Cat under the curtain? What cat?

Peekaboo – that simple form of play with an infant where someone hides their face, then pops back into view, causing the infant amusement – is a fundamental, universal concept in an infant’s inability to understand object permanence. Swiss clinical psychologist, Jean Piaget, known for his pioneering work in child development conducted experiments with infants, concluding object performance was typically achieved at eight to nine months of age. I bring this up because cats also have a peekaboo mindset and Jazmine reminded me of this the other day when she was hiding behind a sheer curtain, convinced I couldn’t see her. Read more

Jazmine is the perfect model to share what Sunday’s should be all about…

How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward. I found this quote to be especially perfect to share this Sunday, for it is one of those lessons from my cats I aspire toward because they are masters at doing nothing. Relaxing does not come easy to me and I find the older I get, the more forgiving I have to be with myself. It’s a hard truth, but the fact is, I can’t possibly achieve everything I want to in one day. At least I can’t if I want to keep my health, sanity, and peace-of-mind.

So, I’m getting better at it. Walking away from the computer. Walking away from household chores and endless “to-do” lists. Walking away from self-induced stress. I went in our pool last weekend for no reason other than to bask in the beauty of the day. I read more books. I worry less about keeping up with blogging and social media and concentrating more on spending time with Dan, the cats, and my family. I’m far from perfect, but I’m getting there. I hope you all find inspiration in your cats and find some time for yourself as well today. Be kind to one another and enjoy the day!

We have a lot of people in our neighborhood who let off noisy fireworks – Zoey feels safest under a blanket during all the commotion.

4th of July is a time of celebration – America’s birthday, our freedoms acknowledged and appreciated, cookouts with friends and family, time off from work, great shopping deals and more. But for our cats who are reactive to the slightest of change in their environment, a day and night like the 4th of July – something out of their typical norm can be especially stressful, traumatic and dangerous to them. We can’t stop fireworks and celebrating from happening, but with some planning and basic understanding of cat behavior, we can make the holiday more manageable for them. Read more

Yeah…it’s hot out! Remember to keep yourself and your pets hydrated!

Rainy season in South Florida typically begins sometime in the month of May. True to form, I think it rained nearly every single day since then, up until June 21st, the official first day of summer. Mother Nature, taking it as a literal cue, flipped a switch and it was officially hot. Unlike other regions in the country, we don’t gradually ramp up to summer, you just wake up one morning and it’s 90 degree hot. Read more

Zoey is actually a very sweet and loving cat…but only if it’s on her terms! No surprise hugging, thank you very much!

June 4th was National Hug Your Cat Day and while it’s a day I rejoice in theory, after all, who doesn’t want to smother their precious kitty with hugs and kisses in a loving embrace, let’s be honest – not all cats like to be hugged. I’ve got seven cats – each with a completely different personality – so it’s pretty easy to substantiate my claim. They run the full gamut – from Peanut who I jokingly refer to as my Robert Palmer cat – she’s addicted to love – to my Zoey who becomes so horrified at the prospect of a hug, if I dare attempt one, she’ll recoil her body like a twisted pretzel and push away from me with such force, you’d think I was holding her down to immerse her in a tub of hot water (but mind you, on her terms, she’s the same cat who sticks to me like glue when I settle on the couch at night to watch TV). Read more