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The Mad Cat Lady

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  • The Mad Cat LadyBarbarella a.k.a. The Mad Cat Lady Born in 1966 and raised in Germany. From age 7 had private piano tuition. Taught piano from age 14 onwards. Moved to London in 1984. Played keyboards and sang backing vocals in various bands in London, most notably electro-goth band “Anno Lucis“. Spent a lot of nights in the 80s in the London Goth & New Romantic Scene (Batcave, Frizzby Fox/Hippodrome, Kitcat Club, Slimelight, Camden Palace etc.) Jobs in London: waitress, bike messenger, piano teacher, peepshow dancer, translator, and later medical and legal secretary. 1990s: Started recording solo music projects. 1996-7: Started to learn Web Design and moving away from making music to creating websites. Took part in a lot of Sci-Fi conventions all over the UK and one Babylon5 one in Los Angeles, always dressed up in various costumes (see Photo Gallery). 2000: Adopted Lugosi & Spider from the RSPCA March. Last music projects written and recorded in 2002/3 (Dominatrix Project). 2003: Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. 2004: Moved to Lanzarote, Canary Islands (click here for location). Started learning Photography (specialising in cats) and setting up Catnip Camera and Picture Lanzarote. 2006: Adopted Persian Princess Janelle (after her human “mummy” Teresa died). 2007: Diagnosed with…
  • Meet the CatsLugosi Bully Boy and overall Boss Cat. Likes: Fighting.  Dislikes: Car Journeys. Ruby Little Orange Spitfire Likes: Wrestling with her Brothers, Food, Playing. Dislikes: Being told off for being naughty. Spider Mischief Maker Extraordinaire. Likes: Getting in Trouble. Dislikes: The Vacuum Cleaner. Lugosi, Spider & Ruby – “Haus von Fluffenstein” – Videos Videos of Janelle too (who now lives happily with a good friend) [back to top]
    • Spider & Lugosi R.I.P. Book of MemoriesIn order to deal with my grief over losing my sweet, gentle boy Spider to cancer on 2nd September 2017, I have started a “Book of Memories” as suggested in the very helpful publication “Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers“. This is a creative way to write down all the cute and funny moments that you have of your furbaby, to which you can then come back to in later times/years.  Memories do fade over time, so I started this a few days after his passing while things about him are still very fresh in my mind. It helps work through my feelings of loss over him and turn something so incredibly sad into something beautiful, loving and creative.  I will publish more photos of each page from the book as I go along.  [gallery columns="5" size="medium" link="file" ids="9580,9599,9581,9582,9583,9584,9585,9586,9587,9588,9589,9590,9591,9592,9593,9594,9595,9596,9597"]
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    • The Kitties
    • SciFi, Horror & Fantasy Conventions/Events
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  • Gothic LanzaroteYou might think that a sunny island like Lanzarote (situated HERE in the world) is totally unsuitable for Goths. What have sunshine and beaches to do with Goth, I hear you ask? Well, first of all, deep down most Goths *love* sunshine – meaning that they don’t like to be *in* it because it will damage their gothic pallor, but they love *looking* at it. Secondly, if you hate the beach in the daytime then you visit it at night. You know it’s the Goth thing to do. ;) But to get to the point now, there are actually quite a few things that will attract Goths to this lovely island. The total lack of a Goth Scene is of course not one of them, but while living here I have discovered many things that are very gothic indeed! :) Volcanoes Can you think of a force more beautiful and destructive? These are both qualities that Goths very much live for. Lanzarote is full of volcanoes, although only one is still “smoking” – this one is in the gorgeous Timanfaya National Park and you can actually eat food that has been grilled over the heat of this volcano up there…
    • A Friend’s View of Lanzarote
  • Music Projectsa:link, a:visited, a:active {color:#9E0E11;text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold} a:hover{color:white} p {padding-bottom:20px} h3 {padding-bottom:13px} The following are sound snippets (approx. 2 mins each song) from my old music projects from the early 90s up to around 2003. After that, all my creativity has gone into web design, graphic design and photography, and I haven´t written or recorded anything new since then. Also, sadly, due to bad co-ordination and pain from my illnesses (fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis) I have not been playing or singing live. My music is divided into 3 projects, because the styles are so wildly different, there was no way they would have ever fitted together. The “First” and “Endymion” Projects Under the name “SilkRush” I wrote and recorded the album “First – The Light Side” which contains all my cheerful pop and dance songs (plus some ballads), and “Endymion – The Dark Side” which reveals the darker gothic side of my music – “Shadow Dancers” (Endymion), for example, is a haunting goth piece with Kate Bush-style vocals, whereas “In the Summer Rain” (First) is a beautiful commercial ballad! The “Dominatrix” Project If you are into hardhitting industrial, trance and dark techno sounds then you might prefer this to SilkRush’s more “sane”…
