My beautiful, sweet, darling girl. I had to say goodbye to you far sooner than I ever imagined I would and I can’t believe a year has already gone by since I last held you in my arms, desperately willing for a miracle so I would not have to let you go.

Try as I might, I still find it so very hard to reconcile your sudden loss, and for that I apologize, because sometimes blocking it all out makes it easier. But I don’t want you to think I don’t care or that you weren’t important. The times we shared were ever so precious and you were such a good girl. Not a mean bone in your pleasantly plump body and your wishes and needs were truly so simple.

Breakfast, dinner, a snack, and lying next to my side, whether on the couch at night when I was watching TV or at my side when I went to bed – that’s all you ever needed to be happy and content. Toys, bugs, lizards, and cat condos – you wanted none of that. And on those rare occasions when you would chase the red dot from the laser pen with the other cats, even you seemed surprised that you were doing it!

I love you and miss you so, so much. I pray you are at peace with Mr. Jazz and all the other cats and dogs that have been part of my heart and home in years past. You remain a part of me – I think of you everyday and I thank you for being a part of my life.

xoxox

Mom

A final note – if any of you were complementing the purchase of Purr Prints of the Heart, it would mean the world to me if perhaps you would consider doing it between now and the end of June. Harley might not be with me any longer, but that does not mean she can’t be the harbinger for helping shelter cats that are here who need our love, help, and donations. Harley was a shelter cat and on behalf of Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, in tribute to her, 10% of the proceeds will be going to Advocates 4 Animals for any sales made in June. Harley was the calendar cat cover girl for in 2013 for Advocates 4 Animals and Purr Prints truly is a lovely story that any cat lover will appreciate. There is also a special chapter at the end of the book in memoriam to Harley.

Thank you – for more information on the book and purchasing options, please click here.

Now if you’ll all excuse me, I really must go. This was not easy for me, but in respect to my sweet girl, I would like to share a few pictures in her memory…

Harley used to like to look at life from the inside looking out. She was not the bravest cat in the world and always liked to watch the others from afar!

Harley loved napping on this homemade bed that my dear friend, Liz Wyman, made for her.

When Dan took this image of Harley in 2013, I never imagined she would be gone a year later. I had saved the photo, never sharing it until now, as I had originally thought I would used it for a Valentine post because it has such a romantic, vintage look to it.

Harley didn’t like to play much, but she did have her goofy moments!

Harley shares some couch time with Zoey and Mia back in 2010.

A reflective moment looking out her favorite window. This photo is so vivid, I can almost feel her hair.

Harley and Jazz – more so than any of the other cats, they had been through everything together!

An incredibly special picture – the whole gang – Rolz, Peanut, Zoey, Kizmet, Mia, Jazmine, Zee, and Harley peeking from behind me.

Sharing some time with Harley and Kizmet. Kizmet, more so than any other the other cats, really mourned the loss of his buddy Harley. Me too, Kizmet, me too…

The pure love that Mia feels for her Papa Zee radiates through this picture! (click image to enlarge)

In our house we are very blessed because when love-struck couple, Zee and Zoey, had kittens, we were able to keep three of them – Mia, Peanut, and Rolz. The kittens were born in 2009 and six years later it is still one big, mostly happy, hiss-free family! Of all the kittens, none of them love their papa more than Mia does, so I thought this would be the purr-fect picture to share for Father’s Day.

Happy Father’s Day to my sweet Zee, Happy Father’s Day to my beloved human, Dan, and Happy Father’s Day to all the Cat Daddies out there!

I was given the opportunity to share a guest post about Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond as written in the voice of my dearly departed cat, Mr. Jazz, on the Kitties in the City blog site. Kitties in the City is a beautiful and informative blog that was created by the talented, award-winning author and pet expert, Stacey Ritz, who is also my dear friend and the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 feline welfare organization based in Greene County, OH. Advocates 4 Animals (A4A) is one of my favorite rescues and Stacey gave me the option of having the post go up in late May or early June. Being that June is Adopt a Shelter/Rescue Cat Month and it also marks the one year anniversary month of the unexpected passing of my beloved rescue cat, Harley, (June 24), I knew I had to pick the June date. Read more

By far, my favorite moment of the day is relaxing on the couch with my feline gang. In this incredible shot, all seven of my cats are with me and the feeling of love we have for one another is clearly visible. Please click image to enlarge.

For those of us that love cats, we love them for their endearing and quirky personalities, the companionship they provide us, and for their unconditional love and devotion. All of that alone is worth the price of admission, but did you know cats are actually good for us? With today being Hug Your Cat Day, coupled with the fact June is Adopt a Shelter/Rescue Cat Month, I thought it would be the purr-fect time to share what scientists have actually proven so that we can help promote another pawsome reason why adopting a cat is such a good idea. Yes – hold on to your seats – scientists have declared that snuggling, hugging, and cuddling is good for your health and well-being!

