Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.
A man and a cat sat in the cold on Sixth Avenue.
I've been walking by this spot every weekday for work, and have watched the cat grow up from a tiny kitten, starting last Fall. Often, both cat and owner are fast asleep.
At first I felt very cynical about this arrangement. Over time though, I saw how (relatively) happy the cat is, how caring his owner is, and how generous New Yorkers can be. There is a cat litter, a scratching pad, cat food, and several different cat jackets.
When I took this photo and spoke with the guy, a woman stopped by to donate a breakfast muffin. There are actually two different guys who take care of the cat, switching back and forth in shifts. At night, it has been very cold, with brisk winds.
Related posts: Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, Beware of Cat, in the East Village, and The Guy with a Cat on his Head.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Man and Cat, on Sixth Avenue
Sunday, October 18, 2015
In Honor of Tiger, in Brooklyn
A memorial for Tiger, on Sixth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
On a walk yesterday, I encountered a sweet memorial for a well-loved neighborhood cat named Tiger.
Dozens of drawings, photos and notes were left in his honor. Tiger had house outside, and so had formed quite a fan club. He will be missed!
Related posts: Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, Odd and Colorful Birds, in Bryant Park, and The Hua Mei Bird Garden, in Chinatown.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Critters, Streetside
Photo by myself at 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Ave. in Midtown.
A man unloaded his companions, in front of Grand Central Station at rush hour.
From left to right: a black cat, three guinea pigs, a dog and another dog. The first dog is a little difficult to see because of the loud (animal-themed) prints.
My fiancé Mark pointed out that not all the animals in the photo are real. There is a stuffed animal on the bottom bunk, below the guinea pigs. No doubt that the top bunk is the preferred spot.
I have mixed feelings when I come across people who have pets or children with them on the sidewalk, but I stopped to give the man a couple dollars.
I was surprised by the proximity of guinea pigs to cat. The guinea pigs were nearly motionless, whether because they were afraid or just hanging out (they looked very relaxed to me). A few seconds later, the man reached into a carrier and brought out several parakeets (!).
Related posts: Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, Odd and Colorful Birds, in Bryant Park, and The Hua Mei Bird Garden, in Chinatown.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Cat Specialists, on the Upper West Side
Photo by myself, around 76th Street and Broadway, on the Upper West Side.
Yes, there are cat specialists here.
Manhattan Cat Specialists focus on everything cat - they board cats, groom cats, and look to their special medical needs. They even make house calls and had a couple brand new (adorable) kittens in their window for adoption.
I'm not sure whether New Yorkers own more cats than dogs. Some apartments don't allow pets at all, but they are the exception rather than the norm.
As with any business, please check them out before using them. By the way, the free pick and delivery canopy was for a dry cleaners next door, not for the cats!
Related posts: Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, Beware of Cat, East Village, and Cats on Leashes.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Cats for Hire at the Neko Cafe Keurig, in Fukuoka, Japan
Photo by myself at the Neko Cafe Keurig in Fukuoka, Japan.
One of 30 cats at the Neko Cafe Keurig paid me no mind, Sunday afternoon. In the background is the petting room and cafe entrance.
I stumbled upon a unique cafe in the Daimyo shopping district of Fukuoka, Sunday. 'Neko' means 'cat' in Japanese. In Japan, for those who love cats but cannot own one, the solution is to visit a neko cafe and spend time with cats (!).
There were cats on high perches, and cats walking across gangplanks, and cats walking about with customers. Six cats slept on top of each other in the corner of the front window (!). Meanwhile, small kittens slept in cages.
I met the cafe owner, Kayano Nomura. She is a sweet lady who rescues cats from the streets and finds homes for them. Nomura has saved some 200 cats already (!). She made me feel right at home.
One customer held court with cat treats. Several hungry creatures clamored for her attention.
Adorable kittens rescued from the streets sat and slept in cages. The kitten looking at the camera and I had a nice play session.
The storefront of the cafe says it all.
A session of 30 minutes is 280 yen, or $3.50 US. Cooling drinks and snacks are served as well. I had a lovely time and will visit again on my next trip.
For more about the Neko Cafe Keurig and Nomura, including some great photos, click here.
For the Neko Cafe Keurig website, which links to their blog ('Today's Cat Cafe', both in Japanese) click here.
I am away in Japan through the rest of August! Posts will continue here, as usual.
Related posts: The Woman with a Cat on her Back, Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, and Beware of Cat, in the East Village.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Woman with a Cat on Her Back
Photo by myself, in Midtown.
A cat lounged with his giant, stuffed buddies, Monday afternoon.