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  • The Mad Cat LadyBarbarella a.k.a. The Mad Cat Lady Born in 1966 and raised in Germany. From age 7 had private piano tuition. Taught piano from age 14 onwards. Moved to London in 1984. Played keyboards and sang backing vocals in various bands in London, most notably electro-goth band “Anno Lucis“. Spent a lot of nights in the 80s in the London Goth & New Romantic Scene (Batcave, Frizzby Fox/Hippodrome, Kitcat Club, Slimelight, Camden Palace etc.) Jobs in London: waitress, bike messenger, piano teacher, peepshow dancer, translator, and later medical and legal secretary. 1990s: Started recording solo music projects. 1996-7: Started to learn Web Design and moving away from making music to creating websites. Took part in a lot of Sci-Fi conventions all over the UK and one Babylon5 one in Los Angeles, always dressed up in various costumes (see Photo Gallery). 2000: Adopted Lugosi & Spider from the RSPCA March. Last music projects written and recorded in 2002/3 (Dominatrix Project). 2003: Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. 2004: Moved to Lanzarote, Canary Islands (click here for location). Started learning Photography (specialising in cats) and setting up Catnip Camera and Picture Lanzarote. 2006: Adopted Persian Princess Janelle (after her human “mummy” Teresa died). 2007: Diagnosed with…
  • Meet the CatsLugosi Bully Boy and overall Boss Cat. Likes: Fighting.  Dislikes: Car Journeys. Ruby Little Orange Spitfire Likes: Wrestling with her Brothers, Food, Playing. Dislikes: Being told off for being naughty. Spider Mischief Maker Extraordinaire. Likes: Getting in Trouble. Dislikes: The Vacuum Cleaner. Lugosi, Spider & Ruby – “Haus von Fluffenstein” – Videos Videos of Janelle too (who now lives happily with a good friend) [back to top]
    • Spider & Lugosi R.I.P. Book of MemoriesIn order to deal with my grief over losing my sweet, gentle boy Spider to cancer on 2nd September 2017, I have started a “Book of Memories” as suggested in the very helpful publication “Soul Comfort for Cat Lovers“. This is a creative way to write down all the cute and funny moments that you have of your furbaby, to which you can then come back to in later times/years.  Memories do fade over time, so I started this a few days after his passing while things about him are still very fresh in my mind. It helps work through my feelings of loss over him and turn something so incredibly sad into something beautiful, loving and creative.  I will publish more photos of each page from the book as I go along.  [gallery columns="5" size="medium" link="file" ids="9580,9599,9581,9582,9583,9584,9585,9586,9587,9588,9589,9590,9591,9592,9593,9594,9595,9596,9597"]
  • Blog
  • Photo Gallery
    • Myself & Family
    • The Kitties
    • SciFi, Horror & Fantasy Conventions/Events
    • Bands, Clubs & Music
    • Places I have Been – Holidays
    • Airplanes & Helicopters
    • Fireworks
    • Cemeteries[album id=2 template=compact]
  • Gothic LanzaroteYou might think that a sunny island like Lanzarote (situated HERE in the world) is totally unsuitable for Goths. What have sunshine and beaches to do with Goth, I hear you ask? Well, first of all, deep down most Goths *love* sunshine – meaning that they don’t like to be *in* it because it will damage their gothic pallor, but they love *looking* at it. Secondly, if you hate the beach in the daytime then you visit it at night. You know it’s the Goth thing to do. ;) But to get to the point now, there are actually quite a few things that will attract Goths to this lovely island. The total lack of a Goth Scene is of course not one of them, but while living here I have discovered many things that are very gothic indeed! :) Volcanoes Can you think of a force more beautiful and destructive? These are both qualities that Goths very much live for. Lanzarote is full of volcanoes, although only one is still “smoking” – this one is in the gorgeous Timanfaya National Park and you can actually eat food that has been grilled over the heat of this volcano up there…
    • A Friend’s View of Lanzarote
  • Music Projectsa:link, a:visited, a:active {color:#9E0E11;text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold} a:hover{color:white} p {padding-bottom:20px} h3 {padding-bottom:13px} The following are sound snippets (approx. 2 mins each song) from my old music projects from the early 90s up to around 2003. After that, all my creativity has gone into web design, graphic design and photography, and I haven´t written or recorded anything new since then. Also, sadly, due to bad co-ordination and pain from my illnesses (fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis) I have not been playing or singing live. My music is divided into 3 projects, because the styles are so wildly different, there was no way they would have ever fitted together. The “First” and “Endymion” Projects Under the name “SilkRush” I wrote and recorded the album “First – The Light Side” which contains all my cheerful pop and dance songs (plus some ballads), and “Endymion – The Dark Side” which reveals the darker gothic side of my music – “Shadow Dancers” (Endymion), for example, is a haunting goth piece with Kate Bush-style vocals, whereas “In the Summer Rain” (First) is a beautiful commercial ballad! The “Dominatrix” Project If you are into hardhitting industrial, trance and dark techno sounds then you might prefer this to SilkRush’s more “sane”…
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Author: Barbarella Buchner

