These cats are pretending to go to France and they need puns
May 11, 2023 9:53 PM Subscribe
I've established a tradition of making my mom little books of photos that show her cat Jax and my cat Bean having adventures. My mom is a retired French teacher, so for Mother's Day she'll get pictures from their trip to France. I'm needing help with a few more images and I think some of you have interest in cat shenanigans and French puns. I am using Canva to do these and don't have Photoshop skills.
There's a motif that the cats misunderstand things, and using French makes for good wordplay. For instance, they think a chateau is a bunch of cat water. Here are a couple that I've done already.
What else could confuse them or has French pun possibilities? Like I could do gateau/gatto or Nice/nice things like that. . Also are there any French sites that would be especially fun to work cats into? (FWIW, Jax doesn't do a lot of poses to use, but Bean does many!)
I'm especially looking for ideas using my mom's favorite places: Musee D'Orsay, Giverny, Nice, Normandy, and Monmaison. I've looked at a lot of pictures of those places but haven't found a base photo to use that has possibilities. I can post more cat pictures if anyone wants to try their hand at making something.
I appreciate you helping get these cats confused in French landmarks! You are heroes.
There's a motif that the cats misunderstand things, and using French makes for good wordplay. For instance, they think a chateau is a bunch of cat water. Here are a couple that I've done already.
What else could confuse them or has French pun possibilities? Like I could do gateau/gatto or Nice/nice things like that. . Also are there any French sites that would be especially fun to work cats into? (FWIW, Jax doesn't do a lot of poses to use, but Bean does many!)
I'm especially looking for ideas using my mom's favorite places: Musee D'Orsay, Giverny, Nice, Normandy, and Monmaison. I've looked at a lot of pictures of those places but haven't found a base photo to use that has possibilities. I can post more cat pictures if anyone wants to try their hand at making something.
I appreciate you helping get these cats confused in French landmarks! You are heroes.
Best answer: Le Chat is a brand of laundry detergent! No cats on the packaging which is a huge miss IMO.
In Nice, there are loads of I Love Nice signs - could they be I love Mice?
posted by socky_puppy at 10:48 PM on May 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
In Nice, there are loads of I Love Nice signs - could they be I love Mice?
posted by socky_puppy at 10:48 PM on May 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: they could have a side adventure hunting french vampires using baguettes - but, be careful! the process is painstaking.
posted by alchemist at 11:14 PM on May 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by alchemist at 11:14 PM on May 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Cats love to climb, you can have them go to Mont-Saint-Michel (mice-hell?).
posted by derrinyet at 11:18 PM on May 11, 2023
posted by derrinyet at 11:18 PM on May 11, 2023
Best answer: How could I forget the weirdest-named thing I randomly got handed in a bakery: langue de chat, or cat's tongue. It's a very basic butter cookie reminiscent of a Pepperidge Farm Milano.
posted by amtho at 11:20 PM on May 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by amtho at 11:20 PM on May 11, 2023 [6 favorites]
Best answer: Might they discover the meow/mieux little cafe somewhere?
posted by Iteki at 11:20 PM on May 11, 2023
posted by Iteki at 11:20 PM on May 11, 2023
Best answer: I’m pretty sure they’ll find one egg is un oeuf.
posted by nat at 11:45 PM on May 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by nat at 11:45 PM on May 11, 2023 [3 favorites]
Best answer: There are English language puns about cats in France - and there are French language jeux de mots about cats which your French teacher mom will also get. For example we have chaleureux (chat-l'heureux) which translates as "warm (cat - the happy)" or for "un chariot (chat-RIO)" - we could have a cat on a trolley in Rio de Janiero.
Here is an example of a decoration using some of those French chat jeux to mots. - of course any French cat could dance the "cha-cha-cha".
posted by rongorongo at 12:45 AM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Here is an example of a decoration using some of those French chat jeux to mots. - of course any French cat could dance the "cha-cha-cha".
posted by rongorongo at 12:45 AM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
^^^ nat's comment makes more sense if you notice that 'un oeuf' sounds a lot like "enough".
Get it? One egg is... not too few, not too many.
posted by amtho at 12:57 AM on May 12, 2023
Get it? One egg is... not too few, not too many.
posted by amtho at 12:57 AM on May 12, 2023
Best answer: dywypi: Send them to the Catacombes!
For a nice grooming.
They could walk in to an opticien expecting a small dog.
posted by Stoneshop at 3:38 AM on May 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
For a nice grooming.
They could walk in to an opticien expecting a small dog.
posted by Stoneshop at 3:38 AM on May 12, 2023 [4 favorites]
Shopping montage. See if you can find a photo of the inside of Printemps (a department store, impressive interior).
Also: French Grooming. Salon. French poodle cut.
posted by amtho at 3:56 AM on May 12, 2023
Also: French Grooming. Salon. French poodle cut.
posted by amtho at 3:56 AM on May 12, 2023
B Kliban has a cartoon showing two cats staring at a lake with bubbles rising to the surface and a caption that reads “quatre cinq”.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:55 AM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:55 AM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Neuf Nerf balls.
