Cats Make the Heart Grow!

Yesterday, June 21 marked the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day and shortest night of the year, and the official start of summer. Along with my love of cats, I love summer gardening, so I took to the drawing board to create a sweet and whimsical tee that celebrates both!

Available in cool colors for summer – white, gray, pink, and blue – this comfy shirt comes in a classic ladies’ fit, a slim ladies’ fit, or unisex sizes for kids.

To visit Zee & Zoey’s Cat Creations to shop for this collection, please click here.

I rarely travel anymore, but it was my niece’s wedding shower, and I didn’t want to miss such a special day. It was a whirlwind trip: arrive in Tampa on Friday evening and head back home to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday morning. Even though it was short, and even though Dan is perfectly capable of managing our six cats, I never feel quite right leaving them. Nothing beats the routine of a mom who knows every single quirk, idiosyncrasy, and “do this, don’t do that, give this one this, and that one that” like the back of her hand. Read more

The beautiful Zoey

Today would have been Zoey’s 18th birthday. I last held her in my arms on the evening of November 19, 2025, when I helped her cross over on her heavenly journey.

I wish I could have prepared a lovely tribute to her, but my heart cannot bear the pain. My precious soul kitty, I miss her so terribly. A beautiful bag sits in the guest room where I last held her, with a few clippings of her soft, silky fur. I have enormous difficulty going into that room. Writing this has made me realize how much unresolved grief I am carrying, as if part of me is still in denial, as though it never really happened.

Her ashes sit in the living room, where she rests with her beloved Zee and companions, Harley and Jazz. Maybe one day I can share posts with glorious memories. Right now, I just want to quietly honor her birthday and the thoughts of her that are forever etched in my heart.

Happy birthday, my beautiful girl. I miss you so very much.

Zoey always loved the holidays—especially the warmth of the Christmas tree’s lights.

It’s the holidays, and I’m trying very hard to manage the pain amongst the joy. I miss my beloved Zoey so much. I’ve been living in relative denial, not truly believing her last breath was taken in my arms, the late evening of November 19. But something simple—pulling out the Christmas stockings, each one embroidered with my cat’s name, was a harsh jolt that she’s not with me. I carry the sadness in my heart every moment of the day. Still, I’m trying to be grateful for what I have—my dear family, friends, Dan, and my remaining clowder—Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, Jazmine, and Shadow.

I’m sorry if I’ve brought anyone down. I’m just speaking the truth of my heart. But I didn’t want the day to pass without letting you know how blessed I am to have you all as part of Zee and Zoey’s Cat Connection. Take care, Happy Holidays, and see you next year.

Who knew a cat so small could leave a hole in the heart so big?

Zoey was my dream cat—one I had wished for long before I ever held her. In mid-2008, several months after losing my beloved tabby, Kit, I found myself aching for light in a house that felt dim with grief. Even surrounded by my other feline companions—Whitney, Jazz, Zee, our loyal dog Bandit, and my fiancé, Dan—there was a heaviness that settled into every room. We all felt it. We needed a bright spot, and on June 14, Dan and I made the hour-long drive to a Bengal cattery to pick up my chosen girl, not knowing just how much she would significantly impact our lives.

June 15, 2008 – Zoey’s first photo.

I already had the name Zoey in my mind. It just felt right, and the moment I laid eyes on her— a tiny and beautiful bundle of spotted fluff—I fell in love. She was a fuzzy slip of a thing that fit perfectly in the palm of my hands. When I placed her in the carrier to bring her home, I was unprepared for the intensity of her reaction. She had a relentless, blood-curdling noise that bleated from her little lungs, and her petite paws had a death grip on the carrier with incredible strength, trying to pry it open to make her escape for freedom. She screamed like a wild banshee the entire trip home. This vocalization would soon be revealed as trademark Zoey forevermore.

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