Breaking Cat News by Georgia Dunn for December 17, 2023

Of course Cats organized the 12 Days of Christmas! But not this group of Cats. How do I know? There’s no bacon and no ham. FIVE HONEY BAKED HAMS!!!!!!!

Is the Woman just waking up or about to scream or both?

What a, uh, charming performance.

The Woman did well to last through two whole minutes of this (clock in panel 3).

Iggy appears to be counting down from seven swans a swimming. And all of their outfits are so adorable too!

Also, how cute are everyone in their winter clothes?

Sunday Funday

And the Golden Rings were originally a reference to a species of pheasant. More birds!

Chickadees! They must be related to the one in today’s Wallace the Brave.

Oh, dear. Lupin is, um, singing? Also, I love the Woman’s single open eye in panel 3.

Of course it’s at o-dark-hundred.

Just look at that huge smile on Elvis! I’ve never seen him so exuberantly happy.

And if you listen for the assonance and alliteration, you’ll hear that the correct version is

Eight maids a milking

Nine pipers piping

Ten drummers drumming

‘Leven ladies dancing

Twelve lords a leaping.

Also, they are colley birds, and go-old rings. You stretch “gold” over two notes, to show how important it is, and to break the monotony of one syllable per note.

I love, Love, LOVE today’s strip

And OZ’s matching hat and handmuff set are adorable

Even the birds have scarves!

Love those little chickadees singing along.

Is that the Woman or the Girl? She has several more verses to endure.

The woman is an experienced Cat keeper. She’s barely waking to the din.

And after the singing, the carolers must get their reward — mugs of warm tuna nectar and nibbles of ham salad on tiny cheese crackers. This is what Christmas memories are made of!

I read somewhere that the combined total of gifts in the song adds up to 365. I wonder what the person singing it does with all those? I mean, if they’re getting one a day! (epic thinking face)

That checks out. I’ve learned so much about Christmas from these journalists.

“And a beer” (in a tree)

Queen Mags chickadees!!!!

And a little wave from Iggy.

Aha! I knew it! P.S, I get up at 3:30am, to get ready for work and that’s about when my Cassidy starts caroling!

Is that Chitter and Chatter at the window?

I hope we get to see the rest of the racoon entourage before the week is done.

And what is she supposed to do with all that poultry?

And the last panel needs to be a mug.

Just saying.

Here’s the Allan Sherman ://genius.COM/Allan-sherman-the-twelve-days-of-christmas-lyrics

You can find Jingle Cats on youtube :)

COLLY birds.

For another cat’s take on all the feathered creatures in the carol, take a look at Larry the cat’s thread about it – twitter.COM/Number10cat/status/1730497084925603861

That’s one of my favourite Christmas carols.

Love OZ’s outfit.

That digital clock makes me realize that 3:37 is “Lee” (my middle name) upside down. Maybe I’ll start signing my name “3:37.”

Ora Zella in her outfit makes me think of little Audrey Hepburn.

The sheets and bedding are so festive.

OT:

One of the freebies on the original site is Elvis, Puck and Lupin singing carols to the Woman.

And, somehow, they’re still asking for ham!

That song, when sung by the Cats in the Big Pink House on the Hill ,is what I would call a Cat – astrophe.

If she follows the “number of cats plus one” rule, I wonder where on earth in her house she finds room for seven litter boxes! Daily scooping and weekly changing for seven litter boxes. Good grief.

I don’t see that anyone has remarked yet on cute little OZ specifically in her fluffy hat and fluffy-muff (Thank you, Brian (above), for giving me a way around the censors) in panel 4. She looks just like a kid standing behind a news reporter who’s broadcasting live from the scene.

I like Ora Zella’s winter clothes the best. Seems oddly fashionable of her, but she makes it work. :D

Meanwhile, Back on the Nile

Ta-Natash: Those scones were delicious. My deepest thanks for the meal and the jewel dust.

Fe-Anaro: How do you intend to return to Egypt?

Tash: I’ve made arrangements with the Über Eagles for a ride back.

Mag-Lor: Not the most comfortable of transport, but fast and efficient.

Enter a Royal Herald

Herald: Your Highness, two Desert Rat Merchants are here to sell spi…well, you know.

Tash: That must be Aman-Merchant and Azibo. I’ll have to meet with them. I’m sure Thomios and Floofnet would like some sp…some of their merchandise.

Fe-Anaro: Since the hour grows late, may I offer you my hospitality and you can make your way back tomorrow?

Tash: That is much appreciated. Thank you for your hospitality.

Mag-Lor: And now for bargaining.

Enter Aman-Merchant and Azibo

Aman: Thank you for agreeing to see us, Your Highness. And it is a pleasure to see Ta-Natash again.

