me & cats

It started when I was a young girl.
Who knew it would be a life-long love affair.
I remember when I was around 5 I brought a cat into my house and put her in my bedroom. When dinner was ready, I declined. "What?, said my mom. Are you ill?"  "No, I'm just really busy",  I replied.
My mother looked around the room and then tilted her head. It's as clear as if it happened yesterday. " What are you doing that is so important?, she asked.
Just then a rather scruffy cat's head popped out from under some clothes in my bottom dresser drawer. I had made a bed for it under all my cozy sweaters. "That's a cat! Where did you find this cat?" Her voice began to change and didn't sound so great anymore. "It was on the side-walk and no one owns it." "Debbie, cats are always sitting on sidewalks. This is someone's well-fed cat."
I remember walking down our street a little while later carrying the cat and heading to where I had found it on the sidewalk on my way to visit a friend. Back in the days of the dinosaurs, kids actually walked around their neighbourhoods unattended by an adult. Anyway, as we approached the exact spot where I had 'rescued' this unsuspecting cat,  it's owner was outside calling for it. I don't remember it's name...I was very distraught.
I reluctantly handed the cat to the lady but only after kissing it on it's dirty head and telling it that I loved it.  The lady smiled and thanked me while  my mom just watched from the side-walk. You see, the lady thought I had found it wandering. She thought that I had rescued it. She had no idea I picked it up from her drive-way. I remember hoping that it would 'wander' away again but this time I wouldn't get caught.

It was a few days later that my mother handed me my first kitten. She was smokey grey with little stripes and all eyes. We named her Smokey and the love-affair began.

Then there was Snow

then Tina, then another Tina (sometimes you get stuck).

Once I moved out on my own at the age of 19 there were many more beautiful cats to enter my life. Married life brought me even more as my own children would rescue the waifs in our area. It's been almost 20 years since I started my cat-sitting service. In the beginning it was called Comfy Cats.

My friend, Christine was my back-up and she had my logo put on a t-shirt for me for one of my birthdays. I still have the shirt but the name of the company has changed to Just Cats.

I love what I do. I should have started it long before I did but it wasn't in the cards at the time. I was busy raising kids and volunteering at our local animal shelter. It took all my time and eventually led me to this little business that I love.

Here are just some interesting names of  cats I have cared for over the last 18 years...

Kaluha
Twinkle
Jackie
Tescher
Peewee
Lacy
Jessie
Symba
Nala
Andy
Jeannie
Thelma
Hobbs
Fawn
Tinker
Puff
Tyler
Jimmy
Mrs.Tiggypuss
Rainbow
Cloe
Heaven
Herman
Calvin
Deli-cat
Dominique
Brandy
Oddish
Mankie
Mao
Otis
Booboo
Anu
Smudge
Mookie
Max
Ashley
Charlie\Bear
Nicky
Felix
Lola
Tabi
Guiness
Kokanee
Bumpy
Turnip
Dora
Panthere
Molly
Mocha
Ollie
Toady

A little update on Toady..tonight he was the best I have seen him in a long time. He ate more than usual and was very playful (well, for Toady) with his favorite toy. He was chatty and serenaded me with his marvelous purr. I'm not worried now. I think we're good.

hugs, Deb