Just down the street from my office, there is a cat that lives in a shop. Nearly every day, he comes out and sits on the sidewalk across from two stuffed teddy bears.
For many minutes, he will sit and stare at the bears. Sometimes he sits and stares at his own reflection in the metal storefront. For a cat, he is an odd bird ;-)
After I took the above photo, I crossed the street. Moments later, a woman walked down the sidewalk and said hello to the cat.
She squatted down to pet the cat. The cat then....climbed up on her lap....and then climbed up on her back. Haha. I was lucky to catch the acrobatics.
By the way, one of the most popular posts on this site is The Guy with a Cat on His Head. He and his cat are fixtures here in the city.
Related posts: Cats on Leashes, Cat on a Leash, in Midtown and Beware of Cat, East Village.
Friday, August 5, 2011
On Herald Square and Bodega Cats
Photo by myself around 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Herald Square.
The best time for photos is right around sunset. Just about everyone looks their best.
There's not much going on here in New York. We are all enjoying the last hurrahs of summer. The weather has been strangely good recently, not overly hot.
The Times is currently honoring a very specific New York animal, the cats that live in and work in bodegas. Bodegas are hispanic/Spanish convenience stores you find on many street corners in New York.
It's not uncommon for bodegas to have cats living there, to ward off mice. The cats sometimes come out to the sidewalk but generally stay indoors.
Readers are encouraged to send in photos and descriptions of bodega cats they know. A slideshow will be compiled from the submissions.
The video from the Times' article.
For the article in the Times, click here.
Related posts: Start Spreading the News, Strolling Down Fifth Avenue, Hand in Hand and Lost in a Crowd, in Midtown. Read more...
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Cat on a Leash, in Midtown
Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.
Often you will see cats that live or 'work' in delis walking around on the sidewalk, getting some air. Less common are New Yorkers who take their cats for walks. I think the owners want their cats to get some exercise, since there are not a lot of yards for cats to roam around.
Unfortunately, the cat above was not enjoying himself. He looked like he just wanted to run off and be with his cat buddies, poor thing.
Related posts: Cats on Leashes, Beware of Cat, East Village and On a Mission in the East Village.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
An Update on Our Family
Photo by myself of Dida, our dear calico.
Mark, Rupert and I are terribly sad to announce that we lost our cat Dida yesterday. Dida succumbed very quickly, after a long and valiant fight with kidney disease.
She had some other ailments too, but faced all these with the bravery and typical stiff upper lip cats have. Dida loved sunny windowsills and lots of attention. She was rescued from the streets of New York around Hell's Kitchen, after giving birth to a beautiful litter of kittens. She was a very sweet and affectionate cat, despite her shyness.
Our household is a bit shaken up right now, specifically the humans. Rupert has yet to figure out that he is the lone four-legged beast among us.
Do give your animal family members an extra hug. Take more photos of them than you think proper. Spoil them a lot.
Dida and Rupert shared a fondness for napping.
Related posts: Our Extended Family, Clever Cat (Not) and Tempting Fate.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
On the Hudson River and Stupid Pet Tricks
Photo by myself in Riverside Park, around 88th Street and Riverside Drive.
It's been very cold in New York and New Jersey, which is just a river's width away.
Saturday night, Mark, Rupert and I attended a party in Hoboken, New Jersey. The wind chill made it feel like 1 degree Fahrenheit.
One of the most popular searches connected to this site is 'the man with a cat on his head'. I took a photo of him last January and posted it here.
I've seen the fellow a couple times in the Union Square area. Evidently many other people have seen him and wanted to know more.
So as I was deciding what write for today's post, I happened to browse on the Times NY Region section. Lo and behold, the guy with the cat on his head made it as one of the Pictures of the Week!
Both he and the cat are seen braving the chilly outdoors, one on top of the other. They look fine, albeit a little grumpy. You can see the Times photo here.
Related posts: Docked Along the West Side, Bridging the Gap and Life on the Water, in Riverside Park.
Read more...
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Moving and Shaking, the Diamond District
Photo by myself in the Diamond District, around 47th Street and Sixth Avenue.
Something about this photo with the lettering, pawn shop sign and characters reminds me of a movie. A mob hit was just awarded or a heist is in progress.
I will try to keep my kvetching to a minimum, as I recover from the chicken pox. Friday was a long day.
Among other things, I took a car service to visit my doctor in the city, since Mark was working. It's a long ride and the driver and I struck up a conversation.
'Where are you from?' he asked.
'Oh, I grew up in Boston but I've lived in New York several years.'
'I'm from Israel,' he said.
'I've heard Israel is very old and beautiful.'
