Thankful Thursday: The Blogger Recognition Award

Through the years Cody and I have been blessed to receive a number of blogging awards from our peers, we are also blessed that some of them we have received numerous times. As a result, (and due to my laziness), I had pretty much stopped blogging about many of them, but have ALWAYS thanked whomever was kind enough to think of us.

That being said, back on August 9th, we received an award from our friends at Eastside Cats that we hadn't received. It is the:

Cody and I are DEEPLY HONORED and are touched to have received this and we thank our friends at Eastside Cats, from the bottom of our furry and non-furry hearts.

As is the case with all of the blogger awards there are certain "rules" that are listed:

-Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.---Check!
-Write a post to show your award.---Check!!
-Give a brief story of how your blog started---see below and sorry, since we have new readers over the years it isn't "brief!!"
-Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers----see below -Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to--I decided long ago that I would NOT do that. Why? Inevitably someone's feelings will be hurt. Let me put it this way, if we are commenting on your blogs (even just once a month), we LOVE YOU. If we didn't we wouldn't follow, that's how we roll. Sometimes due to life "happening", we can't comment as often as we would like to, but if you hear from us AT ALL, we LOVE YOU. ALL OF YOU are worthy of this award and by all means GRAB IT!!
-Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post that you created.--since we aren't nominating 15 specific blogs we are passing on this.

HOW OUR BLOG STARTED

(I used excerpts from a post I did on January 9th, 2014 where I was celebrating our 1000th post.)

Flashback to 2001: I resigned from an advertising position I had with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio for 21 and a half years to take a leap of faith. I moved to Michigan to be with my now husband.

NINE JOBS LATER I lost my last job in 2007 due to downsizing. Four months after that, I lost my 18 yr old "Soul Kitty" Bobo, (who this blog is dedicated to, along with my precious Cody).

"Bobo" Portrait done by Becky Sorrentino Studio

I am not a person who is normally prone to depression, but believe me when I say that from 2007 until Fall of 2009, the entire world seemed dark. I felt as if I had no purpose, it would be an understatement to say that I felt that life was bleak.

Enter Glenn Gilbert. Long story short, after I attended a meeting where one of our local newspapers,  The Oakland Press was seeking Citizen Journalists,(thanks to my husband for seeing the original ad), Glenn contacted me to come in and meet with him.

Glenn Gilbert, executive editor of The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich., and group editor for 21st Century Media’s Michigan Cluster, is retired Jan. 3, 2014, after 45 years in journalism. (Photo by Tim Thompson/Oakland Press)

What I didn't know until my meeting with Glenn, was that he had   lived in Ohio for 14 years and knew of the stellar reputation that my former newspaper had, (at that time they were the 14th largest in the country), he also was familiar with my father's editorial cartoons.

We discussed the Citizen Journalist position and I told him that while I would be happy to do it, I just didn't feel that I was a good fit. I'm loud, quirky, creative, nuts, and sitting in boring City Council meetings just wasn't my cup of catnip tea.

I mean seriously,
THIS WOMAN
as a CITIZEN JOURNALIST????
NOOOOO WAY!!!!!

 I had recently seen the movie "Julie and Julia" and after having heard that The Oakland Press had recently begun featuring blogs on their website, I asked "How about a blog?" Glenn told me to go home and email him some ideas. I sent three, Cat Chat With Caren and Cody was the first on the list. (At that time the name of the blog was "Cat Chat", until Martha Stewart grabbed the name and copyrighted it!) He agreed, I started the blog in October of 2009 knowing NOTHING (and I mean NOTHING) about uploading anything, let alone writing a blog. The Oakland Press paid for my link at the time (long time readers know my old link was http://opcatchat.blogspot.com or something like that, can't remember the rest! I didn't purchase my own link until a few years ago.)

Soon after I began blogging I found BlogPaws where I feasted on a banquet of information designed to help me learn how to become, and BE a better blogger. Had I never found BlogPaws in 2009, (ironically I found them virtually at the same time THEY STARTED),  I would never have learned how to blog and all that goes with it. Also, I have been blessed to have been afforded various opportunities, from sponsorships, to various events requiring travel, (many of you probably do not know that I am the original founder/creator, along with Barbara Strunin, of the BlogPaws Conference Newbies Group, which I ran for approx. 4 years, that still exists today), and other opportunities. Had it not been for BlogPaws none of the experiences I had and some of the opportunities that I have been blessed with, would ever have taken place. I will forever be grateful to BlogPaws for that.

