The Good Life: Lessons from Cats

The Good Life: Lessons from Cats

(with Lulu & Rocky)

Flavia Jurca

2015

Rocky Lulu

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The Good Life: Lessons from Cats (with Lulu & Rocky)

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Hello everyone! I am going to be your guide throughout the pages of this book. I am a British Shorthair cat, or at least I look and behave a lot like one. I might be the real deal, or I might be a mixed-breed dupe; the humans can’t tell for sure, because I was smuggled with fake papers. I am the product of a kitten mill and small animal trafficking, so I’ve seen some pretty hard times very early in my life. Luckily, now I have a real family who loves me. I have a mommy who raised me and took me to the vet as often as I needed until I was healed. I also have a cute little brother called Rocky. He’s not actually my brother, but since the humans call us their children, it’s a lot easier to be bros. Besides, I am a cool and accepting guy. Instead of being hostile to Rocky when he first came to us, I wanted to make friends right away. So sit back and enjoy my little stories! And hopefully, the human’s notes won’t distract you too much :3

I put this book together as a response to many misconceptions about cats that are being perpetuated by the media and large numbers of cat owners. For instance, many people honestly believe that cats are loners and do not need to hang out with other cats. It couldn’t be farther from the truth. While cats are resilient creatures and will adapt to a life of being the only cat they know in their family of human and pets from other species, in order to thrive and be happy, they need other cat companions. I am the lucky human in charge of the happiness of two adorable tom cats and they have taught me a lot about the things that make them happy, allow them to be cats and at the same time bring me joy and an easy, fun life with my pets. I tried to keep the tone light, but sometimes I might get into topics that are really important. I hope the following pages will leave you amused and informed on the topic of happy cats.

Also, in case it still needs saying:

Adopt, don’t shop!

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Welcome to our little world!Lulu & Rocky

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Welcome to our home! I’m Lulu, and I share a nice place with my brother Rocky and two humans. Rocky and I are going to tell you all about the good life. Because who knows more about that than beloved, spoiled house cats?

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Rocky, 2 years old foster home rescue, housecat,from Germany

I was found in a field with my other siblings. We were sick, cold and starving. We had very nice foster parents who took us to the vet and let us stay with their other kitties for a while, until we all found homes.

I am a bit shy and fearful, but it’s better to be cautious and alive than fearless and dead, I say. Lulu always wants to snuggle with me, but I’m like: “Buy me dinner first, get to know me, let’s watch a movie!”

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Lulu, 3 years old, kitten mill rescue, British Shorthair,from Romania

I was taken from my mommy and siblings and sold when I was only one month old! I was too tiny and I didn’t fully learn how to be a cat. I was lucky enough to be adopted by a patient human who loved me very much from the start.

Don’t buy from pet stores and kitten mills. Rescue kitties from shelters instead! All kitties are great and we all have a lot of love and fun to give you.

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The Power of Treats

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Nothing motivates a cat more than treats! We can tell when the humans have their cameras on, wanting to photograph or film us. And unless they pay us with some treats, we leave as soon as the green LED lights up!

Actually, every cat is motivated by a mix of several factors. Some prefer scritches, playtime and positive attention to treats, others go bonkers for their favourite yummy bites. Lulu is one of those cats who go crazy for treats. Rocky likes treats too, but he loves attention and playtime even more.

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Picture time!

The recipe for good photos and interactions with your cats is to honour their nature and respect their moods and wishes. Get to know each cat, learn their personality and work with it, not against it. Associate the camera presence, smells and sounds with positive things such as treats or pets, so that your cat knows the strange device is not dangerous. And please, try to avoid using the flash. No one likes being blinded for the sake of a blog post or Facebook status with pictures.

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I was taken in by my human when I was a wee kitten. I used to sleep cradled in the strap of her camera back then and I got used to being photographed early on.

I enjoy posing sometimes, because every time, the human is generous—not just with treats, but also with compliments. I love it when she acknowledges how pretty I am. All cats are pretty! 13


Because I got high Rocky gets carried away more easily than I do. Watch him enjoy his brand new XXL valerian pillow!

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Valerian is a plant that is used in human medicine as a calming agent. For cats, it works as a mild excitant. The dried plant smells like old socks that were forgotten under the bed for a month and is sold in small fabric pillows. When the pillows are rubbed or kicked by the cats, the smell of the valerian is released and the cats go crazy! They kick the pillows, nibble them, roll on them and even meow at them, carrying them along all over the place, like children do with their comfort blanket of favourite stuffed animal.

