Not ready for a real cat tattoo? Then check out Tattoo Tights on Etsy. These fun tights and  socks feature tattoo-like designs without the commitment. There are several cat designs to choose from.

We had an overwhelming response to the nominations for the $1,000 Catification Makeover from The Vertical Cat! We received almost 800 nominations for over 200 different shelters! It’s so overwhelming, in fact, that the folks at The Vertical Cat are still trying to choose the 10 finalists, so we need a little more time. We’ll announce the finalists and start the voting tomorrow, instead of today as originally planned. Plus, we’re working on some other fun surprises! Please check back tomorrow for more details.

Here’s your chance to win your very own SIGNED copy of Jackson Galaxy’s new book Cat Daddy! We have not one, but TWO copies for a couple of lucky readers! To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winners will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on May 22, 2012. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere!

Cat Daddy Now Available for Kindle and Audiobook!

In addition to the hardcover book, you can download Cat Daddy for your Kindle, or you can purchase the audiobook version, read by Jackson himself! I’ve been reviewing the audiobook, and I can honestly tell you, it’s one of the most entertaining things I’ve ever heard. With his acting background, Jackson brings the story to life in a way that no one else could ever do. My favorite part is when he does Benny’s voice! It’s hilarious!

Don’t forget! Jackson will be in Phoenix, AZ this Thursday for two special events! There are still a handful of tickets left for lunch with Jackson at Duck & Decanter restaurant in Phoenix. This will be a special fundraiser for the Spay Neuter Hotline, specifically to support their TNR efforts. He’ll also be at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe on Thursday evening for a book signing. Get all the details here.

Every once in a while, someone sends me a new cat product to test and I am blown away by the sheer brilliance of the concept. This is one of those products. It’s the Kitty Cradle, a simple idea that makes you smack your head and say “Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?”

The Kitty Cradle is a cat hammock that hangs under any chair, creating a cozy napping spot in a normally unused area. Brilliant! Made with soft fleece on one side and sturdy colorful cotton on the opposite side, The Kitty Cradle attaches easily to four chair legs with Velcro straps. The straps have a grippy surface that holds the hammock in place. Adjust the height so kitty has enough room to crawl in, and you just created the perfect hideaway.

The Kitty Cradle is designed to fit chairs with legs that are 18″ to 27″ apart. The company is currently taking pre-orders for launching the Kitty Cradle this summer. The Kitty Cradle will sell for $29. Check out the Kitty Cradle Facebook page for news and special offers.

ENTER TO WIN!

Be one of the first cat owners to try the Kitty Cradle for yourself! To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on May 21, 2012. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere!

What’s new at Moderncat Studio? Check out our limited edition A-frame Modern Cat Scratcher and Play Station. These fun little sculptures combine both art and function for you and your cat. The A-frame provides cats and kittens with a vertical scratching surface and a fun place to hide under and around. Our popular ModShaker catnip filled rattle toy hangs inside on an elastic cord, enticing kitty to play.

The A-frame scratcher measures 12″ wide, 13″ deep and 15″ tall, so it’s great for kittens, but even my bigger cats like to play under and around it. Our model, Andy, is still pretty small at 8 months.

These really are limited edition, so when they’re gone, they’re gone. We’re experimenting with the design to see what people (and cats!) think. The A-frame scratchers are all made with formaldehyde-free MDF. Designs include plain MDF with the circle pattern, plus red and white laminate with the circle pattern or mid-century modern architectural block patterns.

Choose from a variety of colorful carpet or striped sisal scratching surfaces with a coordinating ModShaker catnip rattle toy dangling inside. Each one of our A-frame scratchers is unique.

The A-frame scratchers are currently available only from the Moderncat Studio Etsy shop. The plain MDF is $65 and the laminate finishes are $80. The A-frame scratcher is a design collaboration with Juggernaut Design, exclusively for Moderncat Studio.

Congratulations to Kim (comment #112), winner of the Mother’s Day Giveaway from Pet Collage Paradise! We hope you’re enjoying the day with your furkids!

Lucky kitties Kaylee and Trip enjoy their mid-century modern furnishings. Aren’t they gorgeous?

Based just outside Providence, Rhode Island, Up Country designs and manufactures a line of colorful, fun pet accessories, including these new catnip filled kitty toys. Mimi Mouse wears an Up Country signature ribbon and the catnip fortune cookies come packaged in a takeout box. Both are handmade with soft brightly colored fabrics.

