The Zen Of Max (a memoir of great wisdom and many naps) by Lou Belcher

There is a special bond between cat lovers and their cats. Nothing like stating the obvious is there? There is an extra special bond between a cat lover and their cat when they are a part of  a single cat household. There IS a difference.

"The Zen Of Max" is a delightful account in an episodic format (thank you dear husband for that most wonderful assessment when you TOO read this wonderful book this weekend.) You provided the perfect word to describe this most entertaining and touching (not in a weepy kind of way) story of the life of a woman (Lou) and her cat (Max) which spanned the entire 17 and a half years that they were together.

By "episodic" we mean that it is the day-to-day events that matter most that you share with  your special pet. Not one monumental event, but the seemingly mundane every day events that become a vital part of your history together.

I love stories like this because they resonate so strongly with me. For the entire 18 yrs of his life my Angel Bobo was also a part of a single cat household and for many of those 18 yrs he and I lived alone.

You experience a different kind of bond when it is just you and a cat than when there are other cats, dogs, humans sharing the "love".

Lou does a delightful job of conveying that special relationship in this book.

"Max" from Max The Quilt Cat

Max was "an ordinary cat who lived to the maximum" and Lou's description of her life with Max is something that ALL cat owners can relate to, whether they live in a single cat household or not!

The story about Max waiting by the window when Lou would return home from work (even on weekends when she was already HOME) made me chuckle because my Bobo used to do the SAME thing and I thought it was oh so unique!

One of my favorite passages of the book is "Max always lived the life of a pampered cat. I could deny him nothing. Without even realizing it, I rearranged my life around him. But he earned that devotion. He gave as much or more than he received, and that's what this book is about. From it, you will learn much if you read all the lines, between the lines and around the lines."

Lou also captures Max's persona (or purrsona whichever you prefer) in a delightful way. To each of us our cats are unique, they do the most amazing things that certainly no other cats could ever do! (in Max's case the lamp episode was something I NEVER heard of a cat doing and I roared with laughter). Lou goes on to say "Max was more "Max" than he was "cat" or "dog" or any other species. He was a Max, and he didn't think of himself as anything else. He WAS. That's all there is to it."

So philosophically stated and I love it.

Each experience/episode/personality trait that Lou tells us about with her life with Max  is peppered with wonderful quotes, all in the form of a "Lesson Learned" (being a self-described quote freak this was another favorite part of the book for me.) Max taught Lou (and will teach the readers of this wonderful book) many, many impawtant lessons!

Some of them are:

"We're all the same. We are all just the ME of ourselves regardless of species."

"Sometimes it's just about the chase and not really about getting away. It doesn't matter where you're going...it's about going and someone caring enough to follow you."

From "The Zen Of Max"

"Appreciate your loved ones while they are with you. Max sure did that. He led by example. He had a special bond with Mom and he instinctively treated her lovingly. It was something to see and experience."

A particular passage in this book, in my opinion, was the most poignant and summed up not only the book but the relationship that I had with my Bobo for the 18 yrs that we shared. It deeply moved me. I apologize that it is long (and I am only including parts) but it touched me so profoundly that I just had to share.

"For 17+ years Max was my best friend. We bonded that first day. And, I soon found that I could tell him anything and he'd keep my confidence. He put up with me when I was down and calmed me when I was upset. He always loved me, but more than that, he truly liked me. That's saying something; because sometimes we love people, but we don't like them very much."


"Max couldn't talk, but he told me in so many ways that he wanted to be with me....I was honored by a true companion. Some days, I know he wore himself out following me around, but he did it because he really wanted to be with me. There weren't many times that I couldn't reach out and touch him. Who wouldn't feel better with a friend like Max?"

"A pet is a commitment for life. I know Max knew that, but I don't think that's why he showed me unconditional love. I think he just loved....Isn't that the ultimate gift?"

About Lou Belcher: "Lou is a freelance writer, editor and blogger. She devotes time to supporting artists and writers through two of her blogs, and she supports animal adoption efforts through the blog she set up for Max (www.MaxtheQuiltCat.com) A portion of the proceeds from this book will go to agencies devoted to finding forever homes for pets."

