This was the happy couple, Zee and Zoey, in the early stages of their relationship when life was carefree and they did not have the responsibility of a family to take care of…

Last week I shared a very intriguing topic about cats and the concept of past, present, and future. As in, do cats have the capacity to think and remember in those terms, and the overwhelming response was, yes, they do. You all shared some great comments and stories about cats in your life which got me to thinking about the subject in greater depth, in particular with the behavior of my beloved, Zoey. Read more

Today’s Wordless Wednesday is sponsored by my favorite feline couple – Zee and Zoey. In the above image, Dan was able to take a photo of Zoey and translate it into such a beautiful work of art that it looks like a priceless watercolor painting. The other image is of our handsome Zee who has such glorious whiskers that it seems like you could touch them yourself!

As always, to see full beauty of photos, click to enlarge. Oh, and don’t you just love that little nose on Zee – it looks like a perfect heart that is just begging to be kissed!

Reflecting back to the wonderful first outing we shared with Kizmet last week.

Last week, through words and pictures, I was able to share the joy and amazement that Kizmet experienced in his very first outdoor adventure. It was a milestone event  that I will never forget and I wrote about it with such vivid story telling imagery that you literally felt as if you were outside with us sharing the glorious day. Bravo Kizmet!! What a wonderful excursion you had! What I did not share with you, however, was the fact the event was rampant with controversy and blatant glossing over of the full facts of the outing and I felt I must come clean with the real story… the behind the scenes of the incredibly adorable and amazing morning we shared with Kizmet via our darling  Zee and the part he played in this simply too perfect moment. Read more

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.

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