Here’s the brief:

A fire destroyed a house in the 2600 block of Wyatt Drive in Medford just before midnight Monday because of faulty wiring in some Christmas-tree lights, Medford Fire and Rescue officials said.

None of the three occupants in the house or responding firefighters were hurt in the blaze.

“It was electrically caused,” said Medford Fire Marshal Greg Kleinberg. “We think there was a failure in the wiring or some of the connections.”

A 7-year-old boy living in the house alerted his father and 12-year-old brother to the fire after his cat jumped on his bed and he awoke to the smell of smoke.

All family members escaped unharmed.

File that under amazing.

And please, watch the tinsel and take care that your trees are blinged out with safety in mind.

*Please note: Christmas trees in and of themselves can be deadly for cats! First off, if pine needles are ingested they can puncture their itty bitty intestines. Pine is also highly toxic for cats, connected to liver damage and even death. Finally the fire retardant sprayed on trees (both live and artificial) have been linked to feline thyroid disease.

Since we’re on the subject, perhaps you’d be better off celebrating Hanukkah this year.

Martini remakes famous album sleeves with cats replacing the rockstars. So far she’s given albums from Kiss, the Beatles, Nirvana, The Cure, The Clash, Sonic Youth and more the kitty treatment. She calls her project a personal tribute to the classic rock albums that influenced her own career.

Here are a few covers that we think rock. For more, check out her blog.

Confusion is pets.

Go ahead, put on the red light tonight.

Smells like kitty litter.

Welcome to Dynasty.  

The Kitty Underground

Rock the cat-spa. 

Stick another dime in the juke box, human. 

Are you surprised? You always knew I was an ol’ dirty bastard. 

I want to go shopping – I really, really do – but that would be irresponsible. Instead I do as any responsible person would and ignore my children whilst engaging in pornographic rounds of cyber shopping. It’s like window-shopping for the etsy generation!

Here’s what I found.

From the shop of ThePetiteChouette in Germany, the Lovely Kitten Tee.

Also from ThePetiteChoette, the Cuteness Dress. The best thing about cyber shopping is that in some pixilated universe out there, I could actually wear this dress and look “cute” at the same time. In the ugly real one – with bills and whatnot – I might have a hard time fitting this dress over my left thigh.

The kitten cruising on a scooter t-shirt, however, would fit quite nicely, thank you. From GearHeadArmy, it’s an original graphic that’s been hand screen printed in the designer’s home studio.

Let’s talk accessories.

Italian illustrator Eleonora D’Erme has created these wonderfully sweet cat portrait pins.

The Golden Kitten Ring from the “I’m All Ears” series was inspired by the artist’s renderings of bears, cats and rabbits, oh my! From The Golden Plague

And finally, diamonds really are a kitty’s best friend and I am just in love with this delicate baby kitten ring in sterling silver with diamonds, by MichelleChangJewelry.

Oh my God, it’s Halloween and I have nothing to wear! Wait, who cares? Grown women shouldn’t traipse around in angel’s wings. A pair of bunny ears just ain’t the same post-college. I’ve reached an age where itty bitty pussy cat whiskers look like unplucked facial hair. I will go as “a parent” this year and my cat will go as…ageless and cute.

Here are five last-minute, budget Halloween finds I’m considering for my kitty! How are you dressing yours this year?

(You are dressing your cat up this year, aren’t you?)

A lightweight and cozy hoodie like this will help your kitty ‘keep it real’ in 100% cotton. This particular one is from Cat-toure, featuring a rear pocket for those all-important treats.

At $20 it is an all year round must have. Also available in Grey.

Hey there, Pumpkin head. Not entirely original, but it is a bargain. From PetSmart for only $1.74.

This cowboy hat paired with the bandana offers an adorable look for your cat. Also available from PetSmart for $1.74, do it up with the hoodie. Me-ow!

Obviously, I spend entirely too much time at PetSmart. Hear me out: this 2-piece Jester Hat & Collar for Cats guarantees maximum cuteness and will make sure your kitty stands out in the crowd. For bird-catching cats, they might want to muffle the bells this Hallows Eve.

Finally this witch hat has spiderweb stitching and rhinestone embellishments. An adjustable hook-and-loop elastic fastens under the chin for an optimal fit.

Very abracadabra!

The Scorpio cat was revered by the Egyptians for being strange and arcane. These days, they freak us the f*ck out. 

