From Injury to Kitten

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I have been playing roller derby for a year now. I skate for Pikes Peak Derby Dames in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During one of our routine practices, I suffered an injury.  I honestly didn’t even know it happened. I fell mid cross-over at the bank turn. Thankfully, the women I skate with with are very encouraging. They are very motivating, and quick to help you get back up, and keep pushing through. That’s exactly what I did, I got back up and kept running drills. That evening after practice, I noticed my right ankle was very cramped. I proceeded to soak it in Epsom salt and ice it. Despite using anti-inflammatory methods and elevation techniques, the next morning I noticed that something was not OK. My right ankle was beginning to swell to an abnormal size. I still went to my work meeting, but kept off of it as much as possible. By the end of the day, I just couldn’t take the pain anymore. I went to the emergency room. The results of the tests showed that my injury was just a sprain.

I continued to attend practices. I even skated a charity marathon: our annual Halloween Skate-a-thon. I skated over 187 laps in under 70 minutes. I am very proud to have had raised over $500 for TESSA (TESSA is the primary agency dedicated specifically, and solely, to the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault in El Paso and Teller Counties in Colorado). It provides immediate safety for women and children in crisis. TESSA Empowers survivors through programs and support such as advocacy and counseling. It creates a safer future for families through education and awareness. They provide outreach in schools, businesses and civic organizations. After this event, I still felt like something wasn’t normal with my ankle, but I continued to take care of it at home as instructed by the ER.

The following week I got my ankle x-rayed again at an urgent care facility. They also said that it was a sprain, but gave me a referral to a Podiatrist. While waiting for the appointment I tested with my league. Unfortunately I was not drafted onto a team. However, I was very proud of myself for testing and trying out, even with an injury. My season was over at that point until spring of 2020. I was given an MRI and the results were not what I was expecting. I had torn the tendons in my right ankle and broken the fibula. I had surgery on my ankle January 8th 2020 and was put into a cast. I was unable to walk or drive until the third week of February 2020. I felt pretty helpless, but I had ambitions and dreams. I aspired to become a Chateau kitten and to get back on my skates.

I’d been working the hardest I’d ever worked in my life. I attended physical therapy multiple times a week. I did my exercises at home. I started a diet to get my health back on track. I took the plunge and scheduled a photoshoot. I had a lot of help and support from Deviantmynx. She educated me about the application process and gave me an education on the essay. My dreams were coming to life when I was accepted as an April kitten. I have been back on skates and working on both of my passions, skating and The Chateau. As far as skating goes, I will probably have to wear an ankle brace for the rest of my derby career. I find so much joy being a derby kitten with the support and empowerment that both PPDD (Pikes Peak Derby Dames) and The Chateau give me. The journey continues.

https://pikespeak.co.networkofcare.org/veterans/services/agency.aspx?pid=TESSA_1042_17_0

http://pikespeakderbydames.com/

Kitten at the Cat Cafe: My Experience Corralling Cats and Pampering Paws

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Cat cafes are no doubt charming, fun little places, with a cozy atmosphere and countless friendly, fluffy felines to cuddle and enjoy. You can enjoy snacks and warm tea while a cat snuggles up on your lap, or nestles beside you. You can entertain them with the various toys that are provided like: wands, and plush mice. The cats are charming, the facilities are quite clean despite their fluffy occupants. It is a cozy and darling experience. An experience that wouldn’t be possible without the aid of the staff. Some are paid, some are volunteers, depending on the center you visit. What happens behind the scenes at these charming feline facilities? What are they like? As a volunteer, Gloomy is here to answer that inquiry! Fun fact: I’ve been a volunteer for a year now. 

Every Thursday, I wake up bright and early to prepare for my feline-filled day. I check any potential messages from the owner, and then I get dressed. There’s no uniform required, but I prefer to dress for the occasion. I usually slip on a cute dress and stockings, and sometimes, even don a pair of cat ears (though not often). That is, if I’m not wearing my signature little cat-eared hat. At 9:30, I’m out the door and down the road where the center is. It’s nestled between a large, busy, fancy restaurant and a smaller, equally bustling sandwich chain. Many pass it by, not even realizing it it’s there, just like I did.  For many years I passed it by, until the small sign finally caught my eye. When I first spotted the cafe, I glimpsed this beautiful Turkish Van silhouetted in the window.

