Himalayan Cats

Book review – The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey

Jim — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:06:17 +0000

The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey

A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton

A door is a door is a door, unless you’re a cat, then it’s so much more.

For our cats, the very essence of “ordinary to extraordinary” is no more clearly defined than in that statement – Deborah Barnes

If you treat yourself to one special book this year, make it The Chronicles of Zee and Zoey, a remarkable first work by Deborah Barnes. In it, Barnes describes the essence of her cats in fascinating detail and shares her own personal journey alongside them to the
“unlimited possibility of the extraordinary.”

Zee and Zoey are the charismatic stars of The Chronicles, but Barnes also introduces readers to the evolving cast of characters of an entire feline community. Her writing inspires a profound and dynamic connection with each and every one of them.

Playful, quirky, loving, yet cunning, determined and pushy, cats are treasured family members who share emotions just as their human counterparts. I was quickly immersed in the richness of their lively stories, and the laughter and tears that are part of sharing our lives with these sensitive creatures. Barnes exquisitely captures how they give us so much in exchange for so little.

The stories are graced by stunning photographs and custom artwork, and are backlit by the life lessons that cats share by just being cats. We are gently encouraged to wake up and enjoy each day, not as we might wish it to be, but as it is – full of mystery, beauty, and the opportunity to welcome whatever we have before us.

Each page will gift the reader with something to remember. This book may be the most inspired and rewarding read of the year for anyone who has ever known or loved an animal.

Deborah Barnes currently resides in South Florida and after an unexpected life-changing event, she decided to follow her dreams of becoming an author, using the relationship of her cats as inspiration for her first book. She is also the author of the popular blog, Zee & Zoey’s Chronicle Connection. Visit Deborah.

The Chronicles of Zee & Zoey

A Journey of the Extraordinarily Ordinary
By Deborah Barnes
ZZP Publishing
Soft Cover, 2011, $21.95
ISBN: 978-0-9834408-0-2

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Tags:deborah barnes,sensitive creatures,Zee and Zoey

Caboodle Ranch – an amazing story of a man and his cats

Jim — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:59:11 +0000

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Caboodle Ranch

Caboodle Ranch is a thirty acre 501c3 non profit cat rescue sanctuary, founded by a single individual who cared enough to make a difference in the lives of our fuzzy little friends.

We first learned about this amazing story on Facebook.

Please help them if you can.

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Tags:caboodle ranch,cat sanctuary,cat shelter,cats,Craig Grant

Mediterranean Diet for Cats: Ideal Feline Health

Jim — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:51:08 +0000

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The Mediterranean Diet for Cats: Ideal Feline Health – Guest post by Dr. Enrico Forte

There are an estimated 86 million pet cats in the U.S. and the vast majority of them are fed commercial dry cat food. Dry foods are supposedly formulated in such a way as to provide cats with optimal nutrition and ensure your beloved pet’s health. Even though conventional food is so widely used and trusted, there is mounting evidence that it may be responsible for a lot of sick pets.

Commercial pet foods are made primarily from four things: Meat by-products, cereal grains, vitamins and a spraying of fat to make it appealing. It sounds harmless, but reality is much more sinister. (Editors note: In the interest of good taste, we omitted details of what’s actually in it. If you want to know more, you can search it on Google)

Because cats are carnivorous, their bodies lack the ability to adequately process large amounts of carbohydrates. This has been known to contribute to feline obesity and diabetes.

The best thing you can do for your cat’s health is give them a natural, healthy diet consisting of fresh and wholesome foods: A Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is well known to possess wondrous health benefits to people. There’s no reason why your cat can’t benefit from it, as well.

Start by giving your feline friend light and lean meats like poultry and fish. Salmon, tuna and other cold water ocean fish are rich in minerals, essential fatty acids and omega-3. Besides, what cat doesn’t love fish? It can’t hurt to mix a little bit of olive oil into your cat’s meals, either. It will keep their skin healthy and make their coat shine. It also promotes heart health, aids fat loss and regulates blood sugar.

