Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Chasing One’s Own Tail



HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Do you have a cat? And when I asked you that, what was your reaction? A moment of sweet memory or nostalgia?  Or an eye roll of—whoa. Cats.  We all have a cat story, right?


They are amazing, hilarious, imperious, confident, mysterious, needy and aloof. All at the same time. How do they do that? They can make themselves invisible, airborne, and weigh a million pounds. They know what we’re thinking, beyond a doubt.

One of the foremost cat whisperers ever is our dear Clea Simon.

TORTITUDE


Thanks for having me on here today! I’m thrilled to be making the rounds for “An Incantation of Cats,” which is my 25th mystery featuring cats. Twenty-five? That is, by any measure, a lot of fur.

By this point, therefore, I’m used to people asking, “How do you keep on?” But recently I fielded a new question, one that floored me: “How do you find new things to say about cats?”

On one level, I saw her point. Cats, for the most part, are creatures of habit. Thanks to their pre-domestication history ruling the veldt as alpha predators, they hunt or play in short, active bursts and then sleep or rest the roughly remaining 80 percent of the time. And while they have their amusing quirks (Thisbe will unscrew the drain cap in the downstairs bath; we don’t know why) and habits (Musetta carried the purloined belt of my terrycloth robe around like a trophy), these are rarely ever the kinds of behaviors that lend themselves to active sleuthing of anything but prey.

But aren’t people predictable as well? Don’t we, as crime writers, rely on habits and repeated behaviors, the revelations of the unexpected response or inconsistent reaction? And wouldn’t a feline, whose very survival long depended on quick and accurate appraisals be better suited to sleuthing than any mere human, if she or he chose to undertake it?

Did I think to say that? No, of course not. In response, I stammered something about the individualization of all creatures. I might have even mentioned the particular character of tortoiseshell cats – aka, “tortitude” – which I’m now learning about through Thisbe, our current feline overlord.

Tortitude? Yes. I’d originally dismissed fur-linked personality traits as a myth (hey, I’m a redhead and reasonably tempered, and the smartest woman I know is a blonde). But I’ve since learned that felines are different – and the genetic makeup that allows for three distinct colors in a cat’s coat is also linked to the genetics that define feline aggression. Which is not to say that torties – or calicos, same idea but more white in the mix – are angry. Instead, they are more energetic and often, well, more creative than other cats. (“I wouldn’t adopt a tortie,” one rescue worker told us. “They’re crazy.”)

In truth, Thisbe’s antics could power a whole new book. There’s that drain cap, for example, or her rather startling ability to knock any flying bug out of the air with a leap and a swipe, as well as her ongoing narration as she races around like a Jack Russell terrier in a wooly bear suit. And, yes, I’m now borrowing some of Thisbe’s tortitude for Clara, the calico heroine of my new series. 

If nothing else, her energy and perseverance – I like to think of these as running parallel to her loyalty and love – stand out in contrast to the dominant traits of Clara’s fictional sisters, the longhaired Harriet or the sleek Laurel, with her part-Siamese markings. (Yes, I let standard cat behavior guidelines dictate the basic outlines of her littermates’ characters, with the heavier-bodied Harriet being a tad more indolent and thoughtful, while Laurel is more graceful and actively inquisitive.) 

And I’ve spent enough time with cats to be intrigued with how they behave socially – in a litter or a clowder – and to know that our behavior (and our characters’) when we are by ourselves or among our own is often much richer than what we may show when we know we’re on display.

So now I wish that friend would ask me her question again, because I finally have the answer. I find new things to write about my characters – all my characters, human and feline alike – because they are individuals to me, as alive and vibrant as you or I. Do we sometimes find people boring? Of course, and if we’re writers, we get rid of them (or, okay, use them for comic relief). But the species? Never. The day I can’t find something new or intriguing about any of the inhabitants of my books will be the day I stop writing. Or give up on humanity entirely, and go play with my cat.

Do you view your pet as having a distinct personality? What’s it like? And what would her or his crime-solving skill be, if set in the middle of a mystery?


HANK: Oh, my darling tortoiseshell Lola (who died at age twenty, and the best cat ever--she still comes to me in my dreams, but that’s another story…) would be a supercat. She could incinerate people with her death stare. Lola was also very accomplished at being annoyed. 