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Can you tell how much I love claiming ownership of every comfortable space in the house?

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The golden rule of claiming spaces if you’re a cat master extraordinare: If I fits, I sits!

Are cats allowed on tables? Cats naturally gravitate towards high places on their territory because it feels safer to be somewhere off the ground. Many people make a big deal out of seeing cats on tables, but let’s face it. You are far more likely to catch an infection from an unwashed fruit or to have it delivered to you by your friend who came over for coffee. If you see the cat on the table and you want to feel comfortable, just clean the table before using it for your own purposes. I for one count myself lucky when a cat sits on my desk and watches me design stuff.

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Yes, my human tells me I am a supermodel I also feel treated like one and have a lot of fun helping my human with everything she does. I like having my picture taken because I got used to the camera ever since I was a wee kitten. My human considerately doesn’t use cameras that are very loud or that use flash too much and too often. Actually, if you ask her, natural light is the best way to go for nice, well lit pics. Neither Rocky, nor I are posed or forced in any of the images our human snaps of us. It’s no fun if you upset or hurt an animal for the sake of a few likes on Facebook or reblogs on Tumblr.

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Before the humans adopted Rocky as well, I was sometimes allowed on the balcony. I am an indoor cat, but I love plants and helping the human do garden work.

My little cat’s life dream is to one day live in a house with a Wintergarten or a cat-safe outdoor garden!

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Rocky is sometimes a silly and impulsive kitty, but he tells the best jokes with humans! I love having a brother. Life on my own was so boring and sad. Ideally, every human should want to have not just one, but at least two kitties. It really makes a difference! We are social animals and we need to hang out with other cats. It helps us live longer and healthier lives. Just like it helps humans to have friends and family! It’s also good to know when to stop adopting kitties. For each of your furry roommates to be happy, they should all get a lot of territory (ideally, one room per cat, plus one room “neutral ground”). Plus, you should be able to devote equal amounts of time and attention to every cat. There is also the more pragmatic question, that of veterinary care costs. Please don’t adopt more kitties than you can keep happy and healthy!

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They say “Curiosity killed the cat”... ... but the saying doesn’t stop here. This is how it goes on: “and satisfaction brought him back!” This saying means that sometimes, it’s worth risking things to get where you want, and your efforts will be rewarded. Cats may be curious, but they are also very cautious. Ask Rocky. He wants to find out what the noises on New Year’s Eve are, but he still knows the big loud noises outside might be dangerous, so he waits under the bed until the sounds aren’t so numerous and so loud. Only then does he come out to watch the last of the fireworks.

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Whatcha looking at? Hey, I may be a model, but that doesn’t mean I authorized any paparazzi pics!

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Rocky and I often argue over who is the derpiest, and then we have a derp-off. This time, I had to defer to Rocky. Look at that face!

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Strategic Playtime

Lulu and Rocky are indeed indoor-only cats, and that means they need exercise and stimulation through playtime and different activities. This is as important a part of taking care of your cats as feeding or cleaning the litterbox. Different cats will react to different toys. Find out what each of your cats likes to play best with and use that to make sure every kitty is active and playful. Plus, it’s a great way to form bonds with your pets. Pets are not just decorative objects that lounge around the house, and many people think that bringing a cat

home, putting some kibble out for it and cleaning the litterbox should be enough. We then read on forums and on magazine websites about the same people who complain that their cats are bored and scratch the furniture or do other annoying things around the house. A happy cat, whose hunting, catching, killing instincts are appeased regularly through playtime won’t take it out on the sofa and won’t try to entertain itself by chomping down on power cables. Remember, you’re the human! It’s not fair to blame everything on the cats! Instead, educate yourself and see how you can improve things for your cats and your life will be easier and more fun too!

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I know I look fluffy and slow, but I can be really, really fast. And the sofa is my favourite place to play on! I love the texture of the fabric it’s covered in and I love lounging on the big pillows!

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The Lounging Brothers

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The best part about playtime with the human and Rocky is that, when one of us is tired, the other can take over. Sometimes we just get tired at the same time, and that’s alright too!

