My Disciples,
Today is Mother’s Day, so I just wanted to give a shout out to all of those human kitty mamas out there! Thanks for giving us love and keeping us safe!
One of our Guardians is also our kitty mama. Kitty mamas rock!
So happy Mother’s Day to all of you from your furry, four-legged kids.
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
Meowmorial day is only 1 month away. For the new Disciples of Otis out there, Meowmorial Day takes place on the first Monday in June. Here is what it is all about:
Meowmorial Day is a day to remember all of the cats that we have loved and lost. Our feline friends bring so much joy to our lives, they deserve to be remembered with respect and gratitude. Plant a tree in their memory. Donate to an animal rescue organization in their name. Most of all, just remember them all for the special individuals they were.
We had excellent participation in Meowmorial Day 2011 and 2012, but I would like to make Meowmorial Day 2013 the biggest yet!
Please help Me make Mewomorial Day 2013 the biggest yet!
If you have lost a kitty and you would like to see him or her honored here on The Blog of Otis, please send me your photos and stories by Thursday, May 30. Please write “Meowmorial Day 2013″ in the subject line.
It will be My great privilege to honor the kitties you have loved and lost.
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
So, yesterday we saw many kitties enjoying many boxes in many different ways. But many people wondered how we spent Box Day here at Cult of Otis headquarters. Well, it started out with the Guardians putting out three or four different cardboard receptacles for the Inner Circle’s consideration. Really though, one box stood out as, by far, the best. It was a green box that was filled with wonderfully crinkly paper! Brother Oliver gave it a go first, starting off with a classic, “four-on-the-floor” sit.
A box filled with crinkly paper? Of course that was the favorite. Brother Oliver gave it a go first.
After sitting upright, Brother Oliver transitioned to a perfect corner loaf. He occasionally shifted his weight from side to side to enjoy the crinkling sound it created.
Brother Oliver performed a wonderfully crinkly corner loaf.
Brother Oliver then graciously exited the box so Brother Henry could have a turn. OK, so Brother Henry sort of implied that Brother Oliver would be wise to let him have a turn, and Brother Oliver wisely complied. Brother Henry chose to do his own version of the four-on-the-floor.
After Brother Oliver exited the Box, Brother Henry performed a four-on-the-floor.
Although Brother Henry clearly enjoyed the crinkly paper box, he was also intrigued by a nearby shallow box. He walked over to it and executed a very precise, “super shallow sit”.
Brother Henry exited the crinkly paper box and executed a perfect super shallow sit nearby.
I was thrilled the Brother Henry liked the shallow box, because it gave Me the opportunity to take a turn in the crinkly box. I’m not one for formal poses, so I just threw Myself into the papery goodness and had a full-body experience.
Awwww yeah! I really worked the box for all it was worth!
Now, we had already had a pretty amazing Box Day, but then came the icing on the catnip cake. Brother Henry convinced his new best friend Thomas to come down and do a box sit of his own! Brother Henry didn’t think Thomas was quite ready for the crinkly paper experience, so he guided him to a bare cardboard box with a smiley on the side. Thomas jumped right in and did a brilliant sit!
Brother Henry convinced Thomas to join in the Box Day festivities. He sat like a champ!
So as you can see, Box Day 2012 was a smashing success for all of us here at The Cult of Otis. I hope that your day was equally fun, and that all of your cardboardy wishes came true!
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
It’s Box Day, the most cardboardy, squarish day of the year! Once again we are celebrating Box Day with a photo catstravaganza featuring many of you at your boxiest! Let’s get to it!
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My Disciples,
This morning I was sound asleep in the Sacred Bed of Embigening, dreaming of chasing Thomas and The Brothers all around the house on a completely healed leg. As I laid there in snoozy bliss, I suddenly heard someone calling My name, repeatedly and with some urgency. They kept saying, “Leader Otis! Leader Otis! Hey! Leader Otis! Leeeeeeeeeeader Ooooooootis!” At first I thought it was part of My dream, like someone was cheering Me on while I was running or something, but then I woke up, and I could still hear it. “Leader Otis! Leader Otis! Hey!”
