I find the older I get, the more I contemplate and respect the fact that our physical time on this earth is not infinite. Our eldest cat, Mr. Jazz, has had some health issues of late and I have been treasuring my time and moments with him on a different level. I have become both nursemaid and companion to him and while he is not always been thrilled with my efforts to help him recover, he seems to understand that I truly am trying to make his life more comfortable. We have mutually accepted the fact that each day we have with one another is a gift and I find that comforting because it has caused me to slow down a bit and re-prioritize what is important in life.

You will find that I comment less on facebook and blogs now. I will get emails and politely let someone know that I will get back to them, but not necessarily at this very moment. I am still on my computer all day and night, but I will also walk away from it without guilt, which has not always been easy for me to do in the past. My cats are my Zen and their friendship is my first place prize. So, on this Wordless Wednesday, I ask that you all take a look at this image of Zee enjoying the simple act of spotting a bug on a leaf and look for a small pleasure moment that your cat is sharing with you today. I guarantee that it won’t be hard to do at all and that you will feel all the better for looking for it.

The Buddhist practice of Zen involves living fully and authentically in the present moment to bring us face to face with our true original nature, unencumbered by cultural conditioning and stressful neurotic tendencies. Each moment is to be filled with a profound peace and clarity and is to have infinite depth and significance. This is achieved through deep mediation and no creature has mastered the practice of Zen more so than a cat. Read more

While this lovely image of Mia is actually our couch and not an armchair, the premise of this quote from Brian Carter still rings true for me. There is just something so wonderful about the comfort and security a familiar object can provide to us. For my cats, our couch is a cozy spot for endless napping. Sometimes the napping is solo, and sometimes two or three of them at a time will be cuddled up together.

The highlight of each and every night for me is when I finally turn the computer off for the day and seek out the couch for my bonding and retreat with Dan and the kitties. We watch TV, get caught up on the day, and that is when my sweet Zoey will come and find me and snuggle in the crook of my legs with a collective sigh of love and appreciation which makes every night a “good old day!” Read more

With each day that passes, our feline model Mia, becomes more and more like her wild Mama Zoey – her gait is unmistakably strong and confident, perfect to accompany this popular quote by Rosanne Amberson.

I try with each Feline Quotable Photo that I share with you, to include a bit of history on the author of the quote. Much as I tried, I could not find anything on Ms. Amberson, other than that she was the author of a couple pet books, including “Raising Your Cat a Complete Illustrated Guide,” that was first published in 1971 by Crown Publishers. I also managed to find this image of the hardcover book – whoever previously owned it sure did seem to refer to it often based on how dog-eared the cover is!

“When people come to our house, they usually remark on the fuss we make about our cats. It’s true, we spend ridiculous amounts of time talking about the cats, their whiskers and paws, their sleeping habits. We speculate on what they must be thinking. We anthropomorphize them to the limits of absurdity.” At quick glance, you would easily assume that was me talking about my cats. Or you, talking about your cats. But it’s not. This gem actually comes from Stephan Baker, author of the quote for today’s “Feline Quotable Photo Series” that stars two of Zee and Zoey’s kittens at 3 weeks of age that I cannot possibly identify. Read more