New Toys for Ruby
  • Ruby

New Toys for Ruby

  • 2 July 201729 June 2017

Ruby: “Hmmm, I’ll pretend I’m interested for 2 minutes…” I have given up buying toys for them now because they are always more interested in homemade toys, like rolled up…

That elusive red dot!
  • Silly Pics
  • Spider

That elusive red dot!

  • 29 June 2017

Spider: “What is this sorcery? Why can I never catch the darn thing?!”

Snuggling with my girl Ruby
  • Barbarella
  • Ruby
  • Videos

Snuggling with my girl Ruby

  • 20 June 201716 June 2017

Listen to those supersonic purrs! 🙂

City the Kitty, Crusader against Declawing
  • Instagram
  • Miscellaneous
  • Other Cats
  • Paws

City the Kitty, Crusader against Declawing

  • 17 June 201729 June 2017

We are proud to be Instagram furriends with this amazing ginger and white tom called City. He and his mom, Lori, have been tirelessly campaigning and fighting against the outdated…

I love my boy Lugosi!
  • Barbarella
  • Lugosi

I love my boy Lugosi!

  • 14 June 2017

He hates having selfies with me taken, but decided to tolerate it for 20 seconds or so. 😉  

Love Cats Ruby & Lugosi
  • Cute
  • Ruby & Lugosi

Love Cats Ruby & Lugosi

  • 12 June 201710 June 2017

Listen to those purrs! She loves her “big bro” so much! 🙂

Ruby the Firefox
  • Ruby

Ruby the Firefox

  • 8 June 20172 June 2017
Selfies with Kitties
  • Barbarella
  • Ruby
  • Ruby & Spider
  • Spider

Selfies with Kitties

  • 4 June 201726 May 2017

Selfie with Ruby Selfie with Spider – sorry, but Lugosi *hates* selfies with me being taken, but I’ll try and get one of him soon anyway!   

