SMOKEY'S NOT-SO-EXCELLENT ADVENTURE

Here’s a story about a lost kitty that could have gone horribly wrong, but instead... well, read on...

Around three weeks ago, one of my kitty pals named Smokey (shown in the photo above) went missing from his home. Smokey, who lives in Burbank with his human, Ellen, and Ellen’s daughter, Maxie, sometimes stays with us when Ellen and Maxie go out of town. He’s an excellent cat, and when we’re together, we regularly take kitty mayhem to levels seldom reached in the annals of kittydom.

Anyway, late one afternoon, Smokey went over the backyard fence and must have gotten confused or something, because he couldn’t find his way home. Ellen and Maxie were frantic, and despite an intensive search for Smokey over the next few days, he failed to appear. Steve and his female went over and walked the neighborhood looking for Smokey, but no luck. Ellen put up “missing cat” flyers, but the weeks passed with no sign of Smokey. Needless to say, we were all devastated. Anyone who has ever lost a kitty knows exactly what I mean.

Well, just when everyone was starting to accept the reality that Smokey might be gone for good, Ellen got a phone call from a neighbor lady a block away, who had seen one of the flyers and recognized Smokey as a kitty who had been hanging around the area. Ellen went over and sure enough, there was Smokey, a bit thinner, but otherwise, none the worse for wear.

So this story has a happy ending. Smokey is back home safe and sound and even more loving than ever (nothing like a few weeks in survival mode to make you appreciate your humans!). We’re all extremely touched by this little miracle and overjoyed to have him back.

THE SUN STILL RISES FOR HEMINGWAY'S CATS

As you may or may not know, Ernest Hemingway (a fellow author) was a MAJOR cat lover. In 1935, when he was living and writing in a Spanish colonial house on an island in Key West, Florida, he was given a six-toed cat named Snowball. Ultimately, his island residence became the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, and all of Snowball’s descendants have been allowed to roam free on the property ever since.

Around five years ago, some spoilsports at the U.S. Department of Agriculture tried to have the cats removed, saying that the museum lacked a property animal exhibition license and couldn’t qualify for one because the cats were not enclosed. Well, to make a long story short (notice how I slipped that literary reference in there), the museum finally reached an agreement with the government… and all of Snowball’s descendants, most of whom also have six toes, will be allowed to stay and roam the grounds to their kitty hearts’ delight.

I’m quite sure Ernest Hemingway and Snowball are smiling down from the Rainbow Bridge right now!

THE WORLD IS YOUR LITTER BOX - BOOK SIGNING & BOOKPLATES

From 1:00 to 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 27th, Steve will be signing copies of The World Is Your Litter Box at Barnes & Noble in Long Beach, California. As usual, Shill, our robotic book signing kitty, will be standing in for me so I don't have to disrupt my weekend napping schedule. If you live in the Southern California area and have some free time on Saturday, drop by and say hello! Barnes & Noble is located in the Marina Pacific Mall, 6326 Pacific Coast Highway, in Long Beach; 562-431-2253.

If you live elsewhere and bought The World Is Your Litter Box, you can get a free bookplate, signed by Steve and stamped by me. Just let us know how you want the bookplate made out and where to send it (a snail mail address, please). Email your request to quasi@theworldisyourlitterbox.com. If you buy a copy of Litter Box for a friend, we’ll be happy to autograph a bookplate for them as well!

Your Friend,
Quasi
http://www.theworldisyourlitterbox.com/

THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD!

Here’s a family that is not only unfazed by the ongoing mortgage crisis, they’ve actually benefited from it!

In the upscale Tuscany Hills neighborhood in the foothills of Lake Elsinore, California, a family of bobcats moved has into an empty luxury house that was foreclosed on and made themselves right at home. The family, which consists of at least two adults and three bobcat kittens, appears to be enjoying their new digs… there’s even a koi pond in the backyard for tasty snacks. Yum! And best of all, the neighbors don’t seem to mind the new tenants, so the bobcats are safe from overzealous, gun-totin’ humans that might have other ideas.