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I’ll rise, but I refuse to shine!My human is fixated on photographing me at all sorts of random moments throughout the day. I am surprised pictures of me using the litterbox have not flooded the interwebs! This time around, I was woken up by the doorbell ringing. The human went to open, but before the postman came upstairs, there was enough time to photograph sleepy and startled me. This is not my best look, yet it’s such a good look! How do I know this? Simple! It earned me a lot of treats and kisses!

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On rainy days, I like to nap on the window sill, bathed in light and warmed by the heating below the marble. In between naps, I watch Cat TV.

Cats love lounging on window sills and posing cutely from there. When we were looking for a new place to live, one of the deciding factors was how wide the window sills were. We wanted our furry roommates to be comfortable while watching Cat TV (out the window) or napping above the heaters in winter.

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Few things are as delightful to me as new postage boxes or suitcases!

My human had to agree that I looked incredibly cute on her new yellow troller!

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The Lounging Olympics In summer, when it is too warm for me to sleep on my furry blanket, I prefer the cardboard house or the floor, where some cooler air currents still move and where my fur doesn’t get warmed so quickly. My human keeps us both cool by rubbing our furs with towels dipped in cold water and we get plenty of fresh, clean water to drink from our ceramic well, which gets cleaned often. We also try and find places in the shade, where the midday sun doesn’t reach and doesn’t burn.

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Just a normal day at the job!Have you ever wondered what the best payment for a cat model might be? Well, it’s treats! Preferably, freeze-dried chicken treats. Meaty treat sticks or cheese-cream filled crunchy pillows will also be well received. Sometimes, and I mean rarely, I will be caught striking a pose of my own accord.

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Climbing Up the Walls! The human displayed some colourful pieces of paper on a photo-shelf she made and of course we both had to check them out. Some of the pictures were of other cats, so Rocky had to question the humans to find out if we had reasons to be jealous or not. We didn’t, as it turns out.

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Rocky did all the investigating, I am just stretching! It feels good and I look even better against the pink wall!

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I would like to thank the people who design activity tracks for cats. I am so entertained by this specific track! I especially love spinning the ball through the circuit really loudly while the humans try to sleep at night.

Play tracks are a great way to keep a cat active and entertained. Don’t forget to now and then take the track away so it doesn’t become too boring. These activity toys are designed on a modular principle and you can start with one unit, then, if the cat responds well, you can buy another piece and another. They aren’t prohibitively expensive and they do keep cats happy and healthy, so they’re worth investing in.

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Rocky often looks like a small baby kitten while sleeping! You’d think he’s the most innocent cat out there, you can almost picture the halo above his head!

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... until he wakes up and then the horns come out as he begins to plot new mischief and gets up to no good!

Rocky? Sometimes, more like Loki!

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The model life chose me I don’t care my fur is oozing through the opening of the chair. I am having such a good day and I love lounging on my pink chair because it’s not as warm as the sofas or the beds and it’s 40°C outside! The side opening in the chair helps ventilate my coat as well.

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My human assures me that I am the most expressive and photogenic cat ever. I tend to believe that, because I know I am a looker. Whenever I am told I am pretty and well behaved, I just blink in agreement. It’s nice to be recognized and valued!

Everyone should feel pretty and worthy of praise and appreciation.

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The intelligence activity treat board I don’t like the thing, because it makes it harder to get the treats. But on the other hand, it gives us something to do and our brains stay active and youthful. And this way, we don’t eat as many dry treats, which is good for our livers, stomachs and kidneys!

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I am pretty even in my sleep. Luckily for me, the human lets me sleep and takes pictures of me from a distance and quietly. I don’t get people who like to disturb cats who are sleeping. Rude, I say.

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Why, yes, I am aware of the delightful contrast between flowery sheets and mono-colour cat. That’s me. Seriously, sometimes the human is so easily entertained. Who is the rational being here, again? It definitely isn’t the squealing and clapping human. I think prints are great too, but... not *that* great!

Contrast-Schmontrast!

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Master Hunter RockyFact: cats are carnivorous. They get all their needed nutrients from the prey animals they consume.Since house cats depend on us for food, please feed them according to their needs. If you are vegan or vegetarian, your cat can’t have the same diet as you. Canned wet food with a high percentage of meat is ideal. Stay away from dry food (which is cereal sprayed with fat) and soy- and cereal-based canned food. 52

Here you can see little Rocky in his hunting element. No fly makes it out of our home alive on his watch. The only way that does happen is if the human catches the fly in a box and frees it outside. Otherwise, Rocky gets a small and crunchy protein snack that tickles his whiskers. I had a fly once. Taste was bah.

