September is Happy Cat Month, a month created by the CATalyst Council to assist in spreading the word about the health, welfare, and value of cats as companion pets, as well as to educate cat guardians what they can do to ensure their pet is happy.

Making sure a cat’s basic needs are met – food and water, safe shelter, clean litter, and regular veterinarian checkups are all important to that happiness, but it’s also important to provide a cat with fun and stimulating challenges that cater to their natural predator instincts to keep their minds sharp, their bodies fit, and their hearts happy and healthy.

It could be a cat condo that provides options for climbing, hiding, and scratching, or sometimes it’s an empty box, an unmade bed, or a puddle of sunshine to nap in. Or maybe it’s an unexpected treat, or a fun, catnip toy, or just the simple love and companionship from fellow catmates, or human caregivers.

Just some of the many things that make my cats happy!

A few more things…

Whatever it is, nothing gives me greater joy than knowing I’m making my cats happy, because the happiness they bring to my heart and home is returned a thousand times over. What are some of the little things you like to do for your cats to make them happy?

13 years old…still as handsome as ever!

My precious Zee turned 13 years old on Friday, September 7th. I had wanted to share the celebratory news that day, but unfortunately, I was unable to do so as I had come down with a debilitating virus that kept me bed-ridden for the past several days. That said, Happy Belated Birthday, Zee! I love you so much, and as always, you remain such a sweet, loving, and devoted cat.

Not a day goes by that you don’t bring a smile to my face, and even after all these years, you still find the time to bring gifts for Dan and me to wake up to every morning!

Dan and I are so blessed to have such a generous and loving cat in our lives! Thank you, Zee!

Your feline family remains devoted to you as well, especially mama Zoey and your daughter Mia, who find you completely irresistible and always want to be by your side!

As usual, Mia and Zoey stick to you like glue…whether you like it or not!

Muahhh! I love you so much, Zee!

Love and wishes for many more Happy Birthdays in the years to come!

It’s a Blog Hop!

I founded Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day back in 2015, a couple years after my beloved Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz crossed the Rainbow Bridge on August 28, 2013. While the day was created in tribute to his passing, today I thought I’d share a memory of another very special cat in my life, one from back when I was in my late teens, early 20’s, which was around the late 1970’s, early 1980’s. Read more

In honor of Sunday-Selfie, a picture of my angel, Mr. Jazz – the inspiration for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day is on August 28 and for those of you who might want to participate in some manner, I wanted to share a few details in advance. First off, the brief history of the day – I founded Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day (RBRD) in 2015 as a special day for pet guardians to honor the memory of those beloved pets in their life they have loved and lost, but never forgotten – whether fur, fin, feathers, scales or something else. It’s held every year on August 28, in honor of the day I had to say goodbye to my precious Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, the meow author of Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond.  

Secondly, as with every year, there is no pressure to participate. I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable, as I know it’s a sad day. But it’s also a beautiful day. The outpouring of love I see every year is so touching, as people share in the love they have for their pet(s) and it’s a time when we can all take a moment to collectively come together and comfort one another.

Every year I host a blog hop – the post will go live at 12:00 a.m., EST, on August 28 with the code and linking information available at that time. I have also created a Facebook event page for those who want to post a picture, write a poem, share a favorite memory, upload a video, or share a blog post link. This is the event link: . Please feel free to invite others you think might want to be a part of the day.

I created a new logo for the event last year and this will be the official logo moving forward. If anyone does not have it and would like to use it, please email me at info@zeezoey.com and I’ll forward it to you. There is no requirement to use the logo – this day comes from the heart, so please do whatever is most comfortable for you. If you’ll be sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social venues, you can use the hashtag #rainbowbridgeremembranceday and if you’re crediting me for founding the day in any of your posts, please reference me as Deb Barnes of Zee and Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, author of Purr Prints of the Heart and founder of Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day.

Thank you, everyone – my heart goes out to all of you who have loved and lost a pet. Wishes for a peaceful Sunday to all.

I’m a pacifist at heart.  I don’t comprehend killing and violence as a means to an end but I also understand the realities of the world we live in. The deep-rooted history of battle dates back thousands of years with mankind and while I pray for a day where civility can move mountains and keep us safe, not guns, bombs, missiles and the like, I know this is but a pipe dream at the moment. That said, I am, and I’ve always been deeply humbled and grateful for those men, women, and animals in the armed services who sacrifice their own lives to ensure the bounties and freedoms of our way of life.

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on these people and animals who gave so selflessly for us. In the case of animals, they were innocent casualties of war, certainly not understanding the implications of their role and my heart goes out to them all.

I also think it’s a time to reflect and give thanks to those individuals who stood behind the fallen because they are heroes as well. People are generally not an island when they become part of the armed services – they are someone’s father, or son, or granddaughter, or friend, or partner, or co-worker, or mother, and so on. Sacrifices are made on so many levels and I feel it’s important we acknowledge that as well.

Men, women, bats, cats, dogs, dolphins, sea lions, horses, pigeons, pigs, rats and more – these are but some of those that served on our behalf and I offer blessings to you all. And to all those in my family that served over the years, blessings to you. None of you were killed in the line of duty and you are long gone, but I still appreciate and respect your memories and your commitment to protecting life as we know it.

It’s also ironic; I never set out for a military life, far from it. But I’ve had a military career. Since 1995 in one capacity or another, I’ve worked for companies that protect our troops and law enforcement officials. It started when I began working for a body armor manufacturing company to today, where I work for a company that manufacturers critical items to keep military vehicles out of harm’s way.