Since the domestic cat still shares over 95% of their DNA with tigers, it isn’t surprising that they have a tendency to want to hide out and blend in sometimes like a big cat will do in the wilds. Where does your cat hide? Is he a climber who perches above everyone or does he shelter under the bed? When you can’t find the cat do you start opening cupboards or do you beat the bushes outside for him?
At my mother’s house, Smokey (aka Rags in the Klepto 
Cat Mysteries) often had Mama screeching his name for all the neighbors to hear in hopes that he’d walk out from behind a shrub or from around the side of the house or over the wall from a neighbors. However, she’d often find him napping in the rafters in the garage. He loved 
hanging out overhead like that.
I’ll never forget the day I discovered that Max had found his way into the lining of the box springs. Often I thought for sure he was lost to us forever when I couldn’t find him. Then he’d appear as if by magic. We 
finally discovered his secret.
Lily would hide under the covers. Little did she know that the lump in the bed was a dead giveaway. We’d also find her in my closet—often closed in and patiently waiting for someone to slide the door open. She eventually taught me never to close that door completely.
It seems that each cat who comes into our 
home finds a special place to hide where they feel safe and comfortable. Not all the time, of course, but when they hear thunder, certain visitors show up, or the vacuum cleaner is running. We know of some of Sophie’s hiding places, but there’s still at least one that we’re not aware of. It’s worrisome. What if there’s a disaster and we need to get her out of the house? Now that could be a problem.
I think the most interesting, clever, and memorable cat-hiding experience I had was when a friend of my young daughters brought a kitten to show us. When she was ready to leave, we could not find the kitten. She decided to go on home and we’d let her know when we found the little thing. It happened quite by accident as I was preparing dinner. I opened the lazy Susan cupboard and twirled it around looking for a particular can of something and there, just waking up from a nap was the kitten right next to the can of something I was looking for.
Where is the most unusual place you’ve found one of your hiding cats?
I guess I’ve been isolating for too long—do ya think? (For me it’s been since mid February as I was sick in bed for almost a month. COVID? Who knows?) During isolation, I’ve been chasing cats around with the camera. Well, what do you do when you see one of your cats posing or doing something unusual or especially cute? You take pictures, right?
the blanket-throw my girls had made for me showing some of my Klepto Cat book covers and 
a cute pillow of a cat. How could I resist that shot? She’s not a very good subject. She looks down and 
often closes her eyes when you aim a camera at her. I got her to look up at me once and here’s the result. Kind of fun, right?
This is day two of National Feed a Rescue Pet Week. Did you send in a donation or deliver pet food to a local shelter or rescue group? Maybe you’d like to do something special and you’re not sure what the shelters need. Here’s a site that might help: 
charities 
And you’ll love and probably agree with the premise of this article. The title is, “Pandemic Blues. Our Pets Have Been Waiting for This Moment.” In fact, researchers are studying the affect our pets have on us in difficult times like never before. According to the article, “Assistant professor and researcher in Colorado State University’s School of Social Work, Jen Currin-McCulloch says the results of two large surveys show the COVID-19 pandemic is bringing us together with our pets like never before, and our pets are helping to reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.” Read more about this study here: 
Everyone is struggling to some degree this year. While many of us are at least able and willing to shelter at home and take extra special care of our cats and dogs, this scenario isn’t universal. Thousands—dare I say millions—of pets have lost their homes due in some way to the corona virus. Pets are being surrendered. Shelters are being overwhelmed, and the breeding, either intentional or because of ignorance or neglect, continues, which greatly adds to the animal homelessness problem.
coming forward to foster cats and litters of kittens. More people are adopting a pet for companionship during these lonely times. One shelter in Nevada reports more adoptions in one two-week period in March than in all of 2019. The ASPCA says that people coming forward to foster has increased by 70% in both Los Angeles and New York. And this story is being told in other parts of the US as well. In some cases there’s a waiting list for those who want to adopt because of new restrictions and regulations due to the pandemic making it somewhat awkward to show the available animals except online.
Shelters and rescue groups are doing the best that they can in a very difficult year, but one thing in short supply for many is funding. Most animal welfare organizations rely on donations and donations this year are down. If you’re so inclined to help a favorite animal charity, National Feed a Rescue Pet Week (July 26 through August 2) 
may be the time to do it.
Cats in trees is just about as common and traditional as kittens and cream, puppies and children, Lady and the Tramp… In fact I often stop to photograph a cat climbing a tree when I’m out and about. I also photograph cats on fences, sitting on posts, even on rooftops.
more for the positioning than it is dexterity practice. Cats like being above everything. Not only does it increase their territory (they have a greater view of their surroundings), but climbing is a common way for cats to escape from predators in the wilds (or the backyard). Do they know or simply sense that dogs, for example, and coyotes can’t climb trees?
In our house I notice that our cats often nap on the back of the sofas or an elevated counter. Our cats like to hang out on my desk and the kitchen table. From these places, not only can they generally watch the world go by through a window, but they can view the activities in the household from a safe and elevated place.
kittens, that they like to climb, the sofa, drapes, even your leg. And as they get older they still want to be on a pedestal, but may need a little help from a ramp or a set of portable stairs.
Nine more days until I meet my new kitty, Olivia. And I’m preparing in every way. Yesterday I talked about what to expect when you bring a new cat into your home. You may have had cats most of your life, but I have to tell you that when you lose one or add one or two, just about everything changes. Each of my cats and groups of cats has taught me something—usually many things. And some of these lessons I’ve carried over the years.
mouse, an upchucked furball or even a toy before putting them on. (It happens!)
Vases of flowers are a thing of the past with some cats. When I’m treated to a bouquet, I carry it around with me from room to room whenever the cats are active.
Have you ever noticed how much a newly adopted cat can change your household and even you? That’s because each cat comes with a different personality, traits, habits, and activity level. What can you expect to change? Practically everything. Your schedule, your way of approaching chores, your habits, and even your décor.
have to watch every step you take. They’re fast, curious, and spontaneous, and they don’t expect you to step on them or trip over them just because they’re skittering around in front of you or diving out from 
under the sofa to engage you. You may find yourself having to remember to keep the toilet lid down, tie up drapes and blind cords, cover your furniture with foil, constantly sweeping up litter, to never walk away from a sandwich. And forget about having any privacy.
probably wear more dark clothes—vice versa if you’ve fallen in love with a light-furred cat. No more sleek black dress, unless you dress in the garage on your way to an event. Beware, though, you might be surprised how much cat hair you carry on your clothing to your car every time you go somewhere.
Those of us who clean litter boxes every day, wipe up urfed fur balls, endlessly vacuum and sweep and dust cat fur and litter, also receive wonderful benefits of having cats around. We love watching them, interacting with them, snuggling with them. They make us smile and sometimes laugh. We each experience our own level of joy because we have cats in our homes and our hearts. But did you know that there are some solid scientific reasons for enveloping ourselves in the
company of cats?
It’s true that a large percentage of people never read a book after high school or college, but statistics show that more people are reading more books during the pandemic. I say good for you! It’s the perfect time to learn something new, gain further education on a subject of interest, and/or lose yourself in a wonderful story while staying close to your cat.
Not only that, reading uplifting stories—with plots that hold your interest, make you laugh, and touch your heartstrings are beneficial on many levels. Hey, I just described my Klepto Cat Mysteries. Reading one will make you want to hug your cat.
Are you ready for a laugh? If you’re like me, you love to laugh at and with cats. It doesn’t take much more than a kitty-cat antic, a look on your cat’s face, or a cat-oopsie to make you laugh. Here’s a site with oodles of cats doing funny things or making funny faces. Enjoy: 
