready to be shipped around the world!

Julia: After a painting session, do you have to take a bath or just get your paws washed? And do you mind? 
Quint: A whole bath? Never! I don’t think I’d like that! Most of the time, I don’t mind having my paw(s) dipped in warm, soapy water afterward. Sometimes though, I’m not happy with my work that day and I just want to get away. Dad calls that “Painting the floor.” I don’t know why. MOL!

Julia: Do you paint with both paws, or just one? 
Quint: I’m right-pawed but to be purrfectly honest, I slip my left paw in there every once in a while.

Julia: What do you like most about being a famous painting cat?
Quint: Famous? Who’s famous? Me? Naw, not me! Mom says I won’t be famous unless I can get over my dislike of being photographed during work. I LOVE the flashy box and I’ve been rightly accused more than once of being a ham. Just don’t bother me while painting.

But I guess if I were a famous painting cat, what I’d like most is knowing that half of each painting sale goes to help kitties that no one wants. I was almost one of those cats and look at me now! I’m proof that you never know what pawsome talent lies within a kitty waiting for a forever family!

***

If you’d like to learn more about Quint the Painting Cat, you can check out his art shop or stop by his fabulous blog and say howdy!

Photos courtesy of The Colehaus Cats

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Luna the Fashion Kitty Struts the Online Catwalk

By Julia Williams

Cats wearing clothes is not something you see every day, even on the internet where you can see just about anything you can imagine. Photos of doggies dressed to the nines, sure… but not cats. That’s because most cats are just not the clothes-wearing kind. Luna the Fashion Kitty is, however. This feline fashionista has been wearing cute outfits since she was just a baby, so strutting around in colorful tutus or dresses is second nature to her. Luna’s 18,000 Facebook fans are so used to seeing her with clothes on, in fact, that on the rare times she posts a photo “in the fur,” she seems totally naked!

I caught up with Luna the other day and asked her a few questions, so we could all get to know her better. I hope you enjoy her candid interview!

Julia: How old are you, and what breed are you?
Luna: I’m 5 years old, and I’m a Cream Point Himalayan Purrsian.

Julia: Most kitties hate clothes, but you seem totally comfortable in yours (dare I say, you even seem to enjoy them!). How and when did this clothes wearing thing begin?
Luna: I come from a fashionable family, my grandma had a boutique and the store next door carried furchild clothes! My momma couldn’t resist and got me an outfit, because she always had dogs and didn’t know that kitties hate clothes. Since I didn’t get the “hate clothes” memo either, I felt very good in my outfit from the beginning. That was it, I was meant to be The Fashion Kitty.

Julia: How many outfits do you have now?
Luna: Too many to count! Last time we tried to count them, there were close to 300 outfits!

Julia: What are your favorite outfits?
Luna: I look so good in EVERYTHING that is hard to have a favorite!

Julia: A common theme of your outfits seems to be frilly tutus and matching hair bows – what’s up with that?
Luna: What’s up with what? I’m very girly and we kitties jump better than any ballerina, so it’s just logical that tutus and bows are a big part of my wardrobe.

Julia: Is it hard to use your litterbox in a dress? 
Luna: Not at all! Sometimes if I’m wearing a big tutu, I leave the tutu in the box. Lol. What can I say, the hole to my kitty box is too small fur a big tutu butt!

Julia: Where do you get your clothes?
Luna: Pretty much everywhere, even in the baby purrsons department!

Julia: Are the clothes you wear made especially for cats? 
Luna: No, most of my clothes are made fur doggies but I don’t care! I just hate when the clothes say “Cute to the bone” or stuff like that because I can’t wear them…. I draw the line right there!

Julia: Are there any other feline fashionistas in the world?
Luna: Purrbably, but NOBODY is like me… fashion is in my blood, girl!

Julia: Do you like posing for the camera? 
Luna: Love it! I honestly do, because I get paid in treats… this model EATS!

Julia: Do people ever criticize your Mom for putting clothes on you?
Luna: ALL THE TIME! She gets accused of animal cruelty pretty often. Obviously those purrsons don’t know the definition of cruelty.

Julia: What famous designers would you love to see make kitty clothes?
Luna: Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, Carolina Herrera, Alexander McQueen and many more!

Julia: What are your favorite toys?
Luna: I love my turbo scratcher, my Ipawd app Paint fur Cats and anything that has feathers.

Julia: When you’re not modeling your fab outfits, what do you like to do?
Luna: Honestly, I like to do beauty naps and eat well to keep my FAB curves.

Julia: What’s the best thing about being a famous internet cat?
Luna: Fur me it’s that I can help homeless Purrsians, and let’s be honest, all the gifts I get in my love box are MEGAPAWsome!

