Happy Equinox!

Spring has Sprung!

You may think that I am in denial about the arrival of Autumn, but I am not. I do see the brilliant yellow, red and rust leaves blowing in the wind and the cheerful pumpkins plumping up in the fields.

But I have it on good authority that today is the first day of Spring...

...in Australia!

Cat Lady Laura of Moags and Smeet should know. She lives there. She says, "Springtime in Australia is beautiful. Our summers are too hot for the type of natural beauty I was accustomed to in Canada, and it is actually through late winter and early summer that most of Australia blooms into its natural best.

"Traditional spring garden plants like daffodils, pansies, and jasmine are all flowering in abundance, native plants like the grevillea are blooming, and all over the countryside fruit trees are in blossom. It is simply gorgeous. Spring also brings some of the most enjoyable temperatures for enjoying the great outdoors, with temperatures in the 20s to low 30s (Celsius), which is much nicer than summer time 40s! Our garden offers up a natural theatre of brightly coloured birds, little lizards and even the occasional flying fox for Tig to watch from the comfort of a sunbeam on his window seat. Purrfect!

[ed. note: I had to google "flying fox" and this is what I found: it is a fruit bat, the largest bat in the world!)

Laura continues: "I have always been a crazy cat lady. Growing up in the countryside of Cormack, Newfoundland, my brothers and I had farm cats as small children, then spent years doting on my Grandmother's cat, before adopting the straggly stray kitten that we slowly nursed into a much-loved pet. Patches still rules the roost at my parents home today at the ripe old age of fifteen.

"Dan and I now have a blended fur-family of our own. Tiger [pictured, left] is a rescue cat whom I adopted five years before moving to Australia - he made eye contact and it was love at first sight. I had to take him home and spoil him rotten. When the time came to move to Australia, there was never a question that Tig would be heading to the land down-under.

"I often joke that he is the most expensive rescue cat in Australia, owing to the prescreening, specialist vet preparations, export and import permits, airfare, and other hurdles involved in his move, but you can't put a price on love! Although it broke my heart to see him off at the airport, he survived the trans-Pacific flight and (eek!) his mandatory 30 days in arrival quarantine before we were reunited in smootches, pats and cuddles.

"Oliver, our Dalmatian, was born in New Zealand and traveled to Australia with my partner, Dan, who is also a Kiwi. The boys get along surprisingly well, and can even be found snoozing together in happy harmony on the bed from time to time."

Find out who is "Moags" and who is "Smeet" by visiting Laura's blog about her jewellery business: Moags and Smeet. (where you can also find out why she spells jewellery that way..!). You can purchase her beautiful creations by visiting her Etsy shop. Also be sure to visit Laura's website Creativity Unmasked, a site that celebrates artists, makers and all things creative!

Thanks for visiting!

The Planets May Re-Configure Now. Please.

I'm fairly certain that we've all experienced it: the planets align in some mysterious configuration and all hell breaks loose.

Suddenly one's life, or the life of a loved one, or the lives of everyone you've ever met are filled with turbulence, upheaval, calamity, or change. Sometimes it is good upheaval, like moving to a new apartment or starting a brand new business, or buying a new house. Sometimes it is challenging upheaval, such as a giant tree branch about to break loose and crush your house, or trying to stave off foreclosure, or the fear of not being able to drive any more, or dealing with life-threatening illnesses.

In the past four weeks or so, all of my loved ones have experienced one or more of the above. It's time for the planets to re-align! I'm ready for some calm. And I've lived long enough now that I know that calm will return all in good time.

I was recently inspired by the story of Cat Lady Judy and her pal Sushi. What would we do without our families and special buddies (in particular, those furry friends), during times of upheaval and change? Here is Judy's story:

"After living on Cape Cod for 29 years, raising two kids (both now in college in Boston), and managing Senator Kennedy's home in Hyannisport, I moved to New York City last year after going through a divorce. I decided to 'reinvent' myself, so here I am and I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have my lovable Ragdoll cat, Sushi, to come home to!

"It's a very humbling experience walking the streets of New York, but there's nothing like having a pet who greets you at the door and won't leave your side :-)

"My daughter and I saw a magnet, 'I'm one bad relationship away from owning 30 cats!' and we had a good snicker over it. I actually have a positive attitude about what the future holds for me. I feel very fortunate to have a good job, my health and the love of friends & family."

