I shared a post on Saturday about how incredible it was to see Zoey play and groom with Kizmet as if he were one of her own litter (if you missed it, please be sure to click here – it really was a very special and heartwarming story). She is a mother at heart and despite not immediately liking Kizmet when we first brought him home, her maternal instincts were so strong that she felt compelled a couple of short weeks later to interact, bond, and share important behavioral lessons and manners with him. On this Wordless Wednesday, I am thrilled to let you know that Dan was able to capture one of those moments on video as Zoey turns an overly aggressive playtime with Kizmet into a loving and nurturing grooming session.

As most of you know by now, we just adopted a rescue, our little Kizmet, who has blessed our lives in ways we never imagined possible. We wish that every kitty could be adopted and have a furever home, but until that happens, it makes us feel good to know we have an opportunity to help a shelter by providing a $250.00 donation courtesy of the very generous folks at PetCareRx! The clock is ticking to help out – the contest ends at midnight, PST, Tuesday, December 11th and all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling us what shelter or rescue organization you want to nominate(501c3 U.S. shelters only) and you will be entered to win the random drawing !! Read more

My cats are fascinating to me for many reasons, but one of the most incredible would have to be the relationship Zoey continues to maintain with her “kittens” who are now almost four years old. I am positive she still knows these are her children, and I am equally as positive they know she is their mother. I say this because I have read on numerous sites that as time goes by, a mother cat will no longer recognize an older cat as being one of her own and will just think of it as another cat in the household.

Once Zoey realized she was a Mama, the love and devotion she had to her kittens was deeply evident. She is seen here with Rolz when he was about 6 weeks old and she still continues to nurture him like a kitten even though he is almost 4 years old now!

When Zoey gave birth to her kittens, it was a stressful time – she rejected them the first couple of days, not quite comprehending her role as caretaker and I had to set up camp with her to make sure she stayed with them and gave them warmth and nourishment. Once she realized that she was indeed a Mama, and the kittens were her responsibility, her motherly instincts kicked into high gear and she has been a devoted, protective, and caring mother ever since (with an occasional bout of crankiness and exasperation like any mother experiences with her children). I know this firsthand because we kept three of her kittens – Mia, Peanut, and Rolz and the bond between them is irrevocable. I marvel everyday at the social dynamic they share, especially when it comes to her grooming and playing with them. Read more

While there is no doubt my cats lead a pampered life and are willingly waited on paw over paw by me, it does not mean that they wear diamond studded collars and eat fresh smoked salmon. I respect the value of a dollar and try not to spend my money too lavishly on them, despite how it might seem on the surface. Many kitty items in my house are handmade, most were bought on sale, and lots of them have been given to me – either as gifts or for product review. So, when I was given the opportunity to review a Sleepypod pet bed/carrier/car seat, I must admit I was a bit hesitant – this item was a bit pricey for me (the model sent to me retails for $179.99) and I worried about affordability to my readers. Read more

We love to decorate for the holidays, but when it comes to our kitties, the less help from them, the better. Kitties can be extremely curious and want to nibble on everything from curling ribbon to plastic bags to tree tinsel. The best advice, keep the ribbon off the gifts and forgo the tinsel altogether to be safe. When it comes to live plants, we need to be especially careful –  mistletoe, poinsettia, holly berries, and amaryllis blooms can all be toxic to one degree or another if they are ingested by your cat. The two general types of poisonous mistletoe’s are the European variety, Viscum Album, and in the US, the Phoradendron Serotinum. Read more