So it’s Cat Lover’s Month, we talked yesterday about the Crazy Cat Lady, have you ever thought about this? What exactly is the allure of the cat? I mean they have a reputation for being aloof, right? In my world, I’d say, “wrong.” Sure they have their moments. Cats like to sleep and often they choose to take their nap away from the
hustle bustle of the household. I’d say that’s pretty smart. Cats don’t usually do anything on command. Oh, you can teach little behavior patterns, such as, (in our household), “Sophie eats here, Olivia. You eat over there and you don’t bother Sophie until she finishes eating.” Yeah, she gets it, 
but she only complies when she wants to. A cat requires supervision in order to make sure she follows the rules.
We have to remind Olivia every single evening that we 
don’t want her climbing through the wood blinds. And every single evening, she reminds us to lift the blinds a little so she can get close to the window and sprawl on the window sill, even though it’s dark outside.
So yes, there are some issues with the sometimes stubborn, obstinate cat. In our house, even that mulish behavior is interesting and humorous. And it’s so worth it to also enjoy the sociable, sweet, and even snuggly mood of a cat. To me, that’s the allure—the constant surprises they present in their behavior and mood. I am intrigued by the cat’s ability to stand their ground and I adore their willingness to engage in meaningful ways with us. And what is more alluring than the beauty of a sinewy cat or a fluff-ball of a cat or kitten? That face—OMGosh, so adorable. Just look into those eyes and you’re toast. The cat is in charge and she knows it. She’s a master at hypnosis, don’t you think so? Oh yes, she has that allure in all aspects of her being.
We’ve talked before about the fact that some of us are crazy cat ladies (or gentlemen) and how—although the phrase used to be negative—we wear our crazy cat lady badge with pride, right?
center watching for the injured cat she wants to help). She donates cash and items to further the health and safety of cats. She educates the public through articles, books, blogs, presentations, magazines, and more.
you? You might stop on the freeway to help a frightened cat, spend more time petting a shop cat than shopping in the establishment where he lives, feed a stray, send Christmas and greeting cards with cats (guilty!), enclose a picture of your cat in the card (guilty), post pictures of your cat on your blog almost daily (again, guilty). Yup, crazy cat lady.
December is National Cat Lover’s Month and there are countless ways to celebrate. Of course your cat gets the benefit of your love every single day. Some of you go beyond taking in one or two needy cats and caring for them. Some of you adopt or foster elderly or ailing cats. There are those who live with and care excellently for numbers of cats inside their homes and in colonies. Sure you demonstrate your love for one or more cats 
every year, but is there more that you can do? You know the answer to that question. There always is. Because there are uneducated people attempting to care for cats and those who are just unwilling to look at the big picture when it comes to cat overpopulation and abuse, yes, there is much more we can all do.
Here’s a great site listing 31 ideas for celebrating cat lover’s month—one for each day of the month. Study it and choose a couple of them. You’ll be glad you 
did and you might just make a difference. The ideas include, learn a skill related to cat care and teach it to others or offer to do it for others—clipping a cat’s claws, for example. Consider volunteering in some way at a local cat shelter or donating even if it’s just freshly washed blankets and towels. The list of ideas includes some fun things—read a book related to cats—hey, you might enjoy the Klepto Cat Mysteries. I have three Christmas stories that make great holiday reading.
Watch funny cat videos. Take pictures of your cat—it’s fun and maybe you’ll be inspired to create a calendar of cat photos for holiday gifts. Here’s an important one, hold a fire drill in your home and be prepared to remove the cat from danger. Ever think about that? I do. In fact I had to evacuate a couple of years ago—all cats survived and so did our home and neighborhood.
Every day with this beautiful part Maine coon, part Ragdoll, part Savannah, part Abyssinian, etc., kitten is intriguing. It seems that a different facet of her heritage comes out when we least expect it and in ways we weren’t prepared for. She’s adventurous—daring, but more often than not, willing to please. As with any cat—it depends on her mood and what captivating temptation is at play in the moment. Will she stop nibbling on the flickering fake flame of my battery operated candles when we say, “NO!” or is this
something she cannot resist? Will she settle down while I’m working on a story or is she too needy for attention at the moment?
to use our hand or arm as a kick toy—often drawing blood in her exuberance.
half, maybe two pounds heavier than the average seven-month-old kitten and she started out as the runt—a tiny fluff ball of a kitten). It’s fascinating to watch her learn, shift her behavior to suit herself (and sometimes us), and develop habits and interests (which can change by the minute).
