Nicolas Cage is okay. I wouldn’t say he’s doing “well” but he’s not off-the-rails completely. He probably is still on a quest for the Holy Grail, but hey, who isn’t. He still works, mostly on completely random movies which get shuffled off to direct-to-cable or hidden at some streaming service. He’s currently promoting Primal, which was out (somewhere) on November 8th. Vanity Fair spoke to him around just before Halloween, which he says is his favorite holiday, and the “holiday for actors.” He also talks about his love of cats, which is the reason why I’m writing about this. I love men who love cats. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
On Halloween: “I’m going full blast. I love Halloween—always have…. It’s really the actors holiday—the holiday that encourages transformation. It’s the only holiday where you can safely, hopefully, meet people who are total strangers and have [an authentic] exchange. That gives a sense of community. I’m going to take my ex-wife and my son out to dinner and we’ll celebrate. My son’s getting a little old for trick-or-treating,” Cage said of 14-year-old Kal-El, “but I encourage him to still embrace the holiday and find something cool to wear…. I’m going to be Kid Flash—one of the lesser-known DC characters—but with a full beard, which is kind of ironic. But it will work for the holiday.”
About his weird movie, Primal, which he hasn’t seen: “So I’m a bit at a loss with how it went, but I’m told it went well, and that it’s exactly what it [was] meant to be—a fun, wild adventure involving animals that get loose on a ship with a dangerous man. I was trying to channel my inner Bogart…I always go back to the well when I’m looking for inspiration. Not that I could ever be Bogart—he’s the greatest—but it’s always good to borrow from the best.”
He’s a Cat Man: “I’ve always responded to cats. As a child they were my best friends. I had a little one named Razzmatazz that I saved. He was my best friend.” These days, Cage has two cats—a Maine Coon, Merlin, “who looks like a forest cat,” and Tigra, a Toyger who “has stripes” and “looks like a jungle cat…. I’m closest to Tigra. She’s such a sweetheart. So is Merlin, the Maine Coon. He’s very affectionate…. One day I would like to have a Savannah or something a little bigger, but I am not there yet. I do love all animals…They inspire me…. I have always had a fondness for cats in particular, which is another reason I was so excited about this script. The idea of this white jaguar is such a beautiful-sounding animal. I like the idea of being in a movie with something that majestic.”
My mom had two Maine Coons – two sisters – and they were such big, fluffy divas with big personalities. One was the biggest bitch you have ever met, and she only really liked my mom. The other liked to snuggle. They were like walking fur-blankets with crossed-eyes. I had never heard of Toyger cats but apparently they’re basically just full-in tiger kitties? Of course Nicolas Cage has what amounts to a miniature tiger. Anyway, I love men who love cats. I wish Cage had an Instagram so we could see his kitties and his dinosaur bone collection. He could even give us updates on his Grail Quest.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
When I was five I was adopted by the neighborhood stray cat. I had a rough home life and this cat was my first example of unconditional love. One example- I used to be very afraid of the dark. This cat would sleep outside my bedroom window every night and I stopped being afraid. We would climb trees together. She would pull pranks on my abusive mother… like dragging dead birds into the house during dinner parties. She was my very best friend.
Oh my goodness, my heart. I’m happy to hear she was such a light for you during what sounds like dark days. And I hope you are well these days.
That cat sounds like an angel!!!
What a sweet kitty,I hope you are in a very happy place in your life now.
Thank you! I am in a good place now with a family of my own <3
I’m glad you had such a loyal best friend. Sounds like you both truly had a connection.
I love the part about how you were adopted by the cat. 🙂
Awww! MachineElf, that is so sweet. Cats can be really good friends. They get a bad rap but they can connect with humans just as well as dogs. I love the part about the dead birds!! Cats fricken know who to eff with! They are super intuitive.
I have a similar experience growing up. We found abondoned kittens in the building stairway and ended up keeping two of them.
I was around 7 years old and left home alone a lot with otherwise a very stressfull and emotionally difficult upbringing.
The two cats became my baby sitters, best friends and family.
They would never leave my side and purred me to sleep every night. Only when I had fallen asleep would they go do their cat business at night and be back on each side of my pillow by morning. (my mum told me that they would come out of my room after I fell asleep and if they heard me move or go to the bathroom they would run back to purr me to sleep again).