Looking for some cool cat wear? Check out these silk screened kitty designs from 1AEON.

They offer men’s and women’s tees, hoodies, and tote bags, plus if you want to be a little risqué, check this out.

Do you know a cat shelter that needs a face lift? Well, here’s your chance to help them out! The folks over at The Vertical Cat are generously donating $1,000 worth of their fabulous cat climbing products to help one deserving shelter “catify” their space.

And that’s not all! The winner of the “Catification Makeover” will also receive a free phone consultation with the The Cat Daddy himself, cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, and yours truly, Moderncat. Together we are the Catification Team, combining Jackson’s cat behavior expertise and my design tips to create amazing, cat-friendly environments.

We’ll work with the winning shelter to design a cat room using The Vertical Cat’s shelves, stairs and trees. The Vertical Cat has already sent their products to several cat shelters, including the Branford Compassion Club cat rescue in Connecticut, where they created the beautiful blue and white cat room pictured above. Their products are also in use at the Tree House Humane Society in Chicago, where the cats are loving their new environment. Just think of the possibilities for your favorite shelter!

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE CAT SHELTER TODAY!

Nominations are now being accepted for the $1,000 Catification Makeover from The Vertical Cat! To nominate your favorite cat shelter, please complete the form below. Your nomination will be sent to the team at The Vertical Cat, who will choose 10 finalists. We will announce the finalists here on Moderncat and everyone will have a chance to vote for the winning shelter. The shelter with the most votes at the end of the voting period will win the $1,000 makeover, including a phone consultation with Jackson Galaxy and Moderncat.

Nominations must be submitted by midnight on May 13, 2012. Finalists will be announced on May 16 and voting will take place May 16 through 22. The winner will be announced here on Moderncat on May 23. This giveaway is only open to shelters in the continental US.

Nominations are now closed.

Guest book review by Peter J Wolf

I’m not what you’d call a fast reader. Not for lack of practice, mind you—I read plenty. But I’ve never once sat down and read a book cover to cover in one sitting. I came close recently, though—so engaging is Jackson Galaxy’s debut title, Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean.

It’s easy to lose oneself in a book like Cat Daddy: a story, as Jackson tells it, “about two broken beings who fixed one another” told with unexpected (and gloriously colorful) candor. Such indulgences are not without risks, however—in this case, the real possibility of getting in too deep without a box of tissues handy.

And you’re going to need it. (Don’t believe me? See if you can make it through the 86-second book trailer without getting at least a little misty-eyed.)

But back to those two broken beings…

The incorrigible cat to which the book’s sub-title refers was Benny, described by Jackson as “seven pounds of feline frustration who I loved with all my heart.”

“A petite gray-and-white domestic shorthaired cat, he challenged me every day for over thirteen years. Every time I let myself get complacent in my knowledge of cats, in my place in their world, I’d take a deep breath, lace my fingers behind my head and lean back in my chair, and look over to Benny… who was flipping me the bird.”

At the time Benny came into his life—abandoned by a woman who called the cat “unbondable”—Jackson was fighting complacency on multiple fronts as he struggled with various addictions. (Early on, the book’s working title was Cats, Drugs and Rock & Roll.)

Benny’s arrival was life-changing, the wake-up call Jackson desperately needed (one his band mates, friends, family, and co-workers had been unable to deliver).

“I believe that without Benny, I might still have been a successful cat behaviorist. But my experience with him brought me to a place where I had no choice but to abandon my comfort. For years I did OK living a life of disengagement. The things I believed kept me sane—strict cinderblock boundaries, addiction, cynicism and self-sabotage—were unacceptable if I was ever to hear him. And if I was unwilling to hear Benny, I was unwilling to hear, learn from, be with every other cat in the world. I had to get clean of alcohol, drugs, and food. I had to accept humility. I had to be present and willing to learn and change. Things I would never do for another human (or myself) I did for the sake of Benny.”

Anybody familiar with Jackson’s show My Cat from Hell (currently filming Season 3) has witnessed—and marveled at—how the man connects with cats, winning over even the toughest cases with his trademark “cat mojo.” (Like MCFH, the book includes lots of practical advice about behavior, nutrition, and environmental enrichment—or “catification”—for readers, whether their cats are from Hell or not.)

Turns out, Jackson’s got more than a little people mojo too. There’s an undeniable authenticity that comes through in Cat Daddy; its confessional nature and raw, often lyrical, prose are sure to resonate with a broad audience.