To order "The Zen of Max" please visit www.Amazon.com

Michigan Holiday Adoption Event! 200 Cats And Kittens Need A Furever Home!

The 200 cats and kittens -- in every color and breed imaginable including purebreds, all spayed or neutered, examined by a licensed veterinarian and vaccinated -- will be available for adoption:

 December 10-12

at Pet Supplies Plus

in White Lake, Michigan

   Adoption fees of $59/cat

goes to

 Oakland Pet Adoption Center

 Adopters get a holiday goody bag for their new pet that includes cat food, toys and a gift card for a free wellness exam at The Cat Practice   , in Birmingham, Michigan.

Hours for the holiday cat adoption event and Pet Supplies Plus Christmas open house are:  4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fri., December 10; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat., December 11; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun., Dec. 12.

   Shoppers will be treated to some great holiday specials on pet supplies, prize drawings and complimentary holiday refreshments.

   Pet owners can get a picture with Santa and their pet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 12 by making a donation to Oakland Pet Adoption Center.

Pet Supplies Plus

in White Lake

 is at 6845 Highland Rd. (M-59)

   For more information

 call 248-889-4131

 or go to www.oakgov.com/petadoption/calendar/

How My Pet's Love Is My Holiday Gift

I don’t need much, never have, never will.

But what I DO need are animals in my life.

I have been blessed.

For 18 years I experienced the love that a true soul kitty could give.

I was loved, protected, adored, licked, rubbed on and adopted by a handsome tabby boy who became my “Baby Bobo”. Bobo was my life and I was his. I cried into his fur so many times, too numerous to count. He would lay with me as if he knew that it was his place to comfort me, and comfort me he did.

Bobo passed at the age of 18. A piece of my heart went with him.

I missed Bobo with all of my heart and never thought I would ever get another cat but two weeks later while visiting an adoption at a local, major pet chain, I met who would be my next lover boy, my crazy, cuddly and curious Cody.

Cody seemed to sense from the first time I held him that I was hurting.  When I picked him up he curled onto my lap as if he had already found his forever home.  He knew I needed him and he needed me.  I must have held him, petting him gently for nearly a half hour. My fingers missed the soft feeling of cat fur, the two weeks since Bobo passed seemed to be an eternity, I longed for the comfort that only the love of a cat could bring.

I felt so guilty adopting another cat. What would Bobo think? Should I have had a longer mourning period?

My vet comforted me by saying “you aren’t replacing Bobo, you can never replace him. But you CAN create new memories with another cat. Bobo would want you to give some of the love that you gave to him to help another kitty in need”.

Cody has never ceased being a “gift” in the nearly 4 years that I have had him. He still wraps himself around my neck like a furry boa, he is my little “close talker”….he asks for nothing (well maybe a big bowl of kibble) but gives so much in return. There isn't any gift I could ever purchase at a store that would even begin to compare to the love from my cat.

He is a gift to me as well as being a gift to our crazy Sheltie (Dakota)…he is patient, never once hissing but accepts Dakota never once seeming to realize that Dakota is NOT a cat!

I owe it to both my Cody and Dakota to return the gift of unconditional love that they give me every day, not just at the holidays but EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY they show me they love me by their kitty purrs, doggie licks and cuddles.

There is nothing like coming home to fur babies that give me a standing ovation...just for being ME!

Some of the gifts I can give to them are the best quality food that we can afford,  a variety of fun and stimulating  toys, comfortable places to snooze, a soft, warm lap to cuddle on, human kisses, quality vet care, love and a  safe haven to live what will hopefully be  very, very long lives.

Another gift I need to give to them both is the gift of pet insurance. I am going to  make 2011 the year I show my Cody and Dakota even more what they mean to me by giving them the gift of good, quality pet insurance. When I make that commitment Trupanion will be the place I turn to.

It is one of many ways I can return the unconditional loving gifts they give to me every day of their lives and for that I am furever grateful!