[PHOTO CREDIT: CatsInBoxes.com]

Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. The Food Lady (Karen) and me wood like to wish evrywun a very Merry Christmas. Stay warm, don’t overdo the nip, and do sum extra hard purring in yer peepul’s laps today!

By pawpular demand, we’re re-running The Cat’s Meow’s version of “‘Twas the Night before Christmas.” We hope that Santa is good to all you Catsters, even Newman!

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all across Catster
Not a kitty was stirring, not even a ratster.
The Olde Furts were nappin’, the Strollers were parked.
Every pee spot was sniffed out and thoroughly marked.

But at Catster HQ, there arose such a clatter,
TR sprang from his desk to see what was the matter.
He ran to the window and looked through the fog,
And he mumbled in wonder, “Fur the love of dog!”

For the moonlight revealed thru the fog’s gentle glow
A brilliant green blimp with the Catster logo.
It circled the block and set down on the street –
Expertly maneuvered at Ted Rheingold’s feet.

TR squinted to see who was at the controls –
‘Twas an elfin albino with ears like a troll’s.
“Could it be?” he was wondering, when doubt was erased:
Skeezix shouted, “Hop in Ted! We’ve no time to waste!”

“We’re gonna spread cheer on this Christmas Eve night,
And we won’t come back home till the dawn’s early light.
I hope you like eggnog; I’ve stocked up the bar,
And this baby’s got turbo: we’ll fly pretty far!”

TR stopped for a moment to tweet all his plans,
Then he jumped in the front seat and shook Skeezy’s hand.
Skeezix gave him a green hat and t-neck to wear
And watched as he dressed without messing his hair.

Skeezix said, “We’ll give presents to all of our members,
But be careful with chimneys: remember the embers.
Cuz unless you have panties that won’t catch on fire
The front door’s a much safer entry by far.”

So the green Catster blimp stopped at every cat’s house,
Each got zealies or catnip or even a mouse.
They stopped at the shelters and brought those cats cheer:
Bags of cat food and tuna, and catnip reindeer.

They fed all the ferals, and preached about neutering
Though most alley cats don’t care too much for that tutoring.
They had scant little time, and they had to be quick,
Skeezix pressed on the turbo and shifted the stick.

Once they hit the East Coast they flew over the pond
To see all the Brit cats, and French, and beyond.
They headed toward daybreak, to Chad and Taiwan
And to Sidney and Christchurch — they flew on and on.

Catster Blimp tracking courtesy of NORAD

It was long into Christmas when their work was complete.
Skeezix pulled up to HQ and parked on the street.
“Thank you, boss,” he said warmly, “for inventing the site,
That makes cats worldwide happy — adios and good night!”

In a reader? Click here.

The guest tabby this Tabby Tuesday is our kiwi friend, Mr D, who make a GREAT Santa, dontcha think? Happy Christmas, Mr D!

Did you buy your Christmas tree this weekend? Here’s a repost of a PetPlace.com article, “10 Steps for a Cat Safe Holiday Tree”, to help you ensure your cats are safe from the minefield of hazards that await them in your festively decorated holiday home. Here they are:

1. Choose the Right Spot. Pick an area where the tree can be enjoyed by the family without becoming a “climbing toy” for your pet. The tree should be secured to the wall or ceiling, away from furniture that can serve as a springboard for your pet. Try to place the tree near an outlet so you don’t have to run electrical cords long distances.

2. Prepare the Area. Lay down plastic sheeting or buy a “tree bag.” This is an extra large trash bag used for live trees. Center the tree on the bag. When the season is over and you have removed the tree ornaments, pull the bag over the tree.This will catch the pine needles as they fall from the tree – and prevent them from being chewed or swallowed by your pet.

3. Secure the Tree. Cats – kittens especially – love to climb trees. Many a tree has been sent swaying with a happy kitten on top. Kittens can be injured if the trees or ornaments fall and break. Dogs can knock over a tree by rubbing against or playing under it. You can place the tree in a corner and secure it from two sides to small hooks in the walls. Another trick is to place a small hook in the ceiling above the tree and use clear fishing line from the top of the tree to the hook. Apply gentle tension and tie. The clear line is invisible.

4. Hide the Cords. Electrical cords are a grave danger to pets – especially puppies and kittens that chew on anything. Cords can cause electrocution and serious injury or even death. Secure the cords by positioning them higher than the pet can reach or hiding them with special covers.

5. No Hooks. Check your ornaments and replace hooks with a loop of string tied in a knot. Ornaments often fall from the tree and pets may catch their mouths on or swallow the hooks.

