Meow! We’re moving the cat fun over to a dedicated site: CatTipper.com! This new site has all the features of DogTipper but in feline form: cat tips, Cat of the Day (be sure to send us your cat!), cat news, weekly giveaways, product reviews and more! We won’t do the official launch until later this week (when everything’s purr-fect) but we wanted to announce the site to our DogTipper buddies right away! We’ve even got a CatTipper Facebook fan page!

Found trapped inside a cat box near the offices of high profile hat maker Philip Treacy, Production Manager Jutta Friedlander proved that compassion is always in fashion when she brought Bogart into the Treacy workplace, where a team currently creating hats that will appear on heads heading to Westminster Abbey for the royal I do’s lavished cuddles and care on the abandoned cat as he milled around the milliner’s workplace.

Brought to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home by Friedlander, Bogart found a temporary home in the shelter’s Cattery, which was opened by Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall in October 2010. Following a seven day wait to see if Bogart would be claimed, Friedlander returned to officially adopt the style-conscious cat, who will curl up in front of the television set on April 29th with his new pet parent and barking brother Dargo (a Rottweiler) to see the wedding hats made by his friends at Philip Treacy.

For more information about Battersea Dogs & Cats Home:

• visit www.battersea.org.uk

Photo Credit: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Age of My Cat: 8 yrs

What I Love About My Cat: She loves to lounge in her basket & loves her picture taken. She knows she’s a star. She is a twin to my other cat named Dusty. She gives kisses & lays her head on my pillow.

My Cat’s Favorite Things: A long string.

– submitted by Diane in Kentucky

“Save Me.” While merely a song title when penned by Queen guitarist Brian May back in 1979, the two words prophetically foretold the musician’s future determination to protect animals, both through his own organization and by championing the unsung heroes of animal rights. In early March 2011 the guitarist/songwriter was proud to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to actress/animal rights advocate Virginia McKenna, co-founder of the Born Free Foundation, at the second annual Wetnose/Burgess Rescue Awards.

The Born Free Foundation

For many young animal lovers in the 1960s, their introduction to the true nature of our feline friends may very well have been through their wild cat cousins the lion, thanks to the touching true life tale, Born Free. A best-selling novel before becoming a box office hit, the story of two conservationists who chronicled their experiences with a lion cub dubbed Elsa was brought to the big screen with the help of actress Virginia McKenna, who stepped into the role of naturalist Joy Adamson for the Academy Award-winning movie.

While the story of Elsa the lioness tugged at the heartstrings of movie audiences, it forever changed the life of the stars who portrayed Joy and George Adamson.  Husband and wife actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers would go on to film other animal-oriented features and wildlife documentaries before founding the organization Zoo Check, which eventually changed its name to the Born Free Foundation.

Although actor/animal rights activist Bill Travers sadly passed away in 1994, his life’s work lives on at the Born Free Foundation, which strives to keep wildlife in the wild through educational campaigns, rescue and care at spacious sanctuaries.

Wetnose/Burgess Rescue Awards and Wetnose Animal Aid

Virginia McKenna received recognition for her work at the Wetnose/Burgess Rescue Awards, which honors the efforts of smaller and lesser-known animal charities around the globe.

The Wetnose/Burgess Rescue Awards is made possible by Gavin and Andrea Gamby-Boulger, whose loving memory of their late German Shepherd Tara prompted the founding of Wetnose Animal Aid.

Wetnose Animal Aid offers financial support to smaller animal charities around the world through both fundraising events and sales at their shop in Beccles, Suffolk, England. In the hope of raising more awareness to their cause, Wetnose Animal Aid has launched a petition proposing a televised fundraiser, much like Comic Relief. To add your support to the idea, go to www.thepetitionsite.com.

For more information about Wetnose Animal Aid and the Wetnose/Burgess Rescue Awards:

• visit www.wetnoseanimalaid.com

For more information about the Born Free Foundation:

• visit www.bornfree.org.uk

For more information about Queen guitarist Brian May’s organization:

• visit www.save-me.org.uk

Animal lovers will feel like virtual guests at the Wetnose Awards presentation when watching Virginia McKenna accept her Lifetime Achievement Award:

Photo Credit: Wetnose Animal Aid

Age of My Cat: 4

What I Love About My Cat: She is sweet and sassy and doesn’t put up with nonsense from anybody.

My Cat’s Favorite Things: Annoying the dogs, knocking things off shelves and sleeping on the computer monitor.

– submitted by BKP in New Hampshire

My Cat’s Name: Smokey

Age of My Cat: Unknown

What I Love About My Cat: He’s cute, loving, furry, and mine. <3

My Cat’s Favorite Things: Hunting, attention, eating, sleeping, being cute.

–submitted by Mallory in Mississippi

A cunning kitty who has gained fame by pilfering possessions as he prowls his San Mateo neighborhood at night, Dusty’s penchant for purloining will benefit homeless dogs and cats at the Peninsula Humane Society when a selection of the stolen goods go up for bid on May 21, 2011 at the day long animal-friendly event, which will include a parade of Fidos and felines and an array of adorable adoptables looking for their forever homes.

Catch this arresting ‘purr’sonality in the act in the following clip from Must Love Cats:

His Academy Awards co-hosting gig is on the horizon, but before he hobnobs with Hollywood heavyweights actor James Franco took some time to hang out with Sammy and Zelda, the cats who have starring roles in his personal life.