As soon as I unlock the door and step inside the segmented lobby, I can hear the meows and cries of the cats just beyond the inner door. Some perch in the interior windows, gawking and brushing up against the glass. Others meow loudly behind the door. After flicking on the coffee/tea brewer and organizing the snacks up front, I enter, and am immediately swarmed by cats. They cry and purr. There’s lots of head-butting and rubbing up against my legs. The cats are starved for affection. 

I take this time to say “hello” and check the well-being of the cats and the status of the lounge. Toys are strewn about, and sometimes the treats are knocked over. Once or twice, the lid has popped off and I’ve found a few felines gorging themselves on the spilled contents. Today, though, the container is secure.  

I check for stains around the lounge – be it food or otherwise. The mewing swarm follows me to the back where another door leads to the storage and cat area. There’s an arched hole carved into the wall just beside the door where they can scurry between rooms. Sometimes, a cat will sit directly inside, or in front of the hole, blocking access to their fellow felines. 

The food, medicine, treats, and various containers occupy the many shelves in the back room.  Occasionally, the more savory foods get raided overnight and I catch the little thieves red-handed, lapping up the contents shamelessly on the floor. When this happens, a quick cleaning and securing of the remaining food is promptly in order. 

Their water gets changed out and refreshed, as does their food, which they messily crunch and scatter everywhere. Next, comes the litter room located behind another closed door, which the cats access from yet another cat door. Four big litter boxes dominate the room, all shared by the whiskered residents. It’s slightly unsavory work, but it must be done, for the cats and for the guests. One or two feline companions will watch curiously as their buried treasures are scooped away, while another one or two decide to add to the process (right when I think I am finished). 

Once the boxes are clean, I sweep the litter room and the center. Some kittens scatter fearfully from the gentle sweeping of the broom, while other braver, curious souls, bat and play with it. I roll off fur from the various blankets and furniture once the sweeping is finished. Finally, all the work is done.

I’m the sole volunteer on my days working. It’s such a small place, there isn’t much of a need for more than one person. The desk up front houses one chair, where that day’s volunteer or “manager” sits, greets, and checks in guests. They processes payments or snuggle with the cats during downtime. Sometimes tending to things in the lobby. The friendlier cats like to sit in the window above me and mew for attention, waiting for someone to walk in and entertain or pet them.        

When I’m not up front, I’m arranging things in the cat lounge, breaking up cat fights, and confirming the locations and well-being of all the cats. Then I snuggle with the babies. During very slow times where we (unfortunately) do not see any visitors, I curl up with a few cuddly cats on the couch, and indulge in a little cat nap with them. 

I’ve became acquainted with, and met, many wonderful cats during my time volunteering at the cat cafe. I’ve watched small kittens grow into stout adults, and the shyest of cats grow into the snuggliest of companions. When I see them finally get adopted and happily carried off to a loving home, I can’t help but cry sometimes, both from happiness and from the sorrow of parting. 

I give nicknames to some.

A little about the origin of the nicknames… “Tigger” has sad eyes, but a bubbly attitude and very characteristic meow, “Seven” has a little white seven on her back, and “Martian”, also known as,”Mr. Martian Man” has a crooked tail tip and when I first saw him, I (and many others) thought he looked like a little feline-shaped extraterrestrial (sort of like a lean, lanky Sphynx, but with fur!).

I’ve comforted cats scared and shocked by the sudden deaths of their owners, and those who had been suddenly dumped from their once loving home without warning… I’ve helped warm up the shyest of souls, and cared for sweet elder cats who have little chance being adopted…

   

I’ve been scratched and bitten by some of the feistier felines, and rambunctious kittens who try to make stealthy escapes into the off-limit lobby. I’ve tended to ill cats, cleaning everything from vomit to wounds. I’ve learned a great deal about our cuddly feline friends. I’ve learned about their personality traits, quirks, the way they like to be pet, and the way they meow and purr… When you work behind the scenes, it’s hard not to grow attached to each and every kitty that affectionately greets you at the door in the morning.   

I’ve been at the location for a little over a year now, and I am pleased to be a part of helping these cats be seen and adopted.  I like caring for them and watching them grow. It’s wonderful to see their personalities slowly show more and more as they warm up. I do not get paid for my time, though. I believe money pales in comparison to the experiences I have had the opportunity to be involved in.   

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little look inside a typical day running a cat cafe, and I would love for others to share their favorite experiences at the cat cafes or adoption centers they have visited! 

