…Toilet Plunger Sitting Champion of 1963.

And he’s been there ever since. (gently picks off cobweb)

Sender-Inners Kate and Jeff have the interesting back story here: “So it’s 6 am Friday morning, and we’re sleeping off the Thanksgiving dinner, when we awake to the doggie door flapping and a squeak. This is our occasional wake-up call, unfortunately. Our foster kitty, Rook, is of that just-older-than-a-kitten age, and learning to hunt. She likes to bring in her prey so she can play with it in the comfort of home. We don’t appreciate her gifts, so we always chase them down ourselves, catch them, and release them back outside—they’re usually unharmed, besides being scared.

I get up to find the mouse, and fairly quickly realize that Rook had brought it into the bathroom. This is good. Less places to hide in there. I shoo Rook out of the bathroom and close the door, then go get a tupperware dish to catch it in. When I get back into the bathroom, I look in all the obvious hiding places, but don’t
immediately see it – until I look near the commode. There sits the mouse, not cowering behind the toilet, but up on top of the plunger handle.

I’m glad I got photographic evidence, otherwise I wouldn’t believe it.

He’s obviously been framed.

[...by Cute Overload, Miranda R.!]

Sandy was diagnosed with liver cancer a couple of months before my dad passed away. After a very risky and very expensive surgery, she was said to be cured, only to have the cancer return again. We found out just last week, so yesterday, January 25, 2012, during another risky but hopeful surgery, the surgeon removed a tumor that was more than 3 pounds and attached to her liver and her intestines. In an act of mercy, it was decided to spare her the long and painful recovery from her surgery only to have her live a few more weeks. She was put to sleep, and while I cannot say with certainty that what was done was right or wrong, I do know that my world will not be the same without that sweet pup.

She was everything a sweet, loving, sometimes naughty puppy should be, and she brought endless laughter and smiles to the people who knew her. Goodbye Sandy! You will be missed.

That was a loving tribute, Meghan R.

How will your pup get Downy, Megan C.?

This note is long overdue, but better late than never I suppose.

The upshot of it all is that CO has saved my butt, over and over and over.

The longer story of it all is that I broke up with my boyfriend in August of 2011 and almost immediately thereafter attempted suicide. I survived, and have begun creating a new life with a wonderful man who I refer to as my “Upgrade”. However, my attempts to start over did not stop my ex and his new girlfriend (who had been my roommate) from harassing me incessantly, harassing my boyfriend, spreading around horrible things about me that were not true, etc. I put a restraining order on my ex-roommate, but the judge dismissed it as a ‘property dispute’. It’s been kind of like one of those nightmares where you keep feeling like you’re waking up, but you’re really not.

Praise Ceiling Cat for my boyfriend, though. Every time I would receive an email from one of them and would feel like my head was about to explode, he would say “Cute Overload! NOW!“. The humor, silliness, and generally overwhelming cuteness would put me in a better mood almost instantly and help me calm down much more quickly. Then I could write a response that was appropriate. It was very helpful — for me and for him

I must also mention that this was all going on during the fall and winter, when my mental health issues are at their most debilitating. The fact that the worst I ever did was write an unsent poison pen letter is miraculous.

So, thank you thank you thank you, Cute Overload, from both me and my boyfriend.

Much love,
[Name witheld]

—

[This part is from Meg] P.S. Cute Overload! NOW!

Nyac the female otter passed away first, in 2008. And now, it’s been reported that the other otter, Milo, has also passed away. Interestingly, Milo was the first otter to ever be diagnosed with lymphoma and also received chemotherapy treatment!

Rest in peace lil’ dudes.

Thank you for the news, Ant.

Sender-Inner Haley L. says: “Forgive the camera shaking, I was laughing too hard.”

“I brought it home and scribbled down a few birthdays coming up and my roommates and I planned a few parties, the calender made us laugh and gave me things to look forward to. Any day I just wanted to go back to bed and give up, I’d check the calender and laugh at the cute animals.”

She continued; “As months passed the pictures got cut out and put into letters to my best friend Ashley. She’s in peace corps in Zambia. After we left college we both explored new areas and she too was homesick and alone in a new place (and fighting malaria, dysentery, etc). One of the few bright spots for Ash are letters and the cuteoverload pictures and captions are exactly her style of humor.”

“Looking back at 2011, that calendar kept me organized and upbeat. You really dont know how much it helped. I’m sure sometimes you guys feel like your job is a tad silly, but truly you’re doing a valuable service. Thanks and I can’t wait for the new year to start so I can put up my new 2012 Cute Overload calendar.”

PS I’m doing really awesome now. Depression can suck it!”

Thank you so much for your inspiring story and for letting us post it, Barbara B. Photos of Waffles the kitteh by Lisa M. Astounding hover facts from Uplift Program.

Will you stand above me?
Look my way and never love me?
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling,
Down, down, down…

Sender-Inner Jenny B. says, “let people know there are animals out there that need us desperately. And to always treat them with the same dignity and kindness we would like to receive ourselves.” Photo: Kitten, December, 2007, Hoi An, VietNam flooding disaster; unknown photographer.

Note: We welcome comments from anyone who has source information about this photo. Thank you.

Molly’s never heard of Moms Against Dogs Driving, Amy B.?