Who could ask for more? Thanks Judy!

Brotherly Love... The Fluffy Kind

Many fabulous felines will capture the heart of a Cat Lady during one lifetime, but her very first cat usually holds a very special place in her heart. Such is the case with Canadian Cat Lady Martine who shares her story about two special brothers:

In February of 1993 she and her college roommate adopted two cat siblings and named them Sable and Chipper. "She was the one who wanted them, but I soon fell in love and was hooked! I was the one who kept them when we went our separate ways. I have other cats, but none will ever take the place of my very first special babies...

"People had a hard time believing that Sable and Chipper were brothers, as they looked so different from one another! Sable was gorgeous! He looked exactly like a Birman, except for the white on his face, which to me, made him even cuter and unique! He was also the SOFTEST cat I've ever seen, truly!

He was a shy cat around strangers, but was very loving and affectionate with his mommy. People were always surprised to find out that he was dominant over Chipper, as Chipper was much more social and outgoing with people. They were the best of friends, always snuggling and licking each other. Unfortunately, Sable was diagnosed with a serious case of chronic renal failure fairly young, at 7.5 years. He was very sick for the first 4 months and it was touch and go. But things got better, and with treatments, he lived comfortably for another 3 years before I had to let him go.

Chipper looked like a Maine Coon, but was much smaller, as he never weighed more than 10 pounds. Chipper got his name because he was such a happy cat! He loved everybody and truly was the sweetest cat around! Even the vets couldn't believe how nice he was during his visits! He loved to lay on my outstretched legs when I was on the couch. You didn't even have time to get comfortable that Chipper was already trying to climb on you! His other quirk was that he was addicted to plastic! He had an uncanny sense of smell for plastic bags, and could find them anywhere. He would quickly chew them out and actually eat them if I wasn't careful enough! So I've lived 18 years with all plastic bags under lock and key! lol!

"I spent the last 18 years of my life with this little bundle of love! I just had to say goodbye to him this past February. It was hard to see him go, but I feel so lucky to have had all these years with him that I couldn't complain about anything. He deserved to rest and meet up with his brother Sable, who had been waiting for him for 7 years!"

Be sure to drop by Martine's charming blog Scrap.Cats.Love where you will see her latest beautiful creations and learn more about her current kitties and her travel adventures.

Do you live with cat brothers or sister? Are they more different than alike? Any sibling rivalry? Let us know in the comments section.

Thanks for visiting!

Isabella Enjoys Her 'Nip

Meet Isabella. Isabella recently received a Susan Faye catnip ravioli toy and apparently found it irresistible, as documented by Cat Lady Sharon in this clip:



Isabella is the loving companion of Sharon's mom Barbara, pictured here in front of a beautiful geometric quilt. Barbara was lucky enough to acquire the antique quilt at an estate sale auction on Nantucket Island for just $17.

Sharon tells us a little more about Isabella:
"Isabella was a bright light during my father's last year. She would jump up on his lap for some love and would nap with him. She is a very sweet and affectionate cat who has given my Mom much comfort since my father's death in 2009.

"Isabella really is a delight. She is very friendly with all guests, but Mom is clearly her favorite human. Isabella is pretty small and she likes to sit on my Mom's shoulder and lick her face.

"Isabella is a stalker and hunter whether she is in the bay window or outside when she sneaks out. She sits in the bay window of the living room watching for prey outside. If she sees something interesting she hides behind a statue in the window so she can't be seen. Mom has a very nice screened-in porch (with special cat-proof screens) off the back of the house and there is a rabbit who has made its home under the porch. Isabella sniffs around the floor 'til she can 'find' the rabbit and then paws at the floor until something else catches her interest. She sees wild turkeys occasionally but must realize they are bigger than her because she doesn't crouch down into attack mode. She just watches them calmly..."

That's some bunny kick you've got there in the video clip, Isabella. Those turkeys wouldn't have a chance!

Thanks for visiting!

You'll find my catnip ravioli toys in my Etsy Shop at this link: Catnip toys

A Parade of Paternal Pet Papas

In honor of today's festivities, here is a little gallery of Dog Dudes, Feline Fellas, and Pet Papas who prove without a doubt that men are nurturers too, whether it's doting on their own offspring or their beloved furbabies...