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Less cheesy than the guy on a horse, backwardsLook at me, I’m a plant. In a bucket.

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I hope one day my human will afford a home with a proper safe balcony, or better, a garden! I love fresh air and being outside, watching the plants and bugs!

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Rocky’s comedy debut Hey Lulu, what do you get if you cross a leopard with a watchdog?

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Hmmm, let me think... A terrified postman?

You might say the kitties look somewhat pained in the photos. In reality, they were yawning, and I had my camera at the ready on a fast setting so I could capture their funny faces.

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Best thing to do in summer When it’s really hot and the sun shines, wait until the afternoon to sit outside on your balcony or in your garden, watching birds flap by exhaustedly. Let the human cool you off further with a wet towel on your fur. Drink some water in which an ice cube is floating.

OR Stay indoors, look overwhelmed and beg for treats. But don’t forget to drink water in this case as well.

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The Engineering Approach Rocky likes to take things apart in order to understand them. Or maybe he’s just acting interested and he really just works his poses. A feline Zoolander. I cannot wait for his Blue Steel.

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Perhaps it’s this look? What do you think? I think it could be his Blue Steel, totally!

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The Lounging Olympics: Cuteness Phase Who do you think is cuter when lying about idly or napping in a sun patch? Being a British Shorthair, I love to sleep on my back, looking like a very tired man. That is, when I am not making funny faces at the camera from my wavy cardboard lounging place.

Pressed cardboard cat furniture is great for encouraging cats to sharpen their claws on other things than your sofa or carpets. If given proper claw sharpening places and taught to use them since they are kittens, the cats will leave your furniture alone. There is no need for declawing, which is a barbaric procedure that entails amputating the fingertips of the cat and results in mutilation and a lifetime of pain. The European Union has outlawed the practice and veterinarians all over the world recognize it as a form of animal cruelty.

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Posing for one of the human’s brochures. I am sitting next to a pot of rosemary, while Rocky sits next to a small lavender bush. 65


Day-time TV Cat TV is almost always on only at daytime. Sometimes, at night, bats come to the balcony to look for food.

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I am looking longingly at the pigeons who eat breadcrumbs on the balcony. But I know that if I caught one, I would not know what to do with it, because I don’t eat raw meat.

I am far more likely to befriend a pigeon than to eat him!

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The human made these weird objects out of Fimo clay. To me, they look like alien cauliflower.

I tried to nibble on one, and it tasted horrible!

10/10 did not like. Don’t eat Fimo, kitties!

Humans, keep an eye on what your kitties are nibbling on. House plants are often poisonous for cats and cats can dig up all sorts of things that they might deem edible. Please take care and remove small sharp and loose objects that are lying around on the floor and make sure household cleaner containers are well sealed.

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Passport Pics? We don’t need any, but the human took some anyway. We both alternated majestic with derpy.

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The Anatomy of a Yawn The human says photographing cats when they yawn is great fun and really difficult as well, because she needs to be patient and have the camera ready for the moment the yawn happens. She yawned at me for minutes and minutes before I gave in and let her have her cute yawn pic.

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When I edit my photos or shoot new ones, Lulu also loves to sit nearby and be an assistant. Many people claim that cats are distant and not as interested in showing their love as dogs are. If you pay attention though, you will see that kitties have more subtle ways of showing love: wanting to be where you are, following you around, sleeping in the same room, trying to get involved in your activities and so on. Cats who can go outside and hunt will bring their humans presents: half a mouse, a not quite dead bird, a huge grasshopper... they are not trying to scare you, they are just sharing the prey they worked hard for with you, as a show of gratitude and because they like you.

The British Shorthair lounging style Many other humans who have Brit cats say that we all like to lie on our backs and look like furry little rugs. I find it relaxing and the humans find it very, very cute. Win-win!

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Lazy Afternoons After playtime, when we are properly exhausted, Rocky and I sometimes snuggle close to each other. The rest of the time, it’s take cover or be woken up abruptly for a game of tag.

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Bird Watching Few things bring us together as well as pigeon-watching does. When Cat TV is on, we forget about our compulsion to wrestle and focus on watching the birds fight over who gets the juiciest bread crumb and the nicest seeds.

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What’s on Cat TV?

