Happy Birthday to Max

Happy Birthday to Max, Happy Birthday to Max.

Yup, he’s 11 years old already and he’s fighting all of the fanfare. Actually, I think he would rather be remembered as a svelte young cat, as is reflected in the photo of him in the last blog post, April 14, 2009, and those accompanying his stories in Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats. Here, he looks more like the grumpy old man cat that he is.

In Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats, you can read how Max used to spend his days, which is a far cry from how he lives his life today—snuggling under the blankets in the bed by day and sleeping on the end of the bed on his cozy afghan by night. He just reminded me that he does help in my office when he feels like it. He’s the chief paperweight—a task that he has perfected. He keeps me alert by hiding my pen when I’m not looking. Usually, I find it in the waste basket. He’s a good shot. He also keeps a close eye on the birds outside the office window, making sure no one gets more than his fair share of the seed. And he makes sure that I get regular breaks during the early morning hours when he’s on duty, by walking or standing in front of my computer screen at regular intervals.

Max and I have been together since we rescued him from the wild life when he was only a wee kitten. I should have known that he would be a bit of a challenge when I saw him use his mother’s food plate as a litterbox one day. Sigh!

But when we commit to a cat, we love him no matter what, right? And we’ve loved Max for 11 years and counting. So Happy Birthday Big Guy.

Learn more about Max and about 40 other cats in Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats. The only place you can get it is through Matilija Press at http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html. Order your ebook or comb bound book today. It will affect you.

My sister-in-law called this week to tell me that reading the book made her want to get another cat and she is currently trying to adopt one through her local humane society. Others comment that the stories are uplifting. Those who don’t have cats say they have a greater appreciation for cats since reading the book.

This is Max

This is Max. Not only is he prominent in my book, Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats, he is a member of the tenor section in Simon Teakettle’s Mewsical Society.

Max is a formerly feral kitty. We found him and his two sisters living with their adolescent mother cat in our woodshed one spring 11 years ago. Read about how and why we captured Max and his sisters and our eleven years of adventures with Max in our home.

He’s currently sitting on my lap directing this blog. He wants me to point out how handsome he is—but then, you can see that for yourself.

Order your copy of Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats today and learn about some of Max’s skills, quirks, habits and adventures. http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html.

Meet Smokey

This is my mom’s cat, Smokey. We think he is at least part Maine coon. He is one of a handful of cats and kittens that have emerged from the barranca behind my parents’ house over the years. My dad used to say that there was a whole village of cats living in the barranca, each just waiting their turn to move in. For years, whenever one of my parents’ beloved cats crossed over the rainbow bridge, another one would show up.

Smokey has been happily with my mom now for about ten years. And they have a pretty good feline-human understanding of their relationship and how each of them fits into it. As any cat person knows, if the cat is happy, everyone is happy and Mama has learned how to keep Smokey happy. He doesn’t have rich tastes or unique demands. As long as he can enjoy chards of sunlight rippling across his back each morning, quiet time on a padded chair in the backyard every warm afternoon, petting on demand and dinner served on time, Smokey is content.

He does rebel a little when his comfort zone is interrupted. He can’t understand why Mama won’t make the rain stop when he wants to go out to chase lizards and butterflies. And he really, really hates it when the wind blows because this always means a bad hair day for Smokey.

On pages 74-75 of Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats, you’ll find a story about Smokey. I call it, “The Tale of Smokey’s Tail.” Smokey has an extraordinary tail—it is very Maine coon cat-like in that it is long, full and quite expressive. But there was a time when Smokey lost the use of his tail and almost the tail itself.

Order your copy of Catscapades, Tales of Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats today and read “The Tale of Smokey’s Tail,” along with stories about traveling cats; working cats; intuitive, spiritual and rowdy cats. Throughout the pages of this book, I feature stories and vignettes of colony cats, strays, adventuring cats and ferals. You’ll meet a cat that changed a heart and two cats whose hearts changed. Learn about communicating cats, orphaned cats and cats who were rescued against serious odds. If you love cats, find them interesting or even fascinating, you will enjoy the true stories in this delightful book.

Place your order here: http://www.matilijapress.com/catscapades.html. Or contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com