Customizing Your Kitten With GB Leatherworks

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Hello to all you lovely kittens. This article is one to enjoy with your partner. I have had the privilege of getting to know the gentlemen of GB Leatherworks and their exceptional skill in leather crafting, from the smallest bracelet, to a customized corset. It honestly felt like there was not much these two could not create. The detail in the designs showed me they love their craft, and they are always up to the task of creating. Here, I will show you just a few items on their store that I couldn’t say “no” to. The best part is, the store is pleasing to the eye, does wonders for the wardrobe, and is easy on the wallet. So, without further ado I give you the merchandise of GB Leatherworks.

First up, is a must for all kittens, whether you are out on a picnic with your fellow kittens, or having a lovely date with your partner. This tea set holder is perfect for any occasion. You heard me right kittens, a tea set holder, store your cup, spoon, and a plate so you are always prepared for teatime. An amazing feature on this item is that you can attach it to your belt or strap it on as a purse. The buttons lock firmly and securely to ensure nothing falls out. The leather is quite durable so you can rest assured that your plate will be safe in the event of an accident. Do not let the picture fool you, this was a custom-made order, meaning that the color of the leather is up to you. When initially discussing the tea set holder, GB Leatherworks showed me a lighter color as seen in the photo and a darker leather that would match any little black dress.

Next up, are the collars and cuffs. An item as versatile as they are cute. Whether you’re gifting to a fellow kitten, in the market for a new collar (one with a more personal touch) or looking to get some cuffs for you and your partner can match, GB Leatherworks has you covered. The detail of the stenciling within the leather left me breathless. The pictures they showed me of their different stenciling with symbols and words had my mind all a-tizzy with what to write. You can have a collar for all occasions and moods. The cuffs are comfortable and can be worn for hours, feeling super smooth. You and your partner, or friend, will match… And be super fancy.

What better way to match your tea set holder, than by having a place to store your parasol? Look alive kittens! GB Leatherworks has a parasol holder. You will be classy wherever you go with your tea set and parasol holder. Every kitten will look as if you stepped out of a Victorian painting. Parasols, as all kittens know, are a good way to keep the skin nice and healthy by limiting how much sun hits our sensitive skin. All kittens can agree, there is nothing better than being able store your parasol when in a shady location, and be able to free up your hands. A major A+ in the convenience factor.

Speaking of the Victorian era, prepare to have your wildest dreams met when you see the customized corsets GB Leatherwork can do. I wanted this corset to match a dress I have, so the colors are vibrant, but rustic. GB Leatherwork asked for multiple measurements to ensure the corset fit exactly how I wanted it to. They were even kind enough to make minor adjustments to make this corset feel on point. The corset is comfortable, and most importantly you can breathe, which all kittens can agree is a breath of fresh air. The sky’s the limit.  Kittens, get the corset of your dreams to wear for all occasions.

Finally, as pictured above, you can see the myriad of different items GB Leatherworks has made. Whether you want to feel like a kitten-wizard and store your wand, complete your steampunk ensemble with a glamorous hat, or want some trendy bracelets, the only limitations to GB Leatherworks is your own imagination. Give these gentlemen a buzz and get yourself some customized leather goods. I know I will be hitting up their store in the future.

Links for their Etsy and Facebook like page:

https://www.facebook.com/GBLeatherworks/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GBLeatherworks

Depression Awareness: A Guide to Letting Go

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Quarantine has a lot of us feeling lost. Do you resist change or easily adapt and go with the flow? How difficult is it for you to let go of something you put time and effort into? Personally, I struggle with the concept of letting go. As someone with OCD who suffers from depression, it’s mentally exhausting to train myself to cope with certain situations.

Closing a chapter

I’ve lived in my apartment for over 8 years now with my partner. My family owns property and for years I would manage the multi family building, paying rent to my family as well as dealing with any property issues and maintenance. My apartment was mainly in the basement, with a detached loft on the other side of the house that I used as an art studio. Since I had planned to be there for a long time, my partner and I put a lot of work into our apartment over the years. He redid the bedroom floor by hand when we moved in, we had work done on the bathroom including a new bath, and recently we both redesigned our living room to be our new bedroom for more space. Our floors were best described as “90’s school cafeteria tile”, they were yellowed from age long before we moved in and awful to look at.

The mister taught me how to lay and cut tiles, which is a lengthy process and took us a couple of days to finish. I was so proud of the hard work we did, and all the work we put into it.