All day from the moment I got home they would do everything with me. Eat, watch TV, go to the park, play, do home work, comfort me, you name it.
Mouse – the last one to cross the rainbow bridge – lived to be 21 years old and passed away in my arms. I have never felt unconditional love like that from anyone.
People who don’t like cats are psychopaths. Lol!
Interesting how cats and dogs really “tune in” to us? In the 70s our mom let our cat have kittens (pre-awareness). I was around 3 and didn’t know the difference between humans and cats, they had eyes just like me, so I had zero feeling of separation. Sigh.
I found the whole excerpt pretty endearing. His enthusiasm for Halloween is sweet. And the cat stories are lovely, too. Now that I’m an empty nester I feel like our cat is my best friend on many days. She sticks to me like glue and I love it.
As for men who love cats, I’m reminded of the Navy guy whose MAGAt mom tried to claim on Twitter was afraid to go on dates because of fake Me Too claims. As he set the story straight he mentioned his cats and people just melted over that, lol.
I remember that story! So sweet, how he handled it.
I’m an unrepentant cat lady. I’ve long had a policy that if someone can’t deal with cats, I’m not interested in dating. I understand having allergies and all. I’m talking about subtlety. With cats, you have to approach gently, let them sniff you, and wait to be invited to touch. Works for me.
Thanks, Kaiser, for running this! It truly brought a smile to my face.
I also want to add that folks who want a particular breed should absolutely check out rescues first! There are breed specific rescues. There is a Maine Coon rescue near me (they also often have Bengals and Benglish kitties, Savannahs, etc). Adopt don’t shop!
And if you think you want a fancy cat, do your research. Some of them can be quite a handful! =^. .^=
I read an article recently on Lainey about the amount of work that goes into some of the larger and wilder breeds and I was stunned.
I like cats but I prefer dogs-they require as much love and care, but it’s a different relationship than cats.
I love both cats and dogs. Cats are more self sufficient and a bit more practical for a small space. (Plus, they poop in a box!) Both give so much love. I don’t feel my relationships I’ve had with dogs have been all that different than with cats.
People tend to think of cats as “aloof” but they’re not, really. They do have their own ways, and they have to get to know you. But they are also incredibly loving. Whenever I’m ill, my cats take turns keeping me company. Whenever I wake up, one or more will be there. After my mom passed, one in particular was so concerned about me. He barely left my side, and he was so gentle.
The big difference IMHO is down to dogs being descended from wolves – the domesticated descendants of an alpha predator. Cats have always been both predator and prey. So they are more cautious by nature.
Yay for good dogs and dear kitties!
He annoys the heck out of me but now I have to like him bc he publicly professed his love for cats. Fine.
He’s always been such an unrepentant wacko, and I like that for some reason.
There is nothing like being owned by a Maine coon. Particularly on mornings like today when sleet is falling from the sky and my small Maine coon just wants me to stay in bed and cuddle while she purrs like a jet engine.
We had a beloved Maine Coon who almost lived to 21. My husband and I have been married 41 years and are now on our 16th, 17th, and 18th cats. And third dog.
Best wishes for your long marriage. Those pets must be part of it.
Thank you lightpurple! I’m also happy our kids were raised with pets, it has helped make them empathetic and kind.
I love falling asleep to the purring of a cat. Who needs a sound machine? And what wonderful little heaters they are when they snuggle with you!
We always joke that one of our tiger cats can induce delta waves in whoever she cuddles up to and starts purring for. She’s like benadryl that way!
OMG He would have the beset instagram ever. Cats! Grail quest! Tips on beard maintenance. Exhibit his hat collection
When I was a child my friends were cats as well. I hated school, didnt really have human friends, didn’t always get along with my family. But my cat was always there for me. Giving me unconditional love and acceptance. Still today if I am depressed I try to think about cats.
Sometimes I wonder if our pets have relatively short lives, so that we will possibly invite or accept more of them into our lives. They truly are unconditional love.
Our neighbors were in the habit of getting kittens then giving them away as adult cats. My kids & I set a family agreement to only adopt grown cats at shelters. We got the saddest grown cat & fast forward ten years he’s been a survivor & my shadow, a real cuddler.
