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Despite that the yard is fenced and he is supervised, Rolz lives for the moments we open the door to the backyard to unleash his inner wild feline self. Every glorious sense of his is heightened and one would easily assume at a glance that perhaps a bobcat or lynx had happened upon the premises. Every muscle, every hair on his body is stunningly displayed in this photo and the quote by Jean Burden could not be more appropriate or inspired.

Jean Burden (September 1, 1914 – April 21, 2008) was an American poet, essayist, and author. She was the poetry editor for Yankee magazine for nearly fifty years and also published six best-selling books on animal welfare and pet care. She also served as administrative officer for the Meals for Millions Foundation in Los Angeles, California from 1956–1965. (Wikipedia)

What cat wouldn’t love this custom-made five story cat condo!

If there is one thing my cats have (besides my undying love) is options. Until watching episodes of Jackson Galaxy of My Cat From Hell, I had not really even considered that concept, in this case, what type of living environment was I providing for my cats to ensure they were as fully acclimated to their feline roots as possible while living in the confines of a “human world.” But after watching show after show, where he would constantly refer to cats as either being “tree” or “bush” dwellers and needing those critical respective vertical and horizontal spaces in their lives, I realized with great relief that I had those bases covered in spades, whether intentional or not.

Our indoor environment is a virtual playground of high and low spaces for our kitties – we have numerous cat condos, from one level ranch style dwellings to five-story high rises. We have book cases, a fireplace mantle, counters, cabinet tops, and endless other pieces of furniture and accessories that let kitty perch with a bird’s eye view. We also have all sorts of low lying nooks and crannies for kitty to carefully hide for privacy or a safe haven. Generally speaking, those high and low moments are reserved for “events” such as heightened playtime, when some imaginary (or possibly real) ghost spooks them, when we accidentally drop a cookie pan on the floor with that clattering noise that terrorizes them to no end, poofy tails and all, or when company comes which causes all seven cats to scatter like bugs until they determine the terrain is safe again. Read more

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In our household of seven cats, any one of them could have easily been the perfect model for this James Herriot quote. Somehow, however, this image of Zee is the one that really rang true with me. Just look at how elegantly his body and tail drape over the folds of the blanket atop the couch. In the background, a lovely floral arrangement artfully placed, with the color tones of his fur and the accessories so perfectly matched, that it would appear a glorious picture made exclusively for the word “connoisseur.” 

James Herriot (3 October 1916 – 23 February 1995) was a British veterinary surgeon and writer, who used his many years of experiences as a veterinarian to write a series of books of stories about animals and their owners. He is best known for these semi-autobiographical works, which are often referred to collectively as All Creatures Great and Small. (Wikipedia)

What happens while we are sleeping? Do the cats take it upon themselves to get caught up on reading… Maybe a classic like War and Peace, but probably more likely to be Puss in Boots!

Let’s face it, if there’s one thing we’d like to know about our cats, it’s what the heck to they do at night while we are sleeping. Do they get caught up on reading? Play poker? Watch reruns of Everyone Loves Raymond? Sometimes I will wake up and find all of them sleeping on the couch, innocent and precious looking as little lambs, yet the living room floor is covered with toys and decorative pillows and a plant will have been knocked over… Read more

I truly wish I had more time to gaze upon my sleeping cats. As Jane Pauley so accurately states, you absolutely cannot look at one without feeling the tension fade away from your stressful day…

Margaret Jane Pauley (born October 31, 1950 in Indianapolis, Indiana), better known as Jane Pauley, is an American television journalist, and has been involved in news reporting since 1975. She is best known for her 13-year tenure on NBC’s Today program, followed by 12 years as co-host of Dateline NBC, and for her public acknowledgements of her struggle with mental health and bipolar disorder.  She is married to the Doonesbury cartoonist, Garry Trudeau, and they have three children. (Wikipedia)