Editors Note: I was driving to a dental appointment yesterday, planning in my head the new post I was going to write for World Spay Day. When I got to the office, naturally I had to wait, so I opened up my phone to check my emails. It was then I saw the devastating news that a dear cat loving friend of mine, Darlene Arden, had succumbed to her long fight against ovarian cancer. Darlene was a huge advocate for cat care and she and I initially struck up a friendship as fellow members of the Cat Writers’ Association back in 2012.

As time went on, our relationship took a unique turn. She turned me on to my most beloved, guilty pleasure – playing a game called Fairyland on Facebook. She warned me once I started the game that I’d become addicted and she was right! She and I had a ball growing our gardens and sharing conversations with one another that way.

She was also part of my most recent book, Makin’ Biscuits – Weird Cat Habits and the Even Weirder Habits of the Humans Who Love Them. When I reached out to her to let her know I included her book The Complete Cat’s Meow – Everything You Need to Know About Caring for Your Cats as a resource in Makin’ Biscuits, I know that pleased her to no end. She didn’t always love social media but she did love Twitter and I was so honored that she tweeted to her followers that they needed to add Makin’ Biscuits to their library! 

That was Darlene. She had a sharp wit and a sharp tongue. She was brutally honest and pulled no punches. She didn’t believe much in competition – her thought was simple – she wanted to help cats, so why not cross-promote the work of others? In her memory, I am sharing a post from last year that I wrote for World Spay Day. I’m just not capable of new words at the moment – I’m going to take a break and go play Fairyland while thinking of the times we shared together. 

It only takes one brief encounter for a female cat who is not spayed to become pregnant – please share this informative graphic to help spread the word.

While every day is a good day to promote the virtues of spay/neuter – not only as a safe and humane means of reducing cat overpopulation – but as a procedure to help ensure your cat live a longer, happier, and healthy life, with today being World Spay Day, it makes it all the more relevant. It’s a concept I like to call “Spay it Forward,” meaning we need to put as much factual and useful information as we can into tiny, digestible sound-bites so it can easily be shared to educate and impact change. To aid in the effort, to follow are some basic 101’s of kittens, cats, conception, cat overpopulation, and how spay/neuter relates to it all. Read more

We might not realize it, but to our cats, every day can seem like Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day was a few weeks ago and while its traditionally known for Phil, the Groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania who emerges from his home to predict whether spring will be early or if we’re in for a longer winter, for many of us, when we think of Groundhog Day we think of Bill Murray in the movie of the same name. The iconic image of his alarm clock waking him up day after day after day to the sound of Sonny and Cher singing “I got you Babe.” Read more

It’s Valentine’s Day and I love my cats dearly. But sometimes with love, comes pain. That’s what I discuss in the chapter entitled “Love Hurts” in my book Makin’ Biscuits – Weird Cat Habits and the Even Weirder Habits of the Humans Who Love Them. Like the time Zee used Dan’s head as a launch pad to fling himself across the room in pursuit of whatever dangerous predator fabricated itself in our living room. Or like when Peanut makes biscuits on my tummy with such gusto that my stomach starts to gurgle in protest because it feels like she’s rearranging my innards! Or when Zoey attacks my toes when I sit on the couch because she thinks they are monsters that are going to harm me! Read more

Despite coming from the same parents and living in the same house their whole lives, and despite the similarity in their spotted pattern, Rolz, Mia, and Peanut couldn’t be more different from one another! This was them at about 12 weeks.

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!! Another year couldn’t have possibly flown by, but alas, it has! Seems like just yesterday I shared a post about Mia, Peanut, and Rolz turning 7, and now I’m sharing one to wish them a happy 8th birthday! So, without further adieu, Happy 8th Birthday to my precious, sweet darlings! Despite your adult age, you will always be kittens in my heart and I love you all so very much. I’ve watched you grow up – literally from the time you were in your mama Zoey’s belly, to now, where you’ve grown into such distinctly unique and wonderful beings. Read more

Jazmine, Mia, and Rolz share some window watching time while Peanut contemplates napping on the comfy bed.

My kitties are very blessed. We have a nice home with lots of wonderful places they can go to rest, relax, play, hangout, or whatever. But there’s one room that’s extra-special. It’s the room with a view that I call the “leopard room.” It’s decorated from head to toe in a variety of leopard prints, knick-knacks, stuffed animals, cozy pillows, and more. It also has a window that not only allows a curious cat to see the comings and goings of the world outside – you know, like people walking their dogs, but it’s also host to an assortment of tantalizing birds and squirrels that like to frequent the other side. But even better, it’s the room that’s always bathed in a soft glow of amber light, with an inviting sun-puddle to nap on if a kitty so desires.

Not only do the cats love the room, but so do I. While it’s actually a guest bedroom, it’s where I go when I want some peace and quiet -whether to read, write, rest my head if I’m not feeling well, or if I just want to have a pile of cats cuddle around me. How about your house – do you have a room that’s extra-special to you and your cats?

There’s hardly a day that goes by that I don’t spot a cat catching a sun-puddle nap. This is Rolz and he’s clearly in heaven!

Jazz loved the leopard room. This was him in better days, several months before he passed on August 28 of 2013.

This was back when Harley was with us. She loved sunning herself on the window – joining her on the bed is Rolz, Zoey, Mia, and Peanut.

Oh my goodness! This picture just melts my heart…Jazmine was so tiny when we first adopted her! She and Kizmet met for the first time in the leopard room and they’ve been best friends ever since!

Sharing some quiet time with the gang when I was editing my book, Makin’ Biscuits. With me is Mia, Zoey, Zee, and Rolz. On the floor is Jazmine – note how she has a comfy pillow to lie on, but prefers the hardwood floor!