Love to eat them mousies . . .
I fell in love with B. Kliban's striped cat in the mid-1970s, shortly after illustrator Bernard Kliban's first book, Cat, was published. Now, this ubiquitous, rather portly striped cat graces everything from books to shirts to sugar bowls which, by the way, are great collectible pieces.
Here's my favorite B. Kliban cat verse (picture the cat sitting on a stool, strumming a guitar, singin' a tune):
Love to eat them mousies. . .
Mousies what I love to eat.
Bite they little heads off,
nibble on they tiny feet.
The B. Kliban Cat Creator at a Glance
The B is for Bernard. Now you know.
- Bernard "Hap" Kliban (January 1, 1935 - August 12, 1990) was an influential cartoonist born in New York.
- He studied at the Pratt Institute and spent time painting and traveling in Europe before moving to California, where he lived in the North Beach section of San Francisco with his wife, Mary Kay and his daughter Kalia (Mary Kay was his first wife and a talented artist who later also became a noted cartoonist in her own right as M.K. Brown ).
- In 1962, Kliban became a Playboy cartoonist, contributing cartoons until his death. He is best-known for the book Cat, a collection of cartoons about cats drawn in Kliban's distinctive style. The cat cartoons were discovered by a Playboy editor and the 1975 book Cat was born. This led to several other books of cartoons ending with Advanced Cartooning in 1993. Since Cat, his cartoons have adorned many products including stickers, calendars, mugs, and t-shirts.
- Bernard "Hap" Kliban died at the young age of 55, two weeks after undergoing heart surgery at the University of California Medical Center in San Francisco. He is survived by his wife, Judith Kamman Kliban (who later married actor Bill Bixby shortly before Bixby's death in 1993), as well as two daughters from other marriages, Kalia and Sarah Kliban.
"Cat"
The Anniversary Edition of B. Kliban's first cat cartoons book.
"Love is an important and operative word in this little volume. Not one of Kliban's cartoons is made at the expense of cats. Instead, each opens a door to the essential nature of our furry friends, and the non-judgmental affection that they display to those in their circle of trust. A snarl turns into a lick, a meow into a purr and then all is well. Kliban is the only artist I know who has managed to really capture the feline Mona Lisa smile. You know, the one that cats use to melt their owners. Cats forgive with a grace from which us humans could learn a great deal. And Kliban captures it all. Many of the cartoons are not really cartoons, but innocent studies of the artists own cats, drawn with genuine affection."
(From a reader's review of this book at the link below on amazon.com)
Quick Poll: What do you think of the B. Kliban Cat?
The 2009 B. Kliban Cat Calendars
Featuring the ubiquitous striped cat that everyone loves on a calendar for every desk and every wall.
B. Kliban CatCalendar 2009 Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
A dozen full-size pictures of a fat black-and-white striped cat.
You've gotta love it for your wall!
The 2009 B Kliban Box Calendar
What's better than a Kliban cat-a-month? How about a Kliban cat-a-day?
CatCalendar 2009 365-Day Tear-Off Calendar
Amazon Price: $10.63 (as of 07/06/2009)
B. Kliban's Cat and his compatriots ski, strum, swim, surf, bask, snack, snooze, and mug their way through 2009 with typical blissful Catitude.
In this colorful 324-page, 313-image desk calendar (Saturdays and Sundays share a page and an illustration), Cat and the gang display their usual madcap panache.
For the Busy B. Kliban Cat Lover, A Hard Cover Engagement Calendar
How about a cat a week?
How About B. Klliban Cat Postcards?
You'll get them with this softcover engagement calendar for 2009.
B. Kliban Cat Postcards 2009 Softcover Engagement Calendar
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
This 2009 engagement calendar is illustrated with 26 color images of the striped scamps-brandishing umbrellas, tucking into a fishy feast, suiting up for the latest fashion-fad exercise routine, and more.
Each image is a detachable postcard! The calendar also includes full-page 2009 and 2010 yearly grids and a page for notes.
Decorate That Small Space On Your Wall with a Mini Kliban Cat Wall Calendar
You'll think the cat had kittens!