Ultimately, without Glenn Gilbert, I wouldn't have met all of you.  . I wouldn't be writing about a subject and animal that I CHERISH: CATS, and doing something, that is incredibly time consuming, (much more so than my normal 8 to 5 job EVER was, AND INFINITELY MORE REWARDING IN MY SOUL, than  any of those jobs EVER were),  that I love, and have a fierce dedication to.

Glenn Gilbert gave me purpose, he brought back my belief in myself, he gave me a reason to wake up every day, he introduced me to the world of electronic media, he made it possible for me to grow, to teach myself things that I never would have dreamed I ever would have been learning, let alone doing.  He opened my World, he BELIEVED in me.

 We thank YOU our faithful readers, for joining us, we thank Glenn Gilbert for opening a cat door, the likes of which we never even knew existed.

I TOLD YOU IT WASN'T BRIEF!!!!

Visit Stunning Keisha

GIVE TWO PIECES OF ADVICE TO NEW BLOGGERS:

The advice I am going to share came from a fellow recipient of this award, our good friend CK over at Stunning Keisha .  CK and CK's human, "TW" are one of the first people (and cats) that I met when I began blogging in 2009. What I have always loved about CK and "TW" are that they "tell it like it is" and they "keep it real." Anyone who knows ME well, and knows "TW", will agree that in that regard, we are quite similar. I believe in "telling it like it is" and "keeping it real." That can be polarizing. So be it. I would rather be honest and LIKE the person looking back at me when I look in the mirror. My theory has always been, if someone can't handle honesty, they can move on. Period.  So, I am going to share excerpts of "advice" given by "TW" that I completely agree with:

"Humans and pets these days get me hissing mad cos they want instant gratification. They cry when their first posts gets only a couple of hunnert views. They want to monetize right away. I guess this will be one of my tips to new bloggers. Take the time to find your voice and your audience before you panic about not becoming a millionaire with a million followers. No one believes in paying their dues."  Like CK and "TW" we haven't stopped paying our dues. There is nothing that we have obtained by blogging that has come easily. NOTHING.

"Comment on tons of blogs every day. If you don't visit them, they won't visit you. That stinks cos it takes time away when you should be creating but it's a necessary evil." I could NOT agree with this more. We all get busy but I feel if someone is kind enough to comment here, even if I can only read/comment sporadically, I should read/visit someone's blog that took the time to visit mine. You would be AMAZED by the number of people who do NOT do this. I WILL tell you, that after a number of months, if someone doesn't reciprocate, I "unfollow." Plain and simple. "You get as good as you give." For more tips from CK you can click here

If you read this far down the page, I THANK YOU. There are tons of other tips that I could offer but those you can learn from reading some of the other blogs where they shared their own tips. Cody and I THANK YOU for being a part of our journey. I have said it many, many times,  "without YOU, there would be no US."

Much love and gratitude

from Caren and Cody

Honor Your Pet With A Hand Blown Memorial Glass Pendant (Give-Away!)

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I was sent two pendants from Memorial Glass Pendants , in exchange for my always honest review.

With Monday having been Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, I wanted to continue to honor not only Bobo, but all of the many, many pets that have left their beloved families.

Recently I was  contacted by Dana from Memorial Glass Pendants asking if I would like to have a custom made necklace honoring Bobo, I was ecstatic and grateful. The necklaces at Memorial Glass Pendants are gorgeous "wearable art." Each piece is unique, no one else will ever have one exactly like mine or yours. They are handmade in a small Northern California studio.

The glass used is called "borosilicate", which is much more durable than standard glass, and all of the pendants are " kiln annealed". When you visit the Memorial Glass Pendant website, you will see a number of designs, each and every one are beautiful. Many of the necklaces are encased with the ash of someones  beloved pet. I did not want to upset Bobo's ashes, but Dana told me if I sent her some photos of Bobo she could work on a pendant for me that didn't require that I send Bobo's ashes!

The process was easy, and Dana was wonderfully patient.  She had me tell her more about Bobo and had me send her some photos, I sent her the two shown below.

