Cat loving queers of the world (so, all of us), rejoice, for today is a very special day. Today I share with you important news about a cat publication that is a mixture of brilliance, innocence, humor, and wit. No, I have not found a new website filled with perfect cat memes. Better: I have discovered PURRRRR!, the “premier cat newsletter of the 1980s.”
Yes, you read that right. Before we all obsessed over cats on the internet, thousands of humans obsessed over cats in a newsletter. Bless this world friends, some things are still pure and good, truly.
And how did I learn about PURRRRR!, you may ask? Via Autostraddle’s very own former More Than Words columnist, Cara Giaimo! Cara now works at Atlas Obscura and published a profile over there featuring the creator of PURRRRR!, Carol Page, who just so happens to be Cara’s neighbor.
The profile is, suffice it to say, a gift.
There are so many good parts of the profile I don’t even know which bits to quote for you. You should just go read the whole thing and learn how Page chose the name PURRRRR!, what each newsletter featured, and why Page believes people will always find a way to read about cats.
And when you’re done, the most special treat: Cara and Atlas Obscura have digitized the first issue of PURRRRR!, so we can all indulge in the best cat publication from the years 1982-1991.
We can only hope Cara plans to digitize the entire collection. It’s the least she could do to make up for never writing another installment of More Than Words, ya know? (JK CARA WE ARE VERY GLAD YOU ARE THRIVING ELSEWHERE WE JUST LOVE CATS AND THIS NEWSLETTER AND ALSO YOU AND YOUR WORDS OKAY?!? OKAY.)
I think Simon Teakettle is a great cat name, but the jury is still out on Benny the Bargain…
this is fair. Benny the Bargain is so named because he cost $10. does that help? you decide!
And with this we have reached peak caturation.
Not gonna lie I was hoping this would be about the funniest thing currently on the internet which is the ongoing drama around Boston’s PURR! Cat Cafe: https://imgur.com/a/pppsk
That was WILD.
Whoa please keep us all apprised of what happens in this situation!!!
omg maybe Cara can do some investigative reporting on that next because that is A LOT ?