Wednesday I shared some fun cat photos. I mentioned that I love photographing cats outside. There are so many neat backdrops and props and the lighting is generally better. But our cats don’t go outside, so I have to stalk the neighborhood cats when I 
want an image of a cat in the grass, snuggled up against a plant, hiding in a tree, peering out from behind a plant or down from a perch on the roof.
What’s the secret of great outdoor shots of cats? Find a cat and start shooting. Yes, sometimes it’s that easy. One of my favorite shots (and voted people’s choice at the 
Ventura County Fair one year) was a picture of Smokey (aka Rags) leaping into the photo frame after a bee. All I wanted was a picture of him peering out from a planting of pink flowers. But he set up a great action shot. Thank you, Smokey.
I look for cats with interesting coat patterns, cats surrounded by foliage or some sort of textured background. I shoot cats doing unusual and usual things—stalking a bird, staring at a butterfly, looking up at a giant cement dog statue, lazing on a tree branch,
or simply strolling down the street past a cartwheeling newspaper or a planter full of flowers or a wall reflecting his shadow.
It’s all in the eye and in the will of the cat.
Tuesday I shared a press release from Emma at We’re All About Cats. Today, I’d like to talk about their blog. 
and psychology.
At the site, I saw posts on tips for rehoming a cat, ten best chew toys for cats, best cat food for feral cats, best cat food for hyperthyroidism, and I love the “all about” posts. All about the calico cat, all about the ginger cat, all about the tortoiseshell. If you have a calico, you’d probably be drawn to the post featuring 101 popular calico cat names. Or you might do as I did and cut right to the cute cat photos.
pictures of cats out of doors—there’s so much opportunity for interesting background and props. Smokey was an indoor-outdoor kitty for all of the eight years he lived with my mother—and a great subject to photograph.
dancing part, so here she is practicing to be part of the orchestra.
People often wonder where I get my ideas for the plethora of blogs I post. (Over 1,200 posts in the last ten and a half years.) Here’s just one of my secrets—I do a lot of research. I especially enjoy stumbling across websites and blog sites related to cats. And it’s even more exciting when someone approaches me with interesting tidbits, news, stories, etc. about cats.
submit their essays on feline welfare and the humane treatment of cats. They received nearly a thousand entries but have now chosen a winner of the “A Voice for Cats” scholarship contest.
Erin has told We’re All About Cats that the prize money will enable her to pay off her student debts. She has decided to give the other $1,000 to the Pet Adoption Network, a non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 and is based in Red Bank, New Jersey. Over the years, Pet Adoption Network have rescued and re-homed thousands of animals thanks to their network of loving foster homes, dedicated volunteers, and the Adoption Center at the Holmdel Petsmart. Erin deals with the Pet Adoption Network as they send their kitties through to the Home Veterinary Services in Belford, where she works part-time.
I saw a facebook post a few days ago that said there are only 10 Friday’s until Christmas. Yikes! Does that ever put the pressure on? No worries. Here’s a solution to your shopping stress. I’m offering a spectacular gift at a reduced price.
What better way to end the week.
evoke giggles as they can get into some interesting positions. Here’s Smokey (aka Rags) sleeping in a sort of praying position.
I love, love, love, this picture of Lily as a kitten sleeping ever so soundly.
Have you met Louis of Austin? He may become the newest grumpy-face cat. Here is a good introduction of Louis of Austin. 
Do you throw out a LOT of cat hair every week? Wait! There are uses for cat hair that you might not have thought of.
into that sort of thing. Here’s a site that offers seven ideas for using all of that cat fur that sheds off all over your house. 
Speaking of silly: I sometimes find cat art in the litter box. Yes, Lily actually left me this heart once. I also have a picture of what looks like Mickey Mouse.
I’m sending out my newsletter this week. It’s been a long time since I’ve done so and there’s a lot to share with readers, fans, followers. We’ve produced six books in the Klepto Cat Mystery series this year so far and it’s only October. I expect to offer you at least one more before the year ends.
Meowy Christmas” (2019)
I trapped my first cat last week and it was a bittersweet moment. I first caught a glimpse of him (or her) darting from our bird feeder into the garage. I thought it was Annie, a neighborhood kitten, but something was different. This kitty didn’t respond to my overtures. He did one of those kitty-slinks into our garage and out of sight. In fact, he lived in our garage for the next ten days or so, showing himself only ever so briefly—appearing as a blur most of the time.
was homeless, we started looking into opportunities for his future. I learned that here locally, Animal Services is the place to take a feral cat. They are a no-kill facility—they even monitor a cat colony on site. They work with fosters and shelters to provide the type of care each animal requires and they place the animal in the appropriate situation. I decided this would be a better opportunity for Garage Kitty than the one he had chosen for himself. So we borrowed a have-a-heart trap from the local Humane Society and, when we felt the time was right, we set it.
I fed him as usual the night before. In the morning, we waited until it was close to time for the shelter to open. Then we got dressed and ready. We set the trap, put his breakfast in there and got out of his way. Within seconds, he was caught.
