Mirror, Mirror

During what seemed like an interminable flight this past Thursday, I found myself reading everything that was stashed in the back pocket of the seat in front of me. I can't remember ever devouring the Skymall catalog with such intensity. And look what I found!

You can order this Cat Lady handheld mirror from Signals, a company that obviously understands Cat Ladies like to reflect on their title.

Who needs selfies?

Dumped!

Because I have been married to Cat Man for such a long time, I haven’t had to suffer in decades from the humiliation of being dumped by a fickle boyfriend. So you can imagine my surprise when I realized that Pye was deliberately dumping me for another—not another Cat Lady, but for one of her own kind.

Yes, Kippy has won Pye’s heart. I’m delighted about this amorous development, though displeased that Pye no longer needs me. I asked Dr. O. about what was up. She explained that Pye, who still has many feral qualities, can relate much better to a fellow cat than to a Cat Lady.

And yet I have been trying so hard, ever since when we formally adopted Pye last December, to combine human and feline qualities into one sentient being. What do you think of this French postcard, c. 1913, that features a sort of role model? 

How do you like me now, Pye?

Enough Already!

OK, Cat Ladies, this is what I'm talking about.

We're not going to take it anymore! Together, we can reverse the stereotype.

http://www.abramsbooks.com/Books/Cat_Lady_Chic-9781419714023.html

Breakfast at Wimbledon

Round 2 of "Breakfast at Wimbledon" is well under way with my cats. We're rooting for Roger Federer, always one of our favorites.

Strawberries and cream and felines forever!

Happy Fourth!

I had the honor of finding a loving home for this handsome Russian Blue cat who goes by the name of Bleu.

Happy Fourth to all Cat Ladies, and hooray for the red, white, and blue!

That Lucius

I had a delightful lunch with a woman who is fully conversant in the ABCs: art, books, and cats.

I was flattered that she had read my CAT LADY CHRONICLES and wanted to get acquainted over French food at a neighborhood bistro. I don't know why I was caught by surprise when, the moment I entered the restaurant, she exclaimed, "How is that Lucius? What a character!"

Yes, Lucius was something else. Although I felt sad informing her that Lucius had passed away one year ago this month, I confessed that I believe he lives on in my book and always will. 

Lucius was a true character, yet he was so much more than a fictional character who appears in ten chapters of a book. Lucius was an all-consuming force of nature that took over our house for fourteen years, and sometimes Cat Man and I have the odd sensation that Lucius is still among us. I can't imagine ever finding another orange tabby like that Lucius.

Fleeing from the Fleas

The past two weeks have been crazy-busy, which is why you have not heard from me. I had to fly the Catland coop, and while traveling I knew that our resident cats in the garage apartment--Lillie, T.J., Perkins, and Miss Tommie--would be in the capable hands of Cat Man. His duties also included manning the fort in the house proper.

When I returned to Houston, I was very upset to learn that we had a  flea problem in the apartment. Cat Man had purchased every pet-friendly pesticide in sight, but nothing was working. Our always sweet 14-year-old cats were grumpy.

I frantically called Dr. O., always my hero, who helped me evacuate our four cats from the apartment. Other than Lillie, who has visited the Cat Doctor clinic for subcutaneous fluids, our cats had not left their home for eleven years (Dr. O. makes regular house calls). Cat Man calmly took the wheel of our getaway car, which quickly filled with the sound of nervous cats crying.

After the exterminating service further saved the day, I reconstructed the interior of the apartment so that Lillie, T.J., Perkins, and the very particular Miss Tommie would find their food and water bowls, litter boxes, and bedding in the same familiar places. Back to Dr. O.'s to retrieve our beloved cats and reinstate them in the apartment.

The look on Lillie's face was priceless. Once a Mama Kitty, always a Mama Kitty. When I opened the door to her pet carrier, Lillie immediately strutted around her flea-free home and nodded approvingly. Her children also emerged from their carriers and conveyed their appreciation to me.

The moral of this long-winded story: Cat Lady flees from fleas! 

P.S. If you live in Houston, one of the flea capitals of the world, I highly recommend Integrated Pest Management to get the job done.