I should not be permitted to title posts.
If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I’m a reality TV junkie. Sunday is Mob Wives and Real Housewives of New Jersey (yes, they’re two different shows), Monday is The Bachelorette, Tuesday night I detox, Wednesday is Toddlers & Tiaras and Thursday is Real Housewives of New York and on Friday, Jewish girls and women light Sabbath candles. (That’s not a reality show, but it totally could be.)
Lately I’ve become concerned that my reality TV watching has been a little, well, speciest.
Unlike some of my friends who decided to turn off Reality TV, I decided to expand my viewing horizons.
Mama encouraged me. “Animal Planet is wonderful for viewing,” she told me and then proceeded to do verbal screencaps of a show about people who hoard animals.
“They seem very normal, and I don’t understand what big deal is except for smell,” she defended one multi-cat household.
I decided to give it a try.
So Husbandrinka and I watched My Cat From Hell. Which may be one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.
The only way it could be better is if the My Cat From Hell somehow morphed into The Bachelor and started giving out roses.
But that’s not, apparently, how real life works.
My Cat From Hell is a reality TV show involving loving couples with asshole cats. Although the technical term may be “challenging cats”. So the couple in question have a problem cat and then this guy Jackson, a cat listener, comes to their house with his tattoos, facial hair and a guitar case filled with cat toys and tells them what they’re doing wrong and how they can fix it. They listen attentively and shortly after the commercial break, everyone is happy.
It’s like The Supernanny without the annoying kids.
What’s not to love?
So we’re watching and Husbandrinka is not into it.
We meet Avery, who appears to be very inquisitive and is a huge pain in the ass. Like Avery jumps on everything, including his human companions’ work space and is generally annoying. The owner described feelings of dread every time he saw Avery.
Husbandrinka didn’t like the looks of Avery.
“Why is he bald?” he asked.
“It’s called hairless,” I explained. I was dying to add “you’re bald” but I didn’t because I have a loving marriage.
“He looks disgusting. They should get a normal looking cat.”
Which is precisely why Husbandrinka is not the cat whisperer, listener or announcer.
Although maybe if Avery were euthanized, he’d be less annoying. Avery, not Husbandrinka.
Who knows.
Jackson suggested some multi-level spaces for Avery so Avery could climb and jump and (spoiler alert!) everything worked out.
Needless to say, I am completely addicted.
And I’ve been on The Animal Planet website nonstop.
I’m really interested in this feature they have about cat health, which appears to be focusing on cat silhouettes.
I can’t wait for this week’s episode!
Even the commercials are fabulous.
All images (and sources of happiness) are from The Animal Planet.
One year ago ...
- America, Baby - 2010
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: ohmommy
June 22, 2011 at 7:59 am
I can’t wait until I am your age. Sounds so much fun!
OK, Avery is probably a sphynx
cat, bald as bananas. I’m a cat lover, but it just doesn’t sit well with me.
So I’m picturing my cat in that commercial. She wouldn’t get past the first turkey. Turkeys are birds and my cat ‘loves’ birds, as in yum yum. Kinda a goofy commercial if you ask me.
I’m not sure I understand that commercial. Is the LSD *in* the catfood, or do you give the LSD to your cat *before* she eats the catfood? I hope it’s in the catfood. I didn’t acquire a cat so I could start sharing my drugs.
I would agree that LSD for the cat would make the cat food a more magical experience.
And my vet only gave my cat anti-anxiety medication, what a waste of a doctor’s visit.
Twitter: hotcomestodie
June 22, 2011 at 9:20 am
Elizabeth’s reply is so funny I’m just going to pretend I wrote it.
Twitter: charismatickid
June 22, 2011 at 9:48 am
That was the most amazing commercial I’ve ever seen.
Twitter: wendiaarons
June 22, 2011 at 10:07 am
Now I’m really upset that my cat Tigger is no longer with us because we totally could have been TV stars with her peeing issues. Damn it.
Avery might be the ugliest cat ever.
Avery looks like a half dog. EW.
This Bentley drama is really pissing me off.
I’m sorry – but Avery is ugly. And your tv habits constantly amuse me!