The pendants that Dana created for me were both the Kindred Spirits pendant. Dana's goal was to incorporate Bobo's colors and a color representing me. The first pendant she created was an "experiment." Dana wasn't happy with it but I think it is beautiful.

The silver, black and white are the color of Bobo's stripes. Dana included it with the final pendant she made for me which also had some of Bobo's beige coloring, as well as a color that represents ME. I chose green, because green is my favorite color.

I think it is just beautiful and I love how the glass is blown with the colors entwined, symbolizing that Bobo and I are forever "entwined" and are forever "Kindred Spirits." It represents the two of us embracing.

Original photos courtesy of Memorial Glass Pendants
I just made them into a collage

For your pendant you can pick the colors of the two spiraling designs. The piece in the photos uses orange and golden tan, but Dana has  many other colors to choose from. If there are colors that you are curious about, just  ask her and she can show you examples.

Each necklace arrived in a beautiful black little pouch, tucked inside a darling box with a bow.  I love that they are on a black, sturdy cord necklace. For the first week they arrived, I wore both because I just love them!

 I will be cherishing my pendants forever, just as I cherished my Angel Bobo. They would make lovely gifts for someone who has lost a beloved pet, or a gift to yourself. You don't have to wait for a holiday to "gift" one of these gorgeous pendants. They are a gift that will be cherished and appreciated any time. 

It is the hope of Memorial Glass Pendants  that having one of these will bring some comfort to you, and that it will act as a reminder of the joy that you and your companion gave each other.

GIVE-AWAY! Dana is generously offering one of my readers who is 18 and over and who resides either in the U.S. or Canada a pendant of their own. (An approx. $60 value!) Entering is easy, simply enter on the rafflecopter below and good luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tabby Cat Tuesday

Back on August 8th, our furiends at Four-Legged Furballs did a post where they highlighted adorable Thimble's classic Tabby M  (If you click on the highlighted "Tabby M" you will read a delightful post by our furiend, Amy Shojai that she wrote last December).

Being a Tabby girl at heart I had to share Cody's "classic M" too. For a long time I thought his wasn't easy to see, that is....until I took a photo and REALLY looked!

It IS there in all of it's Tabby glory!!!

Happy Tabby Tuesday to all our fellow tabby furiends and to ALL OTHER KITTIES too!!!!!

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day: Honoring My "Baby Bobo"

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: This post first appeared last year, I was going to write a new post and include a give-away, but yesterday I had an AWFUL kidney stone attack. (Thank God for meds! Because of pain meds I didn't have to go to the hospital.) Please be sure to stop by this WEDNESDAY for a special Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day Give-Away from Memorial Glass Pendants.

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:

"Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was founded in 2015 by Deborah Barnes, award-winning author and blogger of Zee & Zoey's Cat Chronicles in tribute to her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, who she had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her critically acclaimed book, Purr Prints of the Heart – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond and decided to create the day in his honor as a way for others across the world to share memories of their own pets they had loved and lost." 

 To share your post, poem, video, special photo or special memory on Facebook, click here.

My "Baby Bobo"

In order to not make this post overly "photo heavy" I have created three collages to honor my beloved Bobo whom I was blessed to share my life with from December 1989 until July 2, 2007.

Bobo was found as a stray in sub-zero temperatures when he was approximately six months old. He spent every day of his life showing me his gratitude for having rescued him, and more unconditional love and devotion than I ever thought could exist. His life cannot accurately be portrayed in a mere three collages, but that is all I can do for now. Many of the photos I am sharing with you today,  you have not seen, (I apologize for their poor quality, but they were taken before the days of cell phones and blogging), and I will offer some explanation of the photos. Please join me in remembering my beloved Bobo with all of my love and with a heart that still breaks and grieves when I gaze upon his photos and share these memories.

In this collage you will see in the top left some of Bobo's favorite toys that I cannot bring myself to part with, nor do I ever allow Cody to play with them. The photo on the top left shows them in the bag in which they are stored, in the bottom photo you see his "kitty" that he slept with every day, his stuffed woofie, a mouse, two balls and his catnip pillow with a picture of a kitty that looked so much like him.

In the photo on the top right, are his last bowls that are kept in a trunk for safe-keeping. I have never let Cody use them. They were Bobo's and as much as I love Cody, I never could bring myself to allow him to use these bowls.