I was sleepingin the Sacred Bed of Embigening when I was awakened by someone calling My name.
I laid there for a second, not wanting to get up, and the shouting stopped. Just as I was drifting back to sleep I heard, “Leader Otis! Leader Otis! Leader! Leader! Leader! Otis!” It was no use. I had to get up and see where the voice was coming from. I followed the sound over to the window on the side of the house. I looked out and saw Mama Cat sitting in the window next door shouting “Leader Otis!”. As soon she saw Me, she fell silent and just looked at Me.
Mama Cat was the one yelling My name. When she saw Me she just looked at Me.
I waited for a second, and then I said, “Yes, Mama Cat? Did you need Me?” She became a little sheepish at first, but then she spoke in a soft voice and said, “Umm… my guardians were talking about today being Christmas, and I just wanted to tell all of you guys ‘Merry Christmas’.” I said, “Thanks so much Mama Cat! Merry Christmas to you, Nacho, Cookie and your guardians too!”
Mama thanked Me, but she still sat in the window looking a little anxious, so I asked her if there was anything else. She said, “Well, I have a Christmas wish.” I asked her if it was for all kitties to be happy, healthy and safely confined. She said, “Ummmm…I have TWO Christmas wishes.” I told her that maybe she should just tell Me what the wishes are. She said, “Well, the first is, of course, what you just said. Yeah. Totally that’s my first wish. But my second wish is… errrr… my second wish is that you will heal completely from your surgery and have a pain-free new year.”
I was touched by Mama’s wish, and I thanked her for her kindness. She said, “You’re very welcome Leader Otis.”, and then she disappeared from the window. I can’t be certain, but I almost thought I heard her talking to herself as she moved away. It kind of sounded like she said, “Because then maybe we can finally have the Catlympics…” I can’t be sure though.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings or, if you prefer, just plain Happy Day to all of you, My Disciples!
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
It’s December 24, also known as Catsmas! To review:
If you don’t know exactly when your cat was born, celebrate his or her birthday on December 24. Yeah, I know that cats aren’t generally born in December, but chances are your cat doesn’t know this. Plus, I’ve heard that a few non-cat based religions have major holidays in December, and I don’t want any cats to be forgotten or left out in the cold during all the celebrations at this time of year. So decorate a cat tree with cat-friendly ornaments, give your cat a snuggle if you find him or her standing under a sprig of catnip and, if your cat has been a good boy or girl, prepare for a visit from Santa Claws!
Speaking of Santa Claws, this year, it was Brother Oliver’s turn to play him. As you can see, he was thrilled!
Brother Oliver was so happy to play Santa Claws!
Meowy Catsmas everyone!
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
It happened! I don’t know how, but it really happened! After entering My catnip banana induced catatonic state yesterday, the miracle I had hoped for came to pass. When I awoke, the pumpkin that had been next to Me on the floor was gone! I immediately got up and began to search for it. As I approached the low kitty tree under the front window of the living room I saw a glorious sight. It was ME! My face now graced the front of that beautiful, orange sphere. I immediately jumped up on the bench to take a closer look.
It was another Howloween miracle! My face had once again appeared on a pumpkin. I could hardly believe My eyes.
How had this happened? Had I, in My catatonic state, unsheathed My mighty claws and carved out My own face on the pumpkin? Had The Brothers, knowing how badly I was wishing for a Howloween miracle, carved the pumpkin themselves? Surely it could not have been the Guardians. No human would possess the finely tuned scratching skills needed to remove pumpkin peel with such precision. Perhaps I would never know the answer, and really, does it even matter? I decided it was enough just to simply sit there and bask in the glory of My pumpkiny doppleganger.
As I basked in the pumpkins powerful presence, I pondered how such a wondrous creation could have possibly come to be.
So this Howloween night, the Limbo and abandoned kitties in My neighborhood will have a shining reminder that The Leader is thinking about them, and doing everything in his power to keep them safe. And any humans who pass by will also fall under My gaze and, hopefully, be moved to do what they can to join The Cult of Otis in our crusade to keep cats happy, healthy and safely contained.