Retired Police Chief Rick and Bo


Colin and the Girrrrrrls

Olivia's Dad

Alex's Friend of Felines

Linnea's Sweetie Pies

Gregg and His Loved Ones

Tracy and Asa

Jeremy and His Honey Bunches

Tommy and His Music Makers

Dan and Samantha and the Furkids

Callie and Zeke's Dads

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!

For The Love Of Cats

Cat Lady Julie says, "I believe in rescuing animals, and they saved me from the most difficult year of my life."

About 5 years ago, Julie adopted Bowie and Tess, brother and sister cats rescued from a pet hoarding situation. Sadly, in 2009, Bowie (pictured at left) became ill from several health issues and passed away at the age of three. That same month Julie lost a dear friend to brain cancer and finalized a difficult divorce.

"I learned to never say...'it can't get worse'. Not sure why I was being tested and no one knew what to do or say to help."

"Needless to say Tess and I were so sad and lost, all we could do is cuddle and cry. Then an old classmate contacted me, asking if I would be interested in adopting her 7-year-old cat Seesaw. She lived with inlaws and someone was allergic... I knew we needed some happiness and Tess needed company in the house so I said yes. We renamed him Ceasar, the most social cat I have ever met. He made us laugh and brought a little sunshine back into our life. Then in May of last year, I got a text of a picture of a cat. It was from my sister's boss whose aunt just died and had 3 cats to place, one left --Smokey (Bones), so I said of course!"

The terrific trio pictured here are a testament to the healing power of cat love!
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Whatever you do, don't call this lovely structure a "barn".

Cat Lady Dee operates a private cat sanctuary in a remote area of South-central Pennsylvania "as a living memorial to my daughter and only child, who died unexpectedly almost 10 years ago. I am presently caring for 40+ cats - the majority are feral. All are spay/neutered and vaccinated."

Recently, Dee was forced to move her cat sanctuary. "You would not believe how few places have the zoning that will allow a multitude of cats! Even agricultural areas! One farmette I looked at would have been perfect - but we couldn't have cats! Oh I could have a thousand hogs if we wanted, but no more than 10 cats!"

She and her husband eventually bought a small parcel of land that would allow for a cat sanctuary and are currently building a deluxe "cat house" (it may look like a barn, but for red tape purposes it is not. Dee's beautiful kitties certainly are not livestock after all!). Best wishes to Dee for continued success with her living memorial to her beloved daughter.

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Meet Cat lady Geri and her two bi-color beauties, George and Gracie. She explains, "While they are definitely a 'Comedy Team,' they were really named after my grandparents!"

Upon seeing her portrait with her kitties she said, "It brings tears to my eyes, because it shows the joy I feel when I am with my kitties. THANK YOU so much! You just made my day SO much happier!"

Thank YOU Geri! Creating art like this brings ME so much joy and I am thrilled and honored to be able to create keepsakes to represent the love that pet owners feel for their furry friends! Thank you, pet lovers, for sharing your stories with me!

Cat Hobbies

Do you and your pet share a favorite pastime? Like many other feline fanatics around the globe, Cat Lady Julie and her feline friends enjoy the wonderful world of birdwatching. Julie, Misu and Caroline like nothing better than sitting in their living room to watch the hummingbirds that come to feed on their patio, not to mention other birds and chipmunks too!


Julie tells us a little about her fellow birdwatchers, pictured in the portrait above (the portrait is a bit of a fantasy, as Misu and Caroline are strictly indoor birdwatchers):

"Misu [on the left] will be 12 years old in October. A friend of mine was moving from Iowa to Florida and she had a birthday present for me that if I did not come get it she was going to keep it for herself after having it for about a week. We met for dinner and she had this sweet little kitty with ribbons around his neck, like he was a little present.

"I had asked her what she had been calling him, just “misu-misu” which is “kitty-kitty” in Spanish. Because she was moving I wanted to keep the name in honor of her. I still tease her about the week he spent with her--she talks all the time and Misu is a big talker. I know the tone of his meows are based on what he wants. He’s hungry, wants attention, wants more attention, stop petting me now, etc.

