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It’s Topper Tuesday and how will that crazy cat celebrate his day? Continue reading
Topper Tuesday!
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Category Archives: Laguna Beach
From Cat Tales to Fish Tails
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Between meeting deadlines, taxes, PetExpo and Literary Orange, I was thrilled to finally have a weekend to enjoy relaxation with the cat crew and some beach time. After my volunteer shift at Blue Bell on Friday, I curled up with Lex and Topper and opened the first issue of Catster magazine, formerly Cat Fancy and devoured its content from the editor’s note to the last feature.
It’s fresh, full of informative and entertaining columns, articles, and continuous pages of cute cat pics—a must for all cat enthusiasts. My evening ended with a cup of catnip tea then off to dreamland. Seriously, I drink catnip tea. It is very calming and an effective remedy for insomnia. My cats teach me so much!
I awoke Saturday morning feeling rested and relieved to have a day with no itinerary. I leisurely sipped my coffee with the kitties at my side and while reading the local newspaper learned that the Fifth Annual Kelp Festival was being held down on Main Beach that day. I might be a canyon dwelling cat lady, but I also love the ocean and am fascinated with marine life. I had wanted to go to the Kelp Festival for the last couple of years, but it conflicted with working the Blue Bell booth at PetExpo. At last, I was able to partake in celebrating the restoration of Laguna Beach’s kelp forests, a vital marine ecosystem.
Although, it was actually a siren’s call that lured me to the Kelp Festival.
As we wound our way through the tables of vendors, past the stage where a crowd was swaying to the beat of live music, and through a decorative handcrafted kelp bed, Gary said, “There she is!” I caught a glimpse of the turquoise and golden fish tail and forged my way past kids, dogs, and strollers, and was finally face to face with a live mermaid. 
“Hi! I’m Mermaid Linden!” She cheerfully introduced herself while lounging on her seashell throne and casually snacking on a slice of pizza. I would have expected seaweed salad, but the starfish adorning her hair and very intricately detailed fish tail made the myth appear believable—despite the pizza. She gave Daryl Hannah’s mermaid in the movie Splash some serious competition. 
I felt like I was 10 again. Meeting a mermaid brought out my inner kitten.
I wonder if she has a pet catfish…
About Cats and Fish: Domestic cats may like fish and are drawn to its smell, but wild cats don’t eat fish (with the rare exception of the “fishing cat”), nor did our pet cat’s ancestor the African wildcat. Cats, being obligate carnivores by nature don’t hunt fish unless opportunity presents itself (fishermen may want to keep an eye on their catches if a hungry stray wanders by). According to Karen Becker, DMV of healthypets.com, “fish, as it turns out, is one of the most highly allergenic foods for felines. Allergies cause systemic inflammation. Cats that eat allergenic foods over and over can end up with lung inflammation that can also lead to asthma.” Further, fish these days is loaded with mercury and many veterinarian resources recommend being careful about the amount and type of fish you feed kitty—for instance lay off the tuna, but occasional wild-caught salmon or sardines packed in water offer a great source of omega-3.
About the Myth: Professional “Mermaid Linden” makes the myth an almost reality, being a professional underwater model, videographer and avid diver, and can hold her breath for 5 minutes! Through her transformation into a mermaid she inspires and educates children about ocean conservation. Visit www.mermaidsinmotion.com for more about Linden.
The Catmobile
Upon returning home from a recent road trip with my boyfriend Gary, Topper snuck into the car while we were unloading and settled on the floorboard of the driver’s seat.
“Come on, Topper,” I motioned for him to get out. He just looked at me with a deadpan stare and folded his front legs under his chest. He was either content or being defiant—either way, I let him hang out in the car.
Twenty minutes later I went to collect the cat from the Kia in which he was now cozied-up on the floorboard of the back seat. It reminded me of the time I caught both cats red-pawed as they were scheming to take the car for a spin around the neighborhood, those stinkers.
When I walk Topper and Lexington around my neighborhood (yes, I walk my cats—that’s another story) they insist on stopping and sniffing a hubcap or the bumper of each car they encounter. It’s the roses that you are supposed to stop and smell I tell them.
So, since when do cats have a thing for cars? It’s probably a good thing they can’t reach my car keys and the gas pedal; surely they would figure out the whole driving thing. I would have to resort to public transportation while they would be off cruisin’ down Coast Highway. I can just see it now: Topper behind the wheel, Lexington with his head out the sunroof, whiskers blowing back in the wind and Bobcat with his paws on the dashboard, eagerly peering out the windshield and relentlessly asking, “Are we there yet?” I wonder where “there” would be. Main Beach would be a good start. Lexington would scream from the back seat: “Topper—stop the car! Look! Who knew we live 4.5 miles away from the biggest litter box ever?”
Curious to see just how big this outdoor litter box is they would keep driving south, getting glimpses of the sand at each stop light. “Wow, check out that giant whale! Maybe we should go there for lunch!” Topper would say as traffic would stop them in front of the Wyland Gallery. Not being able to find parking, they would keep on cruising until finding themselves approaching a restaurant that would make their fur stand on end. “Geez, it’s bad enough they roam the canyon, but now they have a restaurant?” Topper would say while flooring it past the Coyote Grill.
Bobcat finding peace on the hood of my car
My cats aren’t the only felines with a fetish for cars. After a glass magnet-making workshop with artist Maggie Spencer, Gary and I sat outside of her Laguna Canyon studio along with Maggie and her friend Sian, sipped wine and chatted about the local music scene. Maggie’s cat with calico markings and an exceptionally fluffy tail strolled by and made herself comfortable on Sian’s leather purse. Conversation segued into talking about our cats. “Whenever I open my car door, Pumpkin jumps in the car!” Maggie said. I imagined Pumpkin getting all comfy on the seat, ready for a joyride…maybe to that giant litter box down the street.
I think Maggie should keep an eye on her car keys.