Makin’ Biscuits by Deborah Barnes, ZZP Publishing, LLC.

It happened nearly two years ago – I got out of the shower one morning and bent over to wrap my wet hair with a towel. Moments later, I felt something land on top of my head – it was Mia, my extroverted cat who normally didn’t like close-up human contact. For whatever reason, she had decided it was the perfect place to settle for a nap. Being that I’ve had cats my entire life, I was accustomed to them doing weird things, but this was odd, even for my standards, and that’s when the idea of a book of weird cat habits formed in my toweled, cat-covered head. 

I decided to test it out. Was there enough cat weirdness out there for a whole book? I issued an open call to cat lovers everywhere I could think of, asking them to share some of the odd things their cats had done (or some of the weird things they had done for the love of a cat) and the verdict was clear – Mia’s weird was only the tip of the weird yardstick and so it began. I compiled stories I received from people across the globe – bloggers, authors, celebrities, musicians, cat behaviorists, family members, friends, and more – all who were gracious enough to share a kitty anecdote or two. Fast forward to present day and several long months later, and I’m proud to officially announce the release of Makin’ Biscuits – Weird Cat Habits and the Even Weirder Habits of the Humans Who Love Them.

Mia and I bonding after I got out of the shower. How weird am I? I stayed in that stooped position for so long, enjoying the attention from her, that I was nearly late for work!

It was an interesting process. I initially thought the book would consist strictly of people sharing some of the crazy things their cats had done, but as I started to collect the stories, I noticed behavioral patterns emerging in the submissions and I began to question the behaviors. Why were cats doing all these weird things? After some research, it became evident cats do the things they do because that’s how they’re instinctually wired, not just because it’s a random weird habit.

Once I made the connection, I knew I wanted the book to explore the feline mindset alongside the strange habits by explaining why these behaviors occur in the first place, as well as to offer well-researched, practical advice to help cat guardians provide their feline friends with the proper resources and environment to ensure they can live an optimally happy and healthy life.

I grouped the common behaviors into like-minded chapters, such as the one entitled “You Can Pet Me, Just Don’t Touch Me,” in which I discuss the tendency some cats have of not wanting to be held or touched, even though they otherwise enjoy attention. Each chapter begins by me narrating a story about my own gang (they’re an endless source of material) and segues to a “Mews From Others” section where I share anecdotes from other cat lovers, and ends with a “Purr Points to Ponder” section of information, advice, and tips to help readers understand and bond with their feline charges.

Zoey is the epitome of a “you can pet me, just don’t touch me” kind of cat!

It’s a fun book to read – warm, lighthearted, and candid. You’ll relate to many of the stories I share and I promise you’ll smile on more than one occasion, like I did when I read the submission from blogger Sandra MacGregor of hairballsandhissyfits.com who was convinced she had a burglar in her house when she heard a loud, thumping noise in the middle of the night – it was her cat, Amarula, carrying one of her winter boots up the steps!

But there is a larger issue at hand as well. I wrote Makin’ Biscuits to help make a difference in cat welfare. Each chapter gives practical advice to enhance the feline-human bond; or to enlighten readers on certain subjects, such as the need for spay/neuter to help reduce the staggering numbers of cats in shelters; or to provide readers with resources, tips, and advice to correct common behavioral problems that can land a cat into a shelter, such as litter box issues or scratching furniture.

In the chapter, “Love Hurts,” I explain why it’s so important for a cat to have lots of safe and kitty-appropriate scratching options available to him or her.

Many of the stories will be from people you’ll recognize, like Vanna White, hostess of Wheel of Fortune and Carrie Ann Inaba of Dancing with the Stars. And many stories are from people you probably won’t know, but everyone has one thing in common – they love their feline friends, many of them going to extremes to prove it (if you don’t believe me, just wait until you read about veterinarian, Dr. Cynthia Rigoni, who once stole a barn cat to perform a life-saving operation on her after she had been kicked by a horse as a kitten). Makin’ Biscuits also features a special foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Gwen Cooper of Homer’s Odyssey and is endorsed by many top cat experts in field, including Dr. Marty Becker, “America’s Veterinarian,” contributor to Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show, and three-time bestselling author of 25 pet-related books.

It’s a great book on all levels – entertaining, educational, informative, and easy to read. It will make a wonderful gift not only for yourself, but for any cat lover on your list. Makin’ Biscuits is available in both print and electronic formats and all purchasing options can be found at www.makinbiscuitsbook.com. For those that would like to order an autographed copy directly from me (each book ordered directly comes with a custom bookmark and a tissue gift wrap sleeve), email me at info@zzppublishing.com for details.

This is Jazmine in her full, biscuit makin’ glory!! It’s no wonder I wanted her for the cover of the book!

I want to thank all of you that helped bring Makin’ Biscuits to life – from those that provided personal endorsements, to those that provided submissions – I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. And a special thank you to cartoonist Stephanie Piro who created the incredible illustration of my Jazmine for the cover. Like most cats, Jazmine is obsessed with making biscuits – hence the title of the book – and I knew all along I wanted her to be my sweet and whimsical cover cat girl!

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Details: Paperback, 280 pages with black and white photos. Print copy retails for USD$16.95 and electronic version USD$5.99.