( In the process of becoming an ocean themed bedroom)

Unfortunately we would soon get the news that we had to move. We were already dealing with an unruly tenant upstairs who would make life difficult for us constantly despite her basically squatting in the building for months without paying rent. She ended up reporting the new work done to the basement out of spite, causing my family to have to pay fines and deal with the town court. While they were proud of our work, we ultimately decided to move as this is not the first issue we have had with the building. Over the years it has been a challenge, floods and various disasters would occasionally plague the building due to negligence on our upstairs neighbors. Despite this, I was always determined to make the place beautiful and something we could be proud of. At first the news was hard for me to deal with. I was angry and depressed for months…especially after only weeks before hearing the news I poured so much effort into laying the new tiles, even driving 8 hours to pick them up from a store that had them available. My body still ached from the hard labor.

As the months passed and I fell deeper and deeper into depression, I tried my best to pull myself out of my negative thought cycle and adapt. This was before the virus hit, and the isolation became mandatory. As someone who chooses not to take medication for my condition, I began re-exploring natural and holistic ways of coping with change and methods of rewriting my brain. I wanted to share my experience in hope that it might help someone. I know reading something like this would have helped me months ago, when I was struggling the most.

 

Breathe in, Breathe out.

Remember, you are not alone and your feelings are valid. It’s okay to feel whatever you’re feeling, and it’s okay to express it. It becomes toxic only after we dwell on the situation, or let the repetitive thoughts cycle without controlling them. In the Buddhist practices, the “monkey mind” is a term that refers to being unsettled, restless, or unfocused. It refers tothe part of your brain that becomes easily distracted,  if you want to be successful in life, your challenge will be to shut down the monkey mind.
The cause is our natural ability to think about many things at once…which only becomes dangerous when it will not quiet down. When the mind is constantly assaulted by negative thoughts, fears, and doubts, it results in mental fatigue and illness due to over-stimulation. Try to practice clearing your mind completely, or meditation. If we are focused on the past, or too anxious for the future we can’t experience the now.

 

Do what calms you

Self care can heal most wounds, albeit even tedious tasks. Focusing on your needs might be a challenge when you’re feeling anxious, but you will feel much better, I promise!

 

Set small goals and accomplish them

Depression can make even getting out if bed an ordeal, when it progresses enough. Try to avoid getting to this point by setting small goals for yourself. Do your makeup and shoot a look one day (or night), take a walk to the park, cook yourself a simple meal or work on that thing that you keep putting off.

It’s okay to start your day late

Quarantine has your sleep schedule off? Feeling out of the loop with all the morning people? You can still accomplish small tasks and fight the blues away. You can still shoot some content at night with the right ring light, or go to the supermarket and stock up on your favorite snacks. Low energy? Take a bath. Throw in some vibe lifting essential oil drops or some orange peels to improve your mood. (The vitamin C helps)

 

Remember, this too shall pass.

In certain beliefs, when you experience bad karma or occurrences, eventually it will be evened out with the good. Stay strong, embrace the storms in your life.

 

Please stay mindful of your friend’s mental health, and check in on them from time to time.

Spice Up Your A-Sha Ramen Noodles: Recipe

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With the weather heating up, it may not exactly be soup-season, but I could eat ramen noodles any time, any day. I simply adore ramen and have found ways to spice up the noodles I found at Costco. The brand is “A-Sha” and they come in a 12-pack that I can eat in the course of about a week. While they do come with their own seasoning package, it mainly consists of a soy sauce mixture that could do with some additions.

A bit about the brand and the noodles… The ingredients are wholesome and safe. This is important to me because I try to eat a fairly clean diet and there isn’t anything offensive in these noodles. They consist of just: wheat, flour, salt, water, soy sauce, and white sesame oil. The noodles are air fried and don’t leave anything unsavory in the water after cooking. A-Sha originates in Taiwan and the noodles are very authentic and are similar to what you might find in your local Asian grocery store. The A-Sha brand claims to be the best tasting in the world.

They describe their noodles as, “Asha presents healthy ramen noodles that will make you fall in love at first bite. Fresh, hot, flavorful, and aromatic. Slightly chewy noodles with a delightful hint of Asian flavor. A tasty, satisfying and easy-to-prepare dish perfect for lunch, dinner, or a late-night snack.”

These are so convenient and easy to make, but I have made some personal alterations to make the soup a lot tastier, with a more rounded flavor palette. I added ingredients that I had in my cupboard. I do cook often, so I may have used some spices that aren’t in every home, but I promise, everything is worth adding!

Now that you’ve read the necessary, lengthy description of my whole life story, here is the recipe:

    • 1 package A-Sha noodles with seasoning packet
    • Enough water to cover the noodles
    • ½ teaspoon ginger (.08 oz)
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder (.04 oz)
    • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if you want to add some spice) (.02-.04 oz)
    • ½ tablespoon chives (dried or cut into small segments if fresh) (.08 oz)
    • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (.02 oz)
    • 4 turns of fresh cracked black pepper

 

Ignore all the directions on the package and bring enough water to a boil to cover the noodles in the bowl. I use my electric teakettle to heat the water, or you can use the microwave/stove, if preferred.