This collage is rather eerie when you hear a story that accompanies it. First, why in the world I bought my mancat a PINK carrier is beyond me! For the life of me I have no idea why I did that!

The bottom left photo shows my maiden name with Bobo's name on top of the carrier, all ready for for trips to the vet. The photo on the right is my Bobo sitting on TOP of his carrier which he used to do ALL of the time!

The photo on the top left is a photo of the  carrier as it looks today.  I keep it in the closet of my office, everything in it is exactly as it was since the day he crossed the bridge.I haven't changed or touched a thing. I sometimes think I should dispose of it, but I can't. It will be with me always.

What is eerie is one day I couldn't find Cody. I searched everywhere, and when I finally found him I found him IN the closet, IN Bobo's carrier. He had opened the door, crept in, and it has now become  one of his favorite sleeping spots. He does this nearly EVERY DAY.  I like to think that on some level he and Bobo are communicating, and I am convinced that they are. How and why Cody ever discovered this in the closet, I have no idea. For some reason it brings Cody happiness and comfort to sleep there, and it makes me happy that he does it.

I leave you with a photo of Bobo on the top left in his eating area when we moved to Michigan in 2001. 

The other photos show him on the couch that was Lenny's before we were married. There is a photo on the top right of Lenny and Bobo. Lenny didn't meet Bobo until he was 12 years old and had already slowed down considerably, but they were blessed to have six years together. Sadly, that is the same couch that the Vet helped him cross the Bridge on and we no longer have it. I just couldn't keep it, it caused me enormous pain every time I looked at it.

Painting of Bobo by Becart

I used to think Bobo's markings were so unique until I saw a number of cats in the blogosphere who looked so much like him it was uncanny! I adored his perfect four white paws and his "bib", he was such a handsome boy.

He wasn't a people cat as Cody is, I often wondered what Bobo experienced in the months before he found me. He didn't like strangers, he was a much more fearful cat than Cody (who is fearless), but he had a sensitivity and a remarkable way of being attuned to every nuance of my being that was something that isn't experienced often in ones' lifetime. When I hurt, he hurt, and vice versa.

The Rainbow Bridge poem was given to me by a friend when Bobo passed. I keep it in a frame in my office, where it still brings me comfort.

I didn't intend for this post to be quite this long, and I thank you for taking the time to read it. I also would like to thank Deb Barnes for creating this wonderful event.

I send my love to each and every one of you, and look forward to reading your stories and seeing your photos of those "who came before." May we all derive some comfort from these posts. 

A "Partial" Eclipse of the Heart---Caturday Art

Sooo, while everyone was in the midst of a solar eclipse frenzy on August 22, I never got the special glasses that had to be worn because I  heard we would only experience approximately 80% totality here in Michigan. (Ironically, once you know you CANNOT look up at the sun, all you want to do IS to look up!)

So, here is what it looked like outside our home here in Michigan, (I wasn't smart like some others who photographed their homes INSIDE. Should have done that!)

The top photo on the left is just before it started, the one on the top right was as it was progressing and the bottom one was our final result. Wish I had bought the darn glasses!

But.....Cody thinks that he eclipses any phenomena that happens once in a lifetime!!!

I have to agree!!!

Today we are FINALLY participating in Caturday Art after not participating in AGES!! Head on over to the Caturday Art Blog Hop hosted by GORGEOUS Athena Cat Goddess and her sweet Mum, Marie:

and see some GREAT participants!

Honeycat Cosmetics Winners!!

Thanks to all who entered our give-away !!!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

TO THE LUCKY WINNERS

LISTED BELOW!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


ALL of the winners have blogs, I am listing their blogs below in the order their names appear on the rafflecopter. Head on over and visit them if you haven't already!!

Visit them HERE!!

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Meezer's Mews & Freckles' Woofs

Visit them HERE!!

DEZIZ WORLD

Visit them Here!!

You are ALL going to 

LOVE these products!

ENJOY!!