Ruby’s Feline Hyperesthesia
  • Miscellaneous
  • Ruby

Ruby’s Feline Hyperesthesia

  • 3 June 20172 June 2017

**Warning: Cat lovers / parents may find the video below distressing.**  However, I post this here to increase awareness of the rather common, but not well known feline condition called…

Finally, a Pet Crematorium for Lanzarote!
  • Miscellaneous
  • Reviews

Finally, a Pet Crematorium for Lanzarote!

  • 2 June 20172 June 2017

Someone has been listening to the many voices of pet owners here in Lanzarote, and we now finally have a crematorium for our furbabies! I know this is quite a…

Spider & Lugosi at the Vets!
  • Lugosi
  • Spider
  • Spider & Lugosi

Spider & Lugosi at the Vets!

  • 1 June 201726 May 2017

Lugosi (left) doesn’t look very happy, but I don’t blame him, because he had a thermometer stuck up his bum when I took this picture!   

Ruby’s Ginger Pawsies
  • Paws
  • Ruby

Ruby’s Ginger Pawsies

  • 29 May 201726 May 2017

Those white tufts are just too adorable. 🙂

Canna-Pet Natural Cannabinoids – Spider One Year Later
  • Reviews
  • Spider
  • Videos

Canna-Pet Natural Cannabinoids – Spider One Year Later

  • 26 May 201726 May 2017

I wrote an article on Canna-Pet’s natural cannabinoids in September 2016, documenting how they helped my boy Spider with his ear tumour and kidney disease, and thought I’d write an update on…

  • Instagram
  • Lugosi
  • Videos

Hoovering the Cat

  • 17 May 201727 April 2017

Maybe you shouldn’t try this at home… most cats run 10 miles when they even hear the darn thing! 😉   Lugosi lets me hoover him again… ???? #cats #hoover…

Cat & Dog Humour – Bruce Robinson
  • Miscellaneous
  • Other Cats
  • Silly Pics

Cat & Dog Humour – Bruce Robinson

  • 15 May 2017

I absolutely love this! 😀  For more of Bruce’s hilarious cat and dog cartoons, go and visit his website or Facebook page. 

Cat Yoga and TV
  • Silly Pics
  • Spider

Cat Yoga and TV

  • 14 May 201727 April 2017

Spider trying to stay healthy while watching the goggle box. 🙂

Ruby’s Freak Whisker
  • Ruby

Ruby’s Freak Whisker

  • 10 May 201727 April 2017

Behold Ruby’s Magic Black Whisker!

V.I.C. – Very Important Cat
  • Spider

V.I.C. – Very Important Cat

  • 6 May 201727 April 2017

Spider is the V.I.C. today! 🙂

Xena, Not So Warrior Kitty
  • Other Cats
  • Outdoors

Xena, Not So Warrior Kitty

  • 3 May 201727 April 2017

This is Xena, one of my neighbours’ cats. She is rather shy and feels more secure peering down on me from the safety of the roof. 🙂

My Cat Stuff: Kitty Ice “Cubes”
  • Barbarella
  • Cat Stuff

My Cat Stuff: Kitty Ice “Cubes”

  • 30 April 201727 April 2017

Not sure what to call these because they’re not cube shaped… feline ice shapes? Kitty Icicles? Cat Ice? Let me have your suggestions. 🙂

The Not So Pleasant Side of Being Owned by Cats
  • Ruby

The Not So Pleasant Side of Being Owned by Cats

  • 27 April 201727 April 2017

Ruby: “Look mummy! I barfed on the bed, especially for you!”  Teh

Spider & Lugosi Eating Beef Meatballs
  • Lugosi
  • Ruby
  • Spider
  • Spider & Lugosi
  • Videos

Spider & Lugosi Eating Beef Meatballs

  • 25 April 2017

Nom nom nom! Ruby doesn’t like beef, so she just watches the boys – but she got some other treats instead! 🙂

Ok then. Who farted?!
  • 3 Cats
  • Lugosi
  • Ruby
  • Ruby with Spider & Lugosi
  • Silly Pics
  • Spider

Ok then. Who farted?!

