My goodness… I can’t believe I haven’t posted something since Easter! What this tells me is a reality that I’ve been having a hard time coming to grips with, but the glaring truth nonetheless: I’m not Super-Woman and I’m literally incapable of managing an extremely demanding full-time day job, my more than full-time position of president of the Cat Writers’ Association, which includes coordinating a 25th anniversary conference and awards banquet, my home and personal life, and a blogging/writing career in the 24 hours a day I’m given. Something must give, and for the time being it’s my personal writing. Read more

Queen Zoey – the ultimate cat goddess…

Let’s see. I’ve stepped in vomit. Broken up an overly dramatic hissing-fit between two equally assertive alpha-cats. Cleaned up urine as a result of said hissing-fit in which spraying was the retaliatory method of choice. I’ve also stepped on 14 plush toys left out, making their way as a trail from the bedroom to the kitchen as some sort of homage to the food dishes on the floor, glaringly empty of food. All before 5:00 a.m., the appointed hour my seven cats give me the not-so-subtle wake up call that I’ve had more than enough sleeping in like some sort of lazy vagabond and it’s time for breakfast, thank you very much. I can assure you, the routine is not for the weak of heart. That said, these are my cats and I love them unconditionally. I also respect them. I understand what might seem as a nuisance to some, are behaviors that come with the territory of cat guardianship, and I’m okay with that.  Read more

It’s an interesting dichotomy. I’m literally one of the most goal-oriented, over-achieving, workaholics on this planet, but I’m also one of the biggest procrastinators you’ll ever meet when I don’t want to do something. My brain and body merge into a giant brick wall, rendering me helpless to the inevitable. I’ll do things I normally try to avoid – cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming, laundry, grueling yard work – and I’ll also spend an inordinate amount of time, above and beyond what I normally do of surfing the internet looking at cats, leopard print, shoes, puppies, and stories of kids who hilariously react to parents who tell them they’re going to have a new brother or sister. But, alas, all good things must come to an end, and the time has come…to dig through my files of paperwork and begin preparing my income taxes. Read more

Glasses, check. Phone, check. Lunch, check. Purse, check. Keys, check. One, two, three, four, five, six. Six. Six. And then it begins. The mad rush in which I gain an inordinately high number of Fitbit steps first thing in the morning before I leave for work as I look for whichever cat of mine, in my “cat-count-before-I-go-to-work” ritual is missing because I have seven cats, not six. Read more

A gift for us? I’ll take care of it…

When a box comes into the house it’s a BIG deal. After all, when you’re a cat, it’s rule number one to either sit on, in, or near it. For this particular box, addressed to the cats mind you, Rolz took it upon himself to claim ownership and took the role VERY seriously.

Still guarding it (with a little help from Jazmine).

Fine…you can guard it now, but just for a minute…

Sometimes a cat might have to get up for one reason or another, perhaps to use the litter box, thank you very much, and sure enough, there will be another cat at the ready, in this case, Kizmet.

Alright! Enough Mr. Nice Guy! Get off my box, now!

Being a rather patient cat by nature, Rolz allowed Kizmet his box-sitting moment, but even a patient cat has his limits…

Oh look, it’s a bunch of stuff for us to sniff!

When that exciting moment finally arrives, the one in which the box is ceremoniously opened, the cats do their obligatory sniffing and poking around. But it quickly dawns on them they no longer have a box to sit on and life goes back to normal…

Well, since we no longer have a box to sit on, might as well go back to bed…

Happy Sunday everyone!