We had such a good time at the KSCO Radio Think Local First Sunset Soiree. There was a great band playing, Whiskey Moon, a 7 piece local Santa Cruz band who play nouveau americana covers and originals. We really enjoyed them! There were also lots of raffle prizes, of which we donated five KittyWeed Big Fatty Catnip Cat Toys plus a Half Ounce Bag. We ended up winning the Downtown Bucks and a massage!

As our new ad on KSCO was about to play, which commenced Monday of this week, running at 7:35am and 5:35pm each weekday for two weeks, we were called inside the station to do an interview with KSCO's Flight 1080 host Dave Michaels. Turns out we got interviewed not only by Dave, who has been a longtime supporter of our business, but also the famed and funny Billy Sunshine and regular co-host on Flight 1080, Billy Armi. In the booth with us was Jimmy Twu. The interview lasted about ten minutes and was so fun! And, we got surprised by a phone call that Dave took on air during the interview from a very happy customer, too! 

We met a lot of great people and made some really important business connections, too! Thank you KSCO, Michael Olson, Dave Michaels and Andrea from Think Local First for this great soiree!

#SupportLocal #ThinkLocalFirstSantaCruz #shoplocal #stayconnected

Superstitions are an interesting phenomenon and have been part of the human race/psyche since the beginning of mankind. Fear of the number 13 is called Triskaidekaphobia. (Love how that just rolls off the tongue!)
 
Some of the origins that fueled the fear of this prime number date back thousands of years. One story is about the Hebrews where shortly after the Chiefs of the Thirteen Tribes of Israel enjoyed a Feast of the Passover, the tribe of the youngest chief – Benjamin – was wiped out in battle.
 
Then, there was The Last Supper where 12 of Jesus’s disciples sat down to eat with him but, the treasurer of the group, Judas Iscariot, arrived late and became the 13th at the table. Jesus had said long before that one of his inner circle of 12 would betray him. He identified Iscariot as the betrayer during this last supper and subsequently, Jesus was crucified – on the 13th, which also happened to be a Friday.
 
As well, the Norse Myth tells about 12 Norse Gods who held a feast at Valhalla, home of Woden who became Chieftain of all the gods. Loki, God of Strife and Mischief, crashed the party making 13 at the table (yet again). At the end of the meal, Loki caused a fight which eventually led to the death of Baldur, the most popular of the gods.
 
The superstition is also related to how hundreds of Knights Templar were arrested and burned at the stake by King Phillip IV of France on, you guessed it, Friday the 13th (October 1307 to be exact).
 
Here are some miscellaneous superstitions about the number 13 which are still held today:

• Italians never use 13 in their lotteries.
• In the Tarot deck, the 13th card represents ‘death’.
• 13 at a table, or in a room, are still the most common form of this superstition as it is considered bad luck for the host.
• A sailor expects his 13th voyage to be more hazardous than any other.
• Few theaters or cinemas have a 13th row. The space is usually used as an aisle or passageway.
• There are still many airlines which design planes so that there is an exit between rows 12 and 14.
• In France’s largest cities, the equivalent of the “Yellow Pages” has a category called Quatorziemes – persons who at a moment’s notice will dress as instructed and rush to become 14th at a table if only 13 had actually arrived!

Fascinating stuff, right?! So, combine the fear of the number 13 with it landing on a Friday, and then add a black cat crossing your path, well you might as well give up! That is, if you are truly paranoid about all of these things.
 
I, myself, have loved the number 13 for as long as I can remember. My interest stemmed from the influence of my father who was a high school teacher and who taught about Triskaidekaphobia every Friday the 13th. In fact, his classes were so popular that students from other classes signed up to listen to all the interesting and peculiar tales surrounding this simple number. Often, my dad said it was standing room only when he did these lectures. My dad also was interviewed on the CBC English-Language Radio C-PAC channel based out of Quebec. I have the cassette tape somewhere but, for the life of me, I cannot find it! I do remember, however, that before the interview starts, this awesome “Triskaidekaphobia” song performed by Les Brown & His Orchestra starts playing. (Originally written by Bobby Troup). Here’s a YouTube link to this crazy fun song - https://youtu.be/uIPiUY6Ymh0
 
Anyway, add the number 13 to a Friday and you’ve got the superstition called Friggatriskaidekaphobia! I dare you to try saying that three times! Usually, there are as many as three Friday the 13th’s in every calendar year. The previous time that there was only one Friday the 13th in a calendar year was in May 2016. However, in 2021 we only have one Friday the 13th in August.
 
Did you know that there are ’13 Clubs’ which meet every Friday the 13th, with exactly 13 members present, in defiance of but also in response to the power of these two superstitions? Kinda cool! I’d love to go to one of these club meetings. Capt. William Fowler of New York founded it in 1882. At the first dinner, these 13 skeptics performed as many unlucky feats as they could such as passing under a ladder, dining on 13 courses, the first by the light of 13 candles, etc. The club evolved into a national organization that boasted such members as Grover Cleveland and Theordore Roosevelt.
 
