Morris The Cat Visits Create With Joy!
Today I have some exciting news to share. We have a celebrity cat in the house! Please give a royal welcome to our esteemed guest, the illustrious Morris The Cat!
I have always been a fan of Morris The Cat – the feline superstar who is known throughout the world for his starring role in more than fifty 9Lives cat food commercials from the 1970s through today.
As if that was not enough for him to hang his hat on, Morris gained even greater fame by becoming an advo-cat for kitty adoptions with his “Million Cat Rescue” initiative.
This year, Morris took a trip to South by Southwest as a feline technology correspondent!
It seems that America’s favorite ‘charmingly choosy’ feline is always on the go, but I recently had the chance to catch up with Morris to talk show biz, naps, and how he’s giving back through his new effort called ‘Live Well & Prospurr.’
An Interview With Morris The Cat
You’ve been a TV star since the 1970s and yet you look as vivacious as ever. How do you keep your youthful glow?
People ask me all the time if I’ve had work done. But in fact, my whiskers stay perky thanks to a disciplined regimen of napping, sleeping, napping some more, eating (9Lives, of course), and just generally hanging out. I want to emphasize this last one because even though it’s categorically important for our health and happiness, it’s also the easiest to forget as we go about our busy lives. That’s why I developed my Official Guide to Relaxing, Chillin’, Unwinding & More. (I had to take some time away from hanging out to write it, but I hope you’ll agree it was well worth it.)
Are humans allowed to know what’s in this guide or is it for felines only?
Oh no, the guide was written for all species, both two- and four-legged. And let’s face it, cats are pretty good at hanging out already. I know relaxing can be daunting—what with work, kids, errands, and chores—but that’s why I created the 5 levels of hanging out. Even the most stressed out person can master Level 1: Kicking Back. Then, as people get more comfortable with the idea of just relaxing, they can move on to the higher levels and ultimately achieve what I like to call Prospurr.
How does someone know when they’ve achieved Prospurr?
Excellent question, Ramona. Prospurr is the Holy Grail of hanging out. It’s not so much an action as a state of mind, but purr-haps I could describe it best like this: It’s like the moment you flop onto the couch after a hard day, mixed with the tingling sensation of getting scratched behind the ears, rolled into the drool-inducing taste of a bowl of 9Lives. You humans out there probably haven’t tried 9Lives, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one. For more tips on hanging out, go to Prospurr, the website that I built with my own four paws!
I know working in show biz can mean very long hours. How do you keep to your hangout regimen while you’re on set?
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Just like Brad Pitt or Liam Hemsworth, I have a stand-in who sets up all my shots for me. That way I can rest in my trailer—ahem, carrying case—until the cameras start rolling. My stand-in is polyester and has a tag that says “Made in the USA,” but he does the trick. All I have to do is show up and look handsome… which is easy since I’ve spent the whole day getting my beauty rest.
Certainly the entertainment industry, and the world in general, has changed a lot since the 1970s. How do you keep up with the times?
I chase the times like a red-laser dot, and I’m always on the lookout for cool new tech gadgets that help cats and humans live well. One of my new favorites is the Apple Watch—it lets me track how much time I spend ‘napping’ versus the time I spend ‘sleeping.’ AND, today it told me that I took 19 steps going from my bed to my food dish—nothing like working up a sweat before a big meal.
What is the best advice you could give to someone who wants to live a better life?
Watch cat videos! A recent study conducted by some really smart people at Indiana University found that after watching a clip of Lil Bub, Nora the Piano Cat or of course, yours truly, participants felt increased levels of joy and energy. Science doesn’t lie, people! Bonus points if you watch said cat videos curled up in bed or on a fluffy couch.
If a cat watches cat videos, does it have the same effect?
Yes—in fact, the effect is multiplied. It’s like topping 9Lives Super Supper with even more 9Lives Super Supper. Some days I’ll watch cat videos the entire four hours I’m awake.
It seems like you’ve got a pretty nice life, Morris.
I’m very lucky, but to me, being a celebri-cat isn’t about paw-ty hopping or head-booping Hollywood royalty. It’s about enjoying the simple pleasures that let me live well—and helping others to do the same.
You may not know this but I was actually a rescue cat in Chicago before I was ‘discovered.’
This year, with your support, I’m donating a million meals to the ASPCA.
Every time you tweet using #MorrisFeeds I’ll donate a bowl of 9Lives to a kitty in need!
And I haven’t forgotten about my human fans:
Go to Prospurr for a chance to win $300 towards a relaxing getaway… You deserve it!
Thank you, Morris The Cat, for taking the time to visit us at Create With Joy – and thanks, 9 Lives, for making this opportunity to support the ASPCA possible!
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Great interview- I love Morris.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Ellen! Morris is one amazing cat!
Loved the interview. We humans also need to read the Official Guide to Relaxing, Chillin’, Unwinding & More 🙂
This was awesome…I so need to read that book and watch even more cat videos!!
Twitter: breathoffaith
says:
Where is the LOVE button! lol. So loving this post and Morris. THanks for sharing, R! 😉 Hugs to you and those fabulous boys!
Love this interview! Morris has been a lngtime favorite of mine, so thanks for bringing back such good memories!
Twitter: bethere2day
says:
LOL love it what a felinetastic interview heheh!
Have a fantabulosa weekend 🙂
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks Steve – you too!
Awww, that was adorable. Adorable.
Have a purrfect Feline Friday. ☺
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
You too! 🙂
we love Morris! Have a meowy nice day!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks for joining us from Feline Friday Kathe – delighted to meet you! 🙂
Thanks for linking up to Top of the World Style. Great cat!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Who doesn’t love Morris! Thanks for stopping by Nicole!
I’ve adored Morris since I was a little girl! Such a sweet interview. Thanks for brightening my week. 😉 ?
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
So glad you enjoyed the interview – love Morris the Cat!
have a wonderful week Jane and thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: mygbgvlife
says:
My mom was a big Morris fan as a kid, but she hasn’t heard much about him in years. My gramma’s cat actually looks a lot like Morris.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
I enjoyed catching up with Morris – I remember seeing him every time I turned on the TV as a kid as well – it was good to hear that he is still very much active on the social scene!
So happy to have the chance to support the ASPCA.. And we loved meeting Morris up close and personal. Thanks so much for having him be part of our blog hop. Wishing Morris and everyone at your house a great easy Sunday. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much for hosting Janet – think of all of the meals your cats alone could raise with their tweets! 🙂
Have a paw-some day!
Morris is our hero! Thanks for interviewing him.
LOL I enjoyed that but I am afraid to say Morris seems a lot more intelligent than me haha!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Morris is certainly no slouch! 🙂
Great interview. Morris has been around a long time!
LOL! Now we know your secrets!
What a fun interview! Morris seems like a very well grounded celebrity. I’m glad that he knows how to relax in style. I will have to check out the Prospurr contest!
Fun interview!We love hearing about the “different levels.”
What a beautiful cat, I have always wanted a Ginger cat but so far have only ever had tabbies, maybe one day
Mollyxxx
Clearly, my cats have not yet mastered all of the napping levels. I need to read this to them!
Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie
Twitter: momsvictories
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Oh he’s so cute! Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup last week. Pinning to our linkup board and hope you joined us again this weekend.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
says:
Thanks so much Tanya – I love your party and appreciate all that you do!
Too cute. Morris is adorable. I’m a total cat person.