Feline Underground

super bowl commercials - need more cats

2012-02-05T16:12:00.000-06:00

we're hoping for some funny cat commercials during tonight's super bowl.

maybe a play on keyboard cat or any of the "invisible" series of lolcats.

remember this one? they got it right.

merry christmas madison

2011-12-24T14:42:00.001-06:00

we'll be closing up shop soon for the holiday but before we go we'd like to wish you a very merry Christmas or at least a well-deserved day off. from our family to yours....

MadCat holiday hours

2011-12-24T09:40:00.000-06:00

the holidays are here and we're ready to do our part to keep you sane.

we will be open 9:00-4:00 at West and Willy and 9:00-3:00 at Monroe on christmas eve . closed at all locations for christmas day.

new year's eve we will be open from 9:00-5:00 at all locations and open from 12:00-6:00 on new year's day.

have some fun and stay safe, madison.

new simon's cat! - Fowl Play

2011-12-14T11:53:00.000-06:00

puplight - you light up my life

2011-11-03T14:06:00.001-05:00

clocks go back this weekend. that means more earlier daylight and earlier darklight.

wanna be able to see where you're going and make your dog more visible? try a puplight. they are super bright with 3 white LEDs, light-weight and water resistant. use the collar on your dog or wear it on your head (don't worry, you'll look super cool.)

happy halloween, madtown!

2011-10-29T16:58:00.000-05:00

dressing up? some haters think that hoomans should have all the fun. others respectfully disagree. should pugs be dressed up as yoda? should the earth really revolve around the sun?

whether you're getting freaky at madtown's favorite party, being scared out of yer butts at dchs' haunted woods trail, or doin some gud ol fashioned pumpkin carving, just don't forget to git yer treat on.

now in stock: playa pup heated beds....because we live in wisconsin

2011-10-07T12:30:00.000-05:00

it's been gorgeous this week but the warm weather won't last forever.

when kitty gets cold we've got the goods to keep her cozy, playapup heated bed warmers. these bad boys feature pressure-sensitive, automatic on/off switch, an ideal body temp of 102 degrees, machine-washable fleece cover and chew resistant cord.

put one in your pet's favorite bed or use on its own. lucy's rump-approved.

monroe street festival, willy street fair, deals deals deals!

2011-09-10T15:54:00.000-05:00

clear your calendar, folks. the weekend of Sept. 17/18 is MadCatstravaganza with events taking place at all 3 locations.

first up is the Monroe Street Festival on Saturday. look for sidewalk sales, kids' events, and music up and down the street. MadCat on Monroe will be hosting the Happy Cat Club for a special adoption fair and sale on all treats, toys and cat trees.

next is the Willy Street Fair featuring live music on Saturday evening and a whole day of awesomeness on Sunday. make sure you get to the parade - it's a madison classic. in honor of the neighborhood and the near-end of roadwork all toys, treats and cat trees will be 15% off all weekend.

and over at our West Side store we'll have the Dane Country Friends of Ferals adoption fair on Saturday, the Happy Cat Club on Sunday, and a 15% off cat tree special all weekend.

hope to see you here, there, or somewhere in between.

get all Twitched out

2011-09-08T10:44:00.000-05:00

the FroliCat elves have crafted yet another motorized gadget toy for your kittehs. basically it's a teaser on a mechanical arm that can suction onto any flat surface and dangles a toy over the edge.

find the right spot and the results can be entertaining. twenty bucks - available at any Madcat location.

"The Animals Film" tonight on WYOU + message from Anne

2011-09-01T16:16:00.002-05:00

hey folks. Anne Emerson is a friendly local animal activist and she has a few things she wants you to know. we have only edited the following by cleaning up links and violating your sense of where capital letters belong. that being said, she is worth listening to and we support the work she does with Alliance for Animals as well as other animal advocacy work here in Madison.

the main news it that part 2 of Victor Schonfeld's "The Animals Film" will be shown tonight at 10pm (Sept 1st) on WYOU. at 11pm you can check out "Beyond the Cage" - an Australian documentary. hit the "Read more..." thing to, well...read more?

**** on www.wyou.org, on line, livestream and on Cable 95 and Digital 991 *****

here's a 3:49 min trailer of the Animal Film and a 6:19 min clip. read what Julie Christie wrote in 2008 in the Guardian and what Victor Schonfeld wrote when it was re-released. also 2 excellent conversations on BBC: Animals & Us-Dec 31 2009 and Victor Schonfeld's personal view - Jan 7, 2010

from the July 5, 2007 article - "The Animals Film, a chilling documentary about the abuse of animals, caused shockwaves when it was shown by Channel 4 at its launch 25 years ago. As the movie is re-released, its maker Victor Schonfeld relives the horrors that inspired his work - and wonders if TV would have the guts to show it today."

