vick, obama, and the phonecall

we've been talking about it.  you've been talking about it.

vick.  possible mvp.  the call from obama.  redemption via football?  what about those dogs?

this post from the best friends blog sums it up better than we can.

best cats of 2010 - and maru!

it's year-end countdown time.  every publication has their "top whatevers" but what really matters as 2010 draws to a close are the cats that got us through the ups and downs of the last 12 months.  so here's a fun list of the 30 31 best cats of 2010.

we have to add maru in because this japanese cutie has taken over youtube with videos of boxes, and more boxes, and sliding into boxes, and peeking out of boxes, etc.  maru is the real king of 2010.  and of our hearts.   (just look at that face!)

new year's hours

we've adjusted our hours in anticipation of some wild times on friday night - closing early for the parties and opening late for the too-much-party-headaches.

• all stores will be open from 9:00am-5:00pm on friday, the 31st 

• all stores will be open from 12:00pm-7:00pm on saturday, the 1st. 

hope this gives you all a good opportunity to head out and get your supplies before kickoff.  

merry christmas, madcatters!

from everyone here (even nikki) we wish you all a very merry holiday.  

be well, drive safe and have fun.  

'twas the night before cat-mas

'twas the night before Cat-mas and all through MY house,
not a creature was stirring not even a mouse... (i ate it).

my kitty stocking was hung by the cat door with care,
in hopes that Santa Claws soon would be there.

the humans were nestled all snug in their beds,
while we cats in the darkness danced on their heads.

click here to read the rest!

last-minute gift ideas for the furrkids

forgot about the pets?  have a relative's dog coming to town?  couldn't find anything to give someone who has everything?

how about an automatic laser toy?  or a super-long-lasting elk antler chew?  or a crazy yak's milk himalayan chew?  these gifts are not only cool, they're also pretty different than the standard tie or gift card (but, we've got those too, if gift cards are your thing.)

remember, when all else fails a catnip banana is a sure-fire win for the discerning kitteh in any family.

animals of youtube sing "deck the halls"

this must have taken a lot of time to make, but with way over 4 million hits already I bet it was worth it. enjoy!

we want yer howl-iday pics!

 

got a festive pet photo? send em our way by posting them on our facebook fansite.  we're looking to feature the best of the best on the bliggity blog this week. extra credit: get creative and cook up a lol-worthy caption.

if you're already a fan, here's a tutorial. and if you're not on facebook, you can email to submit your pic.

check out our ho ho holidays album for inspiration!

christmas christmas time is near

it's the final countdown!  only 4 shopping-wrapping-baking-decorating days left.  are you ready?

if you're a last minute-person don't fret - we will be open until 4:00pm on christmas eve for all of your pet-related needs (or if  you need a break from the fam).

we will be closed on christmas day because even santa's elves need a day off every now and then.

hope you all have a great week!

istyle for ikittehs

this just in at madcat... istyle shirts for all apple addicts on yer xmas list.

they're technically for idogs, but oscar madcat rocks one. doesn't he look just like steve jobs?

swing by and check em out!

wrap it up

with less than a week til santa day 2010 christmas shopping is going on in full-force (we've still got plenty-o-trees!).  also going on are the countlesss of attempts at wrapping even one gift before kitteh takes over and ruins everything.

why are they so obsessed with wrapping paper?  is it the paper?  is it the tape?  or is it just their intolerance of us paying attention to anything other than them?

maybe they just want to be wrapped up like a gift?  this kitty certainly did.  watch the video after the jump!

cat fud: u haz a flavor

just came across this CRAZY article about the process that some canned cat food goes through for tasting - by humans. jigga wha?


panelists rate samples of cat food based on flavors, textures, and the intensity of the flavor.


sure, some cat foods use human grade ingredients, but i've never been tempted to crack open a can on my lunch break.


so what do you think about the taste testers? would you?

simon's cat - "santa claws"

so true.  so, so true.  time to get some pet block.

cozy up in a trundle bed

cool,-new-product alert!  trundle beds are back in stock at madcat west!

these 3-way beds are made from soft faux-fur and can convert into different styles:  cup bed, sleeping bag, and mat.  as you can see, nikki is a huge fan.

if only they made them hooman-sized....

hey, we're OPEN!

that's right, neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can get in the way of your intrepid madcatters.

we're here and ready to help.  so come on in and give us something to do!

bonus points are awarded to anyone who comes in wearing real snow shoes.

look up on monday night

hold onto your bukkits cuz the earth is about to pass through some asteroid  leftovers.  the geminid meteor shower should peak monday night from 11pm to sunrise with one or two meteors visible per minute. 

and these meteors aren't your perseids.  the geminids travel slower and leave a burn trail across the sky (double rainbow all the way!).

snow fun!

hang on to yer snowpants, a storm's a comin! the snow season has hit madtown in a big way (umm... five inches on saturday - exsqueeze me,  a baking powder?). so drive safe, git out there and have fun!

new simon's cat - "cat chat"

dump him, marry the dog

yup.  that's what an australian man just did - married his dog.  (only nobody got dumped).

the non-binding civil ceremony united joseph guiso with his 5-year old adopted lab, honey.  "you're my best friend and you make every part of my day better," he said in his vows. how sweet?

if you know someone who'd be better off marrying their dog or cat we've got the books.  they get your message across and look cute.

teach me how to bucky

the badgers are headed to the rose bowl!  and since badgers are kind of like tougher, scarier cats we may as well celebrate.  and if you like to see skim-boarding dogs trying out for the rose parade click here.  they're quite impressive.

get on your boots

the snow, the salt, the slush - it's here.  time to get on your boots.

blitz stopped into the monroe st. store today to grab some pawz booties.  they look like deflated balloons but do a great job of keeping the ice and salt from burning those sensitive pads.  the bonus is that even though they seem a little goofy-looking most dogs will actually wear them.

thanks for modeling them so well, blitz.  purple is definitely your color.

madcat mystery!

something went bump in the night at madcat west - literally. check out the before shot. at left, detective lucy noms "investigates" the evidence.

hey super sleuths - think you know whodunnit? hit the jump to find out if you're right!

mail-order bride delivered to vilas zoo

canadian-born red panda, Sha-Lei, has arrived happy and healthy and is ready to start her new life at the vilas zoo with mate Chang Tan.  the hope is that the two will hit it off and save the species one-to-four babies at a time.

congratulations, you too.  hope it's all honeymoon from here on out.

"the lost dogs" hits shelves

with michael vick on his way back to glory, and some people advocating that we just get over it already, the 47 surviving dogs from bad newz kennels are not so quick to forgive or forget.

but if there is one shining ray of hope in this story, it's that those 47 dogs, originally deemed "beyond rehabilitation" by peta and the hsus, have gone on to become "cherished pets, therapy dogs, and adored members of their communities," as jim gorant writes in his new book, the lost dogs.

the book has just hit the shelves at madcat, and it details the rescue, reclamation, and redemption of these amazing dogs who were given a second chance.