And annoying. Here she is with Jonathan. It looks all cozy and adorable, but Jonathan was allergic to cats. Which she WELL knew.


How about you all, Reds and readers? What're your cat observations?




Clea Simon is the author of more than 25 mysteries, many of which involve cats. Her latest, An Incantation of Cats, comes out this month from Polis Books. She can be reached at http://www.cleasimon.com

When two new clients seek Becca’s professional services, the fledgling witch detective is overjoyed. Finally, she can use her skills to help her magical community. But as the young witch finds the new cases intertwining, things grow more complicated. Becca’s three cats – the ones with the real power – can smell something is wrong with these clients. But not even Clara, the calico, knows what to do when a man ends up dead and a powerful and poisonous root appears – and disappears – in the case.

To make matters worse, Clara and her littermates are feuding – and she can’t tell them about an unsettling interaction she’s had with one of the client’s sisters. Is it possible that some humans may have the same powers as the magical felines? What does that mean for Clara’s beloved Becca – and for the potent poison that has already taken one person’s life? In this second Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, Clara and her sisters must learn to work together if they are to save the person they all love.

83 comments:

  1. Clea, your “Incantation of Cats” sounds delightful and I’m looking forward to reading it.

    Our cats have long since gone off to cat-heaven, but the calico, Missy, was the most independent cat . . . she just ignored everyone and marched around as if she owned the place [and, of course, she did]. The black and white one, Mouser by name, could never resist jumping up on or down off anything he thought might hold him. More than a few teetering stacks of books met their demise as a result of kitty-cat jumping . . . . .

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    1. So you know!! Missy sounds so much like Thisbe – and like Clara. Yes, the thuds in the night, as books *(or waste baskets, a Thisbe favorite) go over...

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  2. 25 books? That's wonderful! Congrats!

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    1. Amazing. And the more I am in book world, the more I realize how amazing that is…

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    2. Thanks! It's just age, really. If you keep on writing, the books start to add up. And I started very, very young (not) :)

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  3. Welcome Clea! That cover is gorgeous And I know your new kitty is grateful for the limelight. Tbone is definitely an individual and we feel so lucky to have him in our family

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    1. T-Bone is magical! It is so perfect that you found each other…

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    2. Thank you!! And love to T-bone!

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  4. I am so looking forward to reading this book.

    Cats? I could begin with don't get me started, but I'll spare everyone the details. They are all individuals, each with their quirks, foibles, and human specific lovies. My current tortie will head butt my husband when asked for a kisser, but curl up and paddle me. Hutch was able to open all but round-knobbed doors, and would hide in a cabinet if he did anything bad. Fred was a finder of lost objects. Zoe liked to drink from faucets and would turn them on herself if no human was handy. Missy used the rest of the cats as staff. Starlight was six toed and known to dial 911. Yes, your cats should provide you with material for 25 more books, paws down.

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    1. They are hilarious… Lola lived for 14 years with my other cat Leon, and she never acknowledged his existence.

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    2. I love it. They have such a way about them.

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    3. Oh, they are such darling individuals, aren't they? I love hearing about your clowder. The stories they could tell...

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  5. Congratulations, Clea, and thanks for teaching me the word clowder! (Can't believe I got to this ripe old age without knowing it.) We are temporarily cat free but are getting ready to head over to the shelter. Oh, yes, many past cat personalities have lit up our lives, but I've never owned a tortoise shell.

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    1. So glad you are adopting a rescue. I hope there will be pictures and stories. Happy hunting!

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    2. Ohh! How exciting!! I can't wait to hear who chooses you! (And you know the rescue zen koan, yes? When the person is ready, the cat will appear).

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  6. Congratulations, Clea! My beloved angel kitty, Skye, was a dilute torti with all the tortitude you've mentioned. She was known to shred my poor vet and his assistants. And I have a few scars myself. But she was also the sweetest, most loving cat (to me). Meanwhile, she loathed my husband. There was nothing he could do to win her favor. Fast forward to Kensi, who's a dilute calico. My vet has said every dilute calico he's met has been a hellion. Except for Kensi. She doesn't have a mean bone in her little body. She's as ornery as the day is long, but would never bite or scratch unless engaged in a game of mouse hunting (at which point, all bets are off.) So yes, yes, yes. Every cat has its own personality and quirks. And we love them all!

