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Interview With Text From Mittens Creator

Michelle Maskaly//December 5, 2013//

Interview With Text From Mittens Creator

Michelle Maskaly //December 5, 2013//

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If you’re a pet lover, you’ve likely heard of the popular website and corresponding Facebook page, Texts From Mittens.

The humor site written from a cat’s point-of-view is the work of Angie Bailey, who also just wrote the book whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a parody of cats and craigslist.

Pet Age recently talked with Bailey about how she gets the inspiration for the popular site and more.

Pet Age: Tell us how Texts from Mittens got started.

Bailey: I’ve always thought cats doing human things was absolutely hysterical. This is what drove me to write my book, whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a parody of cats and craigslist. I pitched the idea to Catster.com last February and they approved it. Soon it became popular and became a bi-weekly column. Readers wanted daily Mittens and just last month I created a Tumblr and Facebook  page for Mittens.

Pet Age: Where do you get the inspiration for the witty banter?

Bailey: Cats are just naturally snarky, so it’s not that difficult to imagine a cat doing or saying the things Mittens does. I wanted to give him some quirky human interests, so he became a TV addict, with special adoration for his idol, Judge Judy.

Pet Age: When you started Texts from Mittens, did you ever think it would get this popular, and when you see how  it’s grown, what goes through your head?

Bailey: I guess I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it was funny, but that’s not always a guarantee that readers will connect with it. Thankfully, they’ve really enjoyed the Mittens posts. I’ve introduced a few characters into Mittens’ world and there are several ongoing stories. I’m amazed that readers actually follow along and emotionally connect with these characters! On Facebook I mentioned that I imagine Mittens’ voice to be like Stewie from Family Guy. Most people jumped right in and agreed, but a few got kind of defensive and insisted that was NOT his voice!

Pet Age: Tell us a little about yourself.

Bailey: I’m a freelance writer — most of my work is with Catster.com. My first book, whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds came out in September. I also write Catladyland, an award-winning cat humor blog. I have a husband, two teenagers and three cats. I love silly, irreverent humor and am really a 12-year-old boy living in a 43-year-old woman’s body.

Pet Age:  How would you describe Texts from Mittens to someone who has never seen it before?

Bailey: Mittens is a self-serving cat who has unlimited data and way too much time on his paws, so he harasses his mom, grandma, best friend Stumpy and, of course, Drunk Patty, the  ever-annoying neighbor.