Peppe Goes To That Big Litterbox In The Sky...

Longtime readers of this blog will remember when I randomly adopted a large orange Persian back in 2007. I never knew exactly how old Peppe was, but when I saw him on Petfinder, I knew he was too gorgeous to stay in a shelter. And so, like Eddie Murphy in Coming To America, I went to Queens. Queens!

Peppe has been out in Pennsylvania for the last few months with Tom's parent. Two days ago he curled up to sleep, and never woke up. It's good to know that a scruffy shelter cat from Queens, by way of Italy, spent his last days in a big suburban home and eating proscuitto with his sidekick, Val.

Val And Art

Cat and art, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

Everyone always thinks that Val isn't all that bright. Okay, let's face it, he's not. But when it comes to abstract art, he's spellbound.

Oh, and Peppe got a lion's cut.

Peppe On Hind Legs

, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

Ever since he got his lion's cut Peppe has been full of energy and vim. Now it seems he's trying to hold himself up on two legs. What's next, developing opposable thumbs?

Peppe Got A Lion's Cut!

What? You don't shave your cat? He's lookin' sharp for summer!

Peppe: The Ultimate Napping Machine

Think you're going to nap peacefully on your couch? Not if Peppe's around!

Peppe Pics!

Everyone loves Peppe! Here are a few recent shots of him, in all his fluffy, Persian glory.

I'm starting to think that Peppe is Italian for "What A Perfect Cat Should Be."

He's orange, Persian and moustached? How do you improve on that? You just don't.


And here's Tom, looking scholarly with one of his many roll-down maps in the background. This week it's the Holy Roman Empire, but there are others such as Industrial England in the 1800s and Caribbean and West Indes shipping routes, circa 1960. A strange collection, especially for someone who's not a teacher. He still needs a Soviet Union map as well as early to mid-century colonial Africa.

moar funny pictures

No, this isn't Peppe, but it's also an orange and white Persian from Rome, who lives in the Coliseum. Peppe was from Rome, as most of you know. Both Peppe and this beast look like Wilfred Brimley.

TR And His Assistants

TR, an art director, tried to do some work this afternoon while I yelled at the TV while watching the Olympics. The furballs were happy to serve as assistants.


Peppe also offered some ideas

It's Friday, so I'm posting some cat pics.

Photos From The Weekend

Polished up for my cousin's Sweet 16 at SoHo house.


New graduates, take note!


And of course, Peppe.

Chums: Peppe And Valentino

The furballs enjoyed a quiet Saturday afternoon together.

Happy Sunday! It's Peppe In A Tub!

Peppe in a Tub!, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

We've had Mozart in a Box before. Here's Peppe in a tub.

A Little Peppe For Your Wednesday

Peppe Tries To Uphold The Food Chain -- And Fails

If there was ever an arguement not declaw your cat, this would be it. I didn't declaw Peppe, it's just the way he came from the shelter.

I came home from work today around 6:00 p.m., and Peppe, as usual, was at the door, eager to greet me. I then turned the corner and saw this guy cowering in a corner.


Let's rewind: last night when I was reading I heard a clanging in the kitchen. Peppe was swatting a mouse by the oven, but since he doesn't have any claws the mouse got away. For the rest of the night and through most of the morning Peppe sat in front of the oven, waiting for the mouse to come out again.

Apparently the mouse did come out and it seemed like Peppe killed it, since this was the scene when I got home.


Since I thought the mouse was dead, I went to get a bag to put it in so I could toss it in the trash room. Little did I know Stuart Little was just playing dead, because no sooner did I I go looking for a bag did Round Two between Peppe and the mouse break out.


The mouse was smaller and spryer than Pep, and quickly dashed back under the dishwasher. For the past two hours Peppe has been sititng like this, waiting for it to come out again.


Now, if Peppe had just had some claws, he could have killed the mouse and had a little trophy, just like a normal cat.

moar funny pictures

Vote for Peppe!

Peppe In A Box!

We all loved Mozart in a box last year, and now it seems that Peppe is keeping the traditional of orange cats in a box alive. I think that he needs a box that he actually fits in.

Peppe And The Cat Grass

One of Peppe's many fans got him a pot of at grass yesterday, and it was a big hit with the orange guy. I don't know what cat grass is supposed to do, but Pep sure likes to chew on it.

Nom. Nom. Nom.

Amazing Photos of Peppe

If you haven't seen these shots on Flickr or Facebook already, here is the story: This past weekend I was busy officiating a wedding, snow shoeing and basically being out and about. I didn't want to leave Peppe alone in a dark apartment for so long, so I sent him over to TR's apartment, which is high in the sky and drenched in sunlight. TR, an art guy, took these wonderful shots of Pep during his visit. Oddly, if Pep were any other color other than orange, I don't think these photos would work as well as they do.

Forget for a moment that these are photos of Peppe, who is awesome in his own right. Instead, try to appreciate these shots for their artistic qualities: the use of natural light, composition and color. TR nailed it each time.

These are a few of my favorites.

On the prowl




Plotting his escape


Bird watching

I left Peppe with a friend who is an art director this weekend while I was away and busy. He took many a shot of Pep in his sun-drenched apartment, the best of which I will post in the next day or so. Peppe has enough personality on his own, but TR really brought it out full throttle. I am in awe.