People are getting paid to twist cats and dogs
Not to worry - No pets are hurt in the twisting process

(Sept. 2002) - While some people are paid to make pets look good with clean, neatly trimmed fur and clear eyes, some are paid to corkscrew their necks, stretch their tongues and make their eyes pop out.

Before you call PETA, we assure you no pets are hurt in "twisting whiskers" for a funky line of greeting cards and other products from American Greetings. It all started as good, wholesome fun parodying America's pet devotion. Surprisingly, the "Twisted Whiskers" line has hit an emotional chord with pet lovers.

"Twisted Whiskers" has become a bestseller in the greeting card world. Introduced as a 32-card promotion in summer 2001, "Twisted" flew off the shelves at a lightning pace. The company boasted huge sales in the card line and the strangely lovable stuffed Twisted Whiskers are selling out everywhere.

This humor card line seems to be something pet lovers understand and adore. What do you expect from a country that owns 68 million dogs and 73 million cats, according to the American Pet Manufacturer's Association? Twisting the pets with computers amplifies body language and exaggerates expressions. The overstatement adds a soulful emotion quality to animal eyes.

The look warmed the hearts of consumers who wanted more. The cards have come to life in a best-selling plush line, which includes two twisted cats - Ching and Tom and two warped dogs - Buster and Spot. The soft fur stands on end and the huge eyes seem to pop out. Their necks are stretched and can be bent into many positions, as can their tails. In addition, American Greetings, Carlton Cards stores and other retailers have expanded the line to include everyday greeting cards, holiday greeting cards, gift bags, t-shirts, mugs, calendars and more.

"Twisted Whiskers" was created by the American Greetings Photo Studio team led by Terrill Bohlar, senior creative photographer and product developer. The teamwork started with an adorable furry friend and used digital imaging to make "Twisted Whiskers" so, let's say, "charming." "One day I was working on an image where I had to enlarge the eyes," recalls Bohlar. "I thought it would be fun to do something goofy." Once Bohlar got rolling, his experimentation spread from eyes to heads, and finally to the entire animal body.

"I was pulling ideas from everywhere," he recalls. "I remember my father, in a playful, cynical way, used to say 'Bless your little pointed head.' I adapted the pointed head as a look for one of the dogs. It's probably one of my favorites."

Another compelling Twisted Whiskers greeting card pictures a prim Siamese cat with an extended neck and wide eyes. The message inside? "Why can't you all just obey me?" (What feline owner can't understand being "owned" by their cat?)

A popular birthday card from the line shows a dog with bulging eyes. The message inside says: "Getting older sure beats getting neutered. Happy Birthday."

Bohlar and the other American Greetings photographers still work hard to capture cute, sweet pictures of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens to appear on other greeting card lines, calendars and wrapping paper. But every now and again, some fall into the hands of a twister.