Merengue Dog

I am going to teach my cat Charlotte how to do this. Look for the video on YouTube any day now.

How Adorable Are These Two?

Check out this monkey and his pet cat. I wish this monkey lived in Manhattan, so I could cat sit for his adorable little feline.

Cuddle Puddle

Nothing comes between Lilly (she's on the right) and her sister Bitty. Seriously. I tried to snuggle up in between them, and I couldn't squeeze my way into their cuddle puddle.

Cat Sitter In The City Gets An Eyeful

I did a sleepover with a kitty client last night, and when it was time to go to bed, I couldn't sleep. So I sat up and gazed out the window, thinking how nice it is to sometimes just sit and think.

Anyway, I saw a few people gathered in the living room of an apartment in the building right across the street. It's one of those fancy new buildings with floor-to-ceiling windows that are springing up all over the East Village and the Lower East Side. The assembled twentysomethings were drinking beer and chatting, kicking back on a Friday night.

At one point, a couple went into the bedroom right off the living room and closed the door. Like the living room, the bedroom didn't have any blinds or drapes.

The girl foraged through a dresser and grabbed a silky top. She was changing when the guy, who was probably her boyfriend, whipped off his khakis and underwear, threw his arms up in the air and started air thrusting. She doubled over laughing.

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I think the conversation went something like this:

Guy: "No pants! We've got guests on the other side of the door, and I'm not wearing pants!"

Girl: "Oh my God, Tad! Put your pants on!"

Guy: "No pants! No pants! Look at my wiener, Stephanie!"

Girl: "Tad, put your pants on! My co-workers from the agency are out there! What if they saw your wiener?"

Guy: "It's a wiener gone wild! Whoo-hoo!"

After about fifteen seconds of intense air thrusting, the guy slipped into a pair of jeans—sans underwear, by the way.

The couple returned to the living room, giggling about their naughty little secret. They hung out with their friends for a few more minutes, then they all left, likely planning to hit Lower East Side hot spots for more wild and crazy fun.

Blind Item: Who Pooped On Prada?

A certain feline I know pooped on a Prada bag. I am not going to reveal the identity of the cat for fear that angry fashionistas might come after the kitty seeking retribution. I mean, it was Prada, after all.

The cat's mom is still using the pricey bag despite the fact that it was pooped on. "At that price, a little poop won't kill me!" she reasons.

Steve Vs. Moz: A Feline Rivalry Escalates

When I visited the brother/sister duo Steve and Consuelo earlier today, I walked into the kitchen and discovered a stack of $50 bills in their food bowl. I immediately suspected Steve had something to do with the money.

"Steve, why is there a stack of $50 bills in your food bowl?"

"It's just a little something to show you how much I appreciate you. Romantic, isn't it?" he replied, adding, "What girl doesn't like cash?"

That's when I realized Steve was trying to outdo Moz, who recently left a flower barrette in his food bowl for me. The two cats are bitter rivals.

"Steve, I know what you're up to. You didn't have to leave me a gift just because Moz did."

"I don't know what you see in Moz. He's so skinny. There's so much more of me to love," Steve purred. "And I'm not cheap. He gave you a barrette. I gave you money, and there's a lot more where that came from."

"Why don't you tell her where you got the money, Steve?" Consuelo interjected.

"Uh oh," Steve said before he took off and hid under the bed.

"That's my money. Steve took it out of my safe when I wasn't looking," Consuelo revealed.

I promptly returned Consuelo's money, which she told me she had earned after making a smart investment in Titanium Metals Corporation, buying the stock when it was just under $5 a share and cashing out when it hit $20 a share. That little cat really has a head for business.

I apologized to Consuelo for any inconvenience Steve's theft may have caused her, then I called out to Steve and told him he didn't have to buy my love because I love him already, and that's the truth.