If the alignment of planets affects the destiny, personality traits, and the day-to-day grind of us humans, imagine what it does to our kitties. We’re now under the astrological sign of the tempestuous Scorpio. We all know what a male or female human Scorpio is like (sex-crazed, feisty, temperamental to the brink of crazy); does the same hold true for felines born under the same sign?

The Egyptians would have us believe that owning such a delicate beast makes us lucky. I wouldn’t know. My cat’s a Virgo. If you are in possession of (or possessed by) a Scorpio kitty, you tell us.

The following text is abridged from Astrology Weekly, experts in both bipedal and four-legged astrology.

The Scorpio Cat is a powerful cat with more than a mere sting in his or her tail. This resourceful and intelligent feline will delight in organizing things and people, finding the normal business of the domestic cat to be boring and mundane.

Determination is the guiding force of the Scorpio Cat…and it is indeed a force to be reckoned with. Felines in general are never easy to fathom and this particular feline is akin to a never-ending pit, being secretive, self-controlled and devious.

Deep inside (if the owner is ever able to delve that far), the Scorpio Cat is truly a rather mixed-up cat, desperately seeking love and security. A Scorpio Cat may usually be recognized by a muscular body and beautiful eyes…the ideal specimen being one with jet-black fur and eyes of deep emerald green. However, the most notable feature will be the mask of imperturbability.

Now, a word of warning:

Later in life, this feline stands out from the rest by his or her waddling walk…the result of over-eating…and often has bow legs. Normally healthy, when this cat does become poorly, then he or she will be extremely ill. Under such circumstances, the Scorpio Cat expects (and usually receives) all the tender, loving care due to such a sick member of the family. At the first sign of ill health (often a dry nose and labored breathing), even if it is suspected that this feline is malingering yet again, it is vital to book him or her into intensive care at the vet’s office. If this is not done, then the Scorpio Cat considers the owner to be a failure who did not respond as expected. It will take a very long time for the Scorpio Cat to forgive this and the damaged relationship may never be repaired.

Some wisdom on the human-cat, Scorpio á Scorpio connection:

A Scorpio Cat usually does best with a Scorpio owner. However, a native of Cancer would also a good choice, despite the fact that both are strong-minded, tenacious and complex. The next best owner would likely be a Pisces subject, although such an owner would need to be careful lest his or her “watery” instincts add further confusion to the Scorpio Cat’s inclinations.

Most owners of Scorpio Cats tend to develop a special telepathic bond with this mysterious feline. The Scorpio Cat always seems to know just what his or her human is thinking, easily senses danger, and will arrive for dinner just moments before being called.

Wait a minute, that sounds just like my Olive!

Top image: The Astrology Place

I dare say the same is true with our kittens. Their cuteness reaches a certain peak and, admit it, you wish they would stay that way forever. Short of taxidermy, there is no other way of bottling that cuteness up forever. For that reason, we have the internet. Thank. God.

Consider me a curator for cuteness. Here are my top 15 squeezable and munchable kittens from across the interwebs.

Oh, and hats off to some great photography. I’m hoping this will inspire you to get snapping with those digital SLRs and send them to me so I can share them in the future!

XOXO,

Munch. Munch.

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Image: ScROs’; devfd0; samhem; RachSilvester; .Sal.Paradise; Al Christian; arseniy4; cute lil devil; dear crissy; smokykater; Saud Hilil; srhbth; veraecho; blogspfastatt

Here is some inspiration from the interwebs.

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Be sure to check back in next week when we will announce the first annual Kitty’s Crumble Costume Contest. Win big, so your kitty won’t have to.

Images: Stanley Lieber; _K M Robin_;Stanley Lieber;Yvonnen;Stanley Lieber;Stanley lieber;Michelle Tribe;Stanley Lieber;Mandy;Wildtomato

Alas, cats do need a good scratch. It’s how they keep their nails strong and pretty.

Today I’m going to take a look at even more cat furniture, this batch aimed at putting your mind at ease and giving your cat a healthy station to work out his claws, and passive aggression.

Sisel Rugs makes sturdy and sustainable cat furniture. Here is my personal favorite – a no nonsense 30-inch scratching post with ramp.