We know the answer to that. Those who exploit animals have managed to keep the public "in the dark". Our own "progressive" community experiments on 9,000+ monkeys annually, yet the community remains unaware of this, just as they have been kept in the dark about trapping allowed in our county parks and natural resource areas. And factory farming, the killing of the 210 Canada geese....The public also doesn't know that there are superior 21st century human based methods available to advance science without harming animals and humans. There is plenty of evidence of the irrelevance and cruelty to animals yet our media continues to ignore this abuse. Their remaining silent allows this to continue. And those who profit from their exploitation of animals have the protection of the legal system! And now the UW slipped a provision into the Budget Bill that exempts animal researchers from WI State anti-cruelty laws!

there is so much going on while we are overwhelmed in very sad political and social state of affairs. please don't forget the animals who have no voice. check out www.allanimals.org and http://allanimalsblog.org often for updates.

please sign our petitions against trapping & against killing the geese & and ask others to sign also.

for more information, read Shawn Doherty's article and 2 excellent letters from Dr Nedim Buyukmihci (he spoke in the documentary "Cull of the Wild-the Truth About Trapping") to the Dane County Park Commissioners & to County Executive Joe Parisi, as well as a letter from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

politely email the DaneCounty Park Commission, stating your reasons for being against the trapping in Dane County parks and also Dane County Supervisors Kyle Richmond, David Ripp, Robin Schmidt, Carousel Bayrd, Melissa Sargent and Patrick Downing.

politely email County Executive Joe Parisi. even better would be to mail him a letter with your reasons against trapping and ask him to take a stand against this cruelty (Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, City County Bldg, Rm 421, 210 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Madison, WI 53703).

watch "Cull of the Wild, the Truth About Trapping", a 27min documentary with testimony from wildlife officers, trappers, wildlife biologists and Prof of Veterinary Medicine, Nedim Buyukmihci & members of Congress such as US Representative Peter DeFazio & US Senator Bob Smith (NH)

please please watch. it's disturbing. why do we allow this to happen to innocent creatures? many people have told me they cannot forget the screams of the animals that they heard being trapped. the Parks Commission will hold a meeting in October, which will be important to attend. no date has yet been set.

there are no "humane" traps. leghold traps are banned in 88 countries and as Linda Wolfe, from Born Free USA, wrote in her letter to the Capital Times. the link in the letter to the 4 min video of recent 2011 undercover footage is here (should have been .org, not .com). check out the related links for more information on their webpage.

please read: Taxpayers subsidizing wild life extermination program, probe shows by Mary Lou Simms. this is a good overview of the national problem. Madison seems to have fallen into line with the least progressive or enlightened communities ..... much more ... http://www.allanimals.org/issues_wildlife.html with many details the public is unaware of.

please help, however you can.

thank you.

Ann

labor day hours - we'll be here

2011-09-01T14:53:00.000-05:00

we will be open on labor day, monday sept. 5, from 10am-4pm for all of your fuzzy one's needs.

stop on in, grab some grub, and give ol' lucy a big belly rub.

happy labor day.

beastie band blowout bonanza... sale!

2011-08-26T19:49:00.000-05:00

dottie has decreed that all madison cats must go back to school in style! beastie bands collars will be buy one, get one half off our monroe street store this weekend.

they come in a ton of cool designs and some even glow in the dark. they're also lightweight, great for kitties who aren't used to wearing collars. stop by and check em out!

annual manual out now!

2011-08-26T16:57:00.000-05:00

make sure to grab yer copy of the isthmus this week for the annual manual... dottie's a ~~very grumpy~~ star!

from the bottom of our hearts, madtown, thank you for letting us serve you and your pets for another year. we love you more than lucy loves donuts, and that's a lot.

and hey isthmus, thanks for the party! the double rainbow was just too much, you shouldn't have.

thanks, madtown

2011-08-17T14:53:00.001-05:00

we found out today that we took it home in the isthmus' annual "madison's favorites" polls again this year.

we're honored, humbled and looking forward to another year of serving the cats and dogs of madison and their kickass guardians.

thank you. we'll see ya at the party....

dchs catapalooza

2011-08-08T15:13:00.000-05:00

looking for a cat?

the dane county humane society is hosting their annual catapalooza event over the weekend of august 20. this year they're beating their own record with the main shelter staying open 29 hours straight for adoptions. bring coffee and donuts. kitties love donuts.

on friday august 19 you can meet local behaviorist patricia mcconnell as she gives a talk on cats and what makes them tick. it's bound to be informative but will it give you the upper hand against their feline trickery?

trapping proposal for county parks - wtf?

2011-08-05T15:13:00.001-05:00

watch your toes, park-lovers. if dane county has its way, you might be seeing fewer animals due to trapping in county parks.

a new proposal would allow trappers to catch raccon, muskrat, mink, otter, beaver, coyote and fox using traps that "shut over paws... squeeze or break the animals neck and back; and traps that will be placed underwater so that the struggling animal will drown."

not to mention that the proposal includes "not only just picnic areas and shelters but diverse and interconnected strands of meadows, prairies, dog parks, golf courses, fields, forests, and wetlands."

this just seems like a bad idea all around. wanna speak up about it? sign the petition or attend the dane county meeting parks and open spaces meeting on monday, august 8.

bad news for wi puppy mill law

2011-07-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

remember how happy we all were when wi passed a bill regulating puppy mills in the state? yeah, forget about it. the state assembly is considering a bill to ease those regulations, gutting the puppy mill bill completely and getting rid of several inspectors.

first the beer. then the puppy mills. what are the republicans gonna do next, take away my birthday?

new wellness cans - morty approved

2011-07-29T12:13:00.000-05:00

you requested it, we got it. two new chunky varieties of wellness cans hit stores today, slices and cubed.

grain-free chunks of meat in savory gravy available in chicken, turkey, turkey and salmon and salmon flavors. same high quality, same great (kitty-tested) taste.

morty recommends the cubed salmon. it pairs nicely with a bold pinot grigio.