And it’s that human connection that’s going to make the greatest difference.

Since he began working with cats 17 years ago, Jackson’s made a point of challenging the conventional “cat guy” image—with his shaved head, sculpted facial hair, earrings, and tattoos. It is, as he explains in the book’s preface, all part of his plan.

“We need to explode the concept of what a cat guy looks like, what a cat girl looks like. We need a country literally full of cat guys and cat girls, bikers, politicians, clergy, and everyone in between, in order to keep millions from dying without homes.”

In Cat Daddy, Jackson further explodes (thanks, in part, to a generous helping of f-bombs) the “cat guy” concept, thus moving us closer to the day when every cat has a home. For this, we all owe Jackson—and Benny—a debt of gratitude.

. . .

Don’t forget! There are still a couple of days left for you to pre-order Cat Daddy and help shelter cats! Order your copy of Cat Daddy before May 10, and Tarcher/Penguin will donate $1.00 to the cause of saving shelter cats. To make your pre-order count, simply e-mail a photo or scan of your receipt to: CatDaddyBook@gmail.com.

Jackson has chosen three wonderful charities to receive the donations: Best Friends Animal Society, Stray Cat Alliance, and Neighborhood Cats.

Attention all Phoenix area cat lovers! Here’s another chance for you to meet the Cat Daddy himself, Jackson Galaxy! He’ll be in town on May 17 for two special events promoting his new book Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love and Coming Clean.

Lunch with Jackson – Special Fundraiser for Spay/Neuter Hotline’s TNR Program

There will be a special luncheon at Duck & Decanter restaurant in Phoenix from noon to 2 pm on May 17. Tickets are $50 per person, which includes a vegetarian or vegan lunch and a copy of Cat Daddy. The event will be held in a private area and limited to just 60 attendees. Jackson will be signing books and greeting guests.

When Jackson was here in February, he was really impressed by how many folks in the Phoenix area participate in TNR, and he wanted to do something to help out—so a portion of each ticket sale will go to benefit the Spay/Neuter Hotline’s TNR program. Last year, this program—one of the largest in the country—sterilized more than 10,000 community cats, and it’s on track for 12,000 this year. Since its founding in 2009, the Spay/Neuter Hotline has sterilized more than 30,000 of the area’s free-roaming cats.

You won’t want to miss this special event, so reserve your tickets now by calling Duck & Decanter at 602-274-5429. This event is being sponsored by Changing Hands Bookstore, Vox Felina, and Duck & Decanter.

The luncheon will be held at Duck & Decanter, 1651 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ.

Book Signing at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe

On the evening of May 17, Jackson will be at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe for a book signing. Anyone who purchases a copy of Cat Daddy from Changing Hands (pre-order online) will be issued two tickets for the book signing. Doors open at 6:00 pm to people with tickets. At 6:45 seating is open to anyone (if there are any seats left!) and the event starts at 7:00. The book signing is being sponsored by Changing Hands Bookstore, Tarcher/Penguin Books, and, yours truly, Moderncat.

Both of these events are going to fill up fast, so get your tickets and/or purchase your book now! Let’s show Jackson how much we love him here in the Valley of the Sun!

Cat moms deserve some extra love on Mother’s Day, too, don’t we? We have a very fun giveaway for all the cat mom out there! It’s an original collage by Nancy Gordon of Pet Collage Paradise.

Nancy’s collages are all hand cut and assembled using paper, photos, rhinestones, and other embellishments. She often features cool cat ladies and fabulous felines in fun, hip scenes.

ENTER TO WIN!

Nancy is offering the collage shown at the top of the post featuring a hipster young woman in her “I Love Cats” dress and leopard print boots. To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012. One entry per person. This giveaway includes free shipping to addresses in the US and Canada.

The Dancing Cat has some fabulous greeting cards that are perfect for Mother’s Day. Choose from Dancing Cat dons a mom robe, and “World’s Best Cat Mom” for those of us who love our kitties like they are our children.

Congratulations to the three lucky winners of the Kitty Speed Bumps!

• Christine P (comment #463)
• Katie (comment #674)
• Lee (comment #1262)

Don’t forget, use coupon code MODERNCAT and get 5% off your entire purchase at catpods.com, plus, right now, receive a free bag of Kitty Pucks toys with every order!

This adorable orange tabby was recently spotted on the fabulous design blog decor8 in a profile of photographer Vanessa Rees. Vanessa’s photography studio V. K. Rees, specializes in food, still life, lifestyle, portrait, fashion, event, and wedding photography. Her photos are absolutely stunning!