After your cat has been on their diet for a while, don’t be surprised if you start seeing changes. They may be more energetic, sleep less and begin to lose extra weight. Minor health problems like skin disorders and chronic yeast and bacterial infections may also cease to exist.

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Tags:commercial pet foods,Dr. Enrico Forte,dry cat food,feline obesity,mediterranean diet,sick pets

Thanksgiving Message from Bentley

Jim — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:00:49 +0000

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Happy Thanksgiving to all my cat (and human) friends. This is a very special day for me as I am very thankful for having such a wonderful home, a Mom who loves (and fusses over me a lot), a Dad who protects and cares for me (and feeds me when Mom is at work) and for my two companions, Frosty and Missy.

I guess you could say I knew that I was going to have a very special life the first time I saw my Mom. She and Jim, my dad, came to the house where I was born to get a new kitten.

Well, the minute I saw her I went right up to her and she picked me up. I figured she liked me right away and I liked her because she spoke so nicely to me when she picked me up and she really smelled good. My cat mom was named Mercedes and my dad was Porsche. They were ok but I knew that I wouldn’t be there long.

After my new Mom, Georgia, gave the lady who owned my parents some money for me we left. I wasn’t the least bit afraid. My new Mom held me on her lap and we got in Dad’s car and went to my new home.

When I go there, they put me in a big room that was ready for me. There was a litter box, a bowl of water and food. I was hungry so I ate right away. There were a couple of toys for me but I really wanted to see the house but they closed the door and I was all alone in that room.

A few minutes later I heard and smelled two cats outside the door. I wanted to see them and be with them but the door was locked. They started telling me things like who they were and that they couldn’t see me or come in that room because Mom said that a new kitten should gradually get used to the family and not be thrown into the household right away.

I started crying at the door to go out. I didn’t want to be alone, I wanted to see everybody. Well, I guess it worked because very shortly after I started crying, Mom came and picked me up and walked me all around the house. She showed me the two big cats, Smokey and Frosty and walked me in and out of the rooms. That house was big compared to where I lived before.

The first night there Mom put me on a blanket on a chair and told me to go to sleep. Well, I didn’t want to sleep alone so I climbed the big stairs, and found the room where Mom and Dad were in a big bed. The bed was high up so I climbed my way up to the top, went right in between Mom and Dad and got under the covers with them. Mom thought that was so cute and I slept there a lot in those first weeks that I was there until I decided to explore the rest of the big house and found out where there were other places to sleep.

Missy guarding the yard

Well, that was a long time ago. I am 15 years old now and we no longer live in that house but have a nice house with lots of woods around. When we came here Smokey and Frosty came too. Then one winter, Dad found a cat hanging around the house in the woods so my Mom took her in. Her name is Missy and she goes out (when she feels like it) and has her own room downstairs. I don’t see her much but she talks to me all the time telling me stuff about outside.

Frosty is 17 now and Mom says she has dementia. Mom explained that she doesn’t remember stuff. Once in awhile she forgets when it is breakfast and Dad has to show her our bowls.

Smokey and me

Smokey, who was my best friend, left us in 2008. One night he went to sleep and never got up. He just crossed the rainbow bridge to be with his grandpa, Mom’s dad who was his best friend.

I have a lot to be thankful for today. Even though I have a sore paw (mom says it is arthritis) I am taking some stuff for it and I feel better.

Mom also has me on Cranberry caps, Vitamins B12 and Coenzyme Q10 for my health. We have a game called “down the hatch” where she gives me the vitamins and I swallow them. I have my own credit card for when I go to my doctor, Dr. Renee Ziegler at For Cats Only Veterinary Clinic. She takes really good care of me.

That's me with Dad's new book

Mom calls me “The Brown Prince” because I am a seal point Himalayan and am told I am very handsome. I have a nice house, soft chairs to lay on when the sun comes in the big window and good food.