B. Kliban CatCalendar 2009 Mini Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
B. Kliban Cat Mini Wall Calendar: A dozen colorful images of Cat are here presented in a calendar small enough to find its way into any small place a curious Cat might squeeze itself into. Or indulge the undisputed ruler of your household by posting it prominently above the cat door or cat dish.
To miss this compact calendar of cavorting Cats would surely be a Catastrophe!
B. Kliban Hula Cat Stationery
Great for thank you's or just to keep in touch with your Kliban cat-loving friends.
KLIBAN HULA CAT STATIONERY GIFT SET
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
They'll love this delightful Kliban Hula Cat Stationery Gift Set. Palm trees make a great setting for this fat cat in a hula skirt.
The set includes a matching standing frame that stores a journal, address book, small notepad and adorable cat-tail pencil.
Vote up your favorite B. Kliban Cat Cards
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Chin Rub
Brand New! Hard To Find! Kliban Cat Christmas Card more...1 point
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Christmas Basket
Brand New! Hard To Find! Kliban Cat Christmas Card more...1 point
B. Kliban Stationery Set (Pack of 2)
48 sheets (12 each of 4 designs), 25 envelopes, an more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Cat Snowman
That famous black and gray striped cat so wonderfu more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Tree Frolics
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Discounted. That famo more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Cat Winter
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Discounted. That famo more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Cat Gift
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Discounted. That famo more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Cat Noel Assortment
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards Assortment - Discounted more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Santa Hug
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Discounted. That famo more...0 points
Kliban Christmas Cards - Tight Fit
That famous black and gray striped cat so wonderfu more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Card - Cat Xmas Assortment
Brand New! Hard To Find! Kliban Cat Christmas Card more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Cat Tea
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Discounted. That famo more...0 points
Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Cat Walk Through Snow
Hard To Find! Kliban Cat Christmas Cards - Discoun more...0 points
B. Kliban Cat Collectibles on eBay
As items with his image become more scarce, it seems that the fat striped cat is more popular than ever.
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B. Kliban Cats on Clothes
All I want for Christmas is a Kliban Cat T-Shirt!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byB. Kliban Cats for Crafts
Rubber stamps and other craft items from eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byB. Kliban's Other Cartoons
It wasn't always about cats. (These books aren't for kids.)
Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head & Other Drawings
All the Kliban people--from Houdini escaping New Jersey to the famed Genghis and Sylvia Khan.
Two Guys Fooling Around with the Moon
Brilliantly drawn and bitterly funny, these cartoons thoroughly demonstrate better living through plywood, reaffirm that what's good for business is good for America-even if Your Government in Action has taken to the streets-the Madonna is out of order and Yoga has been made silly.
Shout Out For The B. Kliban Cat!
What do you think of B. Kliban and his cats? Like this page? Leave us a comment, then bookmark us so you can visit again.
JaguarJulie wrote...
Yep, as a cat lady, I am a huge fan of cats of all kinds -- and these are particularly special -- they are so cute!
Posted May 28, 2009
Swisstoons wrote...
Kliban was one of the best, for sure. Rolling this tribute to him to three of my own humble cartoon lenses.
Posted May 27, 2009
SusanFaye wrote...
My first apartment after college, in the late 70s, was decorated with Kliban--sheets, towels, mugs. I still have a pot holder from back then. Loved the slightly twisted, whimsical humor. Thirty years later, my son has Kliban in his dorm room!
Posted March 23, 2009
sparklenz wrote...
It's great to see the Kliban cat with a spot on Squidoo, so a big thanks for making this lens. I haven't seen him around since I was a kid and not many people outside our family seem to know about him. Nice to meet up with him again!
Posted January 09, 2009
mulberry wrote...
Yep, I remember him and I remember the "Love to eat them mousies..." ditty too!
Posted May 23, 2008
stargazer00 wrote...
Love the Kliban cats. I had that t-shirt in the mid-70's. "Love to eat them mousies, mousies what I love to eat..."
Posted April 28, 2008
Bob_Druwing wrote...
Susan52,
Big Kliban fan, but less so of the cats. You're clearly aware of the "division", shall we say. in his work. Nice lens. Informative and instructive.
Bob_Druwing
Posted April 27, 2008
clouda9 wrote...
Toot cute! We had Fat Cat when I was growing up and he was the spitting image and had the same funny attitude.
Posted April 02, 2008