'Let's visit it together, you and I.'
WHAT??! Was this guy blind? Did he not see that I looked like I'd run into a nest of angry bees?
I suppose I should have been flattered. I let him know my relationship status. He told me about his divorce. He told me about a 4-year relationship with a woman in Canada who was decidedly 'not beautiful'.
Then I introduced him to the world of online dating.
'Do you have a computer?'
'Yes,' he said, looking into the rear view mirror warily.
Well, then.
Related posts: Pawn Shops, the Diamond District, Tough Times, Midtown and Candid, Midtown.
Read more...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Beware of Cat, East Village
Photo by myself in the East Village, around Ninth Street and First Avenue.
The sign in a store window reads:
'No Dogs! We have three rescue cats and they do not like dogs & will attack them and their owners. It's not a pretty sight! This is for your protection! Thank You!'
Yes, even the cats have attitude in this part of town.
Related posts: Cats on Leashes, Louie and Stray Cat, Brooklyn.
Read more...
Saturday, February 28, 2009
On A Mission in the East Village
Photo by myself in the East Village, at 4th Street and 1st Avenue.
Social Tees, a small company that does custom screen printing on t-shirts and other wearables, also rescues all sorts of animals.
Two cats slept in the front window, while other creatures were inside, safe from the rain.
The East Village has long been synonymous with artists and grass roots activism. The tiny storefront, above, is just one example, all in one place.
For whatever reason, there are tons of cute little Japanese restaurants in the neighborhood. There are also tons of bars, some of them very 'down-to-earth', others more hip.
As you walk eastward, the avenues decrease - after 2nd Avenue comes 1st Avenue, followed by Avenue A, Avenue B, and so on. The lettered avenues constitute Alphabet City, which used to mean 'best not go there at night because you might not come out with your wallet'.
Nowadays the far reaches of the East Village are rather safe, though it remains a long hike to the subway.
Related posts: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Grace Church, in Black and White and We Don't Do Windows.
Read more...
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Start Spreading the News
Photo by myself at a newsstand in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Many kiosks and neighborhood delis in New York house cats. These guys earn their keep by controlling the rodent population.
This beautiful cat was extremely friendly, catching my eye Wednesday night. He rolled over on the grimy floor without hesitation.
You wouldn't think there were so many animals in the city. There are animals all over the place - pets of all kinds, pigeons and varmints.
Late last fall, Mark and I were walking on a busy Brooklyn street. I looked up and saw an enormous red-tailed hawk perched on the street light. He was looking for a pigeon dinner and was in the right place!
Related posts: The Guy with a Cat on His Head, On Fish, Cats and Dogs and Cats on Leashes.
Read more...
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Guy with a Cat on His Head
Photo by myself, in Union Square.
A man walked around with his cat on his head Sunday afternoon in Union Square. Despite being windy and very cold, the area was crowded as usual. People stepped aside to let the two pass.
I came home Sunday after doing a little shopping. I told Mark I thought I'd seen it all - cats on leashes, rabbits on leashes, cats on park benches, people wielding pet parrots and pythons.
'Today I saw a guy with a cat on his head.'
'Was he wearing a hat?' I couldn't remember.
'Was there a leash involved?' I hadn't noticed.
On to Google, where we did a search for 'guy with a cat on his head'. We were rewarded with photos of this acrobatic duo in various New York neighborhoods.
Here's a video of the same pair on the Upper West Side, with Broadway behind them. The guy looks a bit hairier but it's obviously the same, stoic cat:
Related posts: Cats on Leashes, The Hills Are Alive In Prospect Park, Brooklyn and Out Getting Some Air. Read more...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Stray Cat, Brooklyn
Photo by myself of a stray cat in Brooklyn.
Between seeing homeless humans and animals, I've come to realize that one of the most important things to any living thing is the sense of 'home'.
Animal have homes, but not always ones with human guardians. These guys tend to stay within a distinct territory. Homeless humans are the same. They stay on particular street corners, subway stations or benches.
It's unimaginable to me to be completely without a home. To not have a home is to not have an identity or sense of safety.
I've noticed a lot more stray cats recently. I'm not sure whether it's because of the areas I frequent or because of the economy.
I sometimes see homeless people sitting on the sidewalk with a dog or cat, and it's a heartbreaking aight. It's easy to assume that the homeless person uses the animal to provoke more donations, but the animal is never on a leash or held against its will.
Related posts: On Louie and What's New on TV, More on Louie, and Louie.
Read more...
Sunday, October 19, 2008
On Bowling and Critters
Photo by myself, from the lanes at Bowlmor, a bowling alley on University Place.