Twitter: jukeboxbarb
June 22, 2011 at 11:42 am
The Sphynx is an acquired taste, one that I don’t have, yet, I held one and melted. It felt like suede and purred, nonstop.
Twitter: MamaWantsThis
June 22, 2011 at 11:55 am
Avery is not a cat. Avery is a monster. Aaaaiiiiiieeeeeugh.
Just today, I was bitching to my husband about how people make reality shows about everything. Soon, there’ll be a show about bloggers, sitting around in theri pajama pants, blogging, tweeting and what not.
What? Just me?
Twitter: NorthWestMommy
June 22, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Alison stealing the show with this comment. I can see ABC and NBC fighting for your idea.
And I am glad a bald cat brought Marinka and Husbadrinka onto the couch together. Unless he watches Mob Wives too. Then I take it all back.
Twitter: penbleth
June 22, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Challenging cats. I love that. That’s challenging like my daughter is challenging. Who knew nightmare could be spelled that way?
I really wish that we were invited on this show. After our cat mauled a vet tech with his teeth, we were given the choice of euthanasia or anti-anxiety medication. So, now our cat is on anti-anxiety medication, provided he’s in the mood to swallow a pill, otherwise, somebody’s drawing back a bloody nub.
CALL ME, CAT WHISPERER.
Okay. I can definitely NEVER give my cat Friskies – it would just mess him up more than he already is! I mean…circling chicks, bowing turkeys, leaping fish and flying cows? The poor fellow wouldn’t know where to attack first!
Twitter: sellabitmum
June 22, 2011 at 1:09 pm
I wish for cable television almost every time you post.
Twitter: amommyinthecity
June 22, 2011 at 2:35 pm
I, too, am a reality TV junkie, but I don’t know if I could watch this show. Avery is one scary creature. I could, however, watch the show just for commercials like that!
Twitter: Issascrazyworld
June 22, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Only you would go from one weird obsession to an even weirder one. I think that’s why I love you so much.
You have to know though, I’m with husbandrinka on this one. That is one butt ugly cat.
Twitter: BeyondNormalMom
June 22, 2011 at 9:54 pm
confession: I am not a cat person (or really a tv person), but I did SOL (snicker out loud) when I read “focusing on cat silhouettes”
Okay, that commercial is demented. But I have to admit, it made me want to eat Friskies myself. I want to float on a magical boat.
My Attila could be on that show, what with his tendency to leave dead mice at the front door and molest the neighbours dog.. (although the dog I don’t mind, he is an annoying little thing)
Twitter: adhocmom
June 23, 2011 at 9:45 am
I tried that advice with my son: bought him some stuff to climb on – you know, bookshelves – but it hasn’t helped. Perhaps I could trade him for Avery?
I just got my tv package upgraded so I could get E! and a bunch of other fun channels that show reality tv pretty much all the time. And in the past we’ve always been months behind schedule (frickin Euro tv) but now?? Turns out I watched that same show this week!! My other new fave? Jerseylicious. The Dutch themselves are attempting their own trashiness in the form of Dutch Housewives in Beverly Hills. I am now watching reality tv in 3 languages. I’m sure it’s not a problem. 🙂
I’m laughing so much I’m almost crying. Do you watch animal hoarders? Crazy people are awesome.
Twitter: MommysMartini
June 23, 2011 at 5:14 pm
I am sorry but anyone who has ever been around a real live cat would seem to me to be able to tell that that show sounds like a total fraud. Seriously. WHAT CAT, who prefers to jump on its people and its peoples’ desks, counters, etc., would be satisfied with a cat-specific set of vertical objects? The cat would just be like, “hahahahahaha! I don’t feel like jumping there, but thanks for the real estate in my honor. SUCKA!” while sitting right in the middle of the desk, preferably on top of the keyboard the person is trying to use to reply to an urgent work email. Because cats? Don’t care. Just like honey badger.
You’d think Avery’s owner would have read up on the breed before she spent like $1000 on a cat. My sister has 2 of them and they are demonically predispositioned. Avery was just screwing with them though, that cat totally could have got into the bugs if it wanted.
i just discovered this show too! and was compelled to blog about it as well a few weeks ago:
http://noordinarymomma.blogspot.com/2011/06/meow.html
your mom must really love you to have recommended this gem!