Our cats are totally inside cats, but I have to say I do enjoy the cats who are allowed to roam the neighborhood. I love watching them play in our gardens, nap in a sunny (or shady) spot in our yard, greet us on our deck for a relaxing visit, help me pick peas or tomatoes in our summer garden.
We also feed birds, but rarely do we have 
cats in the area of the feeders. The last time I recall seeing a cat with a bird was maybe ten years ago before the neighbors with the cat from hell moved. Thank heavens they took Rocket with them. I’m not of a mind 
to dislike any cat, but Rocket was evil—he even broke into a house through a window and attacked a frail seventeen-year-old Abyssinian while she slept. He was perhaps the only truly mean-spirited cat I’ve ever met. I tried making friends with Rocket. But quickly learned that after 
allowing you to get close and maybe petting him once or twice, he’d turn on you 
ferociously. He definitely was a cat to stay away from.
I’ll never forget when a large orange cat used to visit us at the backdoor. He came so regularly that we started offering him kibbles. We hadn’t lived here long enough to know where he belonged. But one day he showed up wearing a post-it note on his forehead that said, “I belong to Tyler. Don’t feed me.”
We looked around and saw a young man waving at us from across the street. Nice way to meet the neighbors. Yes, a cat can help with that.
Thanksgiving is for giving thanks and feasting. While you may have the desire to include your household cats in the joy of feasting on this day, remember that there are foods cats should not eat and some that are downright dangerous for them. Green beans, peas, pumpkin, and carrots, for example, are okay for cats to nibble on if they want to, but not if these dishes are seasoned with onions, garlic, salt and pepper, sugar, and a lot of butter. Gravy is not good for cats, neither is ham. The stuffing you love will probably not appeal to your cat and that’s a good thing because it’s generally 
filled with onions and other seasonings your cat shouldn’t eat. Don’t even think about letting her lick up some of the chocolate cream pie from the platter. Even turkey, I’m told, isn’t something cats should be allowed to pig out on.
Here’s a site with more information about what Thanksgiving treats you should and should not give to your cat. 
I’ve never heard of so many kittens needing homes this time of year. There seems to be a bumper crop and not just in California. The call for good homes has gone out all over the US this year. So if you’re thinking about 
helping a homeless kitten or cat, adding a cat to your menagerie, or filling the space left by a beloved cat, this is a good time to go kitten or cat shopping. Just remember that a kitten can be a 20 year commitment.
Because things can happen—you might become ill, sell all of your belongings and 
become a tireless volunteer in another country, go back to school—it’s an excellent idea to assign your cat a god parent—someone who will take him or her in should you 
suddenly become unable to care for your beloved cat. It happens.
of a cat or kitten.
Here’s a site listing every shelter and rescue group in every state—a total of over six thousand shelters. If you can’t rescue this year, donate! These folks are doing good work. I like to donate locally.
Even the sweetest, most charming, adorable, mannerly cat has an impish side. She might toss more sand than seems necessary over the sides of the litter box, steal food from your plate, sneak out through an open door when you’re not looking, take your hair scrunchies, hide your cozy socks (or your favorite earrings), or scratch your favorite chair. But you forgive her. After all, she’s just being cute and funny and creative.
peeing outside the litter box, eating the ribbons off your most artistically-wrapped gifts, knocking the Christmas tree over, destroying your plants, climbing your 
curtains and worst. But after viewing these two websites, you may want to embrace your cat and ask his forgiveness for scolding him the last time he napped on your best jacket or ate your prize blooming orchid. There are some awfully mischievous cats out there as you’ll see at these sites. Tis the time to be thankful. After viewing these links, I’m ever so thankful for our sweet Lily and Sophie.
Many of you have enjoyed our Klepto Cat note cards depicting some of the gorgeous covers Bernadette Kazmarski designs for the books. We’re happy to announce that we’ve created another series of note cards for your use and holiday giving. For this series of note cards we’ve used the covers from Books 12, 15, and 27. Order this note card packet including two of each design or request one of each of six designs in your packet. (This combination would include cards from Books 12, 15, and 27 as well as the three original designs depicting Books 5, 6, and 11.
nicely to each other, Kitty Boo-Boo has now gone off to live with his college buddy, leaving Smokey to receive all of the attention back home. The family reports that he hasn’t changed much, except for the fact that he’s becoming more and more affectionate. He loves his cuddle time.
He’s still an inside only cat, and he still spends a lot of time rubbing against and laying on some of the furniture that came from his original home with my mother before she passed. He’s still on a prescription diet and he’s eating 3 cans of it per day. Not sure that’s a good idea (sounds like a lot of food for a cat)—but Smokey isn’t complaining.
Some of the most charming photos and videos online feature cats or kittens and their best friend, who may be a dog or a horse or a pig or a goat. I saw one cat who’d developed a friendship with a dolphin. Cats have been known to buddy-up with ducks, cows, even rodents. I’ve seen kittens riding around on the shell of a tortoise, snuggling with large dogs, sitting atop a horse. I love the recent video that’s going around with the deer licking the cat. And I think everyone remembers the gorilla Koko and her kittens. She displayed such love and tenderness.
First, thank you for your reviews. I’m excited to note that all 7 of our 2019 releases have acquired all 5-star reviews at Amazon.com. This adds up to 100 5-star reviews, just for those 7 books. I have to tell you that seeing words such as spellbound, awesome, great, excellent, best in the reviews is music to my ears and keep me wanting to write for you. If you love my books, leave a review at the amazon book site. Much appreciated.
A lot of people collect things—tea cups, salt and pepper shakers, dolls, bears, thimbles, books, succulents, antiques, tools, baseball cards… My youngest daughter collects hearts. Everywhere she goes she sees hearts, in puddles after a rain, in a dewy spider web, in the clouds, in tree bark in a cat’s fur pattern… Her grandchildren bring her heart-shaped rocks, leaves, 
seashells and other things.
neighborhood fences, and even sometimes in the litter box. Here’s a cat-shaped clump from you know where. (I’ve also taken pictures of heart-shaped clumps for my daughter.)
I’ve heard of people who travel all over the place to visit shops, libraries, and other establishments where there are one or more cats. Trina and Greg Samson log such cats at their website and they currently list 470 of them throughout the world. Here’s the link in case you’d like to visit some of them virtually (or in person). 
work in hotels, libraries, feed stores, florist shops, warehouses, corporate offices, and even technology companies.
has recently moved inside and now works as a greeter. I’m also greeted at the door by a cat when I visit our local feed store, our veterinarian’s office, an outdoor bookstore, a nursery, our local library, and at a nearby pet store. Strangely most of these cats are gray. I read recently, that gray cats are 
some of the most docile and friendly. So it follows that they would be taken in or worm they way into an office environment or store environment where they can get plenty of attention and to do what they do best—charm visitors. (These are all working cats–top to bottom, Nap time for a hard-working secretary-cat; The “May I help you-cat?” at a pet store; the cat who asks, “What’s ailing you?” at Lily’s veterinarian’s office; and the greeter on the porch steps at a local feed store.)
People wonder how I come up with ideas for my blog posts 5 days a week for the last 10-and-a-half-years. I have to stop and wonder sometimes, myself. That’s around 2,600 posts.
now.)
garlic, caffeinated drinks and alcohol.
