Despite Shadow being with us for nearly three years (he showed up at our doorstep on November 8, 2019), the relationship he and Jazmine share is still tenuous. Granted, there are times they can be within a foot of each other without incident, as in the above photo, but those moments are few and far between, and the body language of both shows a cautious truce. They can, however, miraculously forget they are enemies when a can of tuna is opened, with them so intoxicated by the odor it renders them helpless to hissing and swatting, their typical modus operandi. But once the tuna festival is over, it’s back to stare-downs and belligerence. They can even pick each other out from our clowder of seven when everyone is in a group swarm, such as at dinner time, knowing which cat gets a paw swat to the head, and which doesn’t. Sometimes I can barely tell which cat is which, so I find that skill quite the fascinating marvel. They can get along with everyone else, just not each other.

So, for Halloween, I thought why not play a trick, and give everyone a treat? All that’s needed is a little witch’s spell and some help from Photoshop, and voila, you’ll see that anyone can be friends!

A pinch of tuna, a sprinkle of catnip, a ratty old blanket, and an empty box should do. Hocus, Pocus, throw it in the cauldron, do some fancy editing, and there you go, a Happy Meow-O-Ween to you!

Take care everyone and keep those kitties inside, safe and sound for this not-so-pet-friendly holiday.

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.

Our precious Maine Coon, Zee, has been gone nearly two months, yet somehow the world did not stop. Not for my pain, nor for his significance. There was no parade. No national holiday created. No indication from passersby I’d come upon in stores, restaurants, or wherever,  who cared to wonder how I was, or how I was coping, as surely they could see my heart had nearly stopped beating from a mile away, the pain of loss so deeply embedded in me. But no, none of that happened. Notwithstanding the kindness of friends, family, and my beloved cat community who have supported me with cards, gifts, comments, and more, life moves on without the courtesy of stopping, thus requiring me to manage my pain and emptiness within the frame of daily existence as I mourn an extraordinary cat.

Zee’s urn is front and center and one day will have his picture on it, too.

I’m still in a fog of denial. We have his wooden urn sitting on the shelf of our armoire, residing among our other angels: Bailey, Kit, Bandit, Jazz, and Harley. There is a lovely card from the vet’s office – Zee’s beautiful paw print emblazoned on it, with touching and heartfelt signed messages from the office staff. After all, Zee had become like family to them, too. One day I will get a frame for it. Something appropriately kitty-related so as to acknowledge the beauty, and one day I will put a picture of Zee on his resting container as I did for Jazz and Harley. Read more

When Zee first arrived at our house on November 12, 2005, he was a tiny, fuzzy brown tabby 9-week-old Maine Coon kitten I gave Dan as a housewarming gift when he moved in with me. He joined furmates, Bandit (a dog), and cats Kit, Jazz, and Harley, all long since angels. How he would change our lives could not have been predicted at the time, but he quickly stole our hearts and it was evident early on he was a very special cat. Read more

The feeding assembly line!

Life in our household of eight felines is relatively militant, especially when it comes to their morning routine and breakfast. It’s a dizzying, exhausting affair, at least for me. I wake up at 5:45 a.m. and begin my trek to the kitchen. First stop – scooping the litter boxes. If I’m lucky, it’s a quick scoop and go. Often, however, one of them will decide my scooping is a signal for them to go again, so I must wait for that pomp (or poop) and circumstance to end so I can finish. Read more