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Kitty Humbug Helps Real Life Animals

The real life story of two cats has inspired this new heartwarming holiday collection by Diana Madaras. It started when Diana visited a veterinary clinic in December 2008 and saw Starsky, the resident mascot of the hospital, outfitted in his Santa hat and darn mad about it. The beloved poodle-cat (shaved to look like a poodle when the vet techs had too much time on their hands) captured Diana's imagination and once back in her studio, began painting Kitty Humbug. Enter Diana's sister, New Jersey television producer, Sandy Levine, who was so captivated by the painting she flew to Tucson to make a short video about the cat and the Kitty Humbug project. Tucson composer David Glinski jumped on board and wrote the original song, Kitty Humbug The Cat, for the video.

In the spring of 2009—with a 10-hour plane ride ahead of her—Diana found the time to begin writing a children's book inspired by the life of Kitty Humbug and that of her own handicapped cat, Klondike. In Kitty Humbug's Christmas Tail, the two cats are faced with the daunting task of saving Christmas when Santa is injured on Christmas Eve. "I had thought about writing this story but wasn't sure it would ever really happen," Diana said. "I jotted down some ideas as the plane took off and 10 hours later when I looked up, we were landing in Madrid." Diana was so excited about the story, she put all other projects on hold and spent the next several months writing the book. She then worked on the illustrations with her long-time business associate, Ric Neilsen. "He wanted to do the drawings and I wanted to paint them. It was the perfect collaboration," Diana said.

This amusing chain of events actually has a serious twist, as part of the proceeds from all Kitty Humbug products will benefit animal charities including the shelter where Starsky resided before he was adopted by the veterinary hospital. Donations will be made through Art for Animals, a nonprofit foundation established by Diana in 1999. In its first 10 years the Foundation has donated more than $150,000 to a variety of groups that help ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned animals, including dogs, cats, and horses, as well as wildlife.

"The Kitty Humbug project will enable us to do so much good for so many animals," Diana said. She is pleased to dedicate the funds raised through this effort in the name of her beloved cat Klondike who is the co-star of Kitty Humbug's Christmas Tail. Klondike recently died after fighting a debilitating disease for more than 6 years. "He awoke happy every single day and never once complained. Klondike touched the lives of so many people by the brave example he set. Now he will touch many animals as well. I wrote the book for him."