  • 18 April 201717 April 2017

Lugosi! It was you!!!! Pooo-eeeee, that really pongs! Ruby & Spider hide their noses behind their paws…. 

The Tabcat Cat Tracker – My Review
  • Instagram
  • Miscellaneous
  • Other Cats

The Tabcat Cat Tracker – My Review

  • 14 April 201717 April 2017

I recently got the chance to test out the Tabcat Cat Tracker. Have you ever struggled to find your cat inside your house or around the garden or in the…

Spider and his Ping Pong Ball – Senior Cats Rule!
  • Cute
  • Spider
  • Videos

Spider and his Ping Pong Ball – Senior Cats Rule!

  • 10 April 2017

Would you believe both him and his brother Lugosi are going to be 18 years old in July? Sadly, Lugosi is not even half as active as Spider, but every…

Ruby Loaf in Red
  • Kitty Loaf
  • Ruby

Ruby Loaf in Red

  • 2 April 201724 March 2017
The Morning After The Night Before…
  • Catnip
  • Lugosi
  • Silly Pics

The Morning After The Night Before…

  • 30 March 201724 March 2017

Lugosi: “Awww crap. I am getting too old for this. I really gotta lay off the ´nip!” *sigh*

Excuse Me! Cats Do Not Eat Veggie Burgers!
  • 3 Cats
  • Lugosi
  • Ruby
  • Ruby with Spider & Lugosi
  • Silly Pics
  • Spider

Excuse Me! Cats Do Not Eat Veggie Burgers!

  • 27 March 201724 March 2017

So mummy goes to a food festival and she brings us back…. a vegetarian burger? WTF?! Bad Mummy! 🙁

Ruby Knows How To Keep Her Backside Cool
  • Ruby
  • Videos

Ruby Knows How To Keep Her Backside Cool

  • 24 March 2017

If only every kitty was as clever as Ruby, we would have a lot more cool cats out there. 😉

  • Cute
  • Instagram
  • Spider
  • Videos

Spider plays Football from inside his Tent

  • 20 March 201715 March 2017

Spider is almost 18 years old! Can you believe he’s still so playful? He cracks me up, LOL.    Spider plays football from *inside* his tent. ⚽? Note: Spider is almost…

Happy St Catrick’s Day 2017
  • 3 Cats
  • Lugosi
  • Ruby
  • Ruby with Spider & Lugosi
  • Spider

Happy St Catrick’s Day 2017

  • 17 March 201715 March 2017

Hope you find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

Spider Relaxes
  • Silly Pics
  • Spider

Spider Relaxes

  • 15 March 201710 March 2017

Spider: “I don’t really need these pills. I am a natural at (yu)relaxing!”

Ruby bites her Grooming Brush
  • Ruby
  • Videos

Ruby bites her Grooming Brush

  • 13 March 201710 March 2017

Ruby loves being brushed, but she just can’t help eating the brush! LOL

Understanding Cat Behaviour
  • Catnip
  • Miscellaneous

Understanding Cat Behaviour

  • 10 March 201715 March 2017

It’s tempting to think that all cats share the same traits, and of course it’s easy to recognise that purring signifies contentment and that when a cat pricks up its…

Ruby and the Blue Sky
  • Ruby

Ruby and the Blue Sky

  • 7 March 20173 March 2017
Nom! Treats for the Boys
  • Lugosi
  • Spider
  • Spider & Lugosi

Nom! Treats for the Boys

  • 3 March 20173 March 2017

Apologies to our fans for not posting anything over the last couple of weeks – no reason, just being lazy! 😉  So let us continue with the boys, enjoying some yummy…

  • Catster
  • Feral Cats
  • Miscellaneous
  • Other Cats

Freddy’s Cathouse – Feral Cat Rescue Charity in the Canary Islands

  • 16 February 201715 February 2017

I recently met up to do an interview with Freddy of Freddy’s Cathouse in Playa Blanca, a town in the west of our island of Lanzarote. Him and his charity…

Ruby in da House, yo!
  • Cat DIY
  • Catster
  • Ruby

Ruby in da House, yo!

