Editors Note: I have my own perceptions of my cats, but what I find most fascinating is how others perceive them. As you may be aware, last week was both happy and sad at the same time, as we had family visiting for summer vacation and also to pay respects to a dear friend that had passed away, which means that the cats also had family visiting. One such guest was Dan’s youngest daughter, Jackie, who is 14 years old and a HUGE animal lover. What did she think of the cats? Well, I am very happy to let you know exactly what she thought of them as she shares her take on the Zee/Zoey gang in her first guest post debut and she also shares her first foray into cat photography with absolutely stunning results. Take it away, Jackie! Read more

For whatever unfathomable reason, shelter workers will tell you that statistically black cats are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. The reasons vary, but the ill-conceived superstition that they bring bad luck is at the top of the list. Other reasons are more superficial, such as that their black fur is harder to see in shelter cages and they are difficult to photograph. People have a tendency to fall in love at first sight with pets, so the more colorful pets have a far better shot at getting adopted. To help create awareness about this plight, today is National Black Cat Appreciation Day and in honor of that, I would like to share a special post from a friend of mine I introduced you to a few weeks ago, Liz Wyman of Cats Love Naps who has made it her personal quest to help get me on the Ellen DeGeneres Show! Liz knows firsthand the unjustified prejudices black cats face in shelters and makes it her mission to help dispel the myths so that more black cats are adopted into loving homes. Read more

Chris and myself, SeaWorld, 2011

Editors Note:  Ever since I have started Zee & Zoey’s blog, I have encouraged friends and family members to guest host. My Mom, Dan, Madalina (my friend and graphic designer of all things Zee/Zoey related), and my step-daughter, Crystal, have all posted. Now, it gives me great pleasure to present a post from my oldest son, Chris. The post came as a surprise birthday gift to me  last week and was completely unsolicited. I read it with great interest and soon realized that the cat blogging world is not always filled with cutesy little stories of fluffy kittens scampering off to their next adventure. Cat stories range from happy, to sad, to heroic, to inspirational, to humorus and everything in-between. And then sometimes a cat writes its own story with its own destiny in mind as you will soon find out. Chris did not know at the time of this part of his life, that I would become an author and have a blog about cats, so the images in this post are photo depictions only and do not represent the actual cat or its actual surroundings. Read more

Editors Note: By now, most of you know that Dan is not only my fiance, the photographer extraordinaire for the majority of the pictures on this blog, and human Dad to my seven kitties, but he is also a wonderful writer in his own right. Since I am currently at BlogPaws, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to re-post one of my favorite posts from the archives. This one just happens to be written by Dan as he shares one of his experiences from last fall.  Enjoy!

Anyone who runs their own business as a sole proprietorship or partnership has no doubt experienced the process of structuring the business. Forming a new business as an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a relatively quick, easy and inexpensive way for new business owners to operate a business with limited liability as well as additional benefits.

LLC’s are regulated by the statutes of the state where they are formed and in most cases you simply prepare and file LLC “articles of organization” with your state’s LLC filing office. Once you’ve done this, your LLC becomes a matter of public record, and ZeeZoey Partners LLC was a matter of PUBLIC RECORD, which opened the door to ANYONE and EVERYONE who wants to SELL your new business their merchant credit card services, office supplies, printing, and a barrage of other services. One of those other services is insurance. Read more

Crystal and I in the Keys

Editor’s Note: My step-daughter Crystal has been promising me for months that she would write a post for Zee and Zoey’s blog. She comes to visit her Dad and I quite frequently from Boston, so I assumed I would get some sort of cute post on the comings and goings of the feline activity in our household from her perspective, as she is very familiar with the habits of our furry gang. What she sent me came completely out of the blue the other day and I am still quite overwhelmed with her heartfelt words.

We all have our own perceptions of who we are as a person, but do we really know how someone else perceives us? Crystal knows I will be attending BlogPaws in a few days and am also a nominee for the category of “Best Designed Blog” for the Petties. She wanted to send a post of support on my behalf before the big announcement will be made this upcoming Friday night. Well, after reading her words about me, I have all I will ever need and am the biggest winner in the world already. To be blessed with such a wonderful family is a gift that I do not take for granted. I am graciously humbled by Crystal’s expression to me and am so proud of her for all she has accomplished in her life and for all that she is striving for in her future – Deb  

I have been promising my step-mother, Deb that I would appear as a guest-blogger for some time now.  Many various cat-inspired themes have crossed my mind, and many posts have been started, but lacked genuine inspiration to continue.  Last week, Deb posted about some similarities she noted between herself and the great Ernest Hemingway.  She noted, tongue-in-cheek, the similarities between his birthplace, and where her mother was born, for example.  In our family, we have lovingly referred to these coincidences as “God winks,” a term coined by Squire Rushnell.  Read more