Beth Blenz-Clucas blogs about music for kids that grownups will love too
Due to the allergies rampant in our family, our only pets have been the occasional ant farm or backyard squirrel. A lot of our friends love their pets to pieces, though, and it’s fun to be entertained with tales of their antics. Sometimes I feel a little wistful about not having a pet, but after talking with friends who have them, I realize how simple and carefree my life is without them.
When I was a kid, we had a few dogs, and if we were ever to get another pet, I’d probably pick a pooch again, mostly because of how much love you get in return. I think cats are beautiful to look at and fun to watch. But they are not a dependable choice in pets. You might luck out and get a purry little ball of fur, content to keep you company all day long with minimal bother. I’ve seen a few cats like that. My friend Peggy’s handsome orange cat Gilbert even has his own special perch on the windowsill where he watches the world go by in a very serene way. I don’t think he eats songbirds; he’s mostly a contented indoor cat and a great companion. On the other hand, she has another cat that causes no end of trouble, climbing all over every available surface and not reliably making it to the cat box.
Hmmm. Another friend tried to make a rule when he allowed his kids to bring cats into the house: they had to stay out of the bedrooms. Today, the cats sleep on my friend’s head and wake him up a few times most nights.
One of the funniest cat-themed songs I’ve ever heard is by Randy Kaplan. “No Nothing” begins by talking about his sweet, window-loving kitty Muffin, and then introduces us to a very naughty furball he calls “Nothing.” Nothing wreaks havoc on his house, nearly ruining a piece of art handed down from his grandmother. Like many Randy Kaplan songs, “No Nothing” strays from the main point a little bit. Randy’s pet monkey (whose name sounds like a quack – “Kqxhc”) gets into the fray, and somehow we’re focusing on the packets of duck sauce in his refrigerator by the end. It’s a hoot. A fan created a fun music video of “No Nothing.” As the fan says, “if you enjoy unusual taste in music, you’ll appreciate this:”
The Stray Cats’ 1980s hit “Stray Cat Strut” is another catchy cat themed tune that kids will love. This live performance video of Brian Setzer and his band captures their enduring appeal:
Beth Blenz-Clucas is a Portland-based mom and musical bystander. When she’s not trying to convince a journalist to listen to the latest indie kids’ music CD, she’s enjoying the fact that she no longer needs to find a babysitter to enjoy the vibrant Northwest music scene. Check out more of her writing at Sugar Mountain PR.
Photos via Beth Blenz-Clucas and Randy Kaplan
