Kizmet is using my head as a pillow. He lives for these happy moments and so do I.

Kizmet is an “I’m happy if I can be sleeping on my beloved human’s head,” kind of cat. Politics is not his thing to pontificate, nor as his human, is it mine. However, with today the 4th of July, 248 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, it’s hard not to think of politics as America ponders its future.  Today is also Kizmet’s 12th birthday and the only wish he has, is the same one I have: regardless of where you stand, or what your beliefs are, we hope we can come together as a race, with compassion, empathy, tolerance, and fairness.

Happy 12th Birthday, Kizmet!

Take care everyone, and be safe. And don’t forget,  the 4th of July can be a rough, scary, and dangerous time for our feline friends. Please visit here for my previous post on how to keep our cats safe and secure during the 4th of July festivities and the hot, summer days.

Kizmet from November, 2012. This was a few days after we adopted him from Pet Supermarket (he had been found, abandoned on the side of the road as a kitten).

Yes, I know it’s a lot of red, white, and blue. And a lot of bells, whistles, balloons, and hoopla fit into a tiny graphic image. If I were to be graded for this design in school, I’d probably get a D-, with the constructive comment, “Sometimes less, is more.” But, come on. Not only is it the 4th of July – America’s 247th birthday – but it’s our sweet Kizmet’s 11th birthday!

Too much glam and glitz? I say not enough! LOL. Anyhow, Happy birthday to Kizmet, our precious, sweet boy who has filled our lives with love and laughter since we adopted him from Pet Supermarket as a tiny kitten, back in November of 2012. We love you so much, buddy, and wish for many more years together!

All kidding and celebration aside, the 4th of July can be a rough, scary, and dangerous time for our feline friends. Please visit here for my previous post on how to keep our cats safe and secure during the 4th of July festivities as well as the hot, summer days.

Kizmet rockin’ the decade like a rock star!

While I’m not a fan of the loud fireworks that scare so many animals during the 4th of July, I am a fan of celebrating the day, especially since it’s our precious Kizmet’s birthday! This year is even more special because it marks a wonderful decade that he’s been on this earth! To celebrate the event, I thought I’d share 10 reasons why Kizmet is such a special cat.

1. He’s an old-soul cat. From the first moment I saw him in 2012 at Pet Supermarket when he was a tiny kitten in a cage and our eyes locked, I knew he had an old-soul spirit and was a special cat. I also instantly knew our meeting was predestined and he was meant to be ours.

Kizmet a week or so after we adopted him in 2012. Those eyes…how could I possibly resist him?

2. He’s always a kind, welcoming cat. No matter the changes sent his way – like new furry feline roommates Jazmine and Shadow, or when company visits and they bring a dog, he always is the first to accept the situation and offer a kind, loving, and reassuring paw to the newcomer or visitor.

When we adopted Jazmine in 2014, Kizmet insisted on staying by her side to make her feel safe and welcome.

3. He’s intuitive, empathic, and sympathetic. Unfortunately, there have been moments in our life with Kizmet where we’ve had to say goodbyes to one of our beloved kitties – Jazz, Harley, and Zee to be exact. Kizmet not only senses that I need extra love from him during those difficult times, which he gives me in spades, but he also senses when his catmate is ailing and needs his love too, and he rallies around them.

Kizmet stuck not only to me like glue, but to Jazz as well during his end-of-life journey.

4. He’s smart. All our other cats, no matter that we’ve never, ever, ever forgotten to feed them any of their meals, they meow, pace, jump and cause general mayhem with me just to let me know it’s time to eat. Kizmet has figured out that he will get fed every day and does not need to act like a lunatic or remind me with feline theatrics that it’s time to eat. He just sits, and patiently waits.

5. He’s extraordinarily loving. Kizmet loves to love. When I sit on the couch each night to settle in to watch TV, he either lays as close to me as he can so I can cradle him in my arms, or he’ll lie on top of my head, hugging it like a beloved pillow.

The love Kizmet and I share is a bond like no other.

6. He beats to his own drum. There are endless places in our house where Kizmet can nap but he’d rather be uncomfortable so he can be close to me, such as sitting behind me in my office chair.

It’s rather common to find Kizmet tucked between my back and the back of my chair when I’m sitting in my office.

7. He’s fun and goofy. When it’s playtime, he can run, jump, and fetch with the best of them and he’s a riot to watch.

8. He’s soft, snuggly, cuddly, and cute. I don’t think that needs much more explanation.

9. He’s well-behaved (mostly). He doesn’t beg for food. He doesn’t jump up on the table when you’re eating. He doesn’t howl and meow loudly all day long like some of my other cats, and he doesn’t steal food from his catmates.

10. He’s perfect.

Happy Birthday, Kizmet! I love you so much.

My goodness. Another year has already gone by – summer is here, which means the 4th of July, which means Happy Birthday to my wonderful, loving, sweet, and precious rescue, Kizmet, who turns 9 today! It’s been a crazy year, but we made it. Me, in large part thanks to the camaraderie and calming nature of Kizmet’s presence, as he’s always nearby, I think to make sure I’m okay in his mind.

Everything is okay, buddy. Take the day off and enjoy your birthday. Happy Birthday, and Happy Birthday to America, too. And if you missed it, I shared an invaluable post a few days ago with some summer survival tips to keep our feline friends safe, happy, comfortable, and healthy during the commotion of the 4th of July, record high temperatures, and the influx of family and friends venturing back into our homes for social events and celebrations. I hope you’ll take the time to read and share it. Click here for the article.

Happy Birthday to a very special and extraordinary cat.

I’m nearly 60 years old and cats have been a part of my life all of those years, probably totaling at least a couple dozen during that timeframe. And I love them all – past and present – each with their wonderfully unique personalities. I won’t say I have favorites, that’s not my style, but I can say every once in a while one of them really stands out, having an extraordinarily special nature. Kizmet is one of those cats. He’s a cat in which the earth revolves on a very special axis – one that is exceptionally kind, tolerant, intuitive, loving, patient, and accepting. In other words, he’s what’s good and pure about this world and a cat we could learn from. Read more