"He is my baby, always has been, I carry him around on my shoulder and he lets me do most anything walking around while I hold him up on my shoulder, even at his 21 pounds… He sleeps with me every night and follows me where ever I am in my apartment, it’s very rare that I do not know where Misu is. I have always had cats but never bonded with any like I have with Misu, he is my soul-mate kitty- I hope he lives another 12 years..."


"Caroline will be two years old in November. I got Caroline because Misu and I moved to a new apartment. Misu had never been alone all day... so I hated leaving him at home alone for 10-11 hours a day. Caroline is a rescue kitty, I got her from the local Animal Rescue League as a kitten, just 8 weeks old. I was worried as Misu is set in his ways and had not played with another cat in years. I brought Caroline home, she instantly got out of the carrier and took over, not shy at all. She put herself in Misu’s life whether he liked it or not and within a week they were friends, and finally my old man is playing again!"

"Caroline is very sweet natured and a full blown trouble maker at the same time. Being a Maine Coon Tabby she has a ton of fur and HATES being brushed, but between the two of us she has beautiful healthy fur!"

Julie asked for a ladybug in her portrait, as they bring her good luck. I'd say the ladybug thing is working--isn't she lucky to have such wonderful bird-watching buddies?

What pastimes do you enjoy sharing with your pets?

Custom Pet portraits have returned! They are once again available in my Etsy shop until the end of September. Click here for details:

Cat Compassion

Last week I heard a televangelist declare that "humans are the only ones of God's creatures that worry."

I beg to differ.

Anyone who has ever seen a dog or cat waiting at the window for their master or mistress to return has witnessed one of God's other creatures in a state of anxiety, concern, uneasiness, disquiet, discomfort, apprehension, nervousness--dare I say worried?

I can say with great confidence that I have also witnessed joy, anger, envy, a sense of humor, loyalty, and compassion in my pets over the years. And I can also say with great confidence that it is not my imagination or a matter of anthropomorphism: Attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena.

When a cat exhibits compassion or concern, it is clearly a feline characteristic. Take tabby cat Mia for example. Cat Lady Taffy writes about her 93-year-old-mother and her furry "guardian":

"My mom had a stroke when Mia was 3 years old and now we are in charge of taking care of Mama. Being a caregiver is quite frustrating, especially when the person cannot communicate and is hard of hearing. Well, sometimes I have to say things more than once and with each repeat of directions or information, I tend to get louder and louder and when I get too loud for Mia--she comes very close to me and will begin to nip at my ankle or shoulder, depending on where she is at. She protects my mom from loud outbursts. A friend of mine told me that Mia is telling me to calm down and that I can do this job.

"Mia doesn't like when I sing either, especially something that smacks of opera. She slowly comes into my space to give her opinion. Mia likes little fuzzy mice as her favorite toy. She will whip them up in the air and sometimes they will land very close
to me so I can throw them for her. Mia IS very much loved by Mama and me."

And dare I say, Cat Lady Taffy and Mama are very much LOVED by Mia!

Cat Lady Taffy enjoys participating in these "click-a-day" websites. Your click will generate donations from the pet-related sponsors who advertise on these sites. Check them out:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces

http://www.care2.com/click-to-donate/pets

http://www.freekibblekat.com/

Adventures In Blogland

It's not too late to join in the fun of the One World One Heart blog event. Tomorrow is the last day to enter your blog as a participant, but you have until Feb. 17 to visit all of the blogs and enter for a chance to win any of the hundreds of giveaways. For details, visit this link: OWOH

In the mean time, I am working my way through a list of over 800 participating blogs from around the world and "meeting" an amazing array of creative, funny, talented bloggers, many of whom happen to be Cat Ladies!

One such participant is the bewitching Cat Lady Wendy who writes an enchanting blog "The Year Of The Cats" that often centers around her two cats Bella and Sele.

"I have always had at LEAST one cat in my life and one time I had six. I am owned by two incred­i­bly 'indulged' cats. Miss Bella, who is all black with a white dia­mond patch on her chest, cool, sear­ing green eyes and a very diva like per­son­al­ity. Her sis­ter and litter-mate, Sele is a com­plete oppo­site of Bella. She’s a tuxedo cat and all she wants to do is play, snug­gle, eat and sleep. In that order.