Animal experts predict the bobcats will move on when the kittens are big enough to travel, but right now, the family has no immediate plans to leave... and, hey, can you blame them? Talk about pouncing on a good deal!

I wonder if they’ve figured out how to call Domino’s yet?

GOODBYE PIXIE

Along with Steve and his female, I want to send my deepest condolences to Daisy the Curly Cat and her family… on Sunday, Daisy’s sister Pixie went to the Rainbow Bridge. It’s always so sad when a beloved kitty leaves us, but I hope Daisy and her family will take comfort in knowing that they’ll see Pixie again someday.

I know from reading Daisy’s blog that Pixie loved bananas (that’s her in the photo)… so in honor of Pixie, I’m going to eat ONE ENTIRE BANANA, even if it takes me all day!

Nap in Peace, Pixie.

Love,
Quasi, Steve and Judy (Steve’s Female)

HURRICANE IKE

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone (cat, human and otherwise) who suffered the fury of the winds and devastating flood waters of Hurricane Ike. We hope you and your loved ones came through okay, and if not, we hope things get back to normal for you as quickly as possible.

This has been said before, but it bears repeating: In disaster situations like Hurricane Ike, animal rescue groups do wonderful work in saving and helping our four-legged friends. I know money is pretty tight these days, but if you have a little extra, you might want to make a donation to the rescue group of your choice. A list of excellent animal rights and rescue organizations may be found on the "Links" page of The World Is Your Litter Box website.

Sincerely,

Quasi, Steve and Judy (Steve's Female)

BOOK BANNING - SCARIER THAN A TRIP TO THE VET

As you may or may not know, Sarah Palin, while serving as the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, asked the local librarian how she could go about banning books that contained what some voters considered to be inappropriate language. The librarian, Mary Ellen Baker, was understandably aghast, and reports generated at the time indicate that Palin threatened to fire Baker for failing to provide full support to the mayor.

Now let me say this…as a cat, I can’t vote, but I find even the SUGGESTION of book banning to be VERY disturbing. Suppose you went to your local library to check out The World Is Your Litter Box and found that some misguided dog lover in a position of authority had caused it to be banned. Regardless of your political affiliation or who you intend to vote for on November 4th, you’ve got to admit that the possibility of having a would-be book banner a heartbeat away from the presidency is more than a little scary.

I would also like to remind Ms. Palin and all other potential book banners that freedom of speech is expressly protected in the First Amendment, which is part of the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution.

But, hey… I’m just a cat. What do I know?

MOVE OVER, FLORENCE NIGHTENGALE!

Last Monday, Steve’s female had very minor outpatient surgery, but the way things are going around our household these days, you’d think she had a heart transplant or something. Steve is waiting on the female hand and foot and fawning over her like a mother hen. And, of course, the female is sucking it up like Cleopatra.

Now, let me just say that yes, Steve is being a very good husband, and yes, the female does require some extra care at the moment. However, all this hoop-de-doo is highly problematic in that it takes attention away from MOI! Hey, over the last few days, I’ve had MINIMAL CUDDLING, almost NO TUMMY RUBS, and a couple times, I’ve actually had to wait an extra ten minutes for my food! Some hypersensitive humans might think I’m coming off like a snotty, spoiled brat, but you cats know what I’m talking about.

To combat this situation and get things back on track, I’ve actually been giving the female a little extra attention myself. But Quasi, you ask, isn’t this just fanning the flames and making matters worse? No, fellow cat, for you see… the sooner the female gets better, the sooner things will get back to the way they should be, and I will, once again, get all the attention I so richly and rightfully deserve!

HURRICANE GUSTAV

Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with all living creatures (humans, cats and otherwise) who were in the path of Hurricane Gustav. We hope you all came through okay, and that your homes were not too severely damaged.

Your Friends,
Quasi, Steve & Judy (Steve’s Female)