Eat, Pray, Love, Cat Sit

I am currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I found it in the trash in the building where my cat sitting client Juba lives (who needs Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or The Strand for that matter when you can easily find books by picking through other people's garbage!) I figured I ought to check it out since I am going to Italy in September.

I am 56 pages into the book, and I honestly feel like I could have written it. The author and I are apparently walking parallel paths in life. She is a writer who decided to travel to Italy, India and Indonesia for a year of self discovery after a bitter divorce. I am a writer who decided to travel to Italy for two weeks to eat a lot and look at old buildings after a busy summer of cat sitting. Striking similarities, wouldn't you say?

I just put my copy of Eat, Pray, Love on my bed so I could take a picture of it to run with this item. That probably wasn't a great idea given that I fished it out of the garbage...

Anyway, Charlotte went right over to the book and put her paw on it. You'll notice that her paw is placed right next to the word, "Eat."

I think she's trying to tell me something.

Viral Video Of Cats: A Dangerous Distraction

I have a story due today, and I have a phone interview to do, but I just spent precious minutes watching video of cats doing cute things, and it's all Rumi's mom's fault. (As regular readers of Cat Sitter in the City know, Rumi, pictured above, is the adorable abyssinian I cat sit for.) She started me on this dangerous path of distraction when she sent me a link to a YouTube video of a cat playing with a theremin.

After I was done watching the video of the cat playing with a theremin, I noticed a link to a video of a cat eating corn on the cob, so I had to watch that, too.

Then I had to take a look at a video of a puppy playfully biting a cat's ears, which led me to a video of a puppy and a cat licking each other, then to another video of a cat licking a fox.

When will it end? There are just too many cute cat videos on YouTube!

Charlotte On A Sunday

Pucker Up For Paul & Joe

Cat-loving French designer Sophie Albou, the creative force behind fashion, jewelry and beauty line Paul & Joe who routinely incorporates felines into her work, has done it again: The Paul & Joe Fall 2010 makeup line features limited edition cat-head lipsticks in a range of shades, including a soft red called Moon Shadow (pictured above).

I don't wear lipstick because I spend a lot of time kissing cats, and it would just get too messy. Still, I appreciate Albou's clever cat-head lipstick design.

I'm A Feline Casanova, Hey Man, That's That

I visited Moz this morning and found a sweet surprise. He had placed a flower barrette in his food bowl just for me. How romantic is that?
As you can see in this photo taken of me in second grade, barrettes don't tend to stay put in my thin, fine hair.
Still, I wanted Moz to know I appreciated his romantic gesture, so I carefully wiped the cat food off the flower barrette and placed it in my hair. I had to stand still so it wouldn't slide out.
Moz gazed at me adoringly, like I was the most beautiful woman in the world, and I thanked him for the gift, although I decided not to keep it because he had swiped it from his mom's bathroom.

But it's the thought that counts, and Moz really knows how to treat a lady.

Lights, Camera, Audrey

I keep looking at this photo I snapped of Audrey with my cell phone the other day. She really is a great model. She was a wonderful sense of how best to place herself to take advantage of light, and she also knows how to strike a pose. I wish I could get her together with Ozzy, so she could give him some modeling tips. I am working with him, of course, but sometimes it's just better for a cat to get advice from another cat.

Vanessa Hudgens Shares Cover With Kittens

It's the rare celebrity who will share the cover of a magazine with kittens. Believe me, I've interviewed plenty of celebrities over the years, and while they all say lots of nice things about kittens during interviews, they always refuse to share magazine covers with kittens because kittens tend to steal the limelight, and narcissistic celebrities don't want to share the limelight with anyone, especially kittens. It's really an issue. If the publishing industry's top magazine editors and photographers had their way, they would include kittens in every celebrity cover shot. All this to say, I am impressed that Vanessa Hudgens was willing to pose with two kittens for the cover of the current issue of Glamour.

Have You Seen Sammy The Pomeranian?