Although Vanessa is not officially a pet photographer, she takes some wonderful portraits of her gorgeous kitty, Marshall, who usually assists with her studio photo shoots.

To see more of Marshall (and Vanessa’s incredible work), visit the V. K. Rees blog regularly. Vanessa often includes a random photo of Marshall at the end of her posts.

Check out this awesome project from Lucia Martinez over at The Hairpin! It’s a rustic cat bed, complete with sisal scratcher, made out of an old wooden shipping pallet. Brilliant! Get all the details here.

Congratulations to Nina (comment #1190), winner of the SmartGrip Cat Litter Mat from PetFusion! May your floors be litter free!

This is a one-of-a kind falling water cat drinking fountain by metal artist Marc Russo. He crafted the fountain after watching his cat drink from a running faucet. It’s so beautiful and modern! I hope he decides to produce these for sale someday.

Congratulations to Michelle from Lake City, Florida, winner of the April monthly giveaway from Binq Design! Michelle chose the Beach finish Bloq with a black cushion, what a lovely combination! Enjoy!

What a face! This adorable little model sure does look cozy in these gorgeous handmade felted cat caves from Etsy seller Grazim. Each cat cave is made from natural wool using a wet felting technique. They are very modern and cool looking!

The cat caves listed in Grazim’s Etsy shop measure about 15″ wide and 6″ tall, but she is happy to make you a custom cat cave in any size and any color.

My cats would never leave their cave!

Congratulations to Kim (comment #207) and Ev (comment #1378), the two lucky winners of the Stumulo Feeding Station and Activity Center for Cats and a set of level three tubes. Your kitties will have hours of entertainment with this awesome toy!

This gorgeous piece of design wasn’t created with cats in mind, but the moment I saw it, I pictured it as the perfect modern cat climbing tower. It’s the Juliette Wall Shelf by French designer Jean-Marc Gady. The staircase design is made from lacquered bent steel and measures 30cm wide by 109cm deep by 150cm tall, or about 12″ x 43″ x 60″. Add some carpet tiles on top of each step, and voilà! Kitty heaven!

Available in red-orange, blue, yellow, white and black, the Juliette Wall Shelf is sold through HartoDesign for 239€, or about $316 US.

via Design-Milk

For this month’s giveaway, we’re offering the extra large 35″ vertical scratching post from Mountain Cat Trees! This super-sized scratching post is designed to handle the biggest and tallest cats out there. The base, measuring 20″ square and 4″ high, ensures that this scratcher will not tip over. The top has a space just big enough to allow for perching, as the beautiful tabby below is demonstrating.

This scratching post is made with untreated sisal rope, a natural pine base and cypress perch. The base is trimmed with natural manila rope. Rubber feet ensure no-slip on hard floors or carpet.

EXTRA CHANCE TO WIN!

To enter the monthly giveaway, make sure you’re signed-up to receive Moderncat updates via email. If you’re already getting the updates but you’d like an EXTRA chance to win this month, please leave a comment on this post. Complete details on the monthly giveaway here. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on May 31, 2012 and contacted via email. This giveaway includes free shipping to addresses in the US, but international winners are welcome to enter if they would like to pay the extra shipping charges.

Here’s just the thing to slow down that speedy creature racing through your living room! It’s a Kitty Speed Bump from Catpods.com. We absolutely love the one they sent us to test. As you can see below, the Kitty Speed Bumps have multiple functions: resting spot, scratching surface, bolster, and meeting place. The Speed Bumps are much heavier than you might think, so they stay in place easily, especially on carpet.

Kitty Speed Bumps are just the right size to give your cat a little place to mark as her own. By scratching, rubbing, and lying on the Speed Bump, kitty will leave her scent and scratch marks to claim her territory. Wouldn’t you rather her do that on a Speed Bump than on your furniture?

Kitty Speed Bumps are available directly form Catpods.com for $19.95. Use coupon code MODERNCAT and get 5% off all products, plus, right now, receive a free bag of Kitty Pucks toys with every order!

ENTER TO WIN! THREE WINNERS!

Three lucky readers are each going to receive a Kitty Speed Bump! To enter, please leave a comment on this post telling us why your kitty needs a Speed Bump. The winners will be chosen in a random drawing and announced on May 7, 2012. One entry per person. This giveaway is limited to addresses in the continental US.