Let My glowing face give hope to all kitties and inspiration to all kitty Guardians!
Help us protect cats by adopting our dogma. May all kitties and all Guardians have a safe and happy Howloween.
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
As you are likely aware, Howloween is a time of miracles… at least when it comes to pumpkins. Last year two Cult of Otis symbols magically appeared on pumpkins. The year before that, My own visage graced one of those wondrous, orange gourds. So, as Howloween approached this year, I decided to take matters into My own paws and try to perform My own pumpkin miracle. OK. I admit it. I really just wanted another pumpkin with My face on it… but only because I thought it would provide a shining beacon of hope, piercing the dark night of despair and letting all kitties who see it know that their Leader is working hard to protect them!
Yep. That’s what I wanted, and the Guardians must have known that was what I wanted because they put a big ‘ol pumpkin on a piece of plastic in the middle of the living room. I climbed up on the couch to spend some face to face time with that pumpkin. I hoped I could impose My will, and thus My image, on it.
The Guardians put a big ‘ol pumpkin in the middle of the living room. I set about imposing My will on it’s smooth, orange surface.
After staring at the pumpkin for nearly fourteen minutes, nothing was happening. I began to lose hope and, I’m ashamed to say, I turned to the comfort of the catnip banana to try to soothe My disappointment. I hadn’t lost all hope though, so I continued to focus on the banana… errr… I mean… pumpkin while I was self-soothing.
I started to despair, and I began to drown My sorrows in the catnip bananas. I still remained fixated on the pumpkin though.
Eventually, everything faded into the background. I entered a catnip banana induced catatonic state and the pumpkin disappeared from My consciousness.
Everything began to fade from My perception. The pumpkin disappeared as I was fully gripped by the nip.
As consciousness began to leave Me I remember thinking there would be no Howloween miracle this year. I heard a sorrowful yowl far in the distance, and the last thing I remember thinking, before everything went black, is that the yowling kitty sounded like Me.
So Sayeth Otis
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My Disciples,
It is only 2 days until Halloween, also known as “Black Cat Day”! Since at least the Middle Ages these unfortunate felines have been vilified in human mythology. They have difficulty getting adopted from shelters and heartless and cruel people often torture them on the human holiday known as Halloween. I am appalled by this unfair treatment of My dark-furred brothers and sisters and I have officially designated October 31st as a day to celebrate all black cats. It is also a day for all of My Disciples to be especially vigilant in watching out for the safety of cats in your neighborhoods. People will be less likely to attempt to harm animals if they know we are all watching out for them.
Saint Inky I and II is the Patron Saint of Black Cats. The Inkies watch over all of My dark-furred brothers and sister.
Inky I and II, the Patron Saint of Black Cats, will be keeping a watchful eye out on Halloween night as well. You can find the story of this unique, dual-cat saint on the Cult of Otis website.
Now, I must go and prepare for Howloween. I have a pressing appointment with a pumpkin.
So Sayeth Otis
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Disciples of the Leader Otis,
Brother Henry here. I got a bit of a late start on the blog post today because I am exhausted! I was up half the night running from the sound of people trying to out-explode one another. My ears might be permanently cockeyed from trying to listen in all directions at once!
It was crazy in our neighborhood last night with people trying to out-explode one another. My ears might be stuck like this permanently.
I understand that tonight will probably be even worse, but the Guardians are going to be here with us, making us feel as safe and calm as they can. If you are in an area that is likely to have a lot of exploding, be sure to do the same for your furry family members!
By the way, explosions aren’t the only exciting things that are going on around here. I can’t go into great detail because Leader Otis has insisted that he be the one to share the good news (yes, he’s feeling much better now!). All I am allowed to say is that the Guardians have done something in the true spirit of Dependence Day and The Leader is extremely pleased with them. Again, he’ll be sharing the news with you soon.
So, happy Dependence Day one and all! Keep your kitties safe, and work to help all of those other felines out there that are not safe. They are truly depending on you!
So Says Brother Henry
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