DIY water-fountain kit

2011-07-25T10:01:00.002-05:00

yer cats like water? some do. some don't. either way, they need it. and with the new hy-drate, its easier than ever to make sure they get it.

its basically a regular fountain-pump in a small plastic housing that contains a filter - cleans water while it circulates. at under $25, it is the least expensive fountain on the market.

simple, cool, and available at MadCat! for a closer look, hit the break...

lick the heat on willy street

2011-07-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

all this week we're giving away frozen dog smoothies with any purchase at our willy st. location. keep cool, eat yummy stuff, and enjoy the season.

and for more summer fun don't forget to head over to the essen haus this saturday for the dog days of summer. beer, dogs and cool stuff from yours truly. what's not to love?

best feline friend now at madcat

2011-07-14T11:41:00.000-05:00

more goodness for yer tummies. weruva's kid sister (remember that?) b.f.f. is coming to a MadCat near you.

with a full line-up of grain-free, human-quality goodness there's plenty to heart and a price that's easy on kitteh's allowance, too.

willy walka wednesday!

2011-07-03T13:30:00.000-05:00

join mayor paul soglin and your willy street neighbors for a walk up willy street wednesday night from 5-7pm and get deals at your favorite local shops and stops.

we'll be offering 15% off toys, treats and cat trees all day plus a free goodie bag with any purchase. stop by, support local biz, get free stuff. 'nuff said.

happy fourth ya'll

2011-07-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

who doesn't love a three-day holiday weekend? madcat is open every day as usual, 'cept for monday we're closing at 2 p.m. so we can hit up the bbqs and firewerks.

so have a safe and happy independence day! oh and happy berfday to gabby!

remote control mouse madness!

2011-06-25T14:27:00.000-05:00

this just in in the "things to annoy your cat" department... we now have remote control mice! need i say more?

lucy madcat is already having a ball with them:

we got yer fromm right here

2011-06-23T10:58:00.000-05:00

now on shelves, straight outta mequon, wi.... it's Fromm!

chicken a la veg and salmon a la veg, in both dog and cat, have been picked up at all three locations. wisconsin-made, wisconsin-munched.

you wanted it, you got it. let's take buy local to a whole notha' level.

get ready for the goose kill

2011-06-22T15:45:00.000-05:00

the parks department is going ahead with their promise to use any measure -including killing - to control the "goose problem" in madison. they recently secured a permit to kill 350 geese in four parks -olin-turville, brittingham, goodman and vilas, as well as the wingra creek shoreline.

when? no one seems to know, although it is certain the goose kill will take place within the next few weeks, while the birds are molting and unable to fly away.

makes sense that the board would want to keep the kill under wraps. as ald. mark clear told the isthmus, "it's something i believe should be kept relatively quiet," he says. "crowds of humans wouldn't be conducive to the work the parks department needs to do."

food glorious food, part 2

2011-06-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

they're at it again. the folks over at nature's variety had a bunch of cat food left-over and were wondering what to do with it. well, we had two answers for them: the happy cat club and friends of ferals.

these two local rescues are working hard every day for dane county's cats and they've got mouths to feed. lots of them.

and we all know how loud hungry cats can get; it's not pretty. snuggledorf wanted to eat the whole pallet, himself!

so a big thank you to nature's variety and an even bigger thanks to all the people making No Kill happen every day.

willyland update: progress!

2011-06-20T16:12:00.000-05:00

roads? where we're going...we need roads. and we've got 'em. (or at least part of one.)

it's the halfway point: the sidewalks are in, the sod is green and now we've got honest-to-goodness pavement in front of the store.

beginning this week (and as early as tomorrow) the construction will switch to the other side of the street leaving the newly paved lane on our side open for inbound traffic.

how does this affect you? brearly street parking will not be affected and there will still be parking on willy street (as available) after 7pm. as always, our little red wagon is ready to roll and our willy street crew is strong, like ox, and ready to schlep wherever you need us to go.

willy lives!

so this is what democracy looks like?

2011-06-15T17:21:00.000-05:00

as if you weren't mad as hell before, this little doozy was slipped into the budget bill. it's a provision says laws prohibiting crimes against animals would not apply to peeps "engaged in bona fide scientific research at an educational or research institution."

wondering what this has to do with the state's budget? yeah me too.

willyland update: yer lookin' good

2011-06-10T15:39:00.001-05:00

here we are in month 2 of willy street construction. times have been tough but you've been even tougher. navigating the willy street obstacle course full of giant holes, ~~scary~~ awesome machines, muddy gravel and wet cement takes dedication and we thank you for that.

we love you. we just want to hug all of you but we can't cuz that's crazy we can't hug all of you we want to put you in baskets and put bowties on you and put you on rainbows:

thank you for taking this epic red wagon journey with us. you're the best.

vote!!! or gabby will jump!

