A typical A to Z cat breed book

When I was much younger, before computers, I was a regular visitor to the library and bookstores for my edification and entertainment. No matter the circumstances, I always made time to go to the animal section to look at the cat books. You know the ones I mean, the A to Z’s of cats that showed each breed, complete with pictures and a description of the cat’s physical traits and personality. I have several of these types of books in my own personal library and have always been fascinated with all the different breeds of cats. Until recently, I never equated these books with controversy, cat overpopulation, or anything other than I loved the wonderful variety of cats and learning about them. Read more

To see full beauty of photo, please click image to enlarge.

Our dear, sweet Mia is such a delightful mix of earnest shyness amidst a newly blooming personality of boldness, that you can’t help but want to hug her, even if she is not quite ready for it.  She has an endearing chirp to her meow and when she follows after you like a little shadow, she does it with a wonderful bounce and prance to her step that seems to say she is always ready for whatever playtime adventure might come her way! In this photo, that adventure would be a palm frond that has seen its last days! She is completely enraptured with this seemingly mundane object and captures the essence of this quote by Monica Edwards with appropriate charm and inquisitiveness.

Monica Edwards (née Monica le Doux Newton; November 8, 1912 – January 18, 1998) was an English children’s writer of the mid-twentieth century best known for her Romney Marsh and Punchbowl Farm series of children’s novels. She had only a fragmentary formal education and was also a cat lover, as evidenced by this photo of her taken with her cat, Vashti, circa 1954. (Wikipedia)

Don’t forget to vote to nominate your favorite pet bloggers for the Petties 2012 Awards! Voting open until June 29th and one lucky rescue or shelter organization could also win a $10,000 donation! Click link for one of two ways to vote – through facebook or by using your email!! We hope you will consider our site for any of the categories you feel we qualify for and we thank you so much for all of your support!

I often find after I do a serious series of posts (in this case, my foray into the world of pedigree cats) that my mind just needs a break and I venture from the sublime to the ridiculous. In this case, I got to thinking about how many of us cat lovers have a tendency to anthropomorphize our cats – that is, give them human characteristics even though they are animals. For me, guilty as charged. Maybe not quite as guilty as our friend, Debbie Glovatsky, over at the Glorgirly site who was recently  indicted for Photoshop misconduct and a serious addiction to the software program, but I have definitely put my cats in just about every human scenario or predicament you can imagine in the name of journalistic entertainment. My most recent light bulb of creativity to follow is this little gem – what would the tabloids be like if they were written for, and about cats? Take a look at this first installment of the newest tabloid to hit the fishstands, “The National Cat Enquirer.” And yes, I realize I need counseling…

 Don’t forget to vote to nominate your favorite pet bloggers for the Petties 2012 Awards! Voting open until June 29th and one lucky rescue or shelter organization could also win a $10,000 donation! Click link for one of two ways to vote – through facebook or by using your email!!

Since the beginning of this year, I can say that my life has taken on a profoundly distinct and new direction in the realm of the cat world. My blog that was once strictly a vehicle to share stories and pictures about my feline family, has expanded and brought me on such a journey and growth of knowledge and caring, that I still marvel at the scope of it all.

From the vast catalog of stunning photographs, to videos (ranging from fun to highly educational and informative), to interviews on subjects such as the misconceptions of feral cats, TNR programs, the cats in the aftermath of the Japan disasters, pedigree breeding, and the Loews outdoor cat controversy, I have really spread my wings in trying to help educate and inform people about cat responsibility in a well-rounded, informative, and compelling way. Read more

Steve at home with his furry family. Top - Roxy, bottom left - Hazel, and bottom right - Ethel.

Fifty Shades of Grey. No, not the book, but just how complex the subject of pedigree cats and breeding is in a world filled with rampant cat overpopulation. That was the reaction I got when I broached multi award winning pet expert, author, newspaper columnist, radio host, and animal advocate, Steve Dale, about this controversial topic. Not known to shy away from a tough subject, I knew Steve would welcome the challenge when I asked him for an exclusive interview.  Read more