Julia: Is there a downside to feline fame?
Luna: I guess the only thing is that I can’t disappear from the public eye fur too long… my fans get worried!

Photos courtesy of Luna the Fashion Kitty

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A Cat for Mayor? In Harmony, California it’s Possible!

Freddy

By Diane Matsuura, CANIDAE Customer Service

There is a tiny town located on the California Coast off Highway 1 just south of Cambria, steeped in history and now little more than a bump in the road, but packed with charm and artistic flair. What once was a thriving dairy community in the early 1900s is now a bohemian artist community boasting a population of 18, which probably includes the local wildlife and a town cat. This is where the story gets interesting, as how many towns can boast they elected a cat for Mayor?

A large orange tabby striped Maine Coon cat named Freddy Cheenie Alfredo, Freddy for short, was a much loved and cherished town mascot. He lived his entire “nine lives” in Harmony, passing at a ripe old age of 22 years. Freddy loved to greet visitors to Harmony and could always be found lounging in a patch of sun in the gardens or in a shop window. Shoppers could buy a T-shirt or other Harmony souvenirs with his likeness.

The story goes that because of his celebrity status, Freddy decided to run for Mayor of Harmony (though this is a bit unclear). He ran unopposed in the election and won in a landslide victory. Freddy served as Mayor until his passing in 1995. His final napping site can be found behind the old creamery building where the local residents lovingly maintain a touching memorial in his honor.

Gatacita

However, in typical Harmony artistic fashion, a new, absolutely gorgeous black and white female kitty named Gatacita has taken over the role of “mascot cat” for Harmony. She has oodles of charm and purrsonality, and takes her role seriously as the official greeter to the fair town of Harmony. While this kitty likes to nap in the gardens Freddy was so fond of, she will also follow you from shop to shop and sit with you at your table while you rest or picnic.

With not a shy bone in her svelte feline body, Gatacita is extremely photogenic and loves having her photo taken. Gatacita wasn’t born in Harmony like Freddy was, but she was adopted by the entire town when her first owner passed away and she had nowhere else to go. She is much loved by the residents and visitors alike, and rumor has it she is planning to run for Mayor of Harmony in the next election, following in the pawsteps of the famous Freddy!

On your next road trip up or down the coast of California, stop by the unique town of Harmony and visit with Gatacita.  Dogs are welcome in Harmony too, but a hand-lettered sign reminds guests that dogs must be leashed. Cats on the other hand, may run free!

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The PATSY Awards for Animal Actors

By Langley Cornwell

Actors who give an especially great performance in a movie or television series are usually awarded with an Oscar or an Emmy. That's all well and good, but what about those actors from the animal world? Animal actors are just as deserving of awards for exceptional performance so in 1939, the PATSY Awards were created to do just that.

What are the PATSY Awards?

Created by the Hollywood office of the American Humane Association, PATSY was originally an acronym for Picture Animal Top Star of the Year. In 1958, the PATSY Awards were expanded to include television performers and the acronym Performing Animal Television Star of the Year was added.

The PATSY Awards were originally created with the intent to honor animal performers after a horse was killed during the filming of the movie “Jessie James,” starring Tyrone Powers.

The first actual recipient of a PATSY came in 1951 when Francis the Talking Mule was honored. Who presented Francis with the first PATSY? None other than Ronald Reagan himself, the actor-turned-President who was known for his work with a chimpanzee in the Bonzo movies.

The PATSY Awards were given in four categories: Canine, equine, wild and special. Since there are so many Famous Cat Actors, I wondered why cats didn’t get a category all to themselves. It turns out that cats were thrown into the “special” category along with pigs, goats and everything in between.

The PATSY Awards were given annually until 1986 when the awards ended due to lack of funding.

Who were some of the PATSY winners? 

Francis the Talking Mule won several PATSY Awards. Other movie and television performance winners in the equine and canine categories include Shaggy the dog, from “The Shaggy Dog,” Lassie the dog, from “Lassie,” Spike the dog, from “Old Yeller” and Flicka the horse, from “My Friend Flicka.”

While the majority of PATSY winners come from the equine and canine categories, there are plenty of winners from the wild and special categories.

Remember Arnold the pig from the television series “Green Acres?” Arnold won two PATSY Awards. Orangey the cat won two PATSY Awards, one for “Breakfast at Tiffany's” and one for “Rhubarb.” Pyewacket the cat won a PATSY in 1959 for the motion picture “Bell, Book and Candle.”