Azibo: Now may I show our inventory of you-know-what?

Love the look on the woman’s face, one eye open. And the little muffler that OZ has.

Little Ora Zella reminds me of another “Z” named beauty: Zsa Zsa. Goldie’s tail-snood is adorable. But what are the Chickadees doing up at this hour?!?!?Wonderful art, as always!

Georgia…. It ‘s … ’Five Gold Rings’… ( I had a Nun in second grade…Sister Asumpta that drilled that into my class…. everytime I hear the words ‘five golden rings’, I look around for her ..and the ruler she held in her hand…just in case )

Moose, who is generally a very quiet kitty, has been wandering around at night caterwallering. Maybe he’s singing this song.

Does anybody know what species those birds outside the window are. I think they may be the two turtle doves.

Iggy’s little coat <3<3<3

Lots of birds but no bacon …

The heck’s anyone supposed to do with ten lords a-leaping, anyway? If anything, get them helping the maids- we’re out of milk!

Even the birds outside are into it. Plus, we get to see Elvis delighted again!

Well, folks, just to let you know (because this is such a supportive place), I returned from my week of travel (to SF, to the annual meeting of the AGU, with 10K of my closest friends). Of course, this year I caught covid at the AGU! Fortunately, by being very very vaccinated, also quiet and watching as much stuff from the hotel room as possible, and also hitting the cough/cold meds hard, I was strong enough to travel back. But there is an afternoon nap in my immediate future.

And I’m going to milk this for telework this whole next week, by gum.

Yah. We have experienced such things. This morning a Siamese and the Tortie tried to follow me into the shower and were howling outside when I would not let them in. Them seem to forget what happened when I did let them in the last time.

I see the Original Three Tenors (Lupiano Pavarotti, Puckido Domingo, and Elviose Carrera) have been joined by Goldia Te Kanawa and the BCN Children’s Chorus.

My wife made a dinner table rule when our daughter was in grade school. It applied to me. “No singing, no dancing, no animal noises.” Our daughter was the big dancing in place offender. We collaborated on cat singing. Using “meow” as every word in any song.

Huh. Never noticed the bird theme in 12 Days before. Interesting.

Lovely meowsic

Just saw this on Georgia’s Facebook page…never heard of this one though:

It’s all birds, not mostly..

First day of Christmas: 1 partridge in a pear tree

Second day of Christmas: 2 turtle doves

Third day of Christmas: 3 French hens

Fourth day of Christmas: 4 calling birds (blackbirds)

Fifth day of Christmas: 5 golden rings (pheasants)

Sixth day of Christmas: 6 geese a-laying

Seventh day of Christmas: 7 swans a-swimming

Eighth day of Christmas: 8 maids a-milking (magpies or cattle egret)

Ninth day of Christmas: 9 ladies dancing (lapwings)

Tenth day of Christmas: 10 lords a-leaping (cuckoos)

Eleventh day of Christmas: 11 pipers piping (sandpipers)

Twelfth day of Christmas: 12 drummers drumming (ruffled grouse)

Ora Zella is so f—-ing adorable in her little coat and accessories!

Goldie’s tail warmer! <3

And Mitten Beans!!!!!! MIIIUUUEEEEEE!

I have been saying this for years. Except for the golden rings, the whole first week is birds!

OT: tales from the Santa set

Oh my goodness! I love it

Alle littel kitties syng

Prayers for their breakfast thyng

Some syng sharp and some syng flat

Alma Cattus Exeat

apologies to Osbert Lancaster

Is Goldie wearing something candy-cane-striped on her tail?

Fun fact: Even the non-bird items are actually birds.

Iggy’s li’l jazz hands!

I originally posted this on the day this first appeared, but I made a few unintended errors, so I trashed the whole thread. I should probably leave it in the trash, but I was proud of it before I got beaten and battered and embarrassed because I had posted it before it was ready for prime time. All items actually appeared in past BCN episodes. In some cases I had to fudge the numbers to fit the song. (I’m not sure how many actual half siblings Burt has, but we know it was over 90. I really wanted it to be 12 dozen cousins for the rhythm and rhyme, but that’s not part of the canon.) I hope my final draft fixed everything that was broken. If not, I’m sure my critics will point it out.

On the 12th Day of Christmas, Santa gave to Burt:

12 dozen siblings

11 news reporters

10 cassette mix tapes

9 connector cables

8 legged purple octopus

7 singing peep toads

6 video monitors

5 racoon kits

4 pesky rodents

3 lady llamas

2 hens a stitching

And a baby raccoon in a coffee mug!

The last panel belongs on a mug.