“If you ask who the best employee for intelligence agencies is, I would say it is a cat: Quiet, observant, agile and cold-blooded!”

― Mehmet Murat ildan

Happy Thursday! Here’s the scoop:

Cats React to Facts

Tabby Cat Cake

Looking to add a dash of feline flair to your next baking adventure? This tabby-themed cake is purr-fect for humans who want to celebrate their love for tabby cats without sharing their dessert with the furballs. 

Ingredients:

• Chocolate cake mix

• White frosting

• Chocolate frosting

• 6 mint-flavored Oreo cookies

• 1 Red Hot candy

• Mint extract

Instructions:

1. Make two 8-inch round cakes according to the instructions on the cake mix packaging.

2. Once cooled, cut one of the cakes into five pieces. The first piece should resemble a moon, which will form the cat’s tale. 

3. The top third of the remaining portion should be cut in a straight line. This piece can then be cut into two pieces to form the ears. The remaining piece of cake will form the cat’s head.

4. Use white frosting to frost the centers of the cakes that will form the head and body.

5. Mix the mint extract into the chocolate frosting before frosting the rest of the cake.

6. Cover four Oreos with white frosting, before piping paw prints onto them with chocolate frosting. Attach them to the cat where the paws should be.

7. Use white frosting to create subtle tabby striping on the rest of the cat.
   Split the remaining two Oreos in half, keeping the sides with the cream. Place them on the cat’s face as the eyes.

8. Place the Red Hot candy in the center of the cat’s face as the nose.

9. If desired, candles can be added to the cake in place of the cat’s whiskers.

10. Celebrate your love for all things feline by sharing your adorable tabby cake with all your favorite humans.

This New Toilet Paper Just Might Save the Planet

The Best Cat Books for Kids

Looking for some purr-fectly delightful reads for the young feline fan in your life? Start your feline festivity with Atticus Caticus by Sarah Maizes, where a day in the life of a boy and his feline companion is depicted with playful rhymes and lively illustrations. For a hilarious twist on pet adoption, check out Negative Cat by Sophie Blackall, where a young boy’s attempts to bond with his aloof feline lead to some charmingly read-aloud moments. If your little ones are bookworms, Rectangle Time by Pamela Pual is a must. The story follows a boy and his reading-savvy kitty through the ups and downs of their reading journey. And for a classic dose of kitty mischief, Cookie’s Week by Cindy Ward offers six days of feline fun that kids will adore.

Another fun option is Cat Problems by Jory John, where indoor cats air their hilarious grievances about sunny spots and vacuum monsters, or Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner, featuring a Siamese kitten with a Chihuahua alter ego. For a touch of artistic adventure, Monet’s Cat by Lily Murray takes readers through Claude Monet’s masterpieces with a curious kitty in tow. And if a heartwarming, true story is what you’re after, The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha showcases the incredible journey of a man who cared for abandoned cats during the Syrian war. With these cat-tastic books, your little ones will be ready to pounce into their next reading adventure.

Final Purr

Of Mouse and Men

Step aside, literary critics—there’s a new boss in town, and his name is Mouse. This charming feline doesn’t just patrol the aisles of Cupboard Maker Bookstore; he rules them. Mouse works hard to ensure every book is in its place and every customer gets a purr-sonal touch.

🐱 Bite-Sized Treats