There are bowling alleys in the city, but you have to know where to find them. I went to one last week for a friend's birthday party, which was fun.
Meanwhile, Mark and I have been homebodies with Rupert, the puppy we brought home last week.
Rupert and the cat have been getting along surprisingly well. There's been some hissing and some wary looks, but generally it's been fine. The two share a love for napping and not doing much. Sometimes they will sleep on the sofa, next to each other.
Rupert is lucky to have Mark as a devoted Dad. Already, Rupert understands the idea of wee wee pads, and the words 'no', 'sit', 'come', 'good boy' and his own name. There have been some accidents, of course - but much fewer than I'd expected.
All those episodes of The Dog Whisperer have paid off!
Here's Rupert's first quick video
Related posts: Boston (Terrier) in New York, Our Extended Family Read more...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Cats on Leashes
Photo by myself on the Promenade, in Brooklyn Heights.
These cats were relaxing on a bench outside, near a busy walkway. Like the rest of us, they were enjoying the great weather Sunday afternoon.
As can be expected, the white one pretended not to notice me. His tabby friend sat safely tucked away in shadow.
You would think that a house cat would be the last animal to be found on a leash.
You would think, because they are typically defensive creatures, who like to roam a defined territory, and they don't like to take orders. But I've seen more than a few cats on leashes in the city.
Related posts: Our Four-Legged Friends, Keeping Your Dogs In A Row, and Out Getting Some Air.
Read more...
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Clever Cat (Not)
Photo by myself around Sixth Avenue and 32nd Street, I think.
I actually don't recall where I took this photo. There are many kiosks that sell papers, cigarettes, gum and snacks on the sidewalks and in subway stations.
I was drawn to this kiosk because it was particularly tiny. The owner knew I was taking a photo and hid behind the displays, to my frustration.
Sorry for digressing from New York to my cat, but I cannot resist. I posted earlier about my cat Dida, who had a peeing problem.
For the longest time, Dida had trouble peeing inside the box. We had to move the litter box into the bathroom because she always missed. It didn't matter if the box were in the middle of the room or in the corner. There was always a puddle on the floor.
Mark was tempted to explain to the vet that Dida's 'pee hole' was located incorrectly. We did take her in to see if there was a physical problem, but I couldn't say such a thing without giggling.
It turned out there is nothing physically wrong, even though she's gone through two bouts of bladder stones. The peeing is a psychological issue.
Fortunately, Mark saved the day by changing the litter box. Ironically, the box for the cat that can't pee correctly is called a 'Clever Cat'. It's basically a very deep plastic container, so deep that there's no way Dida could pee out of it, no matter where her pee hole is.
After using the litter box a few days, we placed the lid on, which is solid but for a large hole. Theoretically, Dida jumps up and through the hole, does her business and hops out.
We've never seen this happen, though. The whole phenomenon is a little like the Loch Ness Monster. We're so happy there's no more mess in the morning and are considering setting up a hidden camera.
Related posts on Dida: Tempting Fate and Our Extended Family. Read more...
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Photo by myself in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side, around 69th Street.
This structure, with its winches and chains, must have been used to load ships. Now it looks about to topple over. The Hudson River and New Jersey are in the background.
We've had some beautiful days here in New York.
Yesterday for the move, it was gloriously sunny. Mark and I were walking to his apartment in Greenpoint when we encountered two of his neighborhood buddies. One is an artist who works as a creative director by day. The other escaped a tough life in LA and will soon be a Greenpoint restauranteur.
We all stood on the sidewalk, reminiscing about how empty the neighborhood had been just three years ago. Now it's hopping.
'It's become Williamsburg,' one of the fellas said, referring to the trendy neighborhood next door.
'You get out of the subway and there's a ton of people,' said the other, holding his hands out wide.
I said goodbye to the cat who lives in the corner bodega. He was asleep on a box of detergent but was good enough to crack open a yellowy eye. At the cashier, I ran into one of the women who had helped rescue the homeless cats with me last fall. The grey cat in her care has been adjusting well.
Small world. Saying goodbye to Greenpoint was bittersweet. We had our frustrations with finding consistent restaurants, and how sleepy it was at times. But the people were great. Despite what you might think about big cities, you can get to know your neighbors.
Finally, we said our farewells to Mark's downstairs neighbors, his landlord and another neighbor down the street. Then we packed up the fish and motored off.
'Well that's the last pizza we'll have in old Greenpoint,' Mark said.
I assured him he was wrong. No, we'd be back for pizza and a beer soon enough. I can't imagine never going back. Read more...
