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I Am The Master Of My Space!
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Where whiskers meet mischief.
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Curated chaos, cat-approved.
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Creativity, Chaos & Carrier Battles
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In a world full of algorithms, endless scrolling, rising costs, and cats who think pet carriers are portals to doom, being a small creative in 2026 is not for the faint of heart. But here at The Scratching Post Press, we’re still showing up, still creating, and still trying to keep the cats from sitting on absolutely everything.
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Let’s just go ahead and say the quiet part out loud:
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Being a small creative in 2026 is… a lot.
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You show up.
You post consistently.
You pour time, money, and what’s left of your sanity into your work.
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Maybe a like.
If the algorithm is feeling generous.
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Meanwhile, every platform, marketplace, and “helpful business article” is out here chirping the same advice:
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“Just keep posting!”
“Engage more!”
“Offer free shipping!”
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Ah yes—free shipping. My personal favorite. Nothing quite like doing math gymnastics to figure out how to sell an $80 item and somehow walk away with enough profit to justify the effort. Spoiler: it’s not exactly a winning game.
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Still making.
Still designing.
Still writing.
Still showing up.
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Because for some of us, stopping isn’t really an option. Not because it’s easy—but because creating is just part of how we exist.
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Meanwhile, In The Real World…
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While I’m over here trying to run a creative operation, I have two very important “employees” who contribute absolutely nothing to the bottom line.
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Mika supervises by glaring judgmentally from across the room.
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Koji… well. Koji specializes in vanishing the second anything remotely inconvenient enters the chat.
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Which brings me to something actually useful for once:
How to Get a Shy Cat Into a Carrier Without Turning It Into a WWE Event
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If you’ve ever tried to put a shy or anxious cat into a carrier, you already know—it can go from “this will be quick” to “how am I losing this fight?” in under 30 seconds.
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Here’s what actually works (and what doesn’t):
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1. Stop making the carrier the villain
If the carrier only appears when something bad is about to happen (vet visit, travel, general betrayal), your cat is going to treat it like a trap.
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Leave it out. Let it exist as furniture.
Toss a blanket in there. Maybe a treat once in a while.
Make it boring. This actually works with Koji. He sleeps in it all the time. It's a safe space for him.
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2. Top-loading carriers are a game changer
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Trying to stuff a reluctant cat head-first into a front-loading carrier is… optimistic.
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A top-load option lets you gently lower them in without the full panic scramble. Less drama for everyone involved.
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3. The towel burrito method (yes, really)
Wrap your cat in a towel like a slightly offended burrito.
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This:
• Protects you from claws
• Helps them feel more secure
• Prevents the full-body flail maneuver
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It’s not glamorous, but it works.
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4. Stay calm—even when they’re not
If you’re stressed, they know. And they will match your energy… by escalating it.
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Move slower than you think you should
Speak calmly.
Accept that this is not a speedrun.
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5. Close the carrier BEFORE they realize what just happened
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Timing is everything. Hesitation is how you lose.
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Back to Reality (The Creative Kind, Not the Cat Wrestling Kind)
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Here’s the thing no one really tells you:
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This whole “build it and they will come” idea?
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You can build something great—and still struggle to be seen.
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You can show up consistently—and still feel invisible.
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And that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
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It means you’re doing it in a crowded, noisy, algorithm-driven world where attention is currency—and it’s not distributed fairly.
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- You adjust your expectations—but not your standards.
- You stop measuring success only in numbers that you don’t fully control.
- And you keep going anyway.
Not blindly. Not endlessly shouting into the void—but intentionally.
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Because the people who do find you?
They’re the right ones.
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Even if it takes longer than anyone likes to admit.
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Final Thoughts (From Me... Not The Cats, Because They're Busy Napping)
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If you’re also out there creating, posting, trying, and wondering if it’s landing—I see you.
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If you’re tired of being told to “just keep going” without any acknowledgment of how hard that actually is—you’re not imagining it.
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And if your cat has ever outsmarted you in a battle involving a carrier…
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You’re definitely not alone.
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We’ll keep figuring it out—one project, one post, one mildly chaotic cat moment at a time.
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And, if you get a moment or two, check us out at our Etsy Store. You just may find something you can’t live without!
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Editor-in-Chief, The Scratching Post Press
(Managed, in theory, by Mika & Koji)
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Written for The Cat Whisperer Blog by Annie St. Germain, resident Cat Whisperer and chronicler at Snarky Cat Boutique. 🐾
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Snarky Cat Boutique – We put the meow in mayhem.
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Mom has managed to produce a few acceptable fine pieces of feline awesomness.
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Proceed wisely. We'll be watching.
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See ya on the rebound!
Mika & Koji
Representing the Feline Community
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Are you one of those rare humans who appreciate unapologetic attitude? Step into Snarky Cat Boutique, where everything is equal parts cute, clever, and just a little bit unhinged.
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Oh, you thought you needed just one cat? Bold of you. This pouch said “nah” and invited the entire judgmental feline committee.
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Loud, colorful, and absolutely convinced it runs your life now—perfect for stashing your stuff while being silently judged by 47 tiny cat faces.
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$15.19 (20% Off)
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The Latest from The Cat Whisperer Blog
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The Tiny Goblin Living in My House – And Her Favorite Sport
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Life With a Tortie, Cat Behavior Mysteries, and Why Feeding Time Apparently Happens on Her Schedule
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Screaming Into the Void (Featuring Etsy Fees and – is anybody out there?)
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I’ve been doing this for years now. Writing. Posting. Sharing. Showing up like all the experts say you’re supposed to. Blog posts? Check. Newsletter? Check. Social media? Oh, I am everywhere. And the result? …hello? Is this thing on? Because from where I’m sitting, it feels a lot like I’ve been enthusiastically talking to myself on the internet since its …
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From the Editor-in-Chief (a.k.a. The One Who Pays the Bills)
As always, thank you for spending a little time with us here at The Scratching Post Press. Whether you’re creating, crafting, surviving the algorithm circus, or simply trying to convince your cat that the carrier is not, in fact, a medieval torture device — you’re among friends here.
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Keep creating. Keep laughing. Keep finding joy in the little things… even when those little things are covered in fur and knocking your supplies off the table at 3 a.m.
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— The Scratching Post Press 😼
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The Scratching Post Press at Snarky Cat Boutique
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