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    1. Don't you love how they make decisions about people? And they do it just to make trouble....

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    2. They are such perfect little individuals, aren't they? And, yes, tell Kensi I completely understand. When one is playing "mouse," as we call it, all bets are off. Enjoy!

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  7. Wow, 25 books - congratulations, Clea! Our current cat is Holly, a tortoiseshell or tri-colour, lots of white in the mix, who has a distinct personality. She just needs to look at the front door handle and one of her humans appears to open it for her. Magic! She takes over more than her share of the bed, and she resolutely refuses to eat food she deems unfit for her refined palate. She's insufferable and adorable; it's been ten years of her putting up with us -- and when she purrs while in the crook of my arm, I forget the annoyances and just simply love her. And isn't that the cat's superpower?

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    1. Oh, yes, I so agree… There’s nothing like a cat cuddle.

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    2. of course you do! There's nothing like having a cat cuddled up to you. Holly sounds like maybe she shares some of Clara's powers... hmm...

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  8. Congratulations on your new release! I'm a poodle person, specifically, black standards. Monday in the vet's waiting room? I swear the yowling cat started it.

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    1. The cat never started it. Right. It is never their fault… :-)

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    2. Ha! Of course the cat started it!

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  9. I thought my one dog and tree cats were to keep me company and they do, but really the cats provide comic relief. When I only had one cat I thought I needed another and instead of coming home with one kitten I came home with two. They were very small. But that was truly one of the best things I ever did. Watching those little guys was better than any TV show. But they are a bit weird, too. Rosie is a little shy and won't come around to be petted but as soon as I get in or on my bed she is on my feet and will happily stay there as long as i do. Her brother Rowdy is a real character who can open doors! He also has an endearing habit I call sucking his thumb. Actually it's one toe on his left paw and he is rather noisy about it. Since both those kitties are coal black it's hard to tell them apart, unless you hear the sucking which he has done since he was tiny.
    It bothers me that neither one of them know their name but my other guys always have. I guess as far as they are considered they have names for themselves and don't need mine. They know when suppertime is so they don't need to be called.

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    1. I once had a brother/sister pair of black cats, but they were easy to tell apart. Scrap, the female, weighed about eight pounds, tops. Noah, her brother, weighed 18, and it was all muscle. I'll never forget the afternoon when my niece's 6-pound toy fox terrier chased Scrap under the bed and backed out again immediately when grumpy Noah, jolted out of his nap, stalked out to school her on how to treat cats. It looked like a Tex Avery cartoon come to life.

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    2. , That is fascinating about the names… Do you suppose, like T.S. Eliot understood, that they only use their real name?

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    3. Aren't they fascinating? The way they interact – it can be part nature documentary and part physical comedy a la Buster Keaton!

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  10. Congrats on book 25! I love the cats in your books. Only people who don't have cats would wonder where you get your ideas about them. They all have such distinct personalities. I have so many stories to share about our cats but I'll limit it to these.

    I battled disabling fatigue for a year before finally being diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Fibromyalgia. That means I rest in the afternoons. When the original Dark Shadows arrived on Amazon Prime, I watched all five years and accidentally conditioned my Russian Blue type Misty to come running when she heard the opening music. It means "mommy is going to lie on the bed and pet me." When we can't find her, all I have to do is turn on that music! LOL

    Libby, our tiny black cat is very jumpy. One day she was lying on the bed watching Dark Shadows with Misty and me when vampire Barnabas Collins opened his creaky coffin lid. Keep in mind that 1) every coffin in this Gothic soap opera has a squeaky lid and 2) she's heard this sound at least a hundred times. This time, however, it scared her so badly that she leaped straight up in air and took off down the hall like something was after her. From another room my husband called "What did you do to scare my poor cat?" I replied, "Well, technically, Barnabas scared your cat." LOL

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    1. What a great story! They are very very sensitive, right? xxx

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    2. Thank you, Cathy, and I'm so glad you finally were able to get a diagnosis that made sense for what your body was telling you. As for "Dark Shadows," I'm with Misty - it scared me so much as a girl! Not that that kept me from watching it....