I have always loved cats! My parents refused to let us have one though so I had to take matters into my own hands. When I was five, I stole one of the strays from my grandma’s house and hid him in my backpack. My mom had no idea until we got home and all hell broke loose when I let him go in my room. I thought he was the greatest cat ever but let’s be real, he was an old mange stray cat. He was missing most of one ear. I named him Tuba. I don’t know why or why my parents let me name him that. He ended up being one of the sweetest cats though and lived out the rest of his life in comfort!
I also ended up getting cat scratch fever so I do not suggest this approach to getting a cat!
Love this story! Tuba is a great cat name. I bet your parents admired your determination and moxie. (And they probably realized you’d do it again anyway if they said no at that point.) Aww, Tuba. I’m glad to hear he had a happy retirement. Thanks for the smile!
Moar cat stories, please, peeps! It’s Caturday on Sunday! (Well, it’s Sunday here where I am…)
Tuba is an AWESOME name for a kitty!
A nicholas cage instagram would be AMAZING.
All the cats 🐈❤️❤️❤️❤️
We currently have a Maine Coon/Russian Blue cross that we love to bits and he’s got more personality than Ethel Merman. He has long, convoluted conversations with us, fetches his toy mousies for us and drops his kibble in his water dish so he can play boat races with them. It’s like having a crazy toddler!
I love that you have Spaghetti Cat as your avatar.
Funny how these odd cat photos get turned into viral memes. Have you seen the latest one, Salad Cat?
I have lol!
This is the first time I’ve heard the confused cat referred to as salad cat! 😀
He has an instagram too, by the way!
I can’t help it ~ I now love Nic even more!
I was a dog person until I got a cat. Been a cat person ever since.
A Nic Cage Instagram page would be everything!! Please someone make this happen!
Dog person here but if I had childhood cats like yours I probably would have a cat now, they sound lovely.
We briefly had two cats when I was growing up … one was flat out nasty ( hisser and scratcher) .. the other one was not much of a house cat.. he was fantastic hunter and it upset me when he would bring home dead birds and bunnies. My mother who adopted the cats when they were adults developed “allergies” to them and re-homed them..funny that she never developed allergies to the dogs we had at the time.
Aw, I love that he freely admits to being a lifelong cat lover. I think some men are afraid to admit it as they feel it’s somehow “unmanly”. My hubby was very ant-cat when we met, well at least he claimed to be. But after seeing him with my cats it became apparent he was just a closeted cat guy. He is so close to our girl kitty now….it always makes my heart go pitty pat when I see them cuddled up together. She is the quintessential girl, dainty and sweet and gentle. I often see her snuggled up on his chest, almost nose to nose. She suffers a little anxiety at times as she was wild when we adopted her but he makes her feel so safe and loved. Both our cats adore him and get very excited when he comes home from work. Anti-cat, hah! 😄
I love this story.
My five-year-old and I both love cats but my husband is allergic so we can’t have one, but there’s a place nearby called The Cafe Meow – it’s a coffee shop/cat lounge, and you can pay for an hour with the kitties, who are all adoptable. It’s one of our favorite places.
Men who love cats are the best!
I’ll never forget the interview Nic Cage did about “Vampire’s Kiss” where he talked about practicing his craziest lines in his hotel room with his cat. The interview is on YouTube and I highly recommend it.
I LOVE NIC and I just got my first kitty after 20 years and I gotta say I don’t know why I have been without her for so long lol I love my doggos but man o man this girl is the absolute greatest i just love her so much <3 love that NIc loves cats -adorbs!
I went 35 years without being a cat person or having much contact with them. However, that all changed last year when a sick, mangy, injured kitten crawled into my engine while I was out shopping. Thankfully for us my daughter heard meowing before I cranked my truck. A foster situation through our local humane society soon turned into a foster failure and now that damn cat ranks just below my children (and possibly above my husband) in terms of rank. I knew better than to declaw so he destroyed several thousand dollars worth of leather furniture, he only goes outside on a harness, he has more toys than my kids, his food is more expensive than ours, and he’s a massively large, unrepentant brat who has stolen my heart and then some.
Is it just me/the photos, or does his coloring make him look ill?
He’s almost ashen.
I came here to ask the same thing. He looks like he just came in from a dust storm.