Every once in awhile I get my favorite food, turkey. I know when Mom has some because I hang around the refrigerator. She then cuts up some and says “Turkey Bentley” and I eat the whole piece. Frosty gets some too.

Life is good and I am so happy to be here.

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Tags:happy thanksgiving,kitten,mercedes,porsche

Ming’s Story Part II — Farewell To My Furry Friend

Jim — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:33:16 +0000

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Jim’s note: Though I wrote this back in 1997, it feels like only yesterday and, reading it still brings a tear to my eye.

It was a sad day around our home this past Memorial Day as we said a final good-bye to our beloved cat, Ming. Ming was more than a family pet. He was our friend.

There have been times when he would do things that made you think he was more like a “furry person” than a cat until, just to remind us he was in fact a feline, he would do a very “cat like” thing — like perform a perfect yoga posture as only a cat can.

Ming has touched our hearts deeply and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to meet his furry being. Some may remember Ming’s story, written in my newsletter years ago, when, thanks to the efforts of many people, Ming pulled through a major kidney problem.

That was a time when the power of prayer was demonstrated in our lives, beyond any doubt. We will get through this difficult time by focusing on how lucky we were that he survived that crises and that we had him with us for another two years. Those years were a gift.

Ming will always live in our hearts and he has even left his mark upon the world. He has been included in a story in at last count, four published books.

My first book, Handbook To A Happier Life, which Ming offered inspiration for as I wrote it, Heart At Work by Jack Canfield and Jacqueline Miller, Crossing the Rainbow Bridge by Colleen Nicholson, and The Older Cat by Dan Poynter.

I want to personally thank Dr. Tom Schenck, Colleen Nicholson and the Unity church for their loving prayers and actions which enabled us enjoy Ming’s company as long as we did.

Animals are wonderful at accepting life as it is and reminding us to live each day to the fullest for we do not know how long we have here on this earth. We will always remember Ming for the joy he brought to our home and to the lives of everyone who knew him.

Farewell, my furry friend.

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Tags:beloved cat,Colleen Nicholson,crossing the rainbow bridge,Dan Poynter,Dr. Tom Schenck,family pet,furry friend,handbook to a happier life,Jack Canfield,Jacqueline Miller,kidney problem,power of prayer,Unity

A Very Special Himalayan — Ming’s Story Part I

Jim — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:01:13 +0000

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Never, never, never,never give up.

This statement, first made by Sir Winston Churchill as the British troops were going into battle during World War II, is as relevant today as it was then. We can use this strategy in any area of our lives.

A number of years ago, my wife Georgia and I had occasion to put this to the test.

Our family cat (and friend) Ming was seriously ill. When we brought him to the vet, we were not sure if the little guy would make it.

I cannot express in words the emotional impact this had on us. Suffice to say we were devastated at the thought of losing him.

Driving home, we decided that we would not give up until Ming did. We employed every strategy and technique we knew.

In addition to what the wonderful people at the Edgebrook Veterinary Hospital, especially Dr. Tom Schenck who over the years has become a great family friend, were doing to help our beloved pet, we prayed, called prayer groups and found ourselves turning to faith and developing a belief that all would be well.

While we agreed that the outcome was out of our hands, we vowed not to lose faith that Ming could, in fact, survive this.

I remember at one point saying to Georgia, “We’re not giving up until he does.”

We will never know exactly what happened but the next day Ming had improved considerably and was up, walking around the cage in the veterinary center.

I believe that, in addition to what was being done medically, our unwavering belief in his ability to recover, along with the faith of the people at Edgebrook and all of the prayers being said, made the difference.

Several weeks later, Ming, while still not fully recovered, was back to normal. This experience has reinforced in me the belief that one should never, never give up. Whether in health matters (animals or people), business, or any area of life, it is our duty to do everything we can to affect a situation and as Sir Winston said, “Never, never, never, never give up.”

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Tags:beloved pet,Dr. Tom Schenck,family cat,prayer groups,sir winston churchill,unwavering belief