While that is brewing, add all the ingredients to a bowl. If the noodles don’t fit in your bowl, like mine, I simply break them in half and stack them. Add all other ingredients to the bowl.

Once your water is over 200 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately 94 degrees Celsius, pour the water over your noodle and herb mixture and stir everything in.

Wait two minutes for the noodles to cook, and enjoy once cool enough to consume. Feel free to drink the broth after you eat the noodles, it’s so delicious.

This is my first recipe Scratching Post, but there will be more to come. I’ve got many that I am excited to share with you all. Stay tuned!

Blooming from Spring into Summer Cocktails

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Salutations lovely kittens spring is here, and summer is around the corner and what do all good kittens deserve? Sunbathing in the sun with a tasty beverage. I have some fun colorful drinks to keep you refreshed; from basking in the sun to campfires at night. A drink for all occasions, I hope you enjoy these drinks as much as I did and as you will see some experiments are key to a fun time.

 

First up is this gorgeous drink called the Trickster. I had another taste these drinks with me so I could get you different opinions. I will start off with saying that this drink is like drinking a fruit punch with a rock candy taste. As if it was childhood in a glass, imagine running down the street with a capri sun in hand ready for excitement. A word of caution to all kittens, blue paws are likely while mixing as my tester and I can attest to.

Ingredients:

  • 1 shot of cherry vodka
  • 1 shot of strawberry vodka
  • 1 shot of grenadine (if wish for redder color use 2 shots)
  • Shake vodka grenadine mixture with ice pour into cup of choice filled with ice
  • 3 shots of blue curacao
  • 1 shot of sprite
  • Carefully shake mixture (pressure will build from sprite as my tester found out the hard way)
  • Now here’s where it gets tricky. Pour the mixture into the cup “slowly” pouring onto the backside of a spoon this will create a layer for the two mixtures giving the same look in the picture.

 

Next up is the Kitten by the Campfire. Proving that looks can be deceiving this drink may not look the prettiest but according to my taster it was the tastiest. Like drinking a tootsie roll it is a creamy chocolate taste that is also refreshing on a hot day. This is your grown-up chocolate milk. I was skeptical upon this drinks creation hence my trusty taster had the first go upon tasting I have to say it reminded me of Coco Puffs. We did notice that with this drink no ice is better and graham crackers are excellent for dipping, the marshmallow at the end is delish.

Ingredients:

  • Fill glass with and milk to the brim
  • Add ice if desired
  • A shot worth of Hershey’s Chocolate syrup (add more for more chocolatey taste)
  • 1 to 2 shots of your choice of vodka depending on size of glass.
  • We used Stuffed Puffed marshmallows for our drink but feel free to use any type
  • Graham cracker for garnish

 

Our third drink and my personal favorite is The Ruby Rose. A very airy and flowery taste like drinking a fresh spring breeze. Whether lounging on the porch or relaxing by the pool this is the drink that will keep you refreshed and feeling fancy with every sip. This drink called for champagne a kitten’s delight, and we used Rose sparkling water in place of regular rose water. I cannot recommend this drink enough to kittens.

Ingredients

  • 1 shot orange juice (fresh squeezed or bought in-store)
  • 1 shot of sparkling rose water
  • 1 shot of grenadine
  • Desired amount of maraschino cherries
  • Fill glass to the brim with champagne.
  • Stir and enjoy.

 

The final drink we tried was one that had me all sorts of excited The Springing Kitten I have a love for strawberries, so this drink was right up my alley. A very subtle lemon and lime taste that can hide the taste of alcohol for those kittens who are not fans. The lemonade and strawberry mix make for a good drink to be served while basking in the sun.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
  • 1 small lime wedge
  • 3 fresh strawberries, 2 hulled and sliced and one for garnish
  • 1 shot of cherry vodka
  • 1 shot of club soda

 

I hope you all enjoy these drinks as much as I did! *Cheers*

-Tox Suki =^-^=

Pastel Witch Magic: A Review of the Custom Experience From MeltedKittenCreations

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Having been in the kittenplay community for nearly half a decade now, I had known of Carissa’s shop since its infancy. It wasn’t until the past year or so, however, that I really became mesmerized by and started collecting the gorgeous, intricate ribbon collars by MeltedKittenCreations. Known for unique, gem-encrusted pieces with elegant chainwork, MKC has carved its own niche in the kittenplay collar market. Despite being criticized in the past for the extravagant prices that come with the extravagant collars and particularly the signature multilayered bows, this shop‘s scheduled releases sell out on Etsy almost instantly.

