Newspaper Page Text
Inside: Church coffee shop to benefit charities — see page 4C for details
December 3,
2008
^ The Jackson Herald
fi n&ndls
Jana Adams Mitcham,
Features Editor 706-367-8760
jana@mainstreetnews. com
Section C
‘Purrrrrfect
}
log on:
www.catnapkitties.com
CATNAP KITTY
Catnap Kitties, which feel and sound like a real cat, are
a “comfort toy” for both children and adults. Jefferson
native and 1978 Jefferson High School graduate Vivian
Hoard invented the award-winning toy. Locally, the toy
will be available at Our Town Antiques, Commerce.
Jefferson native invents
‘Catnap Kitties’
Toy to be available this
week at Commerce store
By Jana A. Mitcham
T PURRS LIKE a real cat.
It feels like a real cat.
And it’s that combination that makes
Carnap Kitties special because inventor
Vivian Hoard was told it “couldn't be done.”
The result? Creative Child Magazine’s
Preferred Choice Award for 2008.
‘MEET THE INVENTOR’
Jefferson native Vivian Hoard made an appearance at a “Meet the Inventor” day held in late November at
the Atlanta Children’s Museum. Hoard has invented Catnap Kitties, a plush, purring, comfort toy for all ages
which won Creative Child Magazine’s 2008 Preferred Choice Award. Photos courtesy of Hoard
CATNAP KITTIES ON DISPLAY
Vivian Hoard (R) is shown at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta
with a display of her comfort toy invention, Catnap Kitties. Also
pictured is the museum staff member who not only organized the
event, but who also first discovered Hoard’s toy at Toy Fair 2008
in New York City.
Hoard, who lived the first 18 years
of her life in Jefferson and is a 1978
Jefferson High School graduate, is
an Atlanta attorney who turned her
attention to toy design about three
and a half years ago, following the
death of the family's beloved cat,
Ludwig.
It was then that Hoard set about
researching ways to combine the ben
efits of a purring cat with those of a
plush toy for those who cannot have a
real animal, whether because of aller
gies, caretaking challenges or living
conditions.
After returning to the drawing
board numerous times, Hoard and
engineer Larry Jacobs achieved what
they were told was impossible.
“I first tried to invent the elec
tronics,” Hoard said. “I was told it
couldn’t be done, to go on and off
and have purring in and out like a real
cat. I was told I couldn't get the sound
synchronized with the feel.”
But a friend of a friend helped out.
“My computer guy said his friend
could do it,” Hoard said of retired
IBM engineer Jacobs. “It took him
about a year. He’s the engineer who
implemented the design. He would
go back to the drawing board because
it sounded too mechanical. We finally
got it and put it in a stuffed cat.”
Hoard's Catnap Kitties differs from
the other interactive cat toys on the
market because while those toys have
a hard plastic shell underneath “fur,”
her cats do not and so are “plush and
soft and cuddly.”
“That makes it unique,” Hoard
said.
She describes the kitty as “a calm
ing, soothing toy for quiet time,”
adding that her daughter likes to have
the purring kitty when she reads at
bedtime.
And while children who know
what a real purring cat feels like love
Catnap Kitties, Hoard has found that
adults and “special needs” groups are
also receptive. She realized the calm
ing power of a cat's purr not only
with children in the family, but also
when her mother was recuperating
from lung cancer at an Athens con
valescent home, which uses cats as
therapy pets.
“Senior citizens, autistic children
and Alzheimer’s groups are really
drawn to it,” Hoard said of the soft
toy, which is currently available in
white or black and white.
“I’ve been doing research with
Alan Beck (director of the Center for
the Human-Animal Bond in Purdue
University's School of Veterinary
Medicine) on the benefit of robotic
pets as therapy,” Hoard added. “The
special needs industry is really inter
ested.”
Once the patented design met
Hoard's standards, the next step was
to develop the prototype and begin
looking at manufacturing, marketing
and sales.
“I’m sort of the Martha Stewart of
my toy,” Hoard laughed, saying that
she had tried some overseas agents,
but it wasn’t until she met toy expert
Richard Gottlieb, the “go-to guy for
the industry,” that she was able to get
the best prototype.
Hoard is working with American
firms for overseas factories, as she
“wanted it to be affordable for con
sumers.”
“It's all very expensive,” she said.
“It has to be shipped, there is testing
and inspections.... I've been working
with professionals in New York.”
Hoard launched the toy at Toy
Fair 2008 in New York City. The
company of another 1978 JHS gradu
ate, Linda Mosely (formerly Lynn
Underwood), had designed a logo
for Catnap Kitties and managed the
website, and she accompanied Hoard
to New York.
“We had a blast in New York, two
Jefferson girls,” Hoard said.
Mosely, quoted in press release,
said: “People loved the prototypes of
Vivian’s toy and I especially love the
toy because I am allergic to cats and
can't have one. This toy is great.”
Recently, Hoard made an appear
ance with Catnap Kitties at a “Meet
the Inventor” event held at the
Children's Museum in Atlanta. The
museum and Learning Express in
Atlanta already have some of the
Catnap Kitties.
“Some stores out west have some,
and I’ve sold some at toy fairs,”
Hoard said. “I have a lot of them.”
Locally, Catnap Kitties should be
available this week, just prior to
the Christmas parade, at Our Town
Antiques in Commerce, a store in
downtown owned by Hoard’s sister,
Claudine Smith.
Hoard has a shipper and a ware
house, and Catnap Kitties are avail
able online at www.catnapkitties.
org.
“I didn't think it would take that
long or cost that much,” Hoard said.
“It’s ready to go. It’s a really good
toy, a good product.”
‘A Country Christmas’ celebration in Nashville
UGE ONE-of-a-kind Christmas
ice sculptures, a high-kicking
night of festive fun with the
world-famous Rockettes, a holiday meal
with country legend Louise Mandrell and
an evening carriage ride to see the bright
lights and life-size outdoor nativity scene.
MEET THE GRINCH
With a ticket upgrade for the ICE
display, you can meet the Grinch,
skip the long lines and get a hot
chocolate after touring the icy dis
play. At left, Angela Gary, Jake
Myler and Sarah Gary are shown
visiting with the Grinch on a recent
visit to Nashville, Tenn.
The sights and sounds of the
Christmas season come to life at
Gaylord Opryland in Nashville,
Tenn., for the 25th annual “A
Country Christmas” celebra
tion. With millions of sparkling
lights at the huge hotel, huge
ornately decorated trees and an
outdoor nativity display, it really
is a Christmas wonderland. It’s
magical and you can’t help but
smile and get in the holiday spirit
as soon as you enter the lobby.
While there are lots of holiday travel
destinations in our area, Gaylord’s “A
Country Christmas” is without a doubt the
top choice for seasonal fun. Just a few of
the reasons include that it’s just
a few hours drive away and the
affordable packages that com
bine the hotel stay and tickets.
Another plus is that you don’t
have to leave the resort grounds
and a hotel shuttle takes you to
the different areas on the complex
and even into the downtown area.
And there are lots of events that
appeal to people of all ages —
from toddlers to senior citizens.
These are just a few reasons “A
Country Christmas” is the top choice for
a holiday destination. Even the Travel
Channel called Gaylord Opryland Resort
continued on page 12C
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