While even one post on the subject is too many, that we have to sit in shock, once again, mere months after the Sandy Hook shootings to watch our freedoms and the little joys of our lives be chipped away because some sickly individuals decide the value of life has no meaning to them, is insufferable. My step-children live in Boston and I never imagined a day where they would have to live in complete fear for their lives while police and military presence has become a commonplace sight to them, schools, businesses, and mass transit are closed, they are in “lock-down” mode, and my 14 year old step-daughter has to call her Dad and ask the unfathomable question, “Am I going to die?” Read more

For most of my life, my cats came to me the same way – strays that either found me or I found them. I called it fate and rarely questioned the logic of it. The minute I brought them into my house, they became part of my heart and home. That changed in 1998 when I happened upon a new TV channel called “Animal Planet” and they were doing an hour long show about a breed of cat that I had never heard of before, the Ragdoll.  Read more

Much as it is hard for me to imagine, not all people like cats or the people who love them and Petfinder.com is trying to change that negative mindset with a campaign whereby cat parents proudly show the world just how real, funny, down-to-earth, inventive and diverse they are. They ask us to proclaim “I am a cat parent” through pictures, blog posts, tweets, or any other way we can think of to prove that everyone can love a cat like we do and that they are not second class pets. Read more

Today is a day of CELEBRATION as our sweet Zoey turns 5 years old!!!! Wow – time just flies and I can’t believe this little being that fit in the palm of my hands when I first got her in 2008 is now such a beautiful and graceful fully grown cat. Zoey has always amazed me with her intelligence and unique personality as she has grown, but this year she really showed me just how extraordinary she truly is with the addition of Kizmet to our family.

Zoey has the distinct honor of having 3 of her 4 kittens living with her and the loving mother-child relationship that they share is nothing less than amazing. When we got Kizmet, I worried how the perfectly balanced social dynamic in our house would be affected and I didn’t know how Zoey would react towards him. Well, her reaction was one of a warm, loving, and compassionate mother who had found her long lost son. She took Kizmet under her wings and instantly assumed the role of mother, which Kizmet desperately craved.

So, Happy Birthday my darling Zoey – you continue to amaze me and I love you so much!! I look forward to many more years together and promise you a day of extra loving, toys, and treats!!

Love also from the rest of the family who love you so much too – Human Dad, Jazz, Harley, Zee, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, and Kizmet.

When I am on the computer, I will have the TV on for some background noise. Normally I drown the chatter out while I am typing, but several weeks ago someone caught my attention when I heard her talking about why having a pet is so amazing and the unconditional love that they give to us. It happened to be Mariel Hemingway who is very close to my age and someone I had admired for many years as an actress, who is now an author and inspirational speaker.  She was a guest on the Jeff Probst Show talking about several projects she was working on, including her new book, The WillingWay, which is dedicated to personal empowerment and living life to its fullest. She was also sharing the love letters she had written to her beloved dogs, Tree and Bindu, that were published in the popular book, A Letter To My Dog. Read more