Taking their roles as stress-relievers very seriously, Franco’s two purring pals provided the Oscar-nominated actor with a much-needed moment of zen during a week filled with interviews and rehearsals for Tinseltown’s biggest night.

A famous face from a family of feline fans, James Franco’s brother Dave, who starred in the 2010 Zac Efron drama Charlie St. Cloud, is a pet parent to two cats dubbed Harry and Arturo, and his mother Betsy Franco is a children’s author who has penned two books of poetry inspired by pets: A Curious Collection of Cats and A Dazzling Display of Dogs.

Photo courtesy WhoSay.com

St. Louis (Feb. 17, 2011) – Are you a cat enthusiast? Do you enjoy sharing stories about your cat? If so, there is a great opportunity for you. Purina® Cat Chow® announced today the launch of the official search for the “Purina Cat Chow Correspondent,” an individual who will travel the country and connect with fellow cat owners about how they nurture well-being in their cats. The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent is a one-year position and will offer a $50,000 salary – and you can even keep your day job.

The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent will travel to pet industry events around the country to learn about the strong connection between cats and their owners. The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent’s experiences will be shared via catchow.com and Purina Cat Chow’s social media channels including Facebook and Flickr.

The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent should be a passionate and knowledgeable cat owner with a vibrant personality and an interest in learning and sharing about the cat-owner relationship. No formal training or expertise is required to apply.

How to Apply

From now until March 28, 2011, consumers can apply to be the Purina Cat Chow Correspondent on catchow.com. Consumers must complete a brief application and upload a photo of themselves with their cat to be considered for the position. The selected Purina Cat Chow Correspondent will be announced by May 15, 2011, and the position will run from May 15, 2011 to May 15, 2012.

“We’re searching for a passionate and enthusiastic cat owner as the Purina Cat Chow Correspondent to connect with other cat owners across the country,” said Dr. Karen Sueda, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behaviorist and a Purina Cat Chow Mentor. “The two top qualifications for potential candidates are to own a cat and have a curious disposition to learn about the relationships other owners have with their cats.”

Select PetSmart® stores will also host five casting call events for interested consumers to interview in person for the Purina Cat Chow Correspondent position. Consumers need not apply in person or conduct an in-person interview to be eligible for the position. The Purina Cat Chow Correspondent Search Casting Call events will take place at the following PetSmart stores.

Casting Calls:

Feb. 19: Phoenix, PetSmart at 1900 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ 85281
Feb. 26: Boston, PetSmart at 5 Mystic View Rd., Everett, MA 02149
March 5: Tampa, Fla., PetSmart at 12835 Citrus Plaza Dr., Tampa, FL 33625
March 12: Minneapolis, PetSmart at 1100 W. 78th St., Richfield, MN 55423
March 19: San Francisco, 315 Gellert Blvd., Daly City, CA 94015

About Purina Cat Chow Mentor Team

Purina Cat Chow strives to provide the best well-being resources for cat owners to enhance the connection between them and their cats. These resources include the Purina Cat Chow Mentors, a team of qualified experts and real-life cat owners who provide consumers with advice and information on a variety of cat care topics. The Purina Cat Chow Mentor team includes:

Dr. Karen Sueda: Dr. Sueda is a practicing veterinary behaviorist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of behavior problems in pets. Dr. Sueda treats animals at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital. She is one of only 54 Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists in the world.

Jennifer Sutton: Jennifer is a full-time mom and lifetime cat owner who brings her knowledge of juggling a household full of two- and four-legged creatures. She interacts with consumers on the Purina Cat Chow social media channels.

About Nestlé Purina PetCare and Purina Cat Chow Brand Cat Food

The North American headquarters for Nestlé Purina PetCare is located at Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Mo., where Ralston Purina was founded more than a century ago. Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestlé S.A. – the world’s largest food company. With advanced nutrition for each life stage, Purina Cat Chow brand Cat Food offers a family of products with 100 percent complete and balanced nutrition for physical health and emotional well being. For more information on Purina Cat Chow, visit catchow.com.

Clip art @Clipart.com

Potential pet parents will meet a glamorpuss at every turn, including Cat Winslet, Audrey Heppurr, Jon Paw Jovi, Meowie Mandel, Lauren Bacatcall and other adorable adoptables hoping that their 15 minutes of fame will turn into a lifetime of love in a forever home. Los Angeles attendees will also spot the star s of Best Friends’“It’s Okay to be a Cat Guy” campaign at the feline fete.

The first 100 new Meowmies and Daddies will receive star treatment with free valet parking, while all new adopters will be treated like A-listers as they walk the red carpet with their new purring pal, receive a commemorative statuette, and go home with a swag bag filled with feline-themed goodies from the ACATemy Awards gifting lounge.

Both West and East coast cats will get to lap up the limelight at two separate ACATemy Awards events:

Los Angeles

When: February 19, 2011 from 11 am – 6 pm.

Where: Hotel Palomar at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard.

New York area

When: February 26, 2011 from 12 pm – 5 pm

Where: Monmouth County SPCA at 260 Wall Street in Eatontown, New Jersey.

For more information:

• visit www.bestfriends.org

Photo Credit: Best Friends Animal Society