As a cat sitter, I do a lot of walking, and I keep spotting these posters for Sammy all over the East Village and Chelsea. I feel sick every time I see one because I know I'd be beside myself if my cat Charlotte ever went missing.

Anyway, if one of your neighbors has suddenly acquired a Pomeranian with a buzz cut, take a close look at the dog, and call the number on the poster above if you think he might be the pooch pictured.

According to this post on Craigslist, Sammy, who went missing in late June, was recently spotted in Alphabet City.

Ozzy Strikes A Pose

Some cats are natural models. Others, like Ozzy, have to be coached. Honestly, I feel like Miss J sometimes.
"How's this?" Ozzy asked when he posed for me today.

"You're slouching. Sit up straight," I told him.
"Is this better?"

"Much better, Ozzy," I replied. "You could relax your face a bit, but with a little more practice you could be America's Next Top Cat Model!"

Rainbows Are Cool But Cats Are Cooler

Have you seen this video featuring the guy who freaks out over a double rainbow? Well, this is how I am going to react when I get home from vacation and see my cat Charlotte on Thursday, and anyone who knows me knows I'm not exaggerating.

My Sweet Charlotte

I am away on vacation until next Thursday. I have only been away for a few days, and I already miss my cat Charlotte like crazy. My roommate just emailed me this photo, and she wrote, "Here's a shot of Charlotte thinking of you!" How adorable is my little baby? I wish she could travel with me everywhere I go.

Cat Sitter In The City Reaches Boiling Point

It is too hot to blog today, so I am digging into the vast Cat Sitter in the City archives and posting this oldie but goodie.

Criminal Tries To Pass Herself Off As A Cat

I was just reading EVGrieve.com, a fantastic blog that covers life in the East Village, which is where I live, and I learned that a woman wearing a cat mask recently robbed an East Village shoe store. No kidding.

I Get Paid To Do This

How lucky am I...
...that I get paid to hang out...
...with beautiful cats like Simone.

Splish, Splash, Monkey's Taking A Bath

Monkey, the sweet little French bulldog who is living with me and my cat Charlotte at the moment, came in from a walk yesterday, and she was hot, so she hopped into the bathtub to cool off.
She loves the feeling of cool water on her belly.
"Charlotte, you should join me!" Monkey calls out to my cat. "There is room for two, and the water feels so good!"

Rumi In Black And White

Rumi, the adorable abyssinian, wanted to spend much of our visit today lounging in the window, so I did a photo shoot with him.

Rumi selected this photo for me to feature on Cat Sitter in the City, and he had this to say about it: "I had just thrown my head back when you took this picture, my mind reeling with thoughts of 'progress' vs. preservation after spending hours looking out the window pondering the ever-evolving architectural landscape of Manhattan."

Wow. I thought he had just been looking at the birds on the fire escape.

It's Hard To Get Any Writing Done...

...when I turn away from my desk and see this...
...and this...
...and this!

Do you think my cat Charlotte is trying to distract me?

Charlotte Does Not Have Bieber Fever

One of my friends just confessed to liking Justin Bieber's new single "Somebody to Love." I was shocked because he isn't the type of guy who falls for the latest pop sensation, so I decided to check out the song. I was watching the video for about a minute when my cat Charlotte ran up to my desk, jumped onto my laptop and closed the page.

I guess my cat doesn't have Bieber Fever.

Charlotte And Monkey Find A Common Foe

I was about to vacuum today when I overheard my cat Charlotte talking to Monkey, the French bulldog who is living with us this summer.

"Tell her!" Monkey said. "She's your mom, and she does everything you tell her to do!

"Tell me what?" I asked Charlotte.

"Monkey and I don't like the new vacuum, and we want you to get rid of it. Take it downstairs and put it in the trash right now," Charlotte replied.

"You want me to get rid of my Dirt Devil Vision Turbo Canister? No way! I love my new vacuum!" I said, standing my ground.

I can't believe how demanding these two little girls can be.