The Grinch Who Stole Stockings

Essie is either a Grinch, or wants more stockings for herself set out for Santa. No matter what her intention, her caretakers outed her as the neighborhood sock thief by posting a sign and the stolen goods on their fence. The sign starts out "No, you're not going mad..." and goes on to explain a wish to return the socks. This is the second black cat booty-burglar we've heard about; the other lives in the UK.

Happy Holidays

How's your holiday shopping going? If you're wondering what to get the pet-lover who has everything, may we suggest a black cat? Shelter workers in West Millford, NJ, turned Black Friday--the busiest shopping day of the year--into Black Cat Friday to encourage the adoption of black cats. Their effort paid off for eight lucky kitties, so we say: "Jingle bells, cats are swell, home a black cat today!"

Felicia Hardy is not the Black Cat

At first, the internet buzzed Rachel McAdams would play the Black Cat in Spider Man 4, but surprise, it was just a rumor. A better bet is Anne Hathaway as Felicia Hardy--the character known to become the Black Cat--but director Sam Raimi says she will become a new villain: the Vulturess. No Black Cat?!? Oh, what a world! John Malkovich may play the Vulture.

The Cat From Outer Space

Not enough attention is given to movies about cats, don't you think? Here's an easy one to enjoy: The Cat From Outer Space. Released in 1978, it differs greatly from today's films. There are no explosions, and the actors in the lead roles are likable, every-day people (Sandy Duncan, Ken Berry). The humor is cheesy, and in levitation scenes you can see the harness wires, but there are still some laugh-out-loud moments. We give it three out of five purrs. You can find it on Netflix and Amazon.com.

Trick Kitty

What tricks can your cat do? This little sable feline can "play dead." -Wonder if this trick is the only one in the little kitty's repertoire. What about cleaning its own litter box? Now that would be impressive.

The Friendliest Cat in Texas

A police officer pulls a car over for speeding, and everything seems routine until the friendliest cat in Texas enters the scene. This kitty will not take "no, I can't pet you right now," for an answer, even when it comes from a traffic cop in the middle of writing a ticket. The kitten crawls up and all over the officer, even on his head, and the cop shoos his frisky friend away again and again. Fearful he'd be labeled an animal-snubber, the officer told his superiors about the event at the end of his shift before they watched the video from his dash-cam. We all know how sharp kitten claws can be!

A New Novel Cat

Like graphic novels? Cat Burglar Black, by Richard Sala, promises a unique artistic style and engaging storyline. Check out a preview here.

Rare Movie Poster Up for Auction

A unique movie poster for The Black Cat (1934), featuring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi will most likely set a record price during the Signature Vintage Movie Posters Auction, at Heritage Auctions, in Dallas Nov. 12-13. The 75-year old poster is in near-mint, unrestored condition and has never before been seen by the public, or at auction. A current value estimate equals $250,000, but 10 years ago a vintage poster for The Mummy sold for twice as much. Boris Karloff's costume from the film is also up for auction, and the current bid is $10,000. Update!!

A New Cat Idol

Remember "Obama," the Bombay cat who won a crowd-favorite award last October at the CFA Iams Cat Championship? No? Well, he won over British Shorthair "McCain" by a 2-to-1 margin, and he's up for another award at the biggest cat show of the year: Meet the Breeds, in New York. He could be the next CFA Iams Cat Idol. The show will include 41 registered cat breeds, and the answers to questions such as: What is the only state to have an official cat? The show is Oct. 17-18.

Celebrate Poe

It's October, so let's talk Edgar Allan Poe and Vincent Price: two masterful advocates of the macabre. Not long ago a post on this blog provided a picture of a Hollywood tradition - the casting call; one in 1961 that sought a black cat for Roger Corman's movie anthology: Tales of Terror. LIFE magazine's picture archive features more black cat pics from the event, including this one of Vincent Price and Peter Lorre. Tales of Terror showcased adaptations of Poe's Morella and The Black Cat. Want to watch? It's on Hulu.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Poe's birth, and his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland celebrates with several events, including an art exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Poe's morbid tales inspired artists such as Henri Matisse, Paul Gaugin, and Robert Motherwell to create wonderfully dark art - the exhibit will run until Jan 17, and admission is free.

Wacky Old Tales

Reader's Digest offers us six fun superstitions courtesy of Superstitions: 1,013 of the World's Wackiest Myths, Fables & Old Wives Tales. Thank goodness for modern science, otherwise we'd all believe cats can predict the weather, rainbows are harbingers of death, and ...that itch in your left ear? -Yeah, it means you're the target of gossip. (A right-ear itch means you're in the clear.)

You'll Fall for Homer

An amazing story for an amazing cat: Homer's Odyssey is almost too incredible to believe. The tale begins a dozen years ago in Miami when a veterinarian refused to euthanize a very sick kitten. Instead, the vet removed both eyes, and a star was born. Homer's caretaker Gwen Cooper says it was love at first sight, and their special bond persisted through incredible odds, including the 9/11 attacks on New York City. Amazon.com includes a video, and if you've ever considered adopting a pet with special needs, read this. Homer's story is sure inspire a legion of fans.

Righty or Lefty

Female domestic cats are more likely to be right-pawed, according to a new study. Male domestic cats are more often left-pawed; a trend also seen in other animals. While 90% of humans are right-handed, the remaining number of left-handers are mostly men. Click through to find out why. -Picture found on this site, along with several other pretty pictures of black cats.