Cat Offers 3 Tips On How To Avoid: Take Your Cat To The Vet Day #Cat2VetDay

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: Portions of this post appeared in 2016 on Take Your Cat To The Vet Day. We liked it so much are so lazy, we wanted to repeat it this year with some modifications.  And...don't listen to Cody TOO MUCH. My husband and I are HUGE advocates for pet wellness visits and we make sure that we are not strangers at the Vet's office!! Cody WILL be at the Vet in September for his rabies shot and his wellness exam. Now that Cody is a senior kitty he will have wellness visits TWICE a year. We are  blessed that we go to:

 DePorre Veterinary Hospital

here in Michigan

 which is a:

 (For a list of Cat Friendly Practices in YOUR area, click here)

Now that we made everyone feel better, read on and enjoy!!! Take it away Cody!!

================================================================

Hi my furiends!!! It's Cody and as many of you already know, today is *******(Bring or Take) Your Cat to the (dreaded) Vet Day better known as Mom, Dad,  "Dr.Smiley" and his evil assistant get a good laugh day at MY expense!

******* (According to Days of the Year it is "Take Your Cat To The Vet Day",  catvets.com  is referring to it as "Bring Your Cat To the Vet Day" the message is the same!)

This photo is from a previous visit to Dr.Smiley's Evil Laboratory
Just for the record, Dr.Smiley and Gabby
are really NOT evil!!! 

Well, this is ONE CAT who is NOT going to the Vet today,  (Don't get nervous!! I AM going in September for my Wellness exam and my annual Rabies shot!!! )

Anyway kitties, if YOU want to avoid a trip to the Vet, let me tell you what I have done in the past to delay that dreaded trip! You can take these tips and apply them to your own house, or come up with better ones of your own!

TIP #1 BE OBSERVANT!!!

One day I was minding my own business, resting on a chair during the dark and quiet wee hours of the morning trying to drown out the relentless droning of Big Brother After Dark that Mom is obsessed with. My PTU (Personal Transport Unit for those who haven't been blogging long), is always kept in the living room with BOTH doors open. I will often slink into it's cozy, furry, blanket padded depths to get some much needed slumber. That night/morning something unusual happened. The rotund one actually moved off of the couch and closed one of the doors on my PTU. I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!! KITTIES! THAT IS A WARNING!! THAT MEANS YOU ARE GOING TO THE VET AND THEY ARE LEAVING ONE DOOR OPEN AT THE TOP SO THEY CAN PUT THROW YOU INTO YOUR PTU AND LOCK YOU IN FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE FOREVER!!!!!! I was beginning to formulate a plan, but didn't want to act prematurely. I  decided to see what else would happen that was out of the ordinary, and if strange things continued, I would spring into action!!

TIP #2 WATCH FOR A CHANGE  IN ROUTINE!!!

Normally, every morning I am on the couch getting some  much-needed rest, (I am already fed because Dad gets up early to feed Sheltie boy and I while Mom snores away.) Mom usually says good morning to Sheltie Boy and then forgets that I exist. Well, that day, after her usual morning greeting, Mom walked over to me and started petting me and cooing. Then, I heard her start telling Dad, "I hope he stays there, this will be MUCH EASIER." ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ON HIGH ALERT!!!  "THIS WILL BE MUCH EASIER?" I KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT!!!! I strolled into the kitchen and figured if I showed Mom and Dad my ample belleh, (which they LOVE to pet), they would be so overcome with my adorableness that they would be distracted.

 More talk followed...Mom said "Oh no!! He's off of the couch! He will soon disappear and I won't find him!!" I WAS OUTTA THERE!!!!!

TIP #3 BEGIN TO PUT YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION

Find the MESSIEST closet or room in the house and GET THERE FAST!!!!!!

Observe the photo above. My hiding spot of choice is in the messy closet that is in Mom's our office, (that she never uses). That white closet door doesn't open properly for humans, which is PURRFECT for me! That pink PTU was Angel Bobo's, (why she got a pink PTU for a male cat is beyond me, but I digress....) and I love to sleep there. When I go there, I feel Angel Bobo's spirit, and I know that  I am SAFE! Mom can't fit her fat-filled arms into that tiny space to get me because the door on the PTU opens TOWARDS her. I can get in, but SHE CAN'T!!!

