Cat Blogging

I needed this today. You may, too.

 

This came across my feed today (because as a kid, man, oh, man did I have a crush on this guy and of course I follow him now). I thought it was fitting. I went and looked for the George Harrison version and you can listen here.

Bonus kitteh:

This is a big deal for this little guy, and you can read why here.

 

Totally open thread

Midday Open Thread: Michelle Obama on KimmelPost + Comments (104)

For all your not-#NoKings related weekend comments…

Bonus:

100 miles into road trip, family realizes their cat is on top of their van. The Denardo family had already driven for 2 hours when they stopped for gas, and saw that Ray Ray the cat had come with them.
That’s a badass cat.
🎁 article 👇🏼

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— 🇺🇸 Pithy Packy 🇳🇱 (@pithypacky.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 12:40 PM

The photos at the link are worth the click — Ray Ray seems rather more perturbed about his new harness, at first, than he does about enjoying Times Square. Gift link:

Tony Denardo plans to run a marathon in every state — which is why his family set out on a road trip to Keene, New Hampshire, late last month. The Denardos brought their youngest child and three of her friends with them, and decided to continue on to New York City after the race.

They left their home in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, early in the morning on Sept. 26, and drove east, stopping for gas and a bathroom break after about 100 miles.

Tony got out of the van, and when he looked up, he saw the family’s 8-year-old cat, Ray Ray, perched atop the roof. Laughing and completely floored, Tony called to his wife, Margaret, to come see for herself.

“All these things are going through my head. The roads that we’ve traveled on, the semitrucks that we’ve passed, the hills, the stop signs, everything. How did this cat stay on there?” Margaret said. “And he was completely unfazed. He’s stretching like he just got up from a nap.”…

The family found a Petco and stocked up on the supplies Ray Ray would need for a week away, including a harness, leash and a cat backpack so they could easily take him along while sightseeing.

Ray Ray seemed to adjust quickly to being a traveling cat, hopping in and out of the backpack and walking on a leash around tourist attractions in New England and New York.

He even crossed the finish line of the marathon in Tony’s arms. The story was first reported by a local Pennsylvania publication, the Leader Times…

This isn’t Ray Ray’s first daring escapade — though it is his longest. He has always loved cars, and the Denardo family first found him as a stray kitten under the same van he would one day ride on top of for more than 100 miles. Once he secretly stowed away with Margaret’s parents for a trip to the car wash — thankfully inside the car that time…

“He’s always been extremely friendly,” Margaret said, explaining he was happy to accept pets and belly rubs from strangers on the trip. “He just wants love.”

And, apparently, a little adventure.

Absolutely Open Thread (Bonus Travellin’ Cat Tale)Post + Comments (56)

He’s here!

 

He hasn’t told us his papal name yet. (Leo has some obvious resonance, but current events–plus the fact that it’s my brother’s name–suggest that we might want to avoid that one.)

He’s a sweetie. He’s kinda just walked in and taken over.  He is relentless–and a pretty good cat-footie player. (The metal cap from a champagne bottle held him fascinated for quite a while.) And then he just goes boneless and ends up like this:

He and Champ haven’t met yet. I think Champ figures something is going on, as she usually joins me when I cook dinner, and she’s remained firmly upstairs for the last few hours. But that negotiation is for another day.

But the name!?  I’ve usually found that cats tell you who they are, but it can take a day or so.  My spouse is partial to Felis or Felix–which isn’t too far off, but doesn’t seem right.  Sherlock crossed my mind, as Increase is definitely observant, but, again, it doesn’t quite slip on him like a glove.  We’ll see. (Suggestions gratefully received and almost certainly ignored.

Here’s one more.

He’s hard to photograph in action–that boy moves fast. But he already is taking charge, which I need and love.

Open thread, y’all.

Blessed Increase!Post + Comments (130)

Two quick things:

First:

Thanks to everyone who was so kind in your responses to my farewell to Tikka. It meant a great deal to read the outpouring of love for that magnificent cranky old beast, and I was very moved by the stories of the losses of beloved companions.  I know we’re not supposed to say this out loud, but y’all are good people.

Second:

Tikka left a hole in our household. Champ feels it.  She’s been very needy, somewhat confused, and constantly next to one human or another–mostly me, as I keep a bed for her next to my computer. She’s here as I type this:

The humans do too. Even though I was Tikka’s person, my wife and kid both feel the same absence I do.  I had been planning to let that just be the way things are for a while, but we all knew another cat was in our future.  That thought made its way to the same folks who connected us with Champ–letting us know one day in the first pandemic summer that there was a kitten who needed a rescue and if we said yes she would arrive tomorrow. And she did:

Well…they’ve done it again and my son has just let me know that the vague intention of a cat we expected to meet in late summer or fall will arrive in a few hours.  Seems another little one needed a home and we’re it.

It will be interesting to see how and how fast Champ adjusts. Tikka was surprisingly mellow when she arrived. Here’s hoping for a repeat.

I’m a bit stunned and am really not ready…but that’s how this works. Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

I’ll provide an update when blessed increase arrives.

And again: thanks y’all. It was a comfort to write that farewell post, and more so to receive the Jackaltariat reaction.

Treat this as an open thread.

 

Thanks…and, uh…NewsPost + Comments (81)