  • 15 February 2017

I made this cute kitty box a couple of years ago (instruction how to make your own HERE), and Ruby just loves hanging out in it. 🙂

Paws and Stern Kitty Faces
  • Lugosi
  • Paws
  • Spider
  • Spider & Lugosi

Paws and Stern Kitty Faces

  • 12 February 20179 February 2017

Here are the boys, all paws and serious faces!

Ruby Helps Wrapping Presents
  • Ruby

Ruby Helps Wrapping Presents

  • 9 February 20179 February 2017

Remember Spider helping me change the bed clothes? Well, my kitties appear to be my ever present little helpers, and today Ruby helped me wrap a birthday present… 

Spider Cat Helps Change The Bed Clothes
  • Barbarella
  • Spider
  • Videos

Spider Cat Helps Change The Bed Clothes

  • 1 February 2017

Look at him supurrvising his mummy! He’s really good at it. 🙂

  • Instagram
  • Ruby
  • Videos

Ruby Playing In The Bathtub

  • 27 January 201724 January 2017

Look at her go mental! 🙂   Ruby goes mental in the bathtub… ????? The simple toys (aluminium foil ball) are always the best! #cats #bathtub #playing #tabbies #tabbycats #gatos…

  • Barbarella
  • Cute
  • Instagram
  • Spider
  • Videos

It’s A Dirty Job, But Some Cat’s Gotta Do It

  • 24 January 2017

Spider supurrvising me changing the bed clothes… It’s a dirty job, but some cat’s gotta do it!   Spider supurrvising me changing the bed clothes… It’s a dirty job, but…

Last Night in Mad Cat Lady Land
  • Feral Cats
  • Other Cats

Last Night in Mad Cat Lady Land

  • 21 January 201721 January 2017

We were dining at La Dolce Vita in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen last night, and there were so many beautiful kitties skitting back and forth under the…

Spider And His Arch Groomer
  • Spider
  • Videos

Spider And His Arch Groomer

  • 16 January 2017

Funnily enough, Spider is the only one out of my 3 cats who uses this contraption, and with much gusto. 🙂

  • Barbarella
  • Instagram
  • Lugosi
  • Spider
  • Spider & Lugosi
  • Videos

Anniversary Treats

  • 10 January 20179 January 2017

In case you missed yesterday’s post, it was the boys’ and my 13th anniversary. Here’s a little video from our Instagram of them getting their special 13th treats. 🙂    13th…

Happy Lucky 13th Anniversary, Boys!
  • Barbarella
  • Lugosi
  • Spider
  • Spider & Lugosi
  • Videos

Happy Lucky 13th Anniversary, Boys!

  • 9 January 20179 January 2017

It’s been 13 years since I “married” Lugosi and Spider. In 2015, we held a little “renewal of meows” ceremony which was also featured on TV in Channel 5’s documentary about…

Ruby’s 2017 Fashion Prediction
  • Ruby

Ruby’s 2017 Fashion Prediction

  • 5 January 20172 January 2017

Ruby predicts that orange will be the new black in 2017…. 

Spider’s New Year’s Resolution
  • Spider

Spider’s New Year’s Resolution

  • 2 January 2017

To start a new pagan religion involving kitties as gods. 

Von Fluffenstein Annual Christmas Tuna Event
  • 3 Cats
  • Instagram
  • Lugosi
  • Ruby
  • Ruby with Spider & Lugosi
  • Spider
  • Videos

Von Fluffenstein Annual Christmas Tuna Event

  • 25 December 201625 December 2016

So there’s me going out of my way to get them a goose breast fillet as a special treat this Christmas. Of course, Ruby stuck her nose up at it…

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My Other Websites

  • Canariaspace Web Design in Lanzarote
  • Catnip Camera – Feline (+ Other) Photography
  • My Tokyo 2010 Blog
  • Picture Lanzarote Photography
  • The Mad Cat Lady´s Personal Blog
  • YouTube: Haus von Fluffenstein

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