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    3. Clea, considering it aired when I was ages 3 to 8, it terrified me then. LOL. Now I love it.

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  11. Congratulations on your newest book, Clea, and welcome to Jungle Red.

    Our household has gone from a high of five kitties at one time, down to a single cat. Plus two little pomapoos, both of whom were raised by cats and both of whom lick their paws and wash their faces. But I digress.

    The current cat in residence is Eliot -- after George Eliot -- a two time reject before we adopted her at five months. She had to be a very annoying kitten to be sent back to the orphanage twice. She's a loverly gray and white tuxedo, and she sports six toes on each paw. That alone means she spends a lot on mani-pedis.

    Like all cats, she has a list of annoying behaviors, but one stands out. We have the second floor water bowl in the bathroom. In an old house, bathrooms (and closets) are a bit of an afterthought, and ours is small. So the water bowl is put in a corner, out of the way of old ladies who could trip and lie there until eaten by her cat. Eliot, however, has a different notion of water bowl placement. Everyday she nudges and pushes and shoves it along until it is in its place of honor, right in front of the door.

    That damn cat.

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    1. You’re clearly putting the water bowl in the wrong place, you know? And she needs to correct you. :/)

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    2. She knows where her bowl goes! Thisbe is a big dragger of water bowls, too. At least she was until we got her a fountain too heavy for her to move. Not that she doesn't try!

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    3. Rolling with laughter here, Ann!

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  12. I share my home with . . . well, quite a lot of animals, and have always had at least one or two in the family. Anyone who says dogs and cats don't have distinct personalities has simply never lived with or loved dogs or cats. My first cat was black, my second a tortie, and I've leaned toward those colorations when I had a choice, but back in October I was down to one indolent (completely adorable) Russian Blue and a tortie-tabby who runs things when the border collies let her.

    Then, one Saturday morning as I was headed out to run the mundane errands, the little voice in my mind said, "Go to the shelter." I told my little voice that I had more than enough animals, but it said, "Go to the shelter." So I went. I have resisted animals there before, and I didn't need another pet. I was adopted by a young calico, who clearly decided, after snubbing several other families, that I was the person she wanted to go home with. Her name is Gift, and I'm learning new lessons about that calico attitude every day.

    Congratulations on your new book, Clea. It sounds intriguing. I'll have to look into it, and will alert my co-worker, who is also a cat mystery fan. I wish you all the best with it!

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    1. Oh, what a wonderful story! Gift was clearly calling you!

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    2. A voice in your head? Sounds like cat magic to me! I'm so glad you found your Gift – and that you share your life with so many wonderful creatures. (And thank you! I do love this book.)

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    3. Gigi, would Gift be a dilute calico, I wonder?

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    4. Hank, if I start believing Gift has that kind of power . . . Well, yes, of course she does. Who am I kidding?

      Clea, I've ordered the first in the series to get started properly.

      Gift is what cat color experts call a caliby. She is a calico tabby. Instead of solid black and orange patches she has black and gray striped patches, mixed with marmalade striped patches. A most singular cat.

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  13. How could I forget my best cat story? Soon after I got a puppy she began to play chase with my white cat who was bigger than the pup. But pups grow and it wasn't long before she was bigger than the cat; but chase games continued. Until the time I was standing in front of my top-loading washer and had just added the liquid detergent. In came the cat with the pup on her heels. She jumped up and due to some minor calculation error on her part landed inside the washing machine! As she tried to get out she was getting more and more covered with blue detergent! I hauled her out and tried to rinse her off as best I could. I called the vet and they weren't at all concerned but for some time I had a brilliantly white kitty who may have learned her lesson.

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    1. Oh funny! But maybe she learned… Maybe she meant to do it. Yes that’s it, she meant to do it.

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    2. Oh, poor girl!! But she certaainly learned her lesson - and I bet her coat just GLEAMED!

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  14. Congratulations, Clea!!! As an owner of three cats, wait, who am I kidding? They own me! I am thrilled by this post and your new book. Can’t wait to dive into An Incantation of Cats!

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    1. Thank you, Jenn! Yeah, we really are just staff - bumbling, imperfect, but (I believe) loved. I'd be curious to hear if my three fictional sisters bear any resemblance to your three!

