Lily Likes Books
I just read, “I Could Pee on That and Other Poems By Cats” by Francesco Marciuliano. (Chronicle Books) What a fun read and an adorable gift. A neighbor loaned it to me and I had myself a little laugh-fest yesterday afternoon as I saw so much truth in the humor. Loved this book.
Another favorite book of mine is “Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics” by Heather Busch and Burton Silver. They also came out with “Dancing With Cats.” The photos in these books are spectacular and the premise fascinating.
Of course there are tons of books on cat behavior and care, cat poetry, dozens of cozy mysteries with cats, cat stories for adults and for children, and any number of other books involving cats. An unusual one I stumbled across yesterday is “Crafting With Cat Hair.” Now that concept really piqued my interest. If you have multiple cats or even a couple of bushy ones, you probably find yourself covered in cat hair. (That’s the name of a blog.) This author has found a way to felt that cat hair and make crafts out of it. Now there’s an industrious idea.
Speaking of cat hair, I found a book called, “Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair.” Hilarious.
I tend to buy books while traveling and many of them relate to cats. I have one featuring stories of cats at the Alamo (yes in San Antonio, Texas). I picked up information about the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska—yes, he’s a cat. I have the book about Dewey, the library cat in Spencer, Iowa (now retired). I also have an interesting travel memoir by Edward Webster who traveled abroad for a year with his blind wife and cat, Felicia. The book is, “A Year of Sundays.”
Do you like to read books featuring cats? You don’t have to go far to find a huge fiction and nonfiction selection of them.
Today I’d like to talk about therapy cats. Yeah, yeah, the issue of therapy animals has become controversial in recent years. People question folks who carry a pup in their pocket on an airliner or into a restaurant and claim that it’s a therapy animal. I saw a woman get excused from jury duty last year because she couldn’t stand to be away from her dog every day to serve on a jury. Most of us, when we see any dog, large or small, wearing a service dog vest and walking with someone who looks perfectly healthy, become suspicious. We’re accustomed to and okay with the concept of dogs for the blind. But for emotional support? Now that’s become questionable in the minds of many. However, it is also becoming more widespread. And anyone who loves a cat or a dog certainly understands the emotional value that pet brings into their life.
their lives out in a facility visit seniors in nursing homes. 
We all believe we have the cutest cat and that’s as it should be. If we weren’t ga-ga over our own cats, we wouldn’t be as apt to shower them with attention and take excellent care of them.
3,500 entries and they’re all pictured at their site. You’ve gotta check it out. There are some beyond adorable kitty-cats. If you live in the Cleveland area, there’s still time to enter your cat in the contest. Finalists will be announced March 15. Here’s the link. 
No kidding, today is “If Pets Had Thumbs Day.” Someone has actually created a day celebrating…celebrating what? The fact that animals don’t have thumbs? Naw, it’s more likely that someone wants to make fun of cats and dogs and speculate what they could do if they had thumbs.
If you want to be heard—I mean really heard and understood by your cat—you’ll appreciate this story. At the end of my rope with the behavior of two kittens, I decided to try “speaking” their language. The results were incredible. (See the story below.)
Ordinary and Extraordinary Cats. This book features 35 original, cute, unbelievable, interesting true stories about cats.
According to experts, kitten season begins this month and lasts through October. The number of unwanted kittens in the US and beyond is staggering—absolutely staggering. And the truth still remains–there are not enough homes for the number of kittens produced each year.
then have that kitten spayed/neutered.
Can you believe how popular cat videos and cat photos are these days? There are advertisements using cats and kittens—and these companies are not necessarily promoting pet products. My bank actually has an ad on the wall with a cute kitty in the picture.
I’ve talked before about the number of ordinary items that now come in cat shapes or that has a cat on it. This year for Christmas I received cat-face clips for closing chip bags, a set of cat shaped measuring cups, a leopard print purse, a blanket covered with cat faces, and two decorative pillows with cats.
I’m beginning to think my torbie, Lily, can use telekinesis—that she has the ability to move things with her mind. Why? We call her our little decorator because she constantly moves her stuffed toys around the house when we aren’t looking. Rarely, do we actually see her with a toy in her mouth. So how do we know she’s the one lining up her stuffed moose, baby possum, tiny bear, itsy turtle, little bunny, etc. at my bedroom door during the night? How can we be sure she’s the one dropping her stuffed spider in the kitchen and cluttering up the hallway and my office with an array of her other stuffed toys?
time during the day, she brings the toys to me. At night, she surrounds me with them. So I guess these are gifts and I always thank her profusely when she drops baby moosie or little bunny or tiny lion at my feet. But one has to wonder, is she trying to show off her hunting prowess? Is she trying to teach me how to hunt? Or is she simply bringing me gifts? Does anyone else live amidst a clutter of cat toys? Do you know why your cat is constantly redecorating your house?
seven pound grey-and-white cat, saw the large dog nosing around outside. Her kittens, in the meantime, were playing nearby in the living room. Well, I guess she sensed the kittens were in danger, for she leaped into the air and hit the screen door, it flew open, and PomPom landed in the middle of that dog’s back. The poor dog didn’t know what had hit him. He ran off and never ventured into our yard again.