More fun facts, the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel offers special zombie, vampire and "Rocky Horror"-themed ceremonies on Friday the 13th. And, in Ontario, Canada, motorcyclists gather every Friday the 13th for rallies that draw thousands of participants. The tradition dates back to 1981.
 
Now here comes an extra phobia to add to the fear of Friday the 13th and that is of black cats.  One such silly notion is of a black cat crossing your path. Of course, if I ever see a black cat, or any cat, cross in front of me, or anywhere near me, I always try to get close to it to pet it! However, the superstition goes that if on a Friday the 13th in particular, a black cat walks towards you it is said to bring good fortune, but the luck will turn sour if the black cat walks away, as it “takes the luck” with them. I say balderdash! It’s just a sweet, furry kitty! But, many people still truly believe this to be so!
 
Back to the Middle Ages, black cats were considered bad omens and furry devils who were assistants to witches. Of course, “witches” were mostly natural healers and referred to as “wise women” who were very misunderstood and, hence, feared. So, as is typical human nature, “We (humans) destroy the things we fear…” over and over again all throughout time. So, sadly, these healers, and their cats, were rounded up and burned at the stake. Such an unbelievably horrible fate!
 
Black cats feature in many superstitions around the world, at times representing very good or very bad luck. In the US to this day, they are thought to bring misfortune. But in Britain and Ireland it is both lucky and unlucky to see a black cat. In Scotland there is a superstition that if a strange black cat arrives at a home, prosperity is coming to that household. And, sailors believe that if a black cat wanders aboard a ship and then it sets off to sea, the ship will be doomed to sink on its next voyage!
 
Purrsonally, I love cats – and the number 13 - and Fridays are the beginning of the weekend so, what’s not to like about Friday the 13th? Hope it’s a lucky one for you and don’t forget to pet that kitty who crosses your path – it is most certainly good luck to do so! Better yet, get that kitty one of our super potent Big Fatty catnip toys! Karma will surely be on your side then! Meowza!

Catherine - Co-Founder
KittyWeed®

Mother’s Day is a time to honor and celebrate all mothers and their bonds with their children and family. I remember my own mother today and think back fondly of her love of animals, which she nurtured in me as I was always bringing home the strays!
​
In particular, I remember all the momma cats we had when I was growing up. This was a time when spaying and neutering was not as prevalent or available as it is today. Most households could not afford to get their pets fixed and being a Veterinarian was not big business yet so, there was only one clinic in the town I grew up in. As well, cats (and dogs) adopted from the shelters were not necessarily fixed before you took them home, like they have to be now. However, most of my feline family found me first!

I was a young girl when we had several mother cats at one time. They would give birth to their kittens sometimes within days of each other. I loved when the mamma cats put all their kittens together in one basket. The adult females would then get in the basket, too, and would end up nursing each other’s kittens. Then, I was amazed how they knew which ones were theirs as they gently bit down on the kittens’ necks to pull them out of the basket and carry them to another bed.
There was one female cat I had for seventeen years. Rustina was truly my best friend. Whenever she would be ready to give birth, she always headed for my bed and promptly got comfortable under the covers! What a joy that was for me! Seeing the birth of a new life at such a young age was better than school! And, there were times when my mom let me stay home from school to be with Rustina when she gave birth because if she didn’t, Rustina wouldn’t settle down and stop howling for me.
​
I will always remember how tender she and all the mamma cats were with their newborns as they licked off the placenta. Then, before even being able to finish cleaning their kitten, they’d be in labor again with another one coming out! I do remember the intense, gurgling howls and that did bother me because I knew my sweet kitties were hurting. However, I also knew that it was a very natural experience and so I just stayed with them, especially Rustina, and tried to keep them comfortable as much as I could. It was always such an overall beautiful experience. In those moments, I was mothering my mother cats. But, then, they were always there for me, too, cuddling on a cold night, purring and kneading on my arm when I was upset, playing with some string or ball making me laugh, wanting to follow me to school and howling on the roof outside my bedroom window to be let inside to cuddle some more!
​
These Queen kitties taught me a lot about life and unconditional love, just as my own mother did.  I carry that love forever in my heart. ❤️

Catherine - Co-Founder
KittyWeed®

KittyWeed spokes-cats, Kief & Tiarra, have a special Earth Day message for everyone, especially for all felines!
#EarthDay2021 #earthdayeveryday

It's a fresh and exciting brand new season! And, our kitties are feeling Spring fever, too, especially with one of our Super Potent Catnip Cat Toys! Meowza!

Get your kitty the New Saint Catty Big Fatty Catnip Cat Toy and watch the shenanigans! Stuffed full of 100% Organic, Super Potent Catnip - Meowza! 🍀 😺 🍀 
Buy ANY 2 Big Fatty Catnip Cat Toys - get a Half Ounce Bag of catnip FREE + FREE shipping! Now, that's a lucky deal!!

Well, what a crazy year 2020 was! We sure hope everyone stayed safe and sane! For us, it was a year of making More Cats Happy, One Big Fatty at a Time! We truly appreciate each and every one of you - and your humans, too, for sending us so many wonderful pictures and video of you crazy kitties! Meowza!! 😻