I waited til I heard Mom say, "I don't feel like, stressing Cody or myself out today, I can't reach him when he is in Bobo's carrier, it's much too hard.   I am going to reschedule his appointment. It's just a shot and it can wait." 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

Once I heard Mom on the phone with Dr.Smiley's evil assistants saying something about "being stupid because she forgot to barricade the closet", and I heard something about  rescheduling, I waited til I noticed that  the chauffeur,  Dad,  had left to run errands. Once he was out of the house I knew I was safe!!!! That day Mom re-scheduled the appointment for the end of August, thankfully, TOTALLY forgetting that August 22nd is (Take or)  Bring Your Cat to the Vet Day! At about 8:30 am (which would have been more than enough time to stuff me into my PTU had Mom not already canceled the appointment), I   nonchalantly strolled out of the closet and went back....WHERE? Why the COUCH of course!!!

YAY FOR ME!!!

FROM THE MOM: While Cody DID successfully sabotage a trip to the Vet that day, he was by NO MEANS out of the woods! He ended up  going to the Vet at the end of that month!!! In our house we are firm believers in "wellness visits", (going to the Vet for check-ups when all is fine, and not waiting for an illness or a crisis to present itself), and keeping up with NECESSARY vaccines, (if applicable!)

Infographic courtesy of   Cat2VetDay

Wellness visits are important because they can often detect problems that could be cropping up. By catching a potential problem EARLY it can help avoid some costly vet bills! Preventative care is important for humans and it is equally as important for our cats (and dogs!!!) 

FROM CODY: Ok, so Dr.Smiley isn't really so bad, he is quite nice really, but I am not thrilled with being called overweight and getting poked, prodded and having a shot, even if I DO know how important it is. So kitties, what have YOU done to escape going to the Vet? Share YOUR tips because I can always use a few new ones!!

Oh and my FINAL tip for today?

KITTIES....WATCH YOUR BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Cody

How to Make Money Cat Sitting

Author byline: This is a Sponsored Blog Post Written by Tracy Vicory-Rosenquest, Rover.com community member. Rover is the nation's largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

How to Make Money Cat Sitting

With end-of-summer vacation plans in full swing, chances are you’ve got friends and family looking for someone to pet sit  their adorable furballs.  They’re not alone.  Across the country, pet owners are searching for someone qualified to take care of their cats and dogs--and not just for summer vacation.  Pet sitting is an overlooked year-round opportunity to make extra cash or even begin a full-time business.  

You know that your kitties deserve the best, so why not make money providing the same care to other cats in your area?  Rover.com makes it easy to get started as a cat sitter with a nationwide network of pet sitters and pet owners.  In a few simple steps, you can be connected to cat clients and pet owners in your area looking for your care.  

The perks are purrrfect

• Pick your own work schedule!  Whether you’re pouncing around with a busy schedule or ready to start a new business adventure, you determine your availability for cat sitting.  With Rover’s online platform, you set the parameters of your schedule, and cat owners will know exactly when to book you online.  
• Choose the type of cat care you want to provide.  Depending on your interest and availability, you have the choice of creating various kinds of cat care offerings.  You can begin slow with drop-in visits only or create a wide range of options for pet owners to choose from including kitty day care, house sitting at a pet owner’s home, or overnight cat care at your home.  
• Decide your own paycheck.  As a cat sitter, you determine what you’re worth.  Each cat care service you provide will have a different pay rate.  Check out other local pet sitters for the current rates in your area.  Get creative with add-on specials for cat owners including nail trimming, light grooming, and holiday rates.  Payments are automatic and easy!
• Kitty love!  Your clients are cute and playful.  Enjoy cat time without adopting every stray cat you meet.  Plus, you’re getting paid to do what you love.  Rover even has an app that makes it easy to capture your favorite cat sitting moments and send photos to pet owners.  
• Community support.  Rover.com provides numerous resources that will allow you to effectively build your business as well as promote your cat services.  In addition, you have access to 24/7 support including vet services as well as premium insurance coverage.

Sign up and get started as a cat sitter with Rover.com.  First, you’ll create an online profile with photos and details of your feline experience.  Show off your cat skills and share why you’re the cat sitter everyone has been looking for.  Customize your schedule, rates, and the cat services that work for your life.  When this is finished, you’ll complete a background check, so cat owners will know you’re ready.  You can begin accepting clients immediately once you’re accepted.  Enjoy a fun and flexible way to earn extra cash or begin a new career path!