Years ago, I heard a story about kittens named Un, Deux and Trois, cats who Sank.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:43 AM on May 12, 2023
Years ago, I heard a story about kittens named Un, Deux and Trois, cats who Sank.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:43 AM on May 12, 2023
Years ago, I heard a story about kittens named Un, Deux and Trois, cats who Sank.
"Quatre" alone seems like it would present dozens of possibilities!
posted by babelfish at 7:31 AM on May 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
"Quatre" alone seems like it would present dozens of possibilities!
posted by babelfish at 7:31 AM on May 12, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's not cat-related, but I take a lot of pleasure in deliberately mixing up chateau and chapeau.
You might get some mileage out of the ballet step known as pas de chat.
They could go to Disneyland Paris to catch the giant mouse.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:28 AM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
You might get some mileage out of the ballet step known as pas de chat.
They could go to Disneyland Paris to catch the giant mouse.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:28 AM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: (Love the treasure map book btw. "ginganinja" is a great screen name for an orange cat.)
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:32 AM on May 12, 2023
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:32 AM on May 12, 2023
Best answer: Please Please Please post their French travel adventure here! Their treasure hunt was so charming!
There's the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris. Paume literally means "palm" or perhaps paw? and pomme (apple).
posted by citygirl at 12:17 PM on May 12, 2023
There's the Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris. Paume literally means "palm" or perhaps paw? and pomme (apple).
posted by citygirl at 12:17 PM on May 12, 2023
Best answer: echoing @citygirl — i would so love to see more of the finished product!! 🐈🇫🇷
posted by tamarack at 9:31 PM on May 12, 2023
posted by tamarack at 9:31 PM on May 12, 2023
Best answer: I had a pal years ago who named their cats Mompty & Tichat [splitting mon p'tit chat] maybe Jax and Bean need an alias because they're furriners
posted by BobTheScientist at 10:57 PM on May 12, 2023
posted by BobTheScientist at 10:57 PM on May 12, 2023
Response by poster: Merci beaucoup! I am loving your ideas and you're getting a lot that I didn' t.
Jax and Bean LOVE Waffle House though sometimes they get in trouble for making a mess. I think hijinks will ensue when they try to find one in France.
Need to settle on choices for Giverny and Mont St. Michel.
There's one where they go to Napoleon's tomb because it's where someone buried a bone apart.
I will totally post the final result here, with appreciation.
I love giving these to my mom and watching her laugh and laugh.
posted by mermaidcafe at 11:16 PM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Jax and Bean LOVE Waffle House though sometimes they get in trouble for making a mess. I think hijinks will ensue when they try to find one in France.
Need to settle on choices for Giverny and Mont St. Michel.
There's one where they go to Napoleon's tomb because it's where someone buried a bone apart.
I will totally post the final result here, with appreciation.
I love giving these to my mom and watching her laugh and laugh.
posted by mermaidcafe at 11:16 PM on May 12, 2023 [2 favorites]
Your mum might like a joke about how many English speakers mispronounce Merci beaucoup - if you say it the wrong way it sounds like you are saying Merci beau cul which means “thanks nice bum”
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 6:06 AM on May 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 6:06 AM on May 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
I wonder what Jax and Bean would think of the festivities around Cat 'Orse Juliet.
posted by Stoneshop at 8:45 AM on May 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Stoneshop at 8:45 AM on May 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
I wonder what Jax and Bean would think of the festivities around Cat 'Orse Juliet.
Oh, you mean Bast Île Day?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:10 PM on May 13, 2023
Oh, you mean Bast Île Day?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:10 PM on May 13, 2023
Omg... I wish I could think of one but all I can think about is that I want to read these books! They sound amazing!
posted by risaroni at 3:10 AM on May 14, 2023
posted by risaroni at 3:10 AM on May 14, 2023
Best answer: Merci beaucoup, encore!
There were too many great ideas for one book, but I'm sure our boys will find a way to return.
My mom wants to wait for the hardcover en route, so you're the first to see this. (PM me if you want a hard copy.) I hope their adventures make you feel like you too are being enriched as you wander France's cultural and historical treasures. They probably think it's educational.
Sans plus tarder
Bon Voyage, Jax and Bean!
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:47 PM on May 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
There were too many great ideas for one book, but I'm sure our boys will find a way to return.
My mom wants to wait for the hardcover en route, so you're the first to see this. (PM me if you want a hard copy.) I hope their adventures make you feel like you too are being enriched as you wander France's cultural and historical treasures. They probably think it's educational.
Sans plus tarder
Bon Voyage, Jax and Bean!
posted by mermaidcafe at 12:47 PM on May 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks, Underpants Monster!
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:32 AM on May 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by mermaidcafe at 10:32 AM on May 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
« Older can I DIY my own electronic blinds remote? | Name that film: Soccer fan on a date at the opera... Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I still confuse the words for 'smile' and 'mouse', but I'm not sure how you could work that in.
Then of course there is the famous French dish, chocolate mouse.
If they like playing in bags, it only makes sense to seek out the petite French version, the baguette.
posted by amtho at 10:34 PM on May 11, 2023 [7 favorites]