Sometimes, Rocky and I take a break from wrestling each other and we sit on the soft blanket to look at the pretty birds and insects who visit our balcony. We see crows, ravens, pigeons, tits, blackbirds and very cute butterflies.78

This is the star presenter of Cat TV, a beautiful white and black pigeon who comes to our balcony daily in search for seeds and crumbs. The bird is used to the cats and knows they can’t get to it, but the boys are entertained.

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The most coveted spot in the house

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The cat sofa is just the right balance between soft and hard and it seems to have been made according to my measurements. Rocky is a slightly longer cat, but I haven’t heard him complain about the sofa either.

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Herp This qualifies as a decent and characteristic resting face for me.

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Derp This is my “Pride? What pride? How about those treats then?” face.

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More siliness from me

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The human laughed her butt off while taking pictures of me as she was feeding me treats. At some point, I let the human know I saw her mirth and thought it was too much. But I have to admit, freeze-dried chicken treats are yummy... and worth all the derpy faces and all the bleps.

A blep is when cats close their snouts but forget a portion of their tongues out.

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Plastic animal mystery What *is* the function of a rubber duck? Rocky is still trying to figure out how a miniature one got onto his fur.

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Really, little brother? Shake it off! And then paw it all over the floor until it gets jammed under some furniture.

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Lazy Smile Was this picture really necessary, human? Did you really have to disturb my siesta?

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Upturned mouth corner smile Rocky sees pigeons and imagines how juicy they must be! Free range urban pigeons, fed with biscuits, fast food leftovers and the sweets dropped by children. Yum.

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In da house I am not starting a career in rap or hip-hop, I am just pointing out the fact that I now have a real house that the humans placed on the balcony and that I can sit and play in. Sometimes, they put treats in there as well. I can’t stay away and neither can Rocky!

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I noticed that people tend to immediately discount common breed cats as “nothing special”, but I assure you, they are all the special you need.

They are more loving and cuddlier, and they know how to show their gratitude for your caring and providing for them.

He can do cute really well too! Rocky has a super adorable personality, he is vocal and goofy and he knows how to be sweet as well. The only thing I wish were a bit different is that Rocky doesn’t want to snuggle with me. I make friends with all animals and birds I meet! It’s a bit sad that my own little brother doesn’t trust me!

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Rare snapshot We seldom behave long enough for the human to reach for the camera and document our being good boys together. I look very pleased because I am sitting really closely to my buddy Rocky. He’s not so sure it’s a good idea so soon after a wrestling match.

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Ah, the indignity of the outturned ears!

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The human says I look like Toothless with my ears turned like this. I think Rocky looks even funnier! Like a grandma with a turban.

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Oh. My. Cat! Look at those roasts! Song references aside, Rocky is so cute when he goes all stiff and hunts the pigeons. For him, the hunt is real (until he hits his head on the window).

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Paid to look awesome I never understood how it works when it came to other people and cats, but now I know. The human photographs me and rewards my patience and my cooperation with treats. Being pretty pays off in realy yummy ways.

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The Perked Ears of Interest Rocky watches Cat TV with an incredibly intense face and with cutely perked ears. He did grow up with several other cats, so he’s better at being a cat’s cat. I am more of a chill person, not too adept at being a cat, but also not too eager to be a human. I don’t want to eat pigeons, I just enjoy watching them move and eat on our balcony.

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Mommy’s little baker That’s what the human calls me when I make biscuits into the blanket. This blanket is now old and worn from being washed so many times, but I’ve had it since I was a kitten and I love it! I hide my nose in it and I pretend it’s my real mommy.

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Rocky is a model too He can deliver nice and expressive photos as well, but his specialty are cute pictures. He has the cutest marshmallow paws, a pink nose and his patches of white fur are so white it’s hard to look at him on sunny days.

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Do you want to stay in touch with us? This book doubles as our model portfolio! You can enjoy our daily adventures at luluthekitten.tumblr.com If you want to know more about us, get in touch with our human: [email protected]

I do not exploit my cats. All the activities we do are for their entertainment and wellbeing. I do not promote unhealthy nutrition or dangerous toys. I do, however, have training in ergonomics and safety testing, so if you would like a new product tested and reviewed, the boys and I will gladly assist. You are welcome to contact me with your ideas!

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See you soon and thank you for

reading our book!

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The Good Life: Lessons from Cats