This post measures 30″ tall and 16″ X 24″ at the base, 12″ perch and a 8″ X 32″ angled ramp to assist the most rabid scratching action. Together, this post weighs over 25 lbs (so your cat cannot tip it over) and has a non skid bottom that is safe for all floors. Add an Attached Mouse Toy for your cat to swat while scratching!

Now, let’s go a bit higher end with the Doctors Foster and Smith range. I like their stuff as it is well-made, and they use high quality material that’s easy to assemble (think Ikea for cats). Also, being vets and all, they know what cats need to stay healthy and sane.

They feature multi-level constructions such as the action city & super deluxe cat tree that will keep your feline friends busy all day. They both feature string, wood and carpet scratching options. Most importantly, with solid cedar poles your cats will also get real organic matter to sink their claws into.

The cat scratching pole from Snooza are made out of recycled plastic, which attaches to a completely covered base. Once your cat has clawed through the fabric, they offer replacement covers. Pretty brilliant, especially for those of us that like snappy fabrics. All of them are staple free; simply slip the cover over the pole. There are so many colors to choose from that you’ll never get tired of looking at it.

I would recommend that you supplement these poles with an added wooden scratching structure of some kind. Remember wood is good for your cats nails.

The Cat Power Tower is an award-winning piece of eco furniture. It is made from environmentally-friendly plantation rubberwood, a beautiful hardwood. Available in Early American or a natural finish, it provides cats a place where they can hunt, scratch, play, jump, climb and lounge comfortably.

Now, if you want to go big then the Feline Furniture Cat Castle is the way to go. A definite plus for any multi-cat owner, the Cat Castle can be assembled with a little effort and a small hammer. Once assembled, you can carry it in sections to the right location and build it to your satisfaction. A fortress of function, fashion and style, your kitties will love this unit and so will you. The carpeted legs are good for scratching but you should consider supplementing the piece with a scratch poll or two.

I repeat, that apoplectic “no” was not the full Monty revelation I was hoping for regarding kitty contact. I’ve seen better Ouija board artists hooking up with the afterlife.

Why? Because a deeper probe into the YouTube world of talking animals revealed what is really going on. Supposed “animal lovers,” the vast majority of them cat owners, who will do just about anything get their YouTube accounts thriving by exploiting their felines. It’s a real cash cow, it turns out, except who’s buying?

Nevertheless, in today’s world of clicks and clickthroughs, talking cats are clocking up some serious traffic.

There is even cat porn, which crosses a line for me, especially when dogs are involved. It can get very Frankenstein, very quickly.

As far as I’m concerned, pretty much anything involving dogs feels a bit Frankenstein-ish.

The fallout from videos like this could be severe, however. Look what happened to the poor dolphins when they opened their big mouths and feigned some sort of advanced contact. Suddenly it was like they were swimming under Russian frigates with magnet mines on their backs.

We’re not even going to mention The Cove. Though we just did. Hello, kitties…remember The Cove! Even poor Flipper was too cute for his own good.

Kitties, we caution, stay quiet for now. Humans can’t be trusted with you just yet, not when you talk. You’ll just end up getting pimped out. Lawyer up, get a decent royalty contract, at the very least.

Cats love lazing around, right? In fact, I’d say that they like to kick back and do nothing in bed even more so than dogs, so why not give them some sustainability points? We all know they are big gossips, so you’ll also be giving them some bragging rights that they can take to the street (if yours is an outdoorsy kind of kitty). Just be careful they don’t bring a new lover home for some cat canoodling.

Onwards…

The first kitty bed to consider is the Bambu lounger from Pet Lounge Studios. It’s totally eco, strong, light and flexible – and 100% Bamboo, which is the sustainable super wood of the future. Though some say it’s technically not a wood, but a plant that grows rapidly. Whatever. It’s pretty.

For something more formal and more suited to cats that love to read, here is the Eames-inspired canopy cat bed. I like to get mine out when I host my book club and then pretend not to notice when one of my own felines is reclining into it with a penguin classic between his paws.

Like humans, cats also have days where their mood is more internal. On these days you’ll find your feline friends retiring to the Catpod to ponder the universe or perhaps privately review his top ten mice kills. Either way these corrugated and recycled cardboard pods are cozy and kind on the eye – as well as mother earth.

Last but not least is the Hammock from Koichi Futatsumata and Case-Real, perhaps the Rolls Royce of all recliners for cats.

I can imagine many cats kicking back into this little baby…. with a ball of lazy string and not a care in the world.