She’s curious, but usually eager to please. She has an energy that keeps us on our toes and delights us. We do a whole lot of laughing around here. A charmer she is—in a big way. And boy does she have the manipulation gene. But then that’s a cat’s super power, isn’t it? Cats aren’t all adorable fur-beings, there’s the beguiling ability to wrap unsuspecting people around their little paws and mesmerize us with
their purr and their eyes—oh those tantalizing eyes.
Today is traditionally a big shopping day. While, especially here in California, many of us are not visiting malls and busy big box stores—even if they’re open this wee. We’ll be trying to find bargains online.
Well, you don’t have to worry about Uncle John feeding your kitty turkey bones or something toxic such as a slice of chocolate pie, this year at Thanksgiving. You’re probably doing as we are today and enjoying a uniquely small Thanksgiving. It’s just the two of us this year and the cats, who will get their usual meal without any people food. I learned my lesson about offering bits of food from my plate with Lily. She became the biggest beggar—almost to the point of being
annoying. What I’d give to have her paw in my plate today though. Oh well, that was then—this is now and we’re having Thanksgiving alone without interference from Olivia or Sophie.
scratching post and maybe a few sisal fabric rugs, and cardboard scratchers. We have three cat trees—one is huge and solid wood, plus scratchers of various types for our cats, including two large pieces of carpet that they enjoy clawing and that can take the abuse without incident. But Olivia still wants to claw my favorite 
chair. Isn’t it always your favorite chair? I have large swatches of double-sided tape up on one side of that chair—but it’s actually like closing the barn door after the cow escapes. It still needs to be reupholstered.
of the legs of an antique dining room table. It’s some sort of soft wood and even though this cat has access to the out of doors, she comes home at night and claws on those table legs.
But a cat’s paws aren’t designed to be cute, they’re the cat’s tools. Cats use their paws to groom themselves, to play, to dig (in their litter box, dirt or to try digging a toy out of a box or from under a piece of furniture). They use their paws (with or without claws) to play. And those claws come in handy when the cat does any climbing. Cats sometimes need help getting out of a tree, however, because of the way the claws are positioned and designed.
So you want to build a bond with a special cat. What’s the first step? Probably understanding a little about cats and your cat in particular. Yeah, you can do a DNA test to find out why she does some of the things she does, or you can take her lead. When she wants attention, take time to give it to her and give it in a way that resonates with her. Follow her instructions.
and your knee, she probably loves a little scratching on top of the head and around her ears. Some cats adore full-body stroking. She’ll tell you if she doesn’t. Kitty tummies are often off limits. Our calico, Olivia, is amazingly affectionate, but if I run my hand over the soft, luscious tummy fur, I may get a bitey, scratchy warning.
hiding under the bed or the dresser. Talk to her in soft tones. Wriggle a piece of ribbon or wand toy to entice her to interact with you. Use your voice to gain her trust. If you’re patient, she’ll eventually come out. Go slow—remember, she’s in charge.
As you know we had Olivia’s DNA tested and now (if what we learned is accurate) we know that she’s a ragdoll, she’s Maine coon, she’s a fierce cheetah, she’s a sinewy Siamese, she’s a gracious Egyptian mau, an intelligent Abyssinian, an adventurous Savannah, and even a bald Peterbald. 
First, an announcement: The Kindle version of Book 48–A Whisker of Doubt–is now available for your ereader. ENJOY!
adventurer. He rides horses, hikes, is a search and rescue cat, and he can behave when taken to a restaurant or to visit someone’s home—well, most of the time he behaves. If a bad guy crosses his path or raises a hand to someone he likes, he might draw a little blood just to put the guy in his place.
Cats testify in court, they donate blood for ailing cat friends or cat strangers, they can alert someone in a medical emergency or a dangerous situation such as fire, and they can function fairly normally after an amputation or even after going blind.
of a plane—not because they wanted to, I’m sure. There’s a story about cats being dropped into remote villages in the UK in crates by parachute in order to help with rodent problems.