Some wild animal winners of PATSY Awards include Jackie the lion, who won several PATSY Awards during the early 1950s. Other unusual wild animals earning PATSY's include Esmerelda the seal (1955 – “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”), Samantha the goose (1957 – “Friendly Persuasion”), Henry the rabbit (1959 – “The Geisha Boy”), Herman the pigeon (1960 – “The Gazebo”), Sydney the elephant (1963 – “Billy Rose's Jumbo”), Raunchy the jaguar  (1964 – “Rampage”), Flipper the dolphin (1966 and 1967 – “Flipper”) and Vindicator the steer (1967 – “The Rare Breed”).

Even though the PATSY Awards ended in 1986, the idea behind the awards hasn't been forgotten. Broadway actress and animal advocate Gretchen Wyler founded the Genesis Awards in 1986 as a means of recognizing individuals in the news and entertainment media who raise awareness about animal issues. Even though the Genesis Awards did not replace the PATSY Awards, this awards ceremony became a new means of keeping animals in the entertainment industry in the spotlight.

In 2011, the American Humane Society created a new award to honor animal performers. Dubbed the “Pawscars” as a play on the Oscars, this award was described as an animal version of an Oscar-like awards ceremony. The American Humane Society is responsible for overseeing and disclaiming that animals were not harmed during the making of a film or television show.

Although the PATSY Awards are no longer given, the glamorous years of Hollywood and the PATSY Awards were a special time. PATSY Award winners may have passed on, but their legacy in the entertainment industry continues to be remembered.

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The Dalai Lama’s Cat: Book Review and Giveaway!

By Julia Williams

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live with one of the world’s greatest spiritual teachers? Well, wonder no more! In The Dalai Lama’s Cat, a novel by David Michie, a sassy Himalayan gives us a cat’s eye view of life in the inner sanctum of His Holiness’s household. True to feline nature, the curious cat soaks up the teachings that take place when visitors – everyone from Hollywood celebrities and self help gurus to philanthropists and royalty – seek an audience with the Dalai Lama. To be sure, life is never dull when you’re the Dalai Lama’s cat!

The Buddhist wisdom is artfully interwoven with entertaining tales of a cat just being a cat…getting into mischief, making the most of every opportunity, and purring her way into the hearts of all who meet her. One would expect no less of any feline, let alone one who spends every morning curled up with the Dalai Lama while he meditates.

The Dalai Lama’s cat, a.k.a. Mousie-Tung, The Snow Lion of Jokhang, His Holiness’s Cat (HHC), The Bodhicatva, and “The Most Beautiful Creature That Ever Lived,” is so charming, funny, wise and witty that it’s hard to imagine anyone who wouldn’t love her. She even shares her most embarrassing moments for the sake of giving us a good laugh, which is something most dignified felines wouldn’t dream of doing! But the Dalai Lama’s cat is no ordinary feline, and she never lets us forget.

She makes no apologies for eavesdropping on the conversations between the Dalai Lama and his guests, and she puts a uniquely feline spin on the basic Buddhist principles she overhears. Through the Dalai Lama’s cat we learn about concepts such as karma, mindfulness, enlightenment, compassion, and the meaning of life.

The mark of any good novel, at least for me, is that it captures my attention on page one and compels me to keep turning pages despite other distractions and obligations. I read this book in two days because I just couldn’t put it down. And when I finished, I found myself wanting more. You really can’t ask for more from a good book, can you?

Anyone who’s interested in learning more about basic Buddhist principles in an easily accessible format can’t go wrong with The Dalai Lama’s Cat. Besides, the story itself is so enchanting that the little “pearls of wisdom” garnered along the way can be considered a bonus. The best kind of learning takes place when we don’t even realize we’re being “taught,” and that’s the experience I had with this book.

Here are a few of my favorite passages:

“It is not so much the circumstances of our lives that make us happy or unhappy, but the way we see them. Most people think that their only option is to change their circumstances. But these are not the true causes of their unhappiness.”

“Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment deliberately and non-judgmentally.”

“Karma operates not so much as some external credit-and-debit ledger but more as an energy, a charge that grows over time. This is how even small acts of generosity, especially when motivated by the best intention, can become causes for much greater wealth in the future.”

In an interview on the Cat Wisdom 101 blog, the Dalai Lama’s cat said “The meaning of life for humans and cats is the same: to be happy. And the most effective way to achieve happiness, paradoxically, is by focusing on the happiness of others. In my book I reveal a whole tool box of practices to help cultivate happiness. It’s up to each one of us to find the tools to suit us personally, where we are in our personal evolution at this particular moment.”

***

After writing this review, I reached out to the Dalai Lama’s cat via her Facebook page to let her know how much I loved the book. I also asked whether she might like to sponsor a giveaway so that one lucky CANIDAE RPO reader could win their own copy of this delightful book. Great news!! Ever the kind-hearted kitty, HHC offered not one but TWO copies of her book for a giveaway.

