"Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat --
What are they feeding you?
Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat --
It's not your fault."

Don't tell Olive I said this, but she has a bit of an odor problem. Frankly, her butt smells disgusting. It's conditioned me to hold my breath and turn my head when she comes close.

The other day I used my lunch break to visit Earth Pets, an organic pet store near my office, and I spotted these odor-reducing treats by Pet Naturals.

I thought it was a long shot — what treat could really freshen breath, reduce litter box-related odors and taste great — but it wasn't. She loves them, and they work like you wouldn't believe.

Now I can cuddle up with Olive and not gag. Priceless (or, well, $7.99).

A few images to enjoy.

Most people don't know a lot about the C-Rex. When I sent a picture of Olive to my best friend, his response was "So, that's your pet alien?"

My Dad's wasn't much better: "That's a weird looking cat."

Rude.

But I think that the qualities that make Olive unique are some of her best. Do you agree?

• They're only down with the down. Most cats have three layers of hair: the outer, known as the guard; the middle, or awn; and the undercoat, or down. The C-Rex doesn't isn't a hairy beast — it only has the down undercoat. This makes for a soft companion that barely sheds. I live in black clothes, and I've never seen a single hair on them.
  
• They embrace their natural curl. No perm needed. The C-Rex has a curly or wavy coat that feels like suede or velvet.
• They're cuddly. Because of their short, fine coat and a body temperature that's higher than some breeds (102 F), the C-Rex loves to snuggle in your lap.
• They're class clowns. There are YouTube videos of C-Rex owners playing fetch with their cats. They're fast, strong, acrobatic and smart — making for a goofy personality. The C-Rex also is hailed as a suitable animal in the company of children and other pets.
• They may be less likely to make you sneeze. Though there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat, the C-Rex may produce less of the protein in cat saliva that causes allergic reactions. 
• They help your self-esteem. Feeling self-conscious? You're not the only one! Some C-Rexes have a cheesy smell that comes from scent glands in their paws. Olive doesn't, but her butt does smell sometimes after a trip to the litter box. I love her anyway.
• They're cute as hell. Enough said.

Dog owners seem hypnotized by their pooches — happy, relaxed, in a state of bliss.

I do not get this feeling around dogs. Upon seeing one, I tense up, afraid they will lick me with their dirty tongues, jump upon me, digging their claws into my thighs, and inevitably leave me stinking with small hairs all over my black pants.

Misery.

Perhaps it was the two huge dogs my neighbor had when I was a tot. They were terrifying, lunging at me with their tongues hanging stupidly out of their mouths. One blow from them and I would be on the ground, paralyzed with fear.

Or maybe it was Sophie, my friend's dog, who gained pleasure out of terrorizing me. I'd enter my friend's apartment and the dog would lift its leg, spraying urine all over me with a smile. One morning, after a few too many margaritas, I woke up at his house to find that sweet Sophie had chewed off chunks of my hair. I ran to the bathroom to fix the mess, and chunks were falling out as I combed through it.

In the same way that I'm apprehensive about dogs, dog-lovers are apprehensive about cats. I've had so many discussions with dog-lovers about "crazy cat people" who aren't going anywhere in life. Dog people are friendly, fun-loving, mentally healthy individuals destined to have a happy family of five; cat people are sad, lonely women that crochet mittens for their feline friends while wishing they had a husband.

Maybe that's where I'm headed -- maybe not. Whether I'm a dog or a cat person, though, I'm definitely a Cornish Rex person.

So, crazy cat lady or not, I'm going to start this blog to share her with the world. Because people have got to know how cool this breed really is.