Prepare NOW for Remember Me Thursday®

Causes to help promote the importance of adopting animals who are in shelters and for those with NOWHERE to go are in the limelight today, (we feel they should be EVERY DAY, but that's another matter altogether). Today is International Homeless Animals Day and Clear the Shelters Day.  While Cody WAS adopted, he was luckier than many other cats. He had an incredible foster Mother who loved and nurtured him, and helped influence the loving cuddle bug that he is today. Millions of other animals aren't as lucky as Cody was. Many are waiting in shelters for days, months, years and even their entire lives, to find their forever homes, and MANY NEVER DO.  While focusing on homeless animals today, it is also a good time to remind everyone that Remember Me Thursday® is right around  the corner! It's time to start preparing!! 

Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign that was created by the Helen Woodward Animal Center,  that unites individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world !!! The combined influence creates  an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes and to  not die waiting for them.

On September 28, 2017, the entire world will share the importance of pet adoption and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. In 2016, people using #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday reached nearly 340 million people on social media.

It has been important to me for the past few years to participate in this special event, and I was honored when myself and a number of other bloggers were contacted asking if we would help spread the word again this year! (Whether I had been asked to or not, I ALWAYS participate in this important cause, so it is a no-brainer!!) 

In order to help us spread the word

 we were sent a box full of goodies which you can see below!!

We received the  items pictured above in exchange for agreeing to help spread the word about Remember Me Thursday. We  were not compensated monetarily for this post It is our pleasure to  only share information that we feel will be of interest to our readers.

This year there are some NEW PRIZES in the #RememberTheRescue photo contest which will run from September 1 through September 30th, (More about the prizes later!!!) For now:

There are 3 ways to enter:

• Post a photo of your rescue pet to Instagram with #RememberTheRescue AND #RememberMeThursday.
• Post a photo of your rescue pet to Twitter with #RememberTheRescue AND #RememberMeThursday.
• Upload a photo of your rescue pet directly to the contest website.

Join us on September 28th 2017!!!

Help get the entire world talking about pet adoption!

 Tweet, tag, post and share the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption on social media. Let’s honor the lost pets who ran out of time and bring awareness to the pets we can still help by working together and using our voices.

"Let’s take social media by storm for orphan pets!"

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Winner! Jackson Galaxy® "The Vault Marinater" and a Jackson Galaxy® Sliding Fish Marinater Toy by Petmate®

Thanks to all who entered our give-away!!

HUGE CONCATULATIONS

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For the one or two of you that may not know
Cathy Keisha, she has an amazing BLOG!!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT!!

Celebrating the Joy of Black Cats and Busting Myths! "Black Cats Tell All"

It is an honor to present to you, in honor of Black Cat Appreciation Day and for EVERY DAY, "The first collection to promote Black Cat adoption!" Black Cats Tell All (edited by Layla Morgan Wilde), is a  true labor of love that took months to come to fruition. Extolling the virtues of black cats is a calling that has completely consumed Layla.  Black Cats Tell all is a "celebration" of all that is positive about black cats, with the hope of once-and-for-all reversing negative stereotypes that to this day are still far too prevalent.  In most cases the stories are narrated by the cats themselves.   A portion of the proceeds from this book will help Shelter Cats..While reading Black Cats Tell All I was astonished to learn that "black cat superstitions can be traced back to as early as 1233!!!"

Courtesy of Black Cats Tell All

While reading this stunning anthology, I learned: "Black cats are about half as likely to be adopted than other colors. Part of the reason is superstition or negative stereotyping, but the other part is there simply are more black cats because they are genetically stronger. They have genetic mutations making them more resistant to illnesses such as FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). The easiest and most powerful way to see statistics come to life is to visit or volunteer at a shelter."

"Those who don't believe in the positive magic of black cats

will NEVER enjoy their charms."---Layla Morgan Wilde

Courtesy of Black Cats Tell All
 Tater Pol in the Office
The Incredible Dr. Pol Nat Geo WILD
Follow On Instagram  @tater_pol 

Layla strongly feels: "It’s time for a new perspective and to stop the prejudice. With so much prejudice of all kinds in the world, I felt it timely for a more concentrated effort to promote black cat awareness and adoption. To judge a cat simply by the color of their fur is discrimination. The world is full of fear or ignorance of something or someone different. We fear what we don’t understand. That mysterious unknown gets twisted and embedded culturally, generation after generation. That’s how myths are created, like the superstition that black cats are evil. Every year, the negative stereotypes of black cats are reinforced by the growing popularity of Halloween, the second most popular holiday, after Christmas. The world can use more kindness and compassion. Cats are powerful messengers. They rule the Internet. Why not harness their power for good?"

