The Very Smart (Bilingual) New York Cat Returns From Hollywood

After spending time among stars and under the sun, the Very Smart Cat is ready for a cat nap.
 

November 30, 2008- The Best Friends animal Society Lint Roller Party held at the historic Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California was a huge success for everyone involved. There was quite a turnout, some were animal loving celebrities others long time friends and Best Friends supporters. There were even some celebs with their furry friends in tow, film star Rene Russo, comic actor Arte Johnson of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, TV star Robert Culp, Without a Trace’s Linda Hunt, and M*A*S*H’s Loretta Swit. Also attending, but without pooches were Jodie Sweetin, a former child star on Full House, Emmy Rossum, who starred in Poseidon, The O.C.’s Autumn Reeser, How I Met Your Mother star Alyson Hannigan and her husband, actor Alexis Denisof, and Cold Case star Thom Barry.Longtime Best Friends supporter Lisa Edelstein, from the hit TV series House, and veteran actress Cloris Leachman, most recently known for her performance on Dancing with the Stars, helped Francis emcee a silent auction of donated collector memorabilia. The money raised through the silent auction and an online auction supports Los Angeles programs like Pup My Ride, Catnippers, the Best Friends Brigade, the Puppy-Store-Free L.A. campaign, Date with a Dog, and biweekly mobile adoptions. Click here to learn more about these programs.
 
At the party, about 700 attendees were served a vegan gourmet meal provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering.Paradigm Shift, a worldwide event and marketing firm, generously supplied the champagne for the Founders’ Reception, where many founders of Best Friends and the stars of the National Geographic Channel’s hit series “Dog Town” mingled with guests and celebrities prior to the party.At the end of the night everyone left with a gift bag that had some great products but the one that stood out the most was the children’s book A Very Smart Cat/Una gata muy inteligente, written by Mario Picayo and illustrated by Yolanda Fundora. Mario attended the party with a ballpoint pen to personalize copies of the book before people left. It’s a big step for a kitty to make it all the way to Hollywood and into so many homes in one night. She certainly is A Very Smart Cat.
 
While A Very Smart Cat was visiting Hollywood CA, for the Best Friends Lint Roller Party she was able to party with the best, she managed to sneak on stage for a duet with Emmylou Harris, caught up with Alyson Hannigan and husband Alexis Denisof for a little slaying, she even managed to get a check up with House doctor Lisa Edelstein, and share a dance with Cloris Leachman. Of course everyone who attended the event went home with a copy of her book so she has a permanent place in homes everywhere from celebrities to Best Friends founders and of course the many animal lovers that were in attendance, she sure does get around- what a smart kitty.Since she was already in California she decided to do some sightseeing. First off she had to leave her signature on the Hollywood sign, that was quite a feat but now she knows everyone will know she visited. After all that work she was tired so she jumped on some poor women’s balcony to take a catnap on her table. Well rested and ready for a little action she took to the road, Carlsbad was her first stop, she went to the beach and hitched a ride on a jogging stroller what a cozy way to stroll. From there she took off trying to capture a picture of a coyote in the Mojave desert, and ended up at a beautiful oasis where she spent the night at the 29 Palms Inn. The other guests were less than thrilled with her all night harmonica jamming but it didn’t seem to bother her one bit, she just kept on going, I believe there were reports that some local coyotes joined in for a little late night howling.

Mario Picayo