In mid-January of this year, after acquiring one or two pre-made pieces from MKC, I was fortunate enough to snag a spot for a custom collar. An idea had been brewing in my brain and I knew MKC was the one to execute it! A few days later during the monthly session of Dungeons and Dragons that I participate in, I sketched out my vision and decided on the last few details. Unlike some kittenplay gear shops that enjoy taking a more vague theme and creating something based solely on that, MKC asks for a very detailed sketch of your precise desires. (Mine is pictured here.) This was a bit of an undertaking for me since I’m naturally indecisive by nature. However, with the help of reference pictures from the MKC Instagram page (taking inspiration from pre-made collars and NOT from previous customs), I managed to pull my ideas together and draw out my ideal pastel witch collar.

 

 

I did something daring and asked if it was possible to acquire hardware in a color that had never been used before at MKC. Luckily, Carissa explained that she has been thinking of expanding her hardware options and my custom would give her the chance to do so!

Carissa was attentive throughout the entire process. Via Etsy’s messenger system, she and I worked out details, moved things around as needed, and finalized orders for special materials. She kept me abreast of her progress the entire time. Most of the waiting time was for supplies; once everything had been delivered to her workplace she was very efficient about putting my custom creation together.

She was also confident in giving her opinion about design choices when I asked for it, owing to her expertise. Also of note is that I was absolutely stunned by the price I was quoted after the initial discussion of my idea— it was so much lower than I had expected! I had gone in with the notion that a custom creation would cost a pretty penny, and yet the price I paid was around the same as some of her elaborate pre-made designs.

When the collar was complete, she took professional photos of the finished product and asked if I’d like to see them before it had arrived to me in the mail. She also was very thoughtful and asked for my permission to post my custom on the MKC Instagram page, as we all know that copycats are out there! In my opinion, let them copy! That just means you had an idea worth reproducing, and reproductions are hardly ever as stunning as the original.

Overall, the process took exactly two months from purchase to delivery. It was so worth that wait! I tore open MKC’s signature black and gold packaging the moment it arrived and squealed with delight. My dreams had certainly come to life! If I had to give the shop and my experience a rating, it would indeed be 10/10!

Although I have yet to do a proper shoot in my custom collar, you betcha I’ll be doing that soon so keep an eye out! Love and meows,

Mango

The Origin and History of the Cat Girl

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Nekomimi History 

It’s quite common to see cat girls and neko characters portrayed in media nowadays…but when and where did the concept come from? How did it become so popular that it’s influenced everything from storybooks, anime, and western movies to cosplay communities and petplay groups?

Well, it all started in 1924 when Kenji Miyazawa (Japanese author in the early Shōwa period of Japan) created 水仙月の四日 (The 4th of narcissus month) where the first ever Nekomimi appears as 雪婆んご. (Picture below) This children’s story book from the 20’s was the first stepping stone that would pave the way for cat girls as we know them today.

It can be assumed that Kenji adopted the idea from the japanese folklore of “Bakeneko”, demon cats who can shapeshift and become humanoid. Or possibly from the Kitsune, fox demons who could shapeshift into beautiful women.

(Man walking with a Bakeneko prostitute by the Shinagawa Sea.) (Public domain)

Around the 1940’s, DC comics debuted two iconic cat girls that we know and love today. Catwoman and Cheetah graced the comic pages giving readers in the west a taste of feline feminine power. It wasn’t until nine years later in Japan that the nekomimi would appear again in an anime known as Ousama no Shippo (The King’s Tail) in 1949. (In photo)

It’s difficult to find footage due to it’s age, but it seemed to feature a whole village of neko girls and a cat king. It seems that this film launched a small trend, as women with cat and wolf ears would make sporadic appearances in Japanese films and literature. In the late 1960’s, a popular anime called GeGeGe No Kitaro featured Neko Musume, a character that had shapeshifting abilities due to her being a yokai (ghost). The children of the 70’s in US were fast fans of Jose and the Pussycats.