I think The Dalai Lama’s Cat is a book that everyone would enjoy. If you’d like to be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment on this post letting me know why you’d like to win and include your contact info. Winners will be selected on March 15th and notified via the email address provided. Good luck!

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Venus the Chimera Cat Meows about Fame, Photoshop & Family

By Julia Williams

The first time most people see a photo of Venus, they usually think it’s a photoshop fake or that her owners dyed her face. It’s hard not to, since this kitty seemingly has two very different faces, perfectly split down the middle of her nose. A visit to her Facebook page is enough to convince all but the most skeptical humans that Venus is indeed a real cat.

But why is her face like that? Venus might be a chimera, a rare condition where two genetically distinct embryos merge in the womb. It’s also possible her unique face is just a coincidental placement of a normal tortoiseshell pattern. DNA testing is the only way to know for sure, but Venus doesn’t really care and neither do her 104,000+ Facebook fans who enjoy this cute kitty’s wit and humor. I chatted with Venus recently so we could all learn a little more about this now famous split-faced feline.

Julia: If you had $1 for every time someone said your face was photoshopped, how rich would you be, and what would you do with all the money?
Venus: I would probably have a half million dollars and I would definitely donate to animal aid after I got a few little luxuries for myself, like one of those fancy automatic litter boxes, a couple new cat condos, a lifetime supply of cat treats and cool toys...oh, and maybe a posh new carrier for trips to the vet.

What do you think about all the hubbub over your face?
I guess I'm not surprised because I do look so different than most other cats.

You were born a stray, but luckily found a wonderful forever home. What does your human family love most about you, and what do you love about them?
My human family loves that I'm so snuggly like a baby. I'm timid and shy around strangers, but when it's just us I'm always laying on someone's lap purring up a storm. What I love most about them is that they love me for all of me, not just because of how I look...AND they let me get away with things most kitties can't do. We don't have many rules.

What do you like most about being a Celebrity Kitty?
Being a celebrity kitty will allow me to help other kitties who have no home and nobody to love them.

Is there anything you don’t like about being famous?
Well, to be honest I still don't feel famous. I did my Today Show interview which made me feel like royalty but other than that I haven't traveled anywhere because my human parents don't want to stress me out with too much media and traveling. So other than pictures and videos (which I really don't realize are being taken most of the time) my days are no different than before all of this happened.

Your two feline siblings are an orange tabby and a black tuxedo kitty. Did it ever occur to you that each “half” of your face looks like one of them, like you could be their little “love kitten?” 
Yes, in fact, that's what drew my human Mommy to me when she first saw my picture. She thought it was cute that I looked like 1/2 Mojo & 1/2 Ginger. She didn't even realize my eyes were different colors at first. None of us are related and we came from different places, all rescues, but people do think they're my parents when they see the 3 of us.

Where is your favorite spot for a catnap?
My favorite place would have to be our big green chair or at the very top of my 7 ft high cat tower. Every night I sleep in my queen size bed that I allow my human parents to share with me and usually Ginger and Halo (one of the dogs) too. When it's cold all of us snuggle up together.

What are five words that describe your personality?
Cute - Sweet - Loving - Cuddly - Easygoing

In your YouTube videos, you seem to love performing for the camera. Have you always been such a ham? 

I love to play, so getting video of me isn't hard for my human parents to do. Only problem is I love to get really hyper and playful right when they're getting into bed… Mojo and I run all over the place, and up and down the cat tower. The lighting is too bad for them to get good videos, but if it wasn't I'd probably have more videos.

What motivated you to produce a Venus plushie, t-shirt, calendar and other cool stuff? 
The idea for the plushies and other items came from my fans. My human Mom didn't really think about that when she built my Facebook page. She did that for fun since my picture was put on Reddit by someone we didn't know and went viral. But fans started asking, and now there will be lots of Venus products coming out this year!

If a genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for?
My first wish would be that there were no unwanted, mistreated or starving animals in the world. My second wish would be to have better funding available to the shelters so that so many innocent animals don't have to be put to sleep when the shelters are overcrowded. My third wish would be to have more control over breeders and to have more trap, spay and release trucks on the road to control the stray population. I would honestly give up cat treats to see all my fellow animal friends in the world living happy lives.

Tell me something about yourself that people might not know. 
When nobody is looking I sneak the most giant pieces of dog food out of the dog's bowl and eat them. And if I'm caught by one of the dogs I start growling like I'm a dog and scare them away. I get along with everyone, but sometimes a little tiny girl has to show how tough she is!

Photos courtesy of Venus the Amazing Chimera Cat

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