Kizmet, a few days after we adopted him. How could anyone resist him?

Fourteen years ago, a tiny tabby kitten who had been found abandoned on the streets was given a birthday of July 4, 2012. A few months later, while stopping at Pet Supermarket during my lunch break to buy cat food, I walked past the cat adoption cages as I had done countless times before. My survival rule was simple: say hello without lingering too long.

Then I looked into his eyes.

In that instant, nothing else mattered. I picked him up, and he curled against my chest, a perfect fit, purring as though he’d been waiting for me all along. I tried to reason with myself. We already had a hectic household of seven cats. Dan was out of town. I was only supposed to buy cat food.

I handed the store clerk my business card and asked if they could hold him for a couple of hours while I talked it over with Dan. I sent him a photo of the kitten, secretly hoping he’d talk some sense into me.

Instead, he simply said, “Get the cat.”

And just like that, Kizmet came home.

I named him Kizmet—a play on kismet, meaning fate or destiny, with the “z” that had become a tradition in our Zee & Zoey feline family. Looking back now, I can’t imagine him by any other name.

Today, America celebrates its 250th birthday. Kizmet celebrates his 14th.

For fourteen years, he has quietly reported for duty every single day.

He is a kind, intuitive, happy, sweet, silly, and compassionate cat. He comforted Jazz, Harley, Zee, and Zoey through their end-of-life journeys, quietly staying by their side, then comforting me through the inevitable heartbreak that followed. He was also the first to welcome Jazmine and, years later, Shadow into our family.

We first learned of Kizmet’s healing powers in 2013, when Jazz was transitioning to his journey to the afterlife. Kizmet lay at my feet the whole time, offering love and comfort.

Kizmet was the first to welcome Jazmine when we adopted her in 2014. He has been her faithful protector ever since.

Kizmet likes treats, but he doesn’t demand them like the others. He loves attention but doesn’t try to steal the spotlight. Rather, he’s patient. He sleeps in my office during the day just to be near me. Then, every evening after dinner, once I settle onto the couch to watch television, he knows it’s our time. Without fail, he reports for snuggle duty. It’s one assignment he has never missed.

Kizmet loves the kitchen counter. Not so much for treats as for the chance to be close to his beloved humans during mealtimes.

Kizmet has a playful and athletic side. He loves to have these fuzzy pom pom balls tossed up for him to catch in mid-air!

He’s also my shoulder warmer, my overnight head pillow, and the quiet heart of our family. Never the loudest. Never the most dramatic. Just endlessly loyal, loving, and present.

Kizmet, in his ever-present quest to be as close to me as possible, is sitting between my back and the back of my chair!

Since I work remotely from home, Kizmet spends most of his day on the couch in my office with me.

Kizmet likes to lay his head on mine and wrap his paws around my head, hugging me.

Happy 14th Birthday to my faithful little guardian.

Thank you for fourteen years of unwavering love, quiet devotion, and faithful service.

Still Reporting for Duty Since 2012.

Happy Birthday, Kizmet!

Happy Father’s Day!

Today we celebrate all fathers—whether they’re dads to children, cat dads, dog dads, or caregivers to any beloved creatures who depend on their love and care.

This Father’s Day, I’m also remembering our beloved Zee, shown here with each of his kittens—Peanut, Mia, and Rolz (and Zeuss Catt in spirit, who now lives in Boston). Though he’s no longer with us, his love and legacy live on through the family he left behind.

Wishing all fathers, both human and furry, a day filled with love and perhaps a few extra purrs.

Happy 17th birthday to Peanut, Rolz, and Mia.

Our little babies, Peanut, Rolz, and Mia, are seventeen years old today! I truly can’t wrap my head around it. They have been a part of my life nearly 24/7, especially as I’ve been working remotely for the past several years, and I am so grateful for the time I’ve spent with them. It’s a bittersweet moment. This is the first birthday they are celebrating without either of their parents – Zee and Zoey – and the emptiness without them is still present every day.

Zee and Zoey were such a significant part of Peanut, Rolz, and Mia’s lives. They adored their parents, and there was barely a time when one, two, three, or all of them were not together as a family. I decided that, for their birthday, it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and share some pictures from when they were all in the same photo. Bear in mind that the earlier ones were primarily from before the days of the quick, easy digital technology we’ve all grown used to on our iPhones and cameras. Before the days when I (or Dan) would take dozens of images of a shot in quest of that “perfect one,” just because I knew I could use it later down the road for blogging, or because I enjoyed capturing a moment to share on social media, or just because it touched my heart and I wanted a photo.

Some of the images are from when Mr. Jazz and Harley were still with us, and later ones from when Kizmet and Jazmine joined the household. Sadly, even though our latest rescue, Shadow, was with us when both Zee and Zoey were alive, he was never in a photo that included the whole gang, so I shared one that included Zoey but not Zee, since he had already passed away.

Some of the photos are blurry, the lighting is awful, they have headlight eyes, one or two cats aren’t looking at the camera, or some other inadvertent nonsense cats do to ruin a shot. But that’s how it is. They’re real, and they show love. I hope you enjoy them – they serve as a reminder to take as many pictures as you can! You will want these memories to look back on, one day. And, as always, a Happy Birthday to Zeuss Catt, the fourth Zee and Zoey kitten who has lived with a dear family friend in Boston since his adoption in 2009.

2009 – My office companions. Peanut, Rolz, Zee, Mia, and Zoey.

2009 – Untangling Christmas lights. Zoey, Peanut, Mia, Rolz, Mr. Jazz, Harley, and Zee.

2010 – Our custom-created cat condo. Rolz, Mia, Peanut, Zee, and Zoey.

2010 – Waiting for dinner. Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Zee, and Zoey

2011 – Family birdwatching. Peanut, Zoey, Mia, Rolz, and Zee.

2012 – Another cat condo. Mia, Peanut, Zee, Mr. Jazz, Rolz, and Zoey.

2014 – Hanging out on “Big Red.” Zee, Rolz, Zoey, Mia, and Peanut.

2014 – A new toy and catnip. Jazmine, Zee, Kizmet, Zoey, Rolz, Peanut, and Mia.

2014 – Waiting for dinner, Part 2. Kizmet, Peanut, Jazmine, Zee, Zoey, Rolz, and Mia.

2015 – A forever-favorite moment. Jazmine, Rolz, Peanut, Zee, me, Zoey, Kizmet, and Mia.

2018 – “Big Red” updated. Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Jazmine, Kizmet, Rolz, and Zee.

2024 – Dinnertime. Shadow, Rolz, Peanut, Zoey, Mia, and Jazmine.

11/5/25 – Rolz, Peanut, and Mia share what will be some final precious moments with Mama Zoey before she passed a couple of weeks later.

The handsome model in this photo is our Shadow.

From our house to yours, wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love, light, and good food. Take care, be kind, and savor each moment given to you.

Happy 12th birthday to sweet Jazmine!

Happy 12th birthday to our almost “teenager,” Jazmine. Since the day we adopted you in March 2014, you have brought love and sunshine into our lives, and we wouldn’t want you any other way than the spoiled kitty you are!