2011-06-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

it's "madison's favorites" time, gang. now is your chance to speak your mind and vote with your heart (stomach) for all those things that make madison the bastion of pleasure and delight that it is (hint hint).

voting starts now and continues through june 26th with the winners announced at the isthmus party on august 20th.

remember to fill in at least 20 categories or your ballot won't count! (but come on, 20? that's easy. just name the last 20 businesses you frequented and you're good.)

ok, ready? vote here!

it's gettin' hot in herr

2011-06-07T16:35:00.000-05:00

it's 95 degrees in madtown. even with the a/c blasting the cats are too hot to move. maybe a dip in the sink will help....

kittens kittens kittens!

2011-06-04T13:54:00.000-05:00

lookin for kittens? our adoption fairs have been full of em lately!

dcfof has their usual adoption fairs saturdays at our store on mineral point road. and happycat is bringing their fosters by tomorrow from 1-4.

stop on by!

new happy cat - snuggledorf!

2011-05-28T17:07:00.000-05:00

yes, snuggledorf, snuggler of dorfs and all things magical. (but you could just call him "george.")

this happy cat was admitted to dchs as a stray, is neutered, and is somewhere around five years old.

he's a handsome guy with big, gold eyes and a fancy-pants tuxedo. this guy is always ready for a night at the opera or a romantic evening at home.

want to meet him? come to the west side store on mineral point road or contact the good people of happy cat for more info.

we got balls

2011-05-25T16:53:00.000-05:00

catnip soaked glitter balls, that is. made in canada and a size smaller than our usual sparkle balls, these balls are sure to please. nikki madcat is already a big fan:

<p>&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt;might</p>

might want to rethink the placement on those balls there.

rescue underway in joplin

2011-05-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

the tornado wiped out most of the city but it didn't take their resourcefulness.

as rescue workers search through rubble to find missing persons another rescue effort is on to reunite lost pets with their families. a facebook page is now the quickest way to get a picture of your pet in front of 10,000 sets of eyes and the folks at the city's make-shift shelter facility. meanwhile, shelter rescuers are updating constantly with pictures of new intakes and requests for donations, like blankets and towels.

it's an amazing testament to the power of social media, and the people behind it.

here's hoping this site, and the many others to follow, will give some joplin residents a happy ending...and a new beginning.

no, not raptor. rapture!

2011-05-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

well, it looks like we're still here...business as usual.

but, if anyone was called up by the great ceiling cat in the sky they can relax thanks to "after the rapture pet care." that's, right. book your very own blasphemer in advance and it's smooth sailing all the way to the pearly gates.

but in all honesty, it's nice to be around for awhile longer. we've got kittehs to help.

happy cat Fe-Fe

2011-05-17T17:33:00.000-05:00

it's fuzzy-wuzzy time!

our newest happy cat adoptee is a seven-year old female named fe-fe. she's just a little thing (don't be fooled by the ewok coat, it's all fluff) who loves nothing more than to lay on laps and play with string.

but don't let that fool you, fe-fe likes to be the queen of her domain and would do best as an only-cat.

stop by madcat on monroe street to meet her. you never know, she may be the one.

for more info, contact the good people of happy cat.

we got boxes!

2011-05-13T16:52:00.000-05:00

cats love boxes and we got 'em. catty stacks come in a bunch of different colors and are customizable to any space.

made in the usa out of recycled materials, they are also super sturdy and a fun alternative to the traditional cat tree.

stop by and check em out!

dead goose walking

2011-05-12T11:28:00.000-05:00

last night the board of park commissioners voted to recommend to the madison common council to "use any measures to control the goose population-including killing," despite widespread public outcry.

shame on them. if we start to endorse the killing of species that annoy us, what next?

but there's still hope. contact the mayor and your alders and let them know that this is not "forward" thinking and this is not how madison solves its problems.

thank you to all who came out in support. the geese heard you.

the lyre bird - wasn't he in police academy

2011-05-10T10:20:00.000-05:00

this bird mimics the sounds of all the other birds he hears in the forest. but apparently he's been watching some star wars because those "boops" and "whistles" sound exactly like R2D2. skip to 2:10 for the car alarm and chainsaw action.

another spring, another goose fight

2011-05-09T14:26:00.001-05:00

the parks commission is meeting once again on wednesday night to go over hefty's report on the the city's goose "problem." along with management techniques like hazing and egg oiling, a humane harvest (nice word-choice) is also being proposed.

this is a listening session meeting so please come and speak on behalf of the geese. if you're shy, that's okay. your attendance alone will help the commission to understand that killing is not how madison solves its problems.

where: warner park community center (same as last year's big one)
when: wednesday at 6:30
more info: no madison goose kill

let's hope there's no fruits and nuts this year....

because we never say it enough....

2011-05-08T10:30:00.001-05:00

dear lucy,

thank you for bathing us,

thank you for giving us our good looks,

thank you for being the one all the kids like to pet,

thank you for sharing your beds (and your snores)

but most of all thank you for being our mom. we love you.

- love, morty & nikki

new maru!

