Ruminations: Mickey Meow?

You may recall that Disneyland and Walt Disney World once each had their own bovine Mickey's. In Anaheim, it was Mickey Moo out in the Big Thunder petting area. In Orlando, there was Minnie Moo at Mickey's Toontown Fair. Why, we even had a make your own Mickey Moo story right here on Jim Hill Media; thanks to Patrick Hurd and DoomBuggy Productions back in July of 2003! And this attraction even gave birth to a very popular line of merchandise including clothing for children and adults.

Now we've all seen the recent series of television commercials with the dog's visiting Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In the spirit of "Lady & The Tramp" or using "So This Is Love" from "Cinderella", they have been seen all around the parks enjoying an interesting set of vacations - some with family and others decidedly more romantic. My personal favorite is the rudely interrupted fantasy where the male bumps into the glass window and returns to reality. It's all great marketing to the dog people of the world.

If only Disney would to appeal to the feline side of the coin as well. Some great songs like "Everybody Wants To Be A Cat" from "The Aristocats" come to mind with great opportunities for just the right cat to visit the Park meeting Tigger or at some point dreaming a grandiose cat dream of running after Mickey and Minnie around the Anaheim resort, passing various attractions in a clever commercial or three. (Yes, it's no secret, I'm a cat person, and Cruiser says I should remind you all. Yes, master...)

And guess what? Just the right cat for that part may be out there! Would you believe this feline wonder even sports his own, not-so-hidden-Mickey? Yes it's all true! There actually is a "Mickey-Meow". Honest, that's real!

He's all of eight months old and already a central Florida resident. Seems that his owner, Richard Kupczyk, is a somewhat of a serious cat fancier. For the past five years he has been trying to breed a Manx cat (that's one with out a tail) with a calico pattern. He hasn't had a great deal of success along those lines.

A cat with a mouse to call his own?

But Richard did get a real surprise in one litter in July of 2004. This particular kitten (the only one of 5 without a tail) carries a very interesting and familiar bit of coloring.

While "Mickey Meow" is mostly an indoor cat, he is perfectly healthy and gets a special diet including fresh goats milk. He also has plenty of energy as usual for a cat of that age and is very social and playful, according to Richard.

Curious but not willing to go for a swim just yet...

I guess this all just goes to show that we never know what to expect nature to bring our way!




Thought you might like to know: Cindy Russell's "Where The Magic Begins" has a special event here in Livermore with Margaret Kerry (the concept model for Tinkerbell) coming next week April 15 and 16. If you're in the neighborhood, you really don't want to miss this one! Next week? Roger returns with a look at one of the Disneyland Character Celebrations!