(Catwoman from DC comics)

It wasn’t until the 1980’s that the trend would return and the humble neko girl would make an appearance again in an anime film called “The star of cottonland” which told the story of a chibi neko kitten, and Bagi, the monster of mighty nature in 1984, which featured a genetically modified human/cat mix. Just a couple of years later, to-y (A rock band anime) swept the fictional stage in 1987, with Niya who commonly wore a cat ear headband. A year later, the Puma sisters from “Dominion tank police” explored their take on mech anime and neko culture mixed. The 1980’s were arguably the turning point for cat girls in media, as the trope started to be featured much more than the years prior.

(A scene from “The star of cottonland” pictured  below)

In 1989, popular series Ranma 1 1/2 featured a new kind of neko character…one that would otherwise look human but could shapeshift into a cat. Shampoo (one of Ranma’s love interests) popularized the trope with her large fan following.

(Akane, Ranma’s other love interest pictured in kitten play attire)

Sailor Tin Nyanko from sailor moon in 1992, Natsuki Sasahara from hyper police in 1997, Aisha ClanClan from Outlaw star in 1998, Sakura kinomoto from card captor sakura in April 1998, Neferpitou from HunterXHunter in 1999, Taruto from magical Nyan Nyan Taruto in 2001, Kisa Sohma from Fruits basket (July 2001), and Chiyo Mihama from Azumanga Daioh (2002) are just some of the iconic characters that paved the way for future neko’s today.

      (Sailor Tin Nyanko, Sailor moon 1992)

 

Catgirls in Cosplay

It wasn’t until the mid to late 90’s that Catgirl cosplay and pet play started rising up. And that is when the first Nekomimi cosplays began appearing on the streets of Harajuku, Yoyogi, and Akihabara in Japan. It was quickly embraced by the rest of the world.

Neko Con held it’s first convention on October 2nd 1998, all cosplays were welcome but it encouraged neko cosplay, community and kitten play in the US.

 

Cat Girls in Petplay

The origins of animal petplay are not specific, as there are most likely many. However, its origins are heavily influenced by costuming, fiction, myth and folklore.

Non sexual animal roleplay was a common part of rituals in many tribal cultures in both recent and likely ancient times, often having to reach adulthood by ritually receiving their spirit animal. Examples of the former include many of the American Indian tribes and Arctic natives. Examples of the latter are depicted in cave paintings. In 1911, Julia Tuell photographed the last Animal Dance (“Massaum”) performed by the Northern Cheyenne of Montana.

(hekkil.deviantart.com)

Some of the earliest published images of animal play are to be found in the work of John Willie in Bizarre magazine published from 1946 to 1959.

Some comics throughout history feature characters and scenarios related to pet play; such as DC Comics’s Wildcat, Catwoman,Vixen, Marvel’s Tigra, Man-Wolf, Black Cat, or even Nastassja Kinski’s Irena Gallier in the 1982 film Cat People, and Miss Kitty from the movie Monkeybone. All involve animal qualities taken on by humans. Some would even count the enactment or belief in therianthropy as falling under human animal roleplay or transformation play.

(Chobits, 2002)

Whatever the origin, we are certainly appreciative of all the people, art and ideas that paved the way for us to be our purrfect selves today! 😉

Sources:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_roleplay
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catgirl#History

Images: credit listed with picture or sourced from Wikipedia/Google.

The Benefits of Transitioning Back Outdoors ~ Kitten Style

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It’s important you keep a schedule of self-care!

Get outside when you can!!! Make sure you are not socially isolating when social distancing, meditate, and most importantly be kind to yourself. Have compassion and be patient with yourself. Our old ways of socializing and navigating through life are gone for now. REMEMBER! HEY- BE VERY patient with yourself as you adapt to this new normal. A way I have found to ease the stress of COVID-19 is getting into the fresh outdoors safely. During our months of sheltering in place, we’ve taken a crash course in staying safe from the virus: wearing masks in public, washing our hands, wiping down counters frequently, refraining from touching our faces ect— Now I would like to take a small crash course of the great outdoors with the knowledge I have gathered from only a few trips. Learning what you can find and use outside is EXCITING!!!!!!! I will probably be learning forever!

This MAY help you find a level of comfort because you are doing your best to keep yourself and your family healthy. People tend to feel better when we are being active in our own safety and security So much of our anxiety I BELIEVE comes from a place of losing control, so you have to take control when you can and WANT!!!!

OUTSIDE- I can ignore those who do not follow the distancing regulations in close proximity due to my fears.  In this trip, I ventured out with Dorian Gray and Erika Rae whom I have been quarantined with. It was nice to take the mask off for a bit alone in the outdoors and inhale the fresh air and be able to experience all the new smells. As we walked I began learning via Dorian what the plants where and how they could be used. Actually, many of our local North America evergreen saps can be used as incense in exactly the same way as Frankincense and Myrrh, Mastic, and Copal oleoresins. They provide high-quality aromatic material for perfume, incense, and medicine.

