Thanks to my Twitter pal, CHo Meir, who sent me pics of her Jake, a male tabby Cornish Rex; and Maus, a blue/cream female. They are such a pretty pair! This is further evidence of why Olive needs me to get her a friend. Hint, hint people!

If you want to see more pictures of these guys, CHo Meir has a super-cute and witty blog, Coffee, Cats n' Yarn. Check it out!

Check out the other members of the growing C-Rexpert family in our photo gallery.

Here's your Tuesday pick-me-up! Rachel Ross of Chicago sent in pictures of her C-Rex kitten, Huey, and I think you'll agree that he's fantastic!

Look at him all cuddled up, with snow draping the buildings in the background. A beautiful kitty in a beautiful city.

Last month I featured fashion-forward collars from Sweet Pickles' Designs. Recently, I took my own advice and ordered Olive the preppy, stripe-y, purple-y Second Honeymoon collar.

It was custom made for Olive's tiny neck at no extra charge. If you have a C-Rex, you know how hard it is to find a collar that fits, let alone one that's cute. 

These pictures don't do the collar justice! It's shiny and sturdy with a big twinkly bell. And the seller offers every print from robot to polka dot—all for less than ten dollars. I'm in love!

Gemma Ross was nice enough to share her adorable baby, Prince Harry, with us. The cuteness must run in the family; he's Mr. Bigglesworth's half brother!

Cornish Rexpert is looking for photos of your C-Rex babies. The goal is to showcase this endearing breed in a collective gathering place. Many people are unfamiliar with the breed—let's show 'em what these curly haired sweeties are all about!

It’s simple. E-mail your photos to cusatis202@gmail.com, along with the name and gender of your pet, and I'll post them on my site.

Color photos are preferred, but black-and-white photos are acceptable, too.

I look forward to seeing your photos!

February sucks.

I find myself slumping into a depression this time every year, and then I realize it's because I HATE February.

It's rainy and dark. Holidays are over, with no freedom from the office until, in my case, May. This means I'm more likely to catch that nasty sickness people are hacking into the air at work. I'm more likely to be late to work because I'm scraping ice off my windshield. The ice is a reminder that it's cold, and by February the weather has lost its Christmas luster and become annoying.

Along with increased chances of being physically ill, February is prime time for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) to send me in a mental tizzy.

I'm sure I have it. Some people experience symptoms including difficulty waking up, oversleeping, problems concentrating, social withdrawal and a lack of energy.

Check, check, check, check and check.

Then there's stupid heart day. If I have a boyfriend at the time, I'm stressed about what sort of special and romantic thing I'm expected to do. If I'm single, I'm stressed because I'm a loser.

Sadly, Olive has to share my February blues this year.  She has been sentenced to wear the cone of torment for at least two weeks while her spay incision heals. She can't groom, hits the cone on the wall and finds it hard to get comfy. Imagine wearing that ridiculous thing to bed.

My mother (Olive's grandma) must have pitied us because she came to visit and even spoil us a little bit. For Olive: A catnip- and jingle bell-laden stuffed tiger she's going to love playing fetch with, especially after the cone is removed (video to come!).

She also got a mint toy that she went crazy over before we could even open the package. Apparently mint is a cousin of catnip—news to me. Olive seems like like it more than catnip.

It's supposed to freshen breath and has netting that removes soft tartar from teeth, making for a fabulous accessory being that its February (though I hate to be reminded of the month), which is Pet Dental Month (see post). I recommend. Bonus: she looks adorable playing with it, despite her satellite head.

My favorite treat was a T.J.Maxx find. I just figured out that stores like T.J.Maxx, Ross and Marshalls have pet sections! If you haven't checked them out, do so. They tend to have mega cheap cat beds and feeding bowls. 

Regardless, I stumbled upon this adorably modern framed photo there, which just made my day. I absolutely love the way they used that white space! And though not a C-Rex, the kitten is pretty darn cute.

So thanks, grandma, and February—you frigid thing, you—watch your back. There's a reason you're shorter than all the other months.

Baby girl got spayed yesterday. The collar is adding insult to injury, but I think she's getting used to it. 

We're gearing up for a good weekend of rest and recovery. I'll be glad when this is over; it just breaks my heart!

It's hard to find cute cat collars and tags, especially for little Olive.

Why can't cats be stylish? Collars tiny enough to fit her are usually monotone and drab, and PetSmart tags seem to overwhelm her (oh, and they're ugly). My vet snipped at me last visit because she said Olive's ID tag was too heavy. I felt like a bad mom.

When in doubt, turn to Etsy. These collars from Sweet Pickles' Designs are perfect for the C-Rex—and any other cat, for that matter—because the seller offers to accommodate special sizing requests. And they come in cupcake print!

You can also add a bell for 50 cents, which I'm inclined to do. The other day Olive jumped in the dryer when I wasn't looking. Thank god I heard the bell jingling around before I turned it on.  :/

I also LOVE these custom tags from seller bynicola. Specify a name for the front and a phone number for the back, and you're set.

The example to the right is just too fitting for my girl, making it hard to resist.

Bonus: They're about the size of a dime, so maybe my vet will love me again.

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.