6. Choose Safe Ornaments. There is no perfectly pet-safe bulb, as any ornament can be ingested and cause an intestinal obstruction. Pet “safer” bulbs would be plastic or wood. Glass bulbs on the lower limbs can be especially dangerous. If broken, pets can step on them and cut their feet or worse yet – treat the bulbs like a ball and chew on them causing them to break, resulting in mouth or throat trauma and bleeding. Many pet owners have learned the hard way not to place any ornaments on the lower limbs. Ornaments made of food may be especially attractive to pets.

7. Ribbons. Big red velvet ribbons are a lovely addition and may replace tinsel and garland that can be eaten by cats and dogs and caught in their intestine. Cats are especially attracted to the bright shiny tinsel. Ingestion of this material can cause intestinal obstruction that may require surgery.

8. Presents. Dogs and cats love to investigate and most don’t understand that the presents are not meant to be opened before Christmas Day. Decorative ribbons and string can be ingested, gifts can be destroyed by a playful pet. Consider storing the presents in a safe area until right before the holiday or make sure your pet is always supervised while investigating and searching for his special gift.

9. Sweep and Water. Sweep up the pine needles. Ingestion of needles can cause vomiting and gastric irritation. Keep the tree watered and only turn the lights on when you are at home. Risk of fire is always there with a live tree. Do not allow your pet access to the tree water to drink.

10. Supervise. The safest thing to do is to allow your pet access to the tree only when supervised. Pets that continue to want to bother the tree should be encouraged – using positive reinforcement – to leave it alone. Bitter apple can be sprayed on low branches for persistent chewers.

Consider these steps for a holiday safe tree. Click here for other tips on holiday hazards from Petplace.com.

(Have you taken your Catster Christmas stroll yet?)

They’re giving pooches and other pets a free photo op with Santa (owners snap the shots). You don’t have to be a guest to pawticipate.

Kimpton’s last “Santa Paws” photo shoot of the season is running from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday (12/19) in lobbies in 20 cities.

Participating hotels include:

Alexandria, Va.: Hotel Monaco
Atlanta: Hotel Palomar
Baltimore: Hotel Monaco
Boston: Hotel Marlowe
Chicago: Hotel Allegro
Cupertino, Calif.: Cypress Hotel
Dallas: Hotel Palomar
Denver: Hotel Monaco
Los Angeles: Hotel Palomar Westwood
Miami: EPIC Hotel
New York City: Ink48
Philadelphia: Hotel Palomar
Portland, Ore.: Vintage Plaza
Salt Lake City: Hotel Monaco
San Francisco: Sir Francis Drake Hotel
San Diego: Hotel Solamar
Scottsdale, Ariz.: FireSky Resort & Spa
Seattle: Hotel Monaco
Vero Beach, Fla.: Vero Beach Hotel & Spa
Washington, D.C.: Hotel Helix and Hotel Monaco

Click here for more info.

Today’s featured cat is Sylvester, a gorgeous senior Tuxie in Ringoes, NJ. Sylvester is a special needs cat. He has diabetes and requires injections. It’s not that difficult to do, but it’s made it hard to adopt him out. Can you give this mellow, elder gent a second chance at life by giving him a Home 4 the Holidays?

Here’s Sylvester’s story:

Sylvester is our idea of a VERY big boy. In fact, he’s one of our biggest cats, tipping the scales at 19+ pounds! This isn’t all fat, either, but mostly the result of a large frame. Sylvester is a handsome guy, too, with white “mittens” in all four feet and a white muzzle and chest. The remainder of his coat is black. He’s about thirteen years old.

Generally a good-natured, laid-back guy, Sylvester is also a diabetic, so he’s one of our Special Needs Crew. He’s on insulin twice daily for this, and he also takes some inexpensive supplements. He doesn’t seem bothered at all by other cats; even rowdy little Hootz with whom he shares a room doesn’t faze him. We understand that not everyone can adopt a Special Needs feline, but we know there’s someone out there with a heart as big as Sylvester who will fall in love with him and give him a home where he can be cherished. Is it you?

ADOPTION INFORMATION:
PetFinder ID: 14318052
Tabbys Place
Ringoes, NJ
908-237-5300
adoptions@tabbysplace.org

Learn more about Sylvester here.

• Click here to find an adoptable pet in your area.

Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer. Yoo wanna git the BEST holiday gift ever fur yer mom?

Chek out the Red Tango watch above. It’s in the most stylish color EVER: Pink! And it has a retro cat deezine that looks kinda like the cats on the wall of Pete Campbell’s* apartment.

Best of all, it won’t cost yoo a thing, cuz yoo can win this watch over at moderncat in their Holiday Giveaway! Winner will be pikt on December 23rd.

So whut are yoo waiting for? Head on over and enter!!!

* Gotta be a Mad Men fan.