Jazmine – then and now. Happy Birthday precious one!

When we adopted Jazmine at the Global Pet Expo in March 2014, we figured her to be about 6 months old, so we christened her birthday as September 28, since we didn’t really know what day it was. Well, using that premise, today is her 9th birthday, which seems totally unbelievable to me! How in the world does time keep flying by so quickly? Regardless, every day with our princess has been a blessing and we wish her many, many more birthdays in the years to come.

Pretty Mia and her purrfect paws!

I must admit it. I’m completely obsessed with my cat Mia’s paws. There is just something about them. So precious, pretty, sweet, dainty, and adorably perfect, that I could stare at them all day. But her paws and the paws of all cats are so much more than something for me to fuss over. They are a multi-functional, highly intuitive part of a cat, integral to their very survival. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the pawsome paw: Read more

My office is a small, 12 x 11 square foot space. Some might describe it as claustrophobic, cluttered, and chaotic. Others, like me, would say it’s cozy, charming, and comfy. It’s home to several monitor screens, keyboards, and printers for both my personal and remote computer work needs. There are also mountains of books, photo albums, binders, cat trinkets and mementos, stuffed animals, awards, wall-hangings, a couch, lamps, desks, file cabinets, a chair, bookshelves, stacks of boxes with packing materials for my books, an exercise bike, and more. How all this fits into one room is beyond me. But it’s my space, it defines who I am, and I love it. So does Jazmine, as rarely is there a day she isn’t somewhere in the room with me. And speaking of Jazmine, did I mention the room also has a cat tree, cat beds, numerous pillows and blankets, and cat shelves on the wall? Read more

Calvin feeding my cats some treats. Do they like him? Yes!

Not only am I blessed to be a grandmother, but I’m also blessed that my grandson, Calvin, lives nearby, so I’m able to have him visit our house on a regular basis. The first thing people typically say to me regarding his visits, is “I hope he likes cats, and how do they get along with him?” They say this, of course, because I have seven cats, most of which make themselves quite known when he visits. Thankfully, I can say not only does he like them; they like him, too, largely because of how both my grandson and my cats have been brought up. Read more

I’ve met so many cool people (and cats) since becoming a blogger and writer in 2010, one of them being Arden Moore, America’s Pet Health and Safety Coach and Pet Safety Cat Casey. I actually met Casey – a handsome and dapper ginger cat at the Cat Writers’ Association (CWA) 25th-anniversary conference in St. Louis in May 2019. Yes, imagine that. Mere years ago, in a life where we once got on a plane, traveled, met people (and cats) in person, did not wear a mask, and we could stand closer to one another than 6 feet (or paws).

A little kiss from Casey. On the left is Arden Moore and on the right, Amy Shojai, CWA founder.

Arden was hosting our communications contest banquet and assisting her was Casey. I was president of the CWA then, so I also had a lot of podium time, including sharing the spotlight with Casey and a special kiss from him! So, when Arden asked if I’d like to join her, Kathy Black, approved judge for the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA), Casey, and Casey’s “brother” Rusty to be their featured guest for the CFA’s weekly online Meow Hour, I jumped at the chance. Not a literal jump – I’m getting up in age – this September will have me at 427 cat years, so I’m not quite the jumper I used to be.

If you missed it, or care to take a listen, let’s see… Maine Coon cats, Bengal cats Ragdoll cats, black cats, rescue cats, Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, book giveaways, the Cat Writers’ Association, how many times I’ve moved, Makin’ Biscuits, Purr Prints of the Heart, Orange Crush Ginger Cat Love, Pawsitively Humane, Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, Cat Fancy, t-shirts, a drink that will give you the zoomies, and yes, even dogs! I guess it’s more like what didn’t we talk about!

All I know is I had a blast and I hope you enjoy it, too!