2011-05-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

how did this cat get to be so awesome? seriously. everything he does is so weird and wonderful, he's the perfect answer to the question "why do we love cats?"

cinco de me-ow - celebrate with a kitteh

2011-05-05T09:58:00.000-05:00

greetings, madison jumping beans! it's the cinco de mayo, and a thursday, so you may be planning some sort of half-priced margarita night, amirite?

well, it's also cinco de me-ow over at the dane county humane society where they are celebrating with $5 kitteh adoptions all day. cinco bucks? saving a life has never been so easy (on the pocketbook).

now go and have fun. feliz cinco de mayo!

may the 4th be with you

2011-05-04T14:42:00.000-05:00

get it? may the 4th? it's star wars day!

grab your T-16 and bullseye a couple of womp rats or make the kessel run in less than twelve parsecs or just spend an hour looking at animals with lightsabers. any way you go, you're doing it right.

just don't respond with "i know" the next time someone says "i love you." only han can do that.

puppy mill bills: TX up, MO down

2011-04-30T13:57:00.000-05:00

it's official - missouri gov. jay nixon has signed off on changes that would gut mo's puppy mill law was passed by voters last year. shame on you, missouri. progress isn't taking one step forward and two steps back.

in good news, the lone star state is on the cusp of passing its own puppy mill bill to regulate large scale breeders. the bill would classify dog and cat breeders who have 11 or more unspayed females as "commercial breeders" and require that they be licensed by the state and undergo regular inspections and criminal background checks.

the rep who introduced the bill commented that it would not enforce anything more than the humane treatment of animals and protection of consumers. never a bad thing, right?

meet dawn

2011-04-29T15:56:00.000-05:00

meet dawn, madcat west's newest happycat!

this super sweetie loves playing with glitter balls, sitting on laps, watching the sights out the window and exploring new places. she also loves tummy rubs.

dawn is 10 years old and gets along with kids, dogs, other cats, and even lived with a rabbit! she is front-declawed.

dawn was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which just means that her thyroid gland produces to much thyroid hormone. fortunately, she has responded very well to medication which she takes once per day.

you can meet dawn at madcat west on mineral point road... we also have two adoption fairs this weekend! our usual DCFOF fair will be Saturday from 12-3:30 and on sunday will be the return of the happycat adoption fair! stop by and check em out!

instinct's limited ingredient food is here!

2011-04-27T18:23:00.000-05:00

finally! a single-protein, grain free food! madcat now has instinct's limited ingredient diet, and it's aimed at eliminating some of the common ingredients cats can be sensitive to.

it says right on the bag, does NOT contain: chicken, beef, fish, eggs, dairy, grain or gluten. simple, no weird stuff, gud for you. stop by and check it out!

hoppy easter!

2011-04-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

it's easter! after you find all yer eggs and get a pic taken with the bunny, check out the new simon's cat vid!

win African Cats tickets on Earth Day!

2011-04-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

a movie about lions and cheetahs and wild kittens, oh my! disney's African Cats opens today and we're pretty excited about it. cats on the big screen!

head over to our facebake page for a chance to win tickets and some fly madcat goodies.

happy earth day, everybody!

happy birthday morty and nikki!

2011-04-20T16:04:00.002-05:00

it's cake time! that's right, morty and nikki turn 9 whole years old today.

it seems like only yesterday we picked 'em up from country animal haven....

they're celebrating in style with lots of catnip and their very own home-made cat-food cake. it's got whole mackerel and a fish-tail candle. yummmmm.

check out the video after the jump for some nomming action and cake close-ups.

missouri's puppy mill bill gutted

2011-04-18T16:37:00.000-05:00

missouri missouri missouri, i shake my fist at you.

proposition b, a bill to bring humane breeding laws to the state known as the puppy mill capital of the country, was narrowly passed by missouri voters last november. now, the state assembly has just passed new legislation that would gut the bill and keep the puppy mills churning.

their must be some real greasy palms in that house.

citizens are outraged and already planning demonstrations to encourage governor Nixon to veto the bill, but can animal welfare override politics? let's hope so.

lazy sunday...

2011-04-17T12:45:00.000-05:00

time to play! the only thing better than a paper bag is a GIANT paper bag. right, mort?

dane county humane society needs your votes

2011-04-14T13:36:00.001-05:00

update: we did it! in just one day DCHS moved up 18 spots from 51 to 33! this means we move on to the qualifying round....and the life saving.

the ASPCA may be embracing some no kill strategies - shocking, right? they are holding a contest to award $100,000 to the shelter that has the largest increase in lives saved and our own DCHS is in the running.

only the top 50 shelters with the most votes will get to go on to compete for the $ (and save lives!). DCHS is currently sitting at 51. so vote! (hint: you can use multiple email addresses if you've got 'em.)

maybe this is the kick in the pants our shelter needs to finally go no kill once and for all.

skipper's jealous - kitty/dolphin lovin'

2011-04-12T09:33:00.001-05:00

this blows all other inter-species animal friendships right out of the water. look at them! those loving rubs. those playful pats. if this doesn't make your heart leap then i don't know what will.

must be summa - willy st. road work begins

2011-04-11T10:52:00.000-05:00

the orange barrels and heavy machinery are here. but so are we.

read through our road work rundown page for the details and watch for updates. we'll try and keep you posted on developments and where/when you can park.

in the meantime, don't sweat it. parking is available on side-streets and we always do carry-outs. gabby is even letting us borrow her radio flyer for heavy loads.

if getting here is a big pain in the you-know-what for whatever reason just head over to our monroe st. store. it's only a hop, skip, and a jump away and you'll get the same great service and selection.

as always, stay positive.

willy lives!

ever see a cat give a "thumbs up?"

