Unbranded and Loving it – A Grateful Cat Lady!

unbranded

No leopard. No cat ears. Just me in all my unbranded glory. Reflecting (and sweating) in the hot Florida sun about all I’m blessed for in my life.

Finally settled in after my hectic trip to Arizona a couple weeks ago for the BlogPaws/Cat Writers’ Association Conference, I received a phone call from fellow CWA member, Dusty Rainbolt. She had been a past president of the organization at one point, and I was now officially Vice-President, and she wanted to talk to me about my upcoming book project that she’s going to be a part of. Sounds impressive, huh?

That bubble was quickly burst and brought to reality when I told her what I was doing—deep cleaning several litter boxes and vacuuming mountains of cat hair off my furniture, floors, and drapes. She was heading out soon to her vet to have some pus drained from a protruding cyst on one of her foster kittens. We joked at what a glamorous life it is to be a cat writer…

But all kidding aside, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Those small acts keep me humble and grounded. I love my cats and it’s so nice to be surrounded by them in my everyday life. From Zee following me around like a loyal and devoted puppy dog (he’s thrilled I’m home), and  Zoey screaming hello to me at 4:00 a.m., to Peanut pawing at my face about a hundred million times to get out of bed and feed her, I take great pleasure in finding the extraordinary joy they bring to the ordinary in my life.

Why do cats love going outside so much?

Zee accidentally got out the other day, following me as I went out to the backyard. He’s now convinced he’s free to come and go as he pleases… He’s not.

Why do cats meow so loudly in the morning?

It’s amazing to me that a cat as tiny as Zoey can make a sound loud enough to wake the dead in the early hours of the morning…

I find myself so grateful for each and every moment. I look forward to the ritualistic chaos of feeding them three small meals a day, I enjoy the hide and seek task of finding each one of them for their daily grooming; I love settling on the couch at day’s end, drawing cats to me like a moth to light; and I appreciate being awkwardly jammed into my bed at night, covered in cats, and literally not being able to move a muscle. That’s my real life. The life I wouldn’t give up for a single minute.

One of my greatest pleasures – seeing how happy my cats are when I provide them with something I know they’ll love. This is Mia napping on a Navajo Churro cat mat that I won at the Cat Lounge at BlogPaws.

hearts

On another note, last call for submissions for my upcoming weird cat behavior book. It’s coming along nicely, but I do have a few chapters with some gaps that I could use help with. If you didn’t see it, please click here to read the post I did on Wednesday with the list of some of the weird things I’m looking for!

edit-jazz-book

Outlining the book with some help from Kizmet (and Rolz peeking in the corner). I could really use some help from you too – hope you’ll check out Wednesday’s post to see what I need!

hearts

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  1. Brian Frum says:

    My Dad wouldn’t trade any of the full time nutty chores either. Good luck on the new book!!!

  2. Hi, you guys look lovely in your pictures… I keep telling peeps to be grateful for all I do, and all we cats do by bring order to the peeps chaos. Do they listen? no… Good luck for your new book, and have a wonderful Sunday

  3. Have a great day – of course, reading with cats more or less assures that.

  4. Mom says everything she does for us she does gladly (even litter boxes!).

    The Florida Furkids

  5. Ellen Pilch says:

    I agree, I wouldn’t have it any other way either. I am impressed you groom all your kitties daily, now I feel like a bad mom.

  6. Kitties Blue says:

    Happy to see our hop here. Please link to us or display our badge next time if you don’t mind. Nothing like stepping in cat puke with barefoot in the middle of the night to keep the humans grounded. MOL! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    • Deb says:

      Oh! Sorry about that Kitties Blue! I didn’t realize the code didn’t mention your blog hop. I’ll make the change! 🙂

  7. BJ Bangs says:

    You look so different without leopard! Living with cats is just the best. They are the most awesome creatures on earth!!! I wouldn’t trade life with my 5 felines for nothing!

  8. We enjoyed hearing about your cat homecoming!!! We feel the same when our human leaves. In fact Peaches welcomes her back sometimes after one hour away! ( feel she overdoes it!) – signed, Paprika the Cat

  9. speedyrabbit says:

    you have the most beautiful cats,xx Rachel and Speedy

  10. I always enjoy your perspective on life, Deb. Many of us forget to find comfort and happiness in our everyday chores.

  11. Flynn says:

    Mia looks so happy on her cat mat. Flynn has a reindeer skin that we once brought home from Norway. He loves it but always has to bite chunks of fur out of it before he sleeps on it.

  12. Life without cats would be no life at all!

  13. Hehehehee… Lyin’ on top of you so you can’t move. Hehehehee… You’re givin’ me ideas. YOU’RE GIVIN’ ME IDEAS!

    Awww… MOUSES! I have been reminded that my brother Anderson already does that. Hmmm… Well… Well maybe there’s room for one more! purrs

    Purrs,
    Seville

  14. meowmeowmans says:

    We love that your cats are so happy to have you home, Deb. Isn’t that the greatest feeling? 🙂

  15. Lovely post and I agree with you that I wouldn’t have it any other way with my cats either.

  16. Deziz World says:

    Glad things are goin’ well. Mommy says even with all her purroblems she wouldn’t change a thing, cuz she luvs her life with us.

    Luv ya’

    Dezi and Raena

  17. So adorable! I love how you care of your cat. I have one too. Her name is Mimi. But it hard to take her picture. She never focus to the camera. Love your picture

  18. We loved meeting you at BlogPaws and it is SO GOOD you have help with the book …er… right !