FAQs: Felines Answering Questions
Why was CatsOnTap created?
We wanted to engage with and learn more about the craft beer community through social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram. CatsOnTap was created when our cat, Rosie, photobombed our Untappd photo check-in for Nebraska Brewing Company’s Romancing the Cone IPA on December 18, 2013. Her picture was our watershed moment to the birth of CatsOnTap and the popularization of the hashtag #beercat on Twitter and Instagram.
How did Rosie and Milly come into our lives?
We adopted Rosie in January 2013 from a no-kill cat shelter. Rosie was one of five in a feral litter that was rescued before a big Minnesota snowstorm. Since Rosie was a feral kitten, it took time, patience, and a lot of treats to coax Rosie from out under the couch to trust her new humans. After a few weeks, Rosie matured into a very curious and playful cat. She was the only cat in the house before we brought Milly home.
We adopted Milly in May 2014 from a family friend. Milly’s mother wandered into our friend’s home, and she took her in not knowing that the cat was pregnant. Several weeks later, the cat gave birth to Milly and three of her brothers.
The arrival of Rosie and Milly to their new forever home.
Rosie and Milly sharing double occupancy in their kitty city tower.
How did Rosie and Milly get their names?
Since Caroline’s doctoral thesis topic was focused on cancer biology, Rosie and Milly were named after notable female scientists. Rosie was named after Rosalind Franklin, an English chemist and x-ray crystallographer whose contributions lead to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Milly was named after Mildred Dresselhaus, an American physicist and engineer whose research lead to advancements in carbon-based materials utilized routinely in modern day technologies.
How would you describe Rosie’s and Milly’s personalities?
Because of her former feral nature, Rosie is cautiously curious. She approaches new toys (and new craft beers) with judicious skepticism. After a few moments of experimental sniffing and pawing, Rosie will pounce and play. Her favorite activities include chasing Milly, hunting stray ribbons and hair ties, and sunning herself in the afternoon sun. When she’s not hunting houseflies, Rosie loves to lap cuddle and pose for #beercat pictures.
Milly is a stereotypical calico with plenty of cattitude. Milly loves to be the center of attention. She will remind you throughout the day with her musical chirps and trills, especially near wet-food dinner time. She enjoys wiggling her butt before she pounces on Rosie, watching the sunset on the balcony, and stalking YouTube bird videos on the TV.
Milly and Rosie hanging out on their favorite spot... any spot with a fleece blanket on it.
Rosie's first #beercat picture.
When did Rosie and Milly officially become beercats?
Rosie’s first beercat picture was with Nebraska Brewing Company’s Romancing the Cone IPA on December 18, 2013. The humans had just poured the beer into a fresh IPA glass on the kitchen counter when Rosie jumped on top of the barstool to investigate. Her nose twitched as she photo bombed our Untappd check-in. Her #beercat picture was our watershed moment and the birth of CatsOnTap.
Milly's first #beercat picture.
Milly began her #beercat training when she was 15 weeks old. Her first beercat picture was with New Glarus Moon Man pale ale on May 24, 2014. Since Rosie was the first beercat, Milly takes her cues from Rosie and patiently waits her turn to investigate the new beers.
Our #beercat logo with a tulip design.
What is the inspiration for the CatsOnTap logo?
Rosie is the inspiration for the main illustrated cat in the logo. The star icon on the left represents The North Star (representing Minnesota, our home state) and The Lone Star (representing Texas, where we lived for two years). The hop flower icon on the right represents our adoration of hoppy beers. Finally, the “cat’s nose” is interchangeable with different glassware shapes, such as IPA, pint, teku, tulip, etc.
To celebrate #BeerCatDay (December 18th), we commissioned a new alternate logo.
Our alternate #beercat logo to celebrate #BeerCatDay (December 18th)
What are qualities that make for a good #beercat picture?
Rosie and Milly are well-trained beercats. We never ever allow our cats to consume any alcohol. They are allowed to investigate new beers through sight and smell, but never taste nor touch the beverages.
With each new beer, a good #beercat would stop, smell, and appreciate the volatile aromas. A good beercat would notice the appearance (e.g. color, carbonation, foam head retention) of the beer before allowing his/her human to taste it. The best beercat pictures are of cats genuinely interacting with the beer and then passing honest judgment in true feline form.
#beercat Milly is always ready for a Minnesota United FC match with Surly Brewing's Rising North Pale Ale.
#beercat Rosie traveling the world through her 2017 Beer Camp fort.
How do you create and maintain the ultimate beer fort for #BeerFortFriday?
The ultimate beer fort would consist of a box representing the beercat’s favorite brewery. Beercat should decorate the fort with stickers and teeth marks to make it unique. The fort should be cozy enough for beercat to hide, lounge, or sleep in, and big enough to house the craft beer treasures. For the advance beercat, a fort castle or compound can be constructed from multiple beer boxes secured together. Finally, beercat should show off the fort using the hashtag, #BeerFortFriday.