Courtesy of Black Cats Tell All

 Black Cats Tell All is a feast for the eyes. Whomever said that black cats do not photograph well needs to receive a copy of this book with its full color EXQUISITE photos! It was a complete delight to see these gorgeous and handsome creatures lounging, working, enjoying outdoor adventures, strutting their model poses,

Photo Courtesy of Black Cats Tell All
 Sophie in box with polydactyl paws
Follow Sophie on Instagram @sophie_the_model

as well as playing and celebrating holidays. This full color anthology features over 100 black cats from all over the world!!!! A number of them are "celebrity cats" from YouTube,  and Instagram. 

Courtesy of Black Cats Tell All
 Snuckles with yellow rose
 His dad, Sam Dyson plays for the SF Giants
Follow on Instagram @snuckles47

Black Cats Tell All is cleverly divided into the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter), showcasing the full spectrum of their fascinating lives.

Courtesy Black Cats Tell All
 Ledges adventure cat kayaking on the lake
Follow On Instagram  @blackcattrails

 Some of the cats we knew because we follow their blogs, they are Yin and Yang from ATCAD, Ernie a polydactyl cat and (a fellow Michigan cat), from The Island Cats, Rosie, from
  The Daily Pip , Parsley from Basil's Blog and  Spooky from 15 and Meowing.

Some of my  favorite features of the book are the little "biographies" in blue boxes on the side of the pages that showcase the birthdays, Astrological signs, where the cats live, their nicknames and more. The little "bios" were reminiscent of info that you can find on the back of baseball cards. One of my favorites was a cat named "Shalom". His nicknames are "Black Lightning", "Monster", "Shalomykins", and "Tukus" (for those of you who don't know Yiddish, that is a tushie or a butt!!!)

There is a stunner featured in the section titled Autumn, (Echo, also from Michigan), who has the most captivating blue eyes I have ever seen. I had NEVER seen a black cat with blue eyes until I saw Echo. Echo's nicknames are:"Mr.Krabs" and "Old Blue Eyes."

"A house is more magical

with a black cat."

Speaking of "Magic" there is a certain kitty featured in Black Cats Tell All, who shared an entry under the alias of (Inky Von Inkvon). He is a 16 year old handsome man cat who is also diabetic. He happens to be the cat of Layla Morgan Wilde and the way he entered Layla's life is "purr" magic. I won't reveal the details, you will have to purchase the book to find out! Allow me to leave you with this teaser:

"Oh the Gods have a bizarre sense of humor when it comes to cats. They always send the cat you NEED, which may or may NOT be the one you WANT."---Layla Morgan Wilde

The Gods certainly knew what they were doing when these magnificent creatures known as black cats were placed on this Earth. Let us hope that with this exquisite book that showcases,  through written word and photos, the magic and joy that are black cats, that we are one step closer to the myths surrounding them forever being "busted". Let us hope that more black cats will be adopted into homes that will love, cherish and appreciate them for the amazing creatures that they are. 

Not only is Black Cats Tell All a "must-have" for black cat lovers, it is a "must-have" for ALL cat lovers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Layla Morgan Wilde, a holistic cat expert and pet industry consultant, is an award winning journalist and photographer. She is a member of the Cat Writers’ Association and in 2011, founded the popular blog, Cat Wisdom 101. She launched the non-profit initiative Black Cats Tell All in 2016 to promote black cat adoption. A tireless advocate for less adoptable cats since founding the nonprofit Annex Cat Rescue in 1997, she has a soft spot for special needs, senior and black cats. Layla lives in Westchester County, NY with her husband and four special needs feline familiars.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON AND CATWISDOM101.COM

196 PAGES

ISBN:978-0-9980591-9-8 ($24.99)

ebook- ISBN: 978-0-9980591-8-1  ($8.99)

I was not compensated for my review. I was given a complimentary PDF of Black Cats Tell All in exchange for my always honest review.