Nora The Piano Cat
Here I am with one of my purrsonal assistants. His name is Burnell Yow! and he’s an mixed media artist and a musician. He’s also my chief photographer and videographer. I dictate all my posts to him. He’s just better at typing than I am.
Sure, I’m a Diva, and I’m loving’ it. I’d be willing to bet you have an inner Diva just waiting to purr. Just waiting to show the world your purr-pose.
And if you like the Nora Diva tee, you can order yours by clicking here.
This is Queen Village Animal Hospital on Bainbridge Street n Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I’ve been coming here since I was a kitten. I don’t like coming here, even though the people here are wonderful and kind. I just don’t like traveling. So, this morning when I came downstairs to the piano studio and saw my carrier at the foot of the stars, I immediately ran and hid. However, thanks to my diminutive size, I was soon captured and thrust into my mobile prison for the 20 minute drive to the vet. Seemed like it took hours to me.
I pretty much ignored the plush cat bed inside the carrier, preferring instead to make myself as small as possible, hoping to become invisible until it was safe again to come out.
Finally, after thousands of bumps and turns and strange, creepy noises, we arrived at our destination. Betsy carried me in and sat with me in the waiting area until Dr. Yallof came to collect us and we followed her to the examination room.
First I got weighed by Dr, Yallof’s assistant, Shayna. It’s the least invasive thing they do, but because I had a weight problem a few years ago (I weighed sixteen pounds then, and I had to have my meals monitored by Burnell and Betsy), everyone seemed to hold their breath until Shayna announced, “twelve and a half pounds.” They all smiled and applauded, and Dr. Yallof said that was good.
Next, Dr. Yallof checked my gums and said my teeth definitely needed cleaned. My sibling, Rennie, had his cleaned a few months ago. I remember him coming home looking pretty spaced out from the anesthesia. Does this mean I can get medical marijuana?
Then the Doctor used something on me that looked like a sonic screwdriver. Any Doctor Who fans out there?
And finally I got an ultrasound of my heart. I wanted to make a joke and ask if it was a boy or a girl, but since I have a reputation for being rather overly serious, at least in my approach to music, I just maintained my look of indifference to the whole procedure.
And that’s when something very special happened: Dr. Yallof scooped me up in her arms and held me for what seemed like forever. I told you the people here are wonderful! So, anyway, I’m in great shape, except I do have to go back next week to get my teeth cleaned. But I think I can handle that if it means more hugs.
I love getting email and snail mail from friends and fans. The holiday card pictured above was delivered by the mail carrier today from the guys at Valhalla Cats. They are the creators of the soon-to-be-released video game, The Purring Quest. I’m sure you’ve heard or read me chatting/blogging about it the last few months. Well, I am one of the cats that the protagonist in the video meets during his quest. Pay special attention to the cool cat at the piano. Can you guess what song I’m playing? (Click image to view larger.)
Believe it or not, I am one of the famous cats revealed in a soon-to-be-released video game from Valhalla Cats. Here’s a teaser.
Natale Carabello is my piano tuner. One thing I really like about Natale, in addition to his ability to make my piano sing under my paws, is that he doesn’t mind me keeping a very close eye on the goings on, and on my guarding his bag of tools from would be saboteurs – I’m talking about you, Max. I see you lurking around the corner of the sofa.
Football? I thought he said “fur ball”!
To my freedom-loving fans and friends: Do you care about censorship of information online? There’s a new internet anti-censorship movement afoot. Or should I say “apaw”? It’s called The Pussy Cat Riot <http://thepussycatriot.org/>. It’s cat-inspired, so it naturally caught my eye. But even my fur-challenged friends might like to check it out.
Some people, and even my many feline friends and fans, tend to think my life as The Piano Cat is one of constant excitement and unending adoration from my purrsonal assistants. Not so! Most days I spend a good deal of time in my favorite chair in the piano studio. It was Burnell’s first gift to Betsy after they moved in together. She had admired it in an antique shop and he went back later and bought it and carried it several blocks to their apartment for her birthday. Thankfully, she has no problem sharing it with a musical diva. Why, she’s even the one who snapped the photos below. Of course, if any of you stop by for a visit, I’ll make a mad dash to the piano bench. A diva must always be ready to wow her fans. (Click photo for larger view.)
