Author’s Life

Happy Halloween 2022

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Allegra and I would like to wish you and your kitties a safe and happy Halloween!

We’re offering tips on how to keep your kitties safe today (and some delicious treats for kitty!) here.

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Do You Suffer from Separation Anxiety When You Have to Leave Your Cat?

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Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a well-documented psychological condition in which an individual experiences excessive anxiety regarding separation from home or from those to whom the individual has a strong emotional attachment. And while we usually think of separation anxiety in terms of pets being stressed about being separated from their guardians, I think it exists in reverse, too. For most of my adult life, I’ve felt anxious about traveling – and I actually like to travel. I enjoy a change of scenery, whether it’s visiting friends in familiar places, or whether it’s traveling to someplace I’ve never been before.Continue Reading

Welcome to Purrs of Wisdom

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If you’ve followed me for a while, you know me as the founder of The Conscious Cat, a website dedicated to conscious living, health and happiness for cats and their humans. I created the site in March of 2009 as a resource for cat parents to find solid, well researched information about feline health, nutrition and everything else that keeps cats and their humans happy and healthy. Today, I’d like to welcome you to Purrs of Wisdom!Continue Reading

Happy Labor Day 2022

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Don’t you wish you were right there on that beautiful beach having a picnic with Allegra?

Labor Day always makes me a little melancholy. Even though I’m ready for some slightly cooler weather, I’m not quite ready for all the pumpkin spice madness that is sure to erupt any day now (if it hasn’t already.) I don’t like to rush my seasons.

Allegra and I wish you a relaxing, fun-filled, purrfect Labor Day!

Happy 4th of July 2022

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Allegra and I wish you a happy 4th filled with everything summer is supposed to be about.

Just remember that whatever you choose to do today, this may not be your cat’s favorite holiday. Unfortunately, my state allows neighborhood fireworks, and for the past week, they’ve already been going off all around us. Thankfully, Allegra isn’t bothered by them nearly as much as she used to be. If fireworks are an issue where you live, plan ahead so you can make the holiday as stress free as possible for you cats.Continue Reading

Happy Father’s Day 2022

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Whether your kids are human or furry,
enjoy your special day!

Father’s Day can be bittersweet for those of us whose fathers are no longer with us. My dad passed away 18 years ago, but I still get a little sad each year when Father’s Day comes around.Continue Reading

Memorial Day 2022

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To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die. ― Thomas Campbell

Today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day when we honor the memory of the men and women who have died in military service. We also celebrate the arrival of summer, but because of the reason for the holiday, it never feels right to me to say “Happy Memorial Day,” so instead, I’m wishing you a day filled with love and beautiful memories.Continue Reading

My Cat (Literally) Saved My Life

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Some cats change our lives.

James Bowen was a down on his luck British street musician who was busking the streets of London when a ginger cat walked into his life. Bowen and Bob caught the attention a literary agent, an encounter that would change the pair’s lives irrevocably. Bowen’s first book, A Street Cat Named Bob, became an international bestseller and was released as a major motion picture.Continue Reading

Happy Mother’s Day 2022

My mom passed away 28 years ago, yet Mother’s Day still is a bit of a bittersweet day. The pain of missing her has faded after all these years, but I still feel some sadness when Mother’s Day cards start showing up in stores, friends make plans to spend time with their moms, and restaurants offer Mother’s Day specials. Continue Reading

When Love Grows Slowly: How a Shy, Unassuming Cat Changed My World

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Falling in love with a cat is no different than falling in love with a person. Sometimes, it’s love at first sight. That’s what happened for me when I saw Buckley, the subject of my first book, Buckley’s Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher, in a cage in the back of the animal hospital I managed at the time. I fell in love instantly.

Other times, it’s a slower process. Continue Reading