For example! LOOK for the oooooozing trees

This tree was gifting resin puuuur! Thanks, tree!

 

This resin can be collected to make incense to bring the forest home!
Pictured above are pine and fir resin!

 

Aromatherapy benefits
    • manage pain.
    • improve sleep quality.
    • reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety.
    • soothe sore joints.
    • treat headaches and migraines.
    • alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy.
    • ease discomforts of labor.
    • fight bacteria, virus, or fungus

 

HEY–REMEMBER—When using charcoal disks or any other burnable make sure to use non-flammable dishes, bowls, or plates or and a little bit of sand or small pebbles work really well as a base for the charcoal disk !!!!!!

One of the easiest ways of lighting the charcoal disk is by using a candle and tongs. …

  1. Hold the disk’s bottom over the flame until it starts to crackle, then do the same to the top. …
  2. The resin and dust melt and then burn, creating a cloud of smoke that is amazingly light and intoxicating.

 

For perfume applications-  These oleoresins are distilled via steam or water to extract their essential oils. They yield a high percent of good quality essential oils and a much greater proportion of essential oil to raw material than when distilling essential oils from the tree’s needles.  I will try to get a post up in the next couple of weeks showing how to distill your own essential oils from these wonderfully fragrant local tree saps. Promise!

After our hiking around Estas Park, we ventured to the Stanley Hotel. The property has many wild animals! Being able to say hello to many deer, climbing rocks, and collecting smells for my aromatherapy really helped ease the stress of the last few months and I highly recommend trying it!

 

NOT ALLOWED TO FEED FRIENDS- PLEASE do not interfere with the wildlife.
Tails Out!

 

Catching the sunset has been one of my new favorite hobbies. I love to find the puuuurfect spot, snack, stuffie, and blanket to watch the colors! Being able to pop a bottle of champagne and discuss life with my favorite people really seemed to slow time. Watching the sunlight fade helps me remember a new day is coming with exciting opportunities. I can remember that truly I can only control my actions and not those around me and just to simply be.

 

Sources– where you can travel to learn more and in-depth incense coil burning

https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/aromatherapy-overview#1

https://urbapothecary.com/blogs/blog/how-to-burn-resin-incense

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS721US721&sxsrf=ALeKk024c74OYrhTDC8NJCdfNvyoLnbEVA%3A1590013864852&ei=qK_FXvnKM9bbtAbtppOABg&q=stanly+hotel+wild+deer&oq=stanly+hotel+wild+deer&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzoHCCMQsAIQJzoICCEQFhAdEB5Qs1hY5GtgiW1oAHAAeACAAbYBiAGiCZIBAzEuOJgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwj5vuicv8PpAhXWLc0KHW3TBGAQ4dUDCAw&uact=5

Moving in with Your Gent

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Recently, my Gent and I decided to take the next step in our relationship by moving in with each other. It could be argued that this is one of the most monumental times in a kitten’s life and it is such an amazing feeling getting to live with the person you love most. Since living with my Gent I realized that this is a serious learning experience and I wanted to explain some of the lessons I have learned so far…

 

Lesson 1: Communication!

As with any relationship the absolute best way to avoid conflict is through honest communication. By communicating honestly with your partner it sets a healthy foundation on which you can build your relationship upon. Conflicts are normal for people in all relationships and it is always best to address a problem when it arises rather than later!

 

Lesson 2: Respect the Home

Mental health plays an extremely important part in relationships and I discovered how much mental health is influenced by one’s surroundings. A clean living-space can honestly do wonders for your mood and with cohabitation keeping the home clean helps avoid conflict and reduces stress.

 

Lesson 3: Cute Surprises

Now that you live together there are more opportunities for romance! It is easy to become super comfy in your home with your Gent, but it is important to reassure them that you love them. To keep the romance alive a kitten can surprise their Gent by making him coffee first thing in the morning, sending him sweet messages while he is at work, leaving love notes around the house, making a home cooked meal, setting up a movie night, and so much more!  

 

Final Lesson: Make it your Home!

Once you have settled into your new place together it is important to make the place feel like a home. I found that putting effort into the home makes the space so much more peaceful. Be sure to add your individuality to it and have plenty of soft blankets, pillows, candles, and lights.

 

Thank you for reading! If you have any more lessons please add to this list. 

Daeni