2011-04-09T15:32:00.001-05:00

now you have. thumbs up jimmy. breakin' hearts and bummin' rides.

so i picked up my cat's balls the other day

2011-04-08T14:14:00.000-05:00

and holy cow! are they potent.

even better, you get three of 'em in a pack. (just in case, ya know, you end up losing one in a tragic glitter ball accident.)

get your own my cat's balls at any madcat store. your kittehboys will thank you.

saving japan's pets

2011-04-06T14:15:00.000-05:00

in case you missed it....the big story over the weekend was that of Ban, the missing japanese dog who was reunited with her owner after she was discovered floating on a roof way out in the ocean. it's stories like these that put japan's plight into perspective for the rest of us. (funny how stories about animals often cut to the heart of what it is to be human.)

but, we should remember that there are many animals still needing rescue and their stories are just as important as that of ban. one organization working hard to provide help for these missing cats and dogs is kinship circle. they work to rescue, reunite and give food to people and their pets when there are no other options. pretty amazing.

if you have not donated yet, perhaps now is the perfect time.

vote, or else....

2011-04-05T10:38:00.000-05:00

....kittens will attack the city with laser eyes! (or something equally horrible might happen...think escape from new york only it's in madison and we don't have a kurt russel.)

read up on the candidates.

find a polling place.

do your civic duty. remember, ceiling cat is always watching....

this just in... peta still sucks

2011-04-03T13:08:00.000-05:00

the stats are in. peta, an organization that took in $35 million last year alone, adopted out only 44 dogs and cats last year out of the 2,345 they took in.

they ended up euthanizing 3765 of the total animals they took in last year. ethical? no. the only word for them is murderers.

just more proof that peta sucks.

incredible jaguar leaps - you have to watch this

2011-04-02T11:57:00.000-05:00

they really are big cats, aren't they?

FL bill makes it easier to save "dangerous dogs"

2011-03-31T08:50:00.001-05:00

a bill recently introduced in florida legislature is seeking to change the definition of "dangerous dogs" to make it easier for people to adopt dogs who've been involved in dog fighting.

the bill will allow animal shelters to decide on a case by case basis if the dog can be rehabilitated and eventually adopted. the move stems from the amazing story of 47 dogs seized from michael vick and are now making a huge difference in hundreds of lives.

hear that, hsus and peta? even the state of florida thinks that seized fighting dogs can be rehabilitated. why don't you?

local dog takes a polar plunge

2011-03-30T11:32:00.000-05:00

poor luna, the local labradoodle. she fell through the thin ice on lake mendota yesterday and had to be pulled out by rescuers. must have been the lab part of her looking for a good swim....in march...in icy water.

this isn't the first time a dog has been rescued from ice. remember lucky?

remember to stay off the ice, folks. leave that to the ducks, geese and other amphibious creatures.

this week in weird animal news - missing cobras and robot birds

2011-03-29T10:24:00.000-05:00

the bronx zoo's egyptian cobra went missing sometime last friday. since then it's been tweeting jokes and inquiring about vegan restaurants. want to follow her (or maybe even find her)? @BronxZoosCobra already has over 30,000 followers.

and in awesome robot news....we now have a bird-bot that actually flies and soars like a real bird! none of that wind-up owl from clash of the titans. this thing looks legit. i want one!

groundbreaking no kill legislation introduced in TX

2011-03-26T14:17:00.000-05:00

a new bill introduced in texas legislature would "abolish the gas chamber, ban 'convenience killing' (when there are empty cages), mandate collaboration by requiring shelters to work with non-profit rescue organizations, mandate transparency by requiring shelters to report how many animals they kill and more."

wow. just wow.

it is based on model legislation written by the no kill advocacy center. similar practices have resulted in a 92% save rate in some communities. this is a giant step forward for a no kill nation.

fun with feathers.

2011-03-25T17:41:00.000-05:00

peacock feathers. cheap, effective, and saves many a finger from excited cats. check out these vids of madcats gone wild:

mebbe we should put those peacock feathers
in a different spot...

dottie loves feathers. check out that tail action!

way to go... utah?

2011-03-24T10:02:00.000-05:00

yeah that's right. utah. they recently said thanks but no thanks to a bill that would allow the shooting of feral cats (sound familiar?). a TNR bill has been introduced in its place.

who knew utah could be so progressive?

(gabby did. she knows all.)

get the shed out

2011-03-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

it's officially spring! trees are budding, ice is melting and the couch is growing fur. our pets are blowing out their winter coats and that means it's time to pick up our weapons: grooming tools.

we've got furminators, shedding blades, slickers, combs, de-matting tools, bath wipes, scaredy cuts, fish oils and everything else you'll need to keep the hair at bay. (sorry, no flowbees.)

and don't forget the lint-roller!

call him ishmael?

