• 💖 A lost cat is reunited with his owner after 11 years

• 🐈‍⬛ Bake up a batch of black cat cupcakes (for humans!)

• 😸 How you can save money at the vet

• 🐾 Why you should microchip your pets

True or False?

Cats were first introduced into the Americas as a form of pest control.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answer!)

After 11 long years, Jennifer Ravenel finally reunited with her long-lost cat, Sam Sam the Kittycat Man. Sam was a feral kitten she once rescued from a tree on her South Carolina farm. When he disappeared after being spooked by a dog, Ravenel’s heart broke, and she swore off lap cats forever. But in a twist straight out of a feline fairy tale, Sam was found by Charleston County Animal Control, living off scraps in a nearby feral colony. The moment Ravenel got the call, she thought it was a prank, but it turned out to be a miracle.

When Jennifer was reunited with Sam at the Charleston Animal Society, the tears flowed as she hugged her long-lost lap kitty. Despite weighing half of his former 15-pound self, Sam purred just like old times. Now, he’s back where he belongs, spending his days curled up at the foot of Ravenel’s bed, firmly declaring himself an indoor cat. Sam’s miraculous tale is a purr-fect reminder of the power of both love and microchips.

Get ready to brew up some spook-tacular fun with these chocolate espresso cupcakes. These treats may look like cute little black cats, but with a rich chocolatey kick and a jolt of espresso, they’ll have you purring with delight—just remember, they’re for human consumption only, no matter how much your kitty begs for a bite.

Cupcake ingredients:

• 1¾ cups all purpose flour

• 1⅛ cups granulated sugar

• ¾ cup sifted black cocoa powder

• 1½ tbsp espresso powder

• 1¾ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 3 large eggs

• 1¼ cups whole milk

• ¾ cup vegetable oil

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting ingredients:

• 1⅛ cups room temperature salted butter

• 6 cups sifted powdered sugar

• 1½ cup sifted black cocoa powder

• ¾ cup whole milk

• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Decorating ingredients:

• 38 jumbo candy eyes

• Green food safe marker

• 19 large marshmallows

• Black decorating sugar

• Black twizzlers

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line your cupcake tins with paper liners or cooking spray.

3. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside for now.

4. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and oil.

5. Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

6. Scoop about 3 tablespoons of batter into each cupcake liner.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

8. Using an electric mixer, combine the butter, powdered sugar, and cocoa. Add the milk and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.

9. Color the candy eyes with the food safe marker and set aside.

10. Cut the marshmallows in half diagonally and trim to your desired ear size. Dip the edges in black decorating sugar and set aside.

11. Cut the twizzlers into thin strips measuring 1 ½” in length and set aside.

12. Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a closed star tip. Pipe stars to cover the tops of each cupcake.

13. Place the marshmallow ears onto each cupcake, followed by the candy eyes and then the twizzler whiskers.

14. Serve these adorable and delicious kitty cupcakes to your favorite humans.

Veterinarians nationwide reported that corporate managers pushed clinics to focus on profit, with vets often paid based on revenue. This encouraged them to see more pets, order more tests, and upsell services, creating a growing burden for uninsured pet owners. Pet insurance could help you offset some of these rising costs, with some providing up to 90% reimbursement. View Money’s top pet insurance picks to see plans starting at only $10/month.

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Thank you to Money for sponsoring Daily Purr.

Microchips are the unsung heroes of the pet world, quietly sitting under your kitty’s fur, ready for the day they might save the day. With millions of pets going missing each year, microchipping your cat or dog is like giving them a secret superpower. While collars and tags are great for quick identification, microchips add an extra layer of security—no batteries, no maintenance, just peace of mind.

And the numbers don’t lie: microchipped pets are far more likely to find their way back to their families, with more than 50% of dogs and 38% of cats being reunited thanks to these tiny wonders. Just remember to keep your contact info updated, or your pet's microchip might end up as useful as a tangled ball of yarn. Whether your furry friend goes missing for two days or two years, that tiny chip offers a little extra hope for a purr-fect reunion.

🐱 Bite-Sized Treats

🧐 True or False: True. Cats were introduced into the Americas from Europe as a form of pest control in the 1750s.

😸 COTD: Give your purr-fect pet the spotlight by submitting them for the cat of the day! This month's theme is comedic cat pictures. Send in your most hilarious or quirky pictures of your best feline friend, a short description, and their name to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.