"Why do I love cats so much? It’s their magic and mys­tery. For ages cats have been con­nected to the moon and I love the oth­er­worldly side of cats that have taught me about intu­ition, magic and the fem­i­nine God­dess. ...So, I decided I need to write this blog because of my love of cats, all cats and to explore, share and learn more about magic."

Some of the OWOH blogs require that you be an active blog writer to participate in their giveaway, however, mine is open to blog readers too (that means everybody!) . I have THREE giveaway packages this year, so hurry on over to this post and enter for a chance to win, if you haven't already. Thanks for visiting!

Studio Assistant Spotlight: Gilbert and Benny

My studio assistant Buttonwillow (pictured, right) takes her job very seriously and always enjoys hearing about studio assistants who are equally devoted. She was delighted to discover Gilbert, a fellow fluffy bi-color cat who is a no-nonsense assistant to Artist and Photographer Catherine Panebianco.

Gilbert, who an un-named source described as "constantly irritated" (Gilbert prefers to think of it as "fiercely businesslike"), shares the studio with Benny, a handsome and very laid-back Labrador retriever who occasionally enjoys modeling for the camera.



Recently, Catherine commissioned one of my custom portraits as a Christmas surprise for husband George:

"Both my husband and I think it's hysterical that Gilbert is in George's arms, because really the cat has a massive love/hate relationship with my husband." She laughs that the portrait is "probably the only time George will be seen actually 'holding' Gilbert."

"Benny is the laziest (but incredibly lovable) lab. He's 10 now but has really always been an old soul. Both George and I are huge supporters of our local Humane Society I take photos of the dogs for their website ...we've always been involved either volunteering or on the board."

Catherine specializes in playful, contemporary images of cats, dogs, and any other beautiful thing that tickles her fancy.

She says, "I think photography should be fun and expressive. Take photos of what you love. Whether it's a pet that makes you laugh, a flower whose color makes you happy or a person that catches your fancy, express yourself like I do through photography."


Click here to enjoy Catherine's beautiful portfolio of images: Panebianco Photography. You can find out more about Catherine and see more beautiful pet images on her blog.

Thanks for visiting!

dog-in-glasses photo copyright C Panebianco all rights reserved

I See The Light At the End of the Tunnel!

Thank you to all of my wonderful customers for making this my busiest holiday season ever! I'm still tying up lots of loose ends and will be playing catch-up for another week or so, then looking forward to some play time and lots of cat naps under Buttonwillow's tutelage.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON CUSTOM PORTRAITS: I am still working my way through orders for custom portraits that were received in December, but I think I actually see the faint glow of daylight at the end of the tunnel! Orders are taking a week or two longer than the normal 3-4 weeks. Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns about an order.

Due to a backlog and other time constraints, I will not be able to take on any new orders for custom portraits at this time. If you are a return customer and we've already talked about future portraits, drop me a line and we'll work out a time frame.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support of my creative endeavors. It means a lot to me!

What's Cookin' At World Headquarters ...(And In Cat Lady Kitchens Across the Country)

It's just killing me that I can't show you the portraits that I've been working on, because they are Christmas Secrets. But who can resist a little peek under the tree, or even rattling the boxes a little? So here are just a few little peeks, but no rattling please:

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Here's what was cooking in the kitchen of cake decorator Wendy recently...Wendy wanted to create a special birthday cake for her sister Susan. It turns out that Susan's husband calls her "Groovy Cat". Wendy kindly contacted me and asked if she could reproduce my "groovy cat" artwork on a cake just for fun. I never met a Susan OR an icing-topped baked good I didn't like, so of course I said "YES!" Here is the result: a groovy flower power cake "hat" that is mod to the max!

Wendy reports: "She loved it! It was so cute, she kept opening the fridge to look at it. My husband came into the kitchen while I was working on the band around the bottom, and told me I was nuts! I have never done a cake with so much detail, just in that area." You can see more pictures at Cake Central.

By the way, in case you were wondering as I was, the cake was "Chunky Monkey": alternating layers ( 2 each) of vanilla and banana cake with chocolate butter cream and peanut butter filling. {{excuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin}} Says Wendy: "Not a scrap was left, Sue kept trying to cut around the cat, and it was the last piece standing".