2011-03-22T10:08:00.001-05:00

vilas zoo's little lion man needs a name. you can vote here for one of 5 options (leo pold being the best) on madison.com through april 11th. it's too bad "madcat" isn't an option. he'd make a great store-cat.

prepare to be (super) mooned

2011-03-19T13:40:00.000-05:00

look to the skies, madcatters! the moon is doing some crazy perigee thing where it will look 14% bigger.

nasa's page has a bunch of science-y explanation but all you really need to know is that tonight is the night to make "full moon" jokes.

Q: how does a man on the moon get his haircut?
A: eclipse it!

cat with amazing rescue story now looking for a good home

2011-03-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

in december, a cat was found in janesville dangling from a powerline by her tail. the poor girl hung there for at least an hour before she could be rescued.

now the appropriately-named spark is in the care of dane county friends of ferals and looking for a forever home. could it be yours?

happy st. whosits day!

2011-03-17T14:18:00.000-05:00

hope you're wearing green today, people. or morty might have to pinch ya!

in honor of the green man, himself, here are 33 pictures of angry st. patrick's day cats. don't they look thrilled?

have a fun, green-beer-fueled day, every one!

tashirojima - japan's cat island

2011-03-16T13:34:00.000-05:00

japan, home of maru, land of robots and cat islands, we've all been thinking of you.

out of the sadness comes some good news: the residents, both people and cats, of tashirojima island are safe and efforts are underway to airlift food and supplies to keep everyone fed and healthy.

we wish much luck to everyone affected. and lots of waves from maneki neko.

vote for magic, DCHS's first FIV+ adoptee

2011-03-15T14:06:00.000-05:00

the animal rescue site is hosting a new beginnings story contest and one of madison's very own kittehs is a finalist!

magic was the first FIV+ cat to be adopted out of the dane county humane society (back in 2009). he is the face of no kill in our community - a cat who would be put down in most shelters.

let's all vote for magic and prove that all cats deserve a second chance.

git out yer pooper scoopers, madtown

2011-03-11T16:45:00.000-06:00

with all that dang snow finally melting, the city's spring dog park clean-up will be held march 26. fun!

at least it means spring is almost here! stop by for your dog park permit and maybe a new toy or two.

adopt this cat (before I do)

2011-03-10T10:32:00.001-06:00

bitty is the latest happy cat to grace our west side store. she is around 6 years old and gorgeous as all get out.

morty has a bit of a crush and we don't blame him.

her personality is that of a very loving, confident and curious lady. it was difficult to capture her beauty in pictures because she was so excited to be here in kitty paradise.

come to the mineral point road location to meet her or contact happy cat, but prepare to fall in love. she's a real doll.

cats with thumbs - the horror!

2011-03-09T12:43:00.000-06:00

UK milk commercials are awesome.

cat ladders are cool

2011-03-08T10:07:00.000-06:00

whether you agree with letting kitties outside or not you have to admit that these are pretty neat.

we all know cats are going to do whatever they want whenever they want so we might as well just go with the flow.

gotta love the basket lift and the elevator.

this is winning - charlie sheen lolcat rants

2011-03-05T14:01:00.000-06:00

you cant's escape it. charlie sheen is everywhere. must be the tiger blood coursing through his veins. or that he's an F-18. whatever it is, it's bitchin'.

even the lolcats are winning.

thank you, charlie. we needed a laugh.

maru tries new hairstyles

2011-03-04T16:47:00.000-06:00

okay so i might be slightly maru obsessed, but this vid is awesome. check out maru as she contemplates a new 'do:

new food - dave's is here!

2011-03-03T13:52:00.000-06:00

all of you grain-free-feeding madcatters out there are going to have another brand to chose from, dave's pet food.

these bad boys come in beef, chicken, turkey and a whole bunch of yummy tuna and seafood flavors.

the west-side store cats have been loving 'em, but then miss nikki has never met a tuna she didn't like.

paper+catnip=awesome

2011-03-02T12:15:00.000-06:00

this just in from the files of "why didn't i think of that?" are catnip scented papers. really. like a post-it soaked in catnip, it fulfills cats' love for catnip and crinkly papers. plus your lil junkie gets all the buzz without the mess.

they are also non-toxic if your cat starts to chew on them, like fiona madcat in this clip:

"oops! my bad."

2011-03-01T09:54:00.003-06:00

wellness is pulling some of their canned cat food due to a few lots having inadequate levels of vitamin b1, thiamine.

all other wellness products are still a-ok and as nom-worthy as always.

the affected lots are:

all wellness and core cat cans dated 14April13 through 30Sep13
all chicken and herring cans dated 10Nov13 through 17Nov13

any affected cans may be returned to our stores for credit or exchanged with unaffected lots.

if you have any questions for wellness you can reach them at 1-877-227-9587

simon's cat in "sticky tape"

2011-02-28T11:09:00.000-06:00

nothing cures a case of the mondays like simon's cat.

lucy madcat's oscar picks

2011-02-27T10:07:00.000-06:00

it's oscar day, it's oscar day! our very own paul the octopus, lucy madcat, has lined up her predictions for best picture:

aspca counters oreo's law with new bill, continues to suck

2011-02-26T15:38:00.001-06:00

just as oreo's law is re-introduced in the new york state assembly ed sayres and his ASPCA introduce their own bill, one they say is even better. the reality? not so much.

