November 8, 2019 was the date I heard a meow outside our garage door early in the morning, the day a little black kitten decided our home was the one he knew in his heart would be the perfect forever home for him. He, of course, was right. Despite trying to find his owner, we had a strong hunch he had been both abandoned and abused, so keeping him really was in his best interest and somehow, he seemed to have already known that when he came upon our house. Read more

Almost from the moment Zee and Zoey met one another, they were inseparable.

Zee has always had a certain je ne sais quoi with the ladies. Call it pheromones, call it his dashing Maine Coon looks and charming personality, but, in short, he’s irresistible to them. So much so, the poor guy barely gets a moment of peace and quiet, because as they say in the movie Field of Dreams, “if you build it he will come” or, as in Zee’s case, “if I nap here she will come.” Read more

This is Zoey a few days before her 13th birthday. She is still a youthful and stunning cat. Photo inset was her at about 12 weeks old.

It’s odd. According to  International Cat Care, cats are elderly once they reach 11 years with senior cats defined as those aged between 11 – 14 and geriatric cats 15 years and upwards. My Zoey has been a senior for a couple of years now, but I’ve never considered her a senior. With today her 13th birthday, she continues to astound me because, with her, nothing has mellowed with age. If anything, all of her behaviors have intensified over the years.

Her meows, already piercing with their bleeping, yelping yowl sound have become so loud you can hear her outside. She still runs around the house like a kitten, jumping up on things and scaling walls and doors like she’s Spiderman with ease.

She still “kills” plush toys and drags them all over the house and her eyes remain bright, clear, and highly alert. She’s a handful, too. But I love my girl to the ends of the earth and back and every night without fail, she settles on the couch to cozy up with me for the night. Happy birthday, Zoey, and wishes for many, many more.

An image from 2011 of Zoey and me on the couch. She settles each night this way, and I love these moments with her.

We also want to wish a very special Happy Birthday to our beloved friend, animal lover, and blogger, Marg who shares the same birthday as Zoey. She is 82 today and anyone who wants to leave birthday wishes for her can stop by zoolatry.blogspot.com. We are also participating the the The Flowers for Marg on Nature Friday Blog Hop hosted by the Adventures of the LLB Gang.

Happy 12th birthday to Rolz, Mia, and Peanut.

How is it even possible? As my fingers type the words, Happy 12th Birthday to Rolz, Mia, and Peanut I can hardly believe it. How is time slipping away so quickly?

So much love and so many good memories. Happy birthday my sweet kitties and here’s wishing for many, many more. Happy birthday also to your brother Zeuss Catt, living a loving life with his family in Boston.

While not recent, this was Harley’s last photo. We had no idea at the time it would become a memory, and not a moment. 2020 has reinforced that sentiment deeply – be grateful for what you have, as you never know when it will be gone.

2020 was a time of hardship, pain, sacrifice, and uncertainties but it was also a time of reflection, reinvention, self-discovery, and a new landscape of blessings. Like many, I say good riddance to much the year has brought, but I’m also grateful for what it gave. Read more