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Here's what's NOT cooking in the kitchen of Cat Lady Serafima: it's a CATATO!
Yes, the little felinesque creature on the left is actually a potato that strangely resembled the cute little pottery cat on the left. A little paint and some lima bean eyes and voila! Pottery cat has a new best friend!

Serafima's native city is St. Petersburg, Russia, and she currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and kitties. She is passionate about compassion and animal rights and rescue. You can enjoy her artwork, poetry, and music at her website.

Thanks for visiting!

Equal Time for Felines

Ted the Cat wants equal time.

It seems that Cat Lady Stacey has devoted much of the past few years developing a great website and weekly e-newsletter called the Woof Report. Recently re-vamped, a new and improved version has just been unveiled: THE WOOF REPORT


At the website you will find lots of great information about canines including more than 350 tips on dog care and training, an adoption directory, helpful links, a forum and a picture gallery, plus a link to sign up for the weekly newsletter. Ted and Larry the Dog (the handsome woofer pictured to the right), take great pride in their roles as office consultants.

And happily, Ted's demands for equal time have not gone unheeded. Look for "The Meow Report" early next year with the same great features, but geared toward your favorite feline (and featuring artwork from someone you might recognize!). Sign up here to receive an email to notify you when it is launched: Meow Report Notification

Thanks for visiting!

Today is World Kindness Day!

If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~Bob Hope

Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson

Today is World Kindness Day! You can celebrate by sending out Kindness E-cards courtesy of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

The Foundation has no religious or organizational affiliations and encourages the practice of kindness in all sectors of society.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is the United States delegate to the World Kindness Movement, an organization that includes various nations. People in these countries promote kindness within their countries’ borders and are creating a global network of kindness and compassion.

Being kind extends to our furry friends too. Animal lover Andrea is a perfect example:

Andrea enjoys hiking with her best friend Rio. "I found Rio, a Dingo/German Shepherd mix on the side of a freeway seven years ago. He was terrified and terribly aggressive. After working with him for about a year, he learned to love. Now he only growls when you get near his food. :)"

Thanks for visiting!

What's Cookin' At World Headquarters this week...

Here's what's cookin' this week: Buttonwillow's tail feathers. She has set up camp in front of the heater, after waiting all summer for it to magically come back on. There's definitely a new chill in the air this week.

The sun room is not so sunny now, but I snapped this picture of my pretty glass baubles in the front window when a few rays were shining through. The blue orb (behind the blue-plate-wind-chimes) was a birthday treat several years ago. Over on the Oregon coast is a glass studio where you can actually make your own blown-glass ornament (with the total guidance and support of an expert!). What an amazing process...I LOVE glass.

As for me, I am a tad bleary-eyed and elbow deep in some really fun custom portrait orders. I can't wait to share them with you, but because most of them are Christmas secrets, I'll have to keep them under wraps for now...


GENTLE REMINDER:
The holiday deadline for placing orders for custom portraits is drawing near. November 15 is the last day I will be accepting custom orders for items that must arrive in time for Christmas. Due to my backlog, orders are currently taking 3-4 weeks to complete, plus they can take up to 7 days to arrive once they are mailed (longer, if you are outside of the U.S.) Click here to see what's available; if you don't see the combination/size/option that you'd like, please contact me: CUSTOM PORTRAITS


A big thank you to everyone who has visited my Birthday Fund for the Nature Conservancy! I am in the midst of posting 55 reasons to take care of Mother Earth through my photos and artwork. I'm up to Reason No. 20. Click here to see all 20 images posted so far: 55 Reasons

A big hearty thank you to everyone who has donated to the fund! It means so much to me. I'm almost halfway to my goal of raising $550.00 for conservation projects. Your gift of any size is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for visiting!

Cat's Cats

It's probably inevitable that if you grow up with a nickname like "Cat", you will some day oversee a small kingdom of kitties.


Meet Cat Lady Catrina, pictured here with (left to right) Sir Benjamin, Molly the Dowager Queen, Prince Casper, and Young Master Archie.

