Cougar Town

Lydia is not a dirty old lady. But I wonder what is going on. She seems to have a new thing for Alvar, which makes Lydia not only a mixed-breed cat—part Egyptian Mau, part Siamese, part grey tabby—but a downright cougar.

I caught Lydia staring dreamily into Alvar’s eyes the other day. You can be sure that Lucius was nowhere in sight. I don’t know whether Lydia senses that Lucius is having more difficulties with the aging process, and if she is placing her bet on the younger Alvar to finally triumph over his senior-citizen rival. Did I write yet that Lucius is now on arthritis medicine, in addition to his daily dose of “kitty Prozac” for his presumed insanity and insulin for his diabetes?

But getting back to Lydia. Oh, she is a sly one. She shows Alvar her fashion-friendly spotted stomach. She chases him around the house, testing his agility. She lets him eat treats off of her plate as a reward for his prowess on the feline field.

Meanwhile, Lucius sleeps…and schemes.

Query of the Day: Do you have a cougar in your house?

Ooh! La, La!

Bienvenue to Cat Lady’s new clothing boutique!

Just kidding, but I am tempted to buy many pairs of these bewitching stockings and give them to my cat-loving friends. These stockings are a bit racy for me to wear to work, though perfect for my at-home, cat-inspired attire.

My friend and colleague Helga tipped me off to her Parisian source for leggings. Either the fashion designer has four-legged friends or a very active, feline-inclined imagination—would you agree?

Query of the Day: Would you wear these stockings at the office or in the privacy of your home?

Vintage Feline Appeal

I haven’t grown accustomed yet to haunting e-bookstores. Although I buy books online regularly, I still enjoy searching for rare finds the old-fashioned way. My sister, Marcy, is a very busy woman—always at the helm of her command center for communications—yet she, too, succumbs to sleuthing in bookstores and at garage sales.

This past summer, Marcy frequented the New Orleans Symphony Book Fair, a longtime treasure trove for bibliophiles in “The Big Easy.” Marcy found a winner from 1964: The Silent Miaow, a book that, according to its author, Paul Gallico, is “translated from the feline.”

Marcy purchased this charming, one-of-a-kind book for $1.50 and donated it to my Cat Lady library. It’s hard to say if I would have bought this publication as an e-book, based exclusively on the title. The delightful photographs by Suzanne Szasz, the sensitive and witty prose by the “writer-cat,” and the musty smell of the yellowed pages contribute to a memorable reading experience. The book also is inscribed in perfect penmanship, "Not that Max can learn anything from this, but thought you and Dan might."--Katharine

I like holding the physical book in my hands, and I’m not convinced that a Kindle or an iPad could capture the vintage appeal of The Silent Miaow.

In the foreword, Mr. Gallico writes that “in the very existence of this book we have a most concrete example of the manner in which at least one of these marvelous creatures, acquiring both an editor and publisher, has advanced the eventual complete feline take-over of the human race.” Right and write on!

And who can resist this photo from the book of a Cat Lady wearing a leopard top and cat’s-eye glasses as she gazes affectionately at “the author”? I love the look and know the feeling.

Query of the Day: Could your cat write a book?

The “It” Bag

I don’t own anything from the Hello Kitty line of luggage, but I would rob a bank to bring this Prada leopard-print handbag home. Anna Wintour, meet Cat Lady.

I know that Lucius, Lydia, Leo, Linus, Lillie, L.B., T.J., Perkins, Miss Tommie, and Alvar would approve of this spot-on oversized bag, which would be perfect for carrying their bags of yummy treats and cans of delectable Fancy Feast.

The leopard look is back in a huge way, although I’m not sure the look was ever out of style. The time is now for replacing my PetSmart tote bags with the new "It" bag. I truly can’t wait to make this season’s hottest fashion statement at Catland. There is only one obstacle in my way. The asking price is a cool $3,100.

Query of the Day: Will you donate to my Prada handbag fund?