Today is May 17th. It’s also Jenny’s third birthday (That’s Jenny above). B & B brought Jenny home along with Ellie almost three years ago, and it got a little crazy around here for a while. Both of them were pretty wild, but they’ve come a long way in the time they’ve been a part of our family. In the beginning, Jenny hid all day long and only came out at night. B & B called her their vampire kitty. Only recently has she begun hanging out during the day, but she’s still quick to hide when the doorbell rings. She’s very soft and affectionate. We don’t really hang out together – I prefer to spend my time by myself – but B & B thinks she’s pretty special. And I trust their judgement. After all, they think I’m pretty special, too.

Here’s a photo of Jenny in a very relaxed moment. (Click thumbnail to view larger.)

The composer of CATcerto, Mindaugas Piecaitis, is coming to the US for the very first time to meet me this month. This is very exciting. As you probably recall, he wrote the piece based on my playing, and a video of me is projected behind the orchestra during the performance, to which the other musicians play along. It has been performed numerous times by orchestras around the world. Photos and video of our meeting will be posted. I can’t wait. I hope he likes me in person as much as he liked me on video.

Watch CATcerto on YouTube:

When is a cat carrier not a cat carrier? No, that’s not a Zen koan. It’s a real question, and the answer comes in the form of a story. You see, it all began when my sibling, Ellie, needed a trip to the vet. As you may know, Ellie was a bit wild when she came to us three years ago, and she’s still not very approachable. She won’t tolerate being picked up like a normal house cat. In fact she will only come to you if you are lying down or sitting on the floor. And then she comes only briefly and only for petting. Any move to pick her up and she’s gone in a flash. So anytime a vet visit is called for, it becomes quite a production for Burnell, our resident cat wrangler.

First the cat carrier is brought up to the bedroom a few days before the appointment so Ellie can get used to it being in the room. Then the morning of the appointment, the carrier is left upended at the end of the bed with the door open. Next, Burnell sits on the floor near the carrier and begins playing with us using what he and Betsy call a “cat toy,” which is usually something noisy and small tied to a string. We all play along and pretend to be amused. Eventually, if things go as planned, Ellie will decide she doesn’t want to be left out of the game and she’ll come close enough for Burnell to grab her by the scruff of her neck and lift her up, at which time she goes completely limp. It’s really quite remarkable, actually. I hear it goes back to when we were newborns and our mothers carried us that way. Anyway, Burnell will then struggle to get to his feet all the while holding Ellie in this position (he also supports her weight with the other hand up where her front legs meet her body). Now it’s into the carrier. Since it’s upended with the door open, he simply has to lower her into the carrier, release her and then quickly close the door before she can jump out. Of course, that’s if everything goes as planned. Needless to say, it didn’t. Ellie is fast and furious and on the day in question, she was obviously more than a little suspicious. After trying for two hours to coax her close enough to effect a grab and lift maneuver, Burnell gave up and called the vet to reschedule the appointment for another day.

Now back to my original question: When is a cat carrier not a cat carrier? It ‘s when a cat, not unlike myself – actually it was me – decides to take up residence in said carrier and even goes so far as to schedule an appointment with an interior decorator. I’m thinking a nice Sahara Sand for the walls. What do you think?

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Just got back from a trip to the vet. And I have some great news: I’ve lost 3 pounds since B&B started monitoring my daily food intake a number of months ago. As you know, I had gotten up to 16.6 pounds, and my fans, my vet, and B&B were concerned. Well, I weighed in this morning at 13.6. My vet, Dr. Yallof (that’s her holding me in the photo) was very pleased. She wants me to lose another pound, and she suggested I come back in for a teeth cleaning. Doesn’t sound like much fun to me, but I got to thinking that maybe I’ll get veneers while I’m there. I hear they’re all the rage among the Hollywood crowd. And what’s good enough for Angelina is certainly good enough for me. What do you think?

Anyway, Dr. Yallof said I was doing great and was very healthy. And isn’t it wonderful that she posed for this photo with me. The doctors at Queen Village Animal Hospital are all so wonderful. (Click the image to view larger.)

