About My First Book Horizons and How to Order

Introducing My First Poetry Book, "Horizons"

  My first poetry book, Horizons (Atmosphere Press)  AVAILABLE NOW!! Embark on a captivating journey through the vibrant world of living so...

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Textured Meows have personality

Anyone who doesn't believe that individual cats have their own personalities has never owned multiple cats.  Our family has recently added a fifth kitten to the mix of our already diverse group, so I'm not as sure about Zorra's personality has I am the other four.  I was thinking the other day how our cats are as different as fibers in fabrics.  Jolie is as familiar as cotton.  Wunder is as soft as silk.  Surprise is luxuriant as cashmere (and as beautiful).  Fizzgig is as warm as wool.  Our new Zorra is our puffy marshmallow satin. 

Jolie is the eldest, a twelve year old grey tiger cat.  She has a strange attraction towards vinyl and plastic things---lick, lick, lick.  We have called her "Little Mama" for helping us raise three of the other four cats.  When sleeping, she loves to curl up into a perfect circle, with head upside down.  She has a radar for when I'm feeling especially low, and decides to place a paw on my leg or simply lay on my chest to comfort me.  She is our cream and smoke with key lime pie colored eyes.

Wunder, a German word for miracle, is a big black ten year old diva.  She loves to talk to and meet people in a one-on-one basis, but isn't much for loud noises or crowds (how could she then be the center of attention????!)  My husband rescued her from one of his job sites.  At only two weeks old, she fit in the palm of my hand and had to be bottle fed.  This lady isn't little now--just weighed in at 17 pounds (and that's after losing 1 1/2!!!).  For now, she doesn't get along with new cats (especially Surprise), so she has her own domain in our family room. 

Our Fluffy Floofins--Surprise, or Sir Prize, is truly a bbbbbbbeautiful animal.  I am convinced he comes from a mixture of a fox, squirrel, puppy, and lion, and I have a goal of training him to drape across my shoulders in collar fashion just to be able to show him off more.  This cream and orange long hair cat has a strange habit of obsessing over strings and chewing shoes--just ask my daughter where her cute black sandals went!!!  He has made fast friends with kitten Zorra and is like a brother to Fizzgig.  When we first got him, he'd readily jump in the shower with any of us--for now he's happy waiting on the rim of the bathtub. 

Fizzgig, named after a favorite puppet in the movie "The Dark Crystal", is truly a mama's boy.  He doesn't like strangers and would rather follow whoever wakes up first in the morning for a lovey rub-down.  Don't pick this little guy up, but when he decides on his own, he's quite the warm friend on bed or recliner.  He has had the thickest tail ever since he joined us at 5 weeks (certainly not the fluffy kind like Zorra or Surprise).  He blends in well with our hardwood floors, and I've often compared his color to a deep butterscotch pudding.  After a party, we have to play "Find the Fizzgig" in one of his favorite hiding places.  And boy is he good at hiding!!!

Our newest addition, Zorra, was rescued this summer from alongside a highway.  She was little, alone, and had a small tail.  Now she's blossomed into a pretty black and white and grey princess with half a moustache, goatee, her own mask/hat and cape--and don't forget the huge grey tail!!!! Because of her resemblance to the hero Zorro (but alas she's a she), we named her Zorra.  I love finding her double-colored extra fuzzy paws slipping or sunning everywhere we go--including the bathroom sink (brush your teeth and paws, everyone)!!!

We love our "pookies", our "farkelkookins", and any other silly little kittie names we come up with to explain the therapeutic aspects of the five furry members of our family. 

Julie Mama the Mad Catter
Soaring Eagle
11-11-12