Catrina tells how her kingdom was formed:

"All of my kitties were rescued. I got Molly from the OSPCA when she was about a year old. She had already birthed a litter of kittens (why don’t people spay and neuter?) and was found with them in a box; someone had just thrown her away.

"My friend Pauline told me about Casper (previously named Yeti), a deaf darling who needed a home. He was born under the porch of her neighbour. Pauline had already found homes for the snow white boy and his identical sister Fluffy, however the people who had taken him when he was a kitten decided he was too rambunctious at nine months so they gave him back. I fell in love with his blue eyes the moment I saw him and we took him home immediately.

"We adopted nine month old Max [not pictured] from the Toronto Cat Rescue as a companion for Casper. They were such immediate and inseparable friends it was simply tragic when he died [of FIP]... After Max, I did not want to get another cat but Casper was so upset and lonely, and Robert convinced me a new buddy for him was essential…enter Benjamin, five months old from Toronto Animal Services. I was firmly against adopting a youngster, since the disease that killed Max usually hits kittens less than one year or older cats more than ten years. But Ben was insistent that we notice him, working hard at the front of his cage, standing on his hind legs and sticking his paws through the bars trying to grab at us. When we picked him up he purred and did swimmy paws in the air. Who could resist, I certainly couldn’t!

"The last to join our family is a cheeky little ginger snap called Archie, six months old also from TAS. He is the bravest and skinniest kitten I have ever seen. No slinking on his tummy or cowering under a bed for this little guy-- he is so bold it seems somewhat unnatural."

It was with a very heavy heart several weeks ago that Catrina had to say goodbye to beautiful Molly (just shy of Molly's 19th birthday). "When I rescued Molly all those years ago I gave her a safe and loving home, good food and a warm bed, today my heart is broken because she gave me so much more in return!"

But there will soon be another royal subject in Cat's kingdom; one from a very distant land who is also in need of a safe and loving home, good food and a warm bed...read all about his story in Catrina's delightful blog: Cat's Cats: BIG NEWS

Thanks for visiting!

Cat Lady Goes To The Dogs...Part 2

Yesterday we met Cat Lady Monetta and learned how Boomer came into her life. In Part 2, we meet another canine who stole her heart (hankie alert--be prepared):

"Then there was my Piggy.

"I found him sitting on the side of the road in a bad part of town where it's rumored that people fight dogs, if you can even imagine such a thing. I don't think I'll ever forget how stoic he was, looking down the road, as if he knew someone was coming for him. It was one of the coldest February days and Piggy had only a few tufts of hair along his spine. He was bright red, like he was sunburned, but that turned out to be a bacterial skin infection. On top of the mange. On top of heart worms. On top of he was starving to death. His little belly was bloated, yet you could see his ribs. I've rarely seen fewer things in person that are more pitiful than my Piggy was that day. He looked like a little pig. I was actually afraid that he would not survive the car trip to the vet.

"Once at the vet, it was recommended that he be put down. But he had survived so much I wasn't about to do that! It took a long, long, long time, but Piggy finally overcame all of those initial maladies and was the absolute sweetest, most loving dog I have ever known.

"He loved to do anything that Boomer did. The first time she ran full throttle into a lake to chase some ducks, he was two paces behind her. Only he'd never been swimming before and he sank like a rock! I was running and screaming and he finally popped up, and that's how he 'learned' to swim. After that, he loved to go swimming, he especially loved our trips to the beach and would swim longshore like an old pro.

"Piggy was the greatest dog I'll ever have. And when he died in my arms last November--he was only 9--- it completely broke my heart. I buried him in my backyard in his 'power spot' with all of his favorite toys and I said a prayer for him and I asked him to come back and be with me when it's my time. He was such a good boy...I thought for the longest time that I was the one that was doing such a good thing by saving him, but in actual fact, Piggy was teaching me all sorts of wonderful lessons about life and living. He was so sweet, he was unbelievably sweet...He was a real special boy and everyone who
met him fell in love with him."

Monetta has since fostered two more dogs for ARF in Mobile, but says she was a failure at fostering--instead of providing temporary shelter then sending them off to their forever homes, you guessed it-- she adopted them: Rocket, a little pit mix and Turner (aka Buddy Boy) a "big ol' magnificent pit bull".

"And of course I still have Boomer. But Officially, I remain....a cat person!"