Kizmet likes to put his front paws around me to hug me as I watch TV. The protective love he feels for me is so endearing and it gives me such joy to know how happy and content he is in our home.

We probably didn’t need an actual study to tell us that hugs, snuggling, and cuddling makes us feel better – most of us know that the simple act of a hug from someone we care about can give us a sense of comfort, peace, love, and security. But what about the feeling we get when we hug our cat (or any cat for that matter) or that feeling when our cat hugs us back or snuggles with us? Human hugs are wonderful, but there is just something extra special about hugging or snuggling with a beloved pet cat. That overwhelming wash of inner peace of mind and contentment you feel when your cat is snuggled by your side, or on your lap, purring away, making biscuits into the soft of your belly. I know for me, there is nothing that can center or calm me quicker than that simple and pure act from a cherished cat.

One of the simplest joys I know is having a cat snuggle with me as I read a book. It is a time for me to completely chill out, reflect, and be thankful for all that I have in my life. I am seen here with Rolz on this particular occasion.

Cats seem to intuitively know the power and importance of snuggling and cuddling too – in my multi-cat household, my gang are absolutely drawn to one another when it comes to snuggling and at any given moment of the day at least two or more cats are snuggled together, tucked into cozy little balls of happy, purring fluff. Sometimes the whole gang will be on the bed together – especially when it is afternoon nap time – and at night when I finally sit on the couch to relax, the snuggling and cuddling becomes a collective human-feline bond fest.

Jazmine and Rolz are sharing a nap together – clearly they are the picture of peace and happiness.

Want the actual science? According to a study published in the journal of Psychological Science, here are the top ten reasons why hugging, snuggling, and cuddling is so good for us:

1. Snuggling releases Oxycontin, a powerful hormone that increases in our bodies when we hug a loved one. It acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a huge role in pair bonding.

2. Cuddling boosts our immune system, so something as simple as a loving snuggle with a cat can help increase hormones that help fight infection. In other words – the power of positive thinking – you feel happy and good, so your body is too healthy to get sick!

3. Hugs can relieve pain – think about it – remember as a child when you would scrap your knee? The best medicine was a quick hug from Mom to make you feel better.

4. Cuddling helps deepen your relationship with the person or pet you are snuggling with by heightening feelings of love.

5. Hugging/touching helps with bonding – think of the relationship between a shy or feral cat with a human caretaker – it might take years for the first pet to happen, but when it does, the trust level increases significantly.

6. Snuggling releases social anxiety – unlike years ago, it is now commonplace to see pets in public places to help calm pet guardians with anxiety issues, and many animals, including cats, are certified therapy animals to help people in stressful situations such as traveling.

7. Cuddling reduces stress levels – we live in an incredibly stressful world today and one of the quickest ways to reduce stress levels is by the calming act of petting or snuggling with a cat.

8. Cuddling lowers your risk of heart disease and stroke  – cats are especially calming and can lower our blood pressure just by being around them.

9. Hugs are an instant mood boost and they are completely free! Who doesn’t love someone giving a random hug just to let you know that they care about you?

10. Cuddles can repair our worn out and broken bodies – think about all the animals that are used in nursing homes, hospitals, rehab centers, and hospice to help patients ease in recovery situations or to ease the journey of end of life. If you need further proof of that, please check out the compelling story Dorian Wagner of the blog Your Daily Cute shared of her journey with Joan Price, a woman terminally ill in hospice who was reunited with her cat Isis during her final months of life.

Siblings, Mia and Rolz, who have always lived in the same household are the best of snuggling friends. I find that we have very little cat fighting in our house and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact the cats enjoy cuddling with one another so much.

So on behalf of Hug Your Cat Day and Adopt a Shelter/Rescue Cat Month, thank you science for helping to provide further reasons why adopting a shelter cat  (or two, or three, or more) is such a good idea. When you think about it, it really doesn’t get much better than that – not only will your health and well-being improve by having a cat in your life, but you will also be saving a life. Millions of cats are in shelters at this very moment waiting for a furever home – why not adopt one today so that you too can enrich your life with hugs, snuggling, and cuddling.  Never mind an apple a day to keep the doctor away, it should be hug a cat every day to keep the doctor away! And best of all – if you adopt a shelter cat, not only will you be saving their life, in the long run, with all the health benefits, you will be extending yours as well!

Click image to be taken to BlogPaws registration page.

Yes – there’s the informative seminars from intermediate to advanced levels on just about any topic you can imagine to strengthen and improve your blogging presence and skills; there’s the sponsors and networking opportunities with some of the biggest names in the pet industry; and there’s the incredibly talented and motivational keynote speakers that will leave you feeling empowered and invigorated. There’s all that at a BlogPaws Conference – but there’s so much more – the intrinsic value of going to a BlogPaws Conference that you just can’t put a price tag on. Read more