Yu Xi and her husband, Daniel, stopped by on February 5, 2012 to meet the Diva (that’s me). I guess you’d say I was happy to live up to my reputation as evidenced by the video clip below. In my own defense, I must say that my meow is a lot worse than my bite, which is more of a playful nip. I’m going more for the surprise element. Sure seems to get their attention. Yu Xi and Daniel were very understanding, and we had a very nice visit.

On January 28th, 2012, the Longmont Symphony Orchestra, with guest conductor, David Rutherford (pictured at left), will perform a program titled “Fur and Flying Feathers.” Works included in the concert are by John Williams, Mussorgsky, Saint-Saens, and my favorite, Mindaugas Piecaitis. Maestro Piecaitis, as you well know, is the composer of CATcerto. And, if you haven’t guessed by now, the “fur” part of the program is the performance of CATcerto with video of yours truly projected onto a large screen behind the orchestra. Perhaps you’ve seen the YouTube video of the original performance with Piecaitis conducting the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra in the Klaipėda Concert Hall in Klaipėda (Lithuania): http://youtu.be/zeoT66v4EHg

CATcerto has been performed 14 times in 5 countries. And now it comes to Longmont, Colorado in the United States. If you live nearby, I do hope you check it out. The fur and feathers will be flying.

For more info, check out the article by Quentin Young, Longmont Times-Call.

Or http://www.longmontsymphony.org/

For more info on CATcerto: catcerto.com

For more info on Nora The Piano Cat: norathepianocat.com

Who would have thought that a simple cat like me, born on the streets of Camden, NJ in the United States, would have fans and friends from all over the planet. I am definitely one fortunate feline.

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While visiting New York City today, B&B were surprised to find that the November 28th issue of New York magazine referenced yours truly (twice) in a short piece about cat humor. Funny how some folks just can’t take a piano-playing cat seriously. Perhaps if I stood up and told a joke, they’d write about my immense and remarkable talent on the ivories. So, a cat, a mouse, and a goldfish walk into a bar….

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Mindaugas Piecaitis, the composer of CATcerto, just sent B&B a scan of one of the pages of the printed program for the recent performance of CATcerto in Amsterdam (November 11, 2011). As you know, CATcerto was composed by Piecaitis and based on my piano stylings. It features yours truly as guest soloist via a large video screen placed behind the orchestra. As of Nov. 11, CATcerto has been performed fourteen times in five countries.

Maestro Piecaitis explains that it is customary in a program to list first information about the pieces being performed, then about the composers, and finally about the soloists. This image is a scan of the page about the soloists – complete with photos. I can’t read the paragraph about me, because it’s in Dutch. Any Dutch-speaking fans out there care to translate? (Click thumbnail to view full image.)

A YouTube video of the very first performance of CATcerto, performed by Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra in the Klaipėda Concert Hall in Klaipėda (Lithuania) on 5th June, 2009, can be found at: http://youtu.be/zeoT66v4EHg

For more info on CATcerto: http://www.catcerto.com

You can also read more about it right here on my website by clicking the “CATcerto” button at the top of the page.

As 2011 purrs to a close, thoughts turn to 2012. And if you are like most folks, that means getting and giving a new calendar. So, why not a calendar featuring the one and only Nora The Piano Cat? Imagine every month a new photograph of yours truly by that somewhat famous and award winning photographer and mixed media artist, Burnell Yow! And every month also features a wonderful and inspiring excerpt from my yet to be published third book titled “Nora The Piano Cat’s Guide to Living a Purr-Fect Life: Or How to Make Every Day a Catnip Day.”

For twelve full months I share my wit and wisdom on things like self-acceptance and gratitude. Because when it comes right down to it, I’m more than just a pretty face – and I’m betting you are too.

Burnell insists I also mention that the calendar makes a great gift for all the cat lovers in your life. You can order it at the link below.
http://www.cafepress.com/ravenswingshop.585342102