"While Oreo’s Law empowers non-profit animal rescue organizations to fulfill their missions, a right often denied to them by larger non-profit organizations and shelters, the ASPCA bill paradoxically assumes such organizations guilty of the very problem they were chartered to combat."

click here to read nathan winograd's compare and contrast of the two bills and to learn why oreo's law will change the face of sheltering.

and if you are in the new york city area on sunday make sure to stop by ASPCA headquarters to join the protest.

new product alert!

2011-02-25T16:12:00.000-06:00

check this out - brand new from the world of cardboard scratchers comes the easy life disc scratcher. great for all yer box aficionados out there. lucy madcat has already claimed hers.

its cozy and functional - the corrugated cardboard surface provides an outlet for cats' natural instinct to scratch, and the disc shape provides an outlet for cats' natural instinct to nap.

hit the jump for more pics of lucy "testing the merchandise."

better turn down your belltone - world's loudest purr

2011-02-24T13:18:00.001-06:00

smokey's motor is so loud (how loud is it!?) that it equals the noise from a lawnmower, hair dryer and boeing 737 at a whopping 80 decibels. how would you like that in your ear at 6am every day?

poly cat gives a thumbs up

2011-02-23T17:17:00.000-06:00

check out jimmy the polydactyl cat givin us a big thumbs up! i bet i know what he's thinking: first dumb tricks for teh hoomans, next i be opening cans, tomorrow, the world!

check out the vid of jimmy showing off his trick.

and thanks to geekologie!

it's an exciting time to be here

2011-02-22T12:17:00.001-06:00

well, at least we are now more known for our politics than our cheese, right?

day 8 of protests, both sides unwavering, missing senators, a falling camel, jesse jackson, and now, more threats from the governor. is this "forward"?

oh, and just so you know, we are always pro-worker.

cool new stuff for dental health month

2011-02-21T11:51:00.001-06:00

we're nearing the end of february. some of you have probably been to your vet to take advantage of dental health month discounts on teeth cleaning and all that jazz. now comes the home care.

to help with keeping those teefs nice and clean we've added two new dental products:

Clenz-a-dent and Maxi/Guard.

if you have a mutt or moggy with killer death-breath you will definitely want to check out the maxi/guard oral gel. two dabs of this stuff to each side of their upper gums and you will not only reduce inflammation but also get rid of the stink almost instantly.

the clenz-a-dent is another food-additive that is as easy to use as pouring kibble into a bowl. just a scoop-full a day keeps the plaque and tartar away. sprinkle on top of food and let it go to town.

meet leesi

2011-02-19T18:15:00.000-06:00

basement cat raven is already off to a new home! madcat west's newest happycat-in-residence is her brother, ceiling cat leesi.

lessi loves to play and is your typical, rambunctious kitten - all about toys, playing, cuddles and crashing into catnaps. he would be great in a home with dogs or other cats.

hit the jump for more photos of leesi!

meet raven

2011-02-18T16:56:00.000-06:00

meet raven, madcat west's newest happycat looking for a forever home.

less than a year old, raven is super sweet and playful. she'd be great in a home with cats, dogs, and older kids.

check out more pics of raven playing after the jump!

fight the power

2011-02-17T14:42:00.001-06:00

it's happening. revolution is happening and it is being televised.

it started in egypt. now, bahrain, libya and iraq and more follow suit. it's even happening here, in our own backyard.

who's next?

larry, the prime minister's new moggy (that means cat)

2011-02-16T13:29:00.000-06:00

10 downing street has a rat problem (don't all government buildings?). what to do? get a cat.

larry the ratter was rescued from a battersea dog and cat home (that means shelter) and brought to his new digs yesterday. apparently, he quite likes the place but could do without the reporters.

follow larry on twitter @downingstlarry for posts like "Well, I've been here for several hours, and no-one's raised the Common Fisheries Policy. And Ken Clarke almost sat on me."

the next big question? will he be invited to the royal wedding?!

prepare yourself for cute overload, local-style

2011-02-15T12:50:00.000-06:00

hope you're not too sick of all the hearts-and-love stuff, yet, cuz we've got baby lion news to share.

the vilas zoo's new baby was born just before christmas but the little fuzzbucket is already over 20lbs. best part of the story? papa lion loves mama so much he won't go outside without her. awwwwww!

oh, and apparently we should all be on watch for red panda babies, too! that's vilas zoo. it's wilder than 16 and pregnant.

happy vee day

2011-02-14T09:39:00.004-06:00

happy valentine's day from our very own justin beiber, morty madcat! he's got the cat tat to prove that he's a lover, not a fighter, although he does have to chase the ladies off with a stick.

and for your vee day enjoyment, a list of ways that cats/dogs show you love. pretty neat. who knew that a butt in the face was a cat's version of the candy heart?

arts + crafts + dogs?

2011-02-12T16:54:00.000-06:00

git out your construction paper and gluesticks, intrepid madcrafters. a new craze is sweeping the world and it's the best thing to happen to dogs since the invention of fire hydrants. eyebrows!