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  15. Wow, 25 books, Clea! Impressive.

    I've been violently allergic to cats all my life, and have had a touchy relationship with some of them. My best friend's cat used to immediately run to me as soon as I sat down, and he would leap onto my lap as soon as my guard was down. I finally learned to stop challenging him with my stares! As soon as I started ignoring him he acted as if that was his idea in the first place.

    My son-in-law had a six-toed black cat when he and my daughter got together. Kitty was a haughty, aloof little snot, and continued to be for years, until... On a trip back to Ohio from Michigan, Kitty took off into the countryside as soon as the car door was opened at a rural gas station. They looked for hours and finally had to concede defeat, so they continued home to Cincinnati. Two months later they got a call about Kitty, so they went to pick him up. He was a changed critter, finally being the loving cat Jeff had always wanted.

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    1. Sounds like Kitty learned to appreciate Jeff! I'm so glad, because they can be so loving. And that you figured out a truce with your friend's kitty. I hope my books don't kick up your allergies, and that you can enjoy some vicarious kittitude.

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  16. Ahhh! I'm not actually whining, just feeling slightly overwhelmed--why are there so many books/series out there that I've missed? Thank heavens for the Reds!! Your Witch cats series sounds right up my alley. We currently have four cats. Water dishes must be placed inside a container which cannot be tipped over, or Munch will see to it that not only is it dragged to the most inconvenient place ever, but that you step in the pool of water. Jimmy Crackhead I have mentioned before--he's a twin to Lucy's T-bone and just as adorable and antic. His littermate, Missy is a chubby gray furball who must be put down for naps--yes, go lie on the bed with her until she falls asleep. But she will reward you with many kitty kisses. PK is the ruler of our domain. A calico who is currently curled up in my lap, purring steadily, looking at me with beautiful green eyes and sticking a white paw up to get my attention whenever it wanders away from her presence.

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    1. Remember, books don't go stale. You can stockpile them for the night when there's nothing on TV or the day when you have a cold and are stuck on the sofa.... (this happened to me recently). Your kitties sound like such personalities. I know that water-bowl-tipping trick well... hmmmm...

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  17. Sorry it took me so long to reply, folks! I was on Safari, which wasn't letting me comment. Grrr... but I'm here now!

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    1. You kidding? I felt like the kitty who could not get at the toy! LET ME IN!
      Though by that measure, now I should probably go nap. :)

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  18. Late to the party again! Clea, I loved this post. When I was a kid, I was allergic to cats, though I still wanted a cat. LOL. We got a rescue kitten and I remember she would chase her tail. No idea why. I remember watching her ears. Since I was Deaf and my hearing aids only gave me white noise, I would look at Mitzi and her ears would twitch when she heard something. She would turn her head in the direction of sound. Eventually she became my "hearing" cat. LOL . Eventually I outgrew my allergies. Now I am not allergic to cats, though I am now allergic to a certain breed of dogs with long hair.

    Congratulations on your new book. I want to read the first book in your Witch Cats series then this second novel.

    Diana

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    1. Diana, that is FASCINATING! How brilliant of you..and of MItzi. Wow.

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    2. Thank you, Diana, and thank you for sharing the story of your Mitzi. What a wonderful bond you two had. :)

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    3. Hank and Clea, thank you. Mitzi was independent, though. She would not let me put doll clothes on her, though. I once put her in a baby pram and she jumped out! LOL.

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    4. I once interviewed William Wegman--the Weimeraner guy? Remember he put clothes on his dogs, and they were adorable. SO I told him I'd tried to put rabbit ears on my cat Leon, but that he wouldn't stand for it. Oh, of course, Wegman said. You can't put clothing on a CAT.

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  19. We never had cats in our households since Dad was allergic and then my husband too. I wouldn't know how to take care of one! My little brother and my sister have more than made up for it with multiple cats in their homes. We do share a neighborhood cat, Fields. Fields lives across the street in a garage apartment but makes her rounds. She enjoys laying on the porch furniture and does try to cuddle up to our dog Jack, who ignores her the best that he can. Anyway we all like Fields and give her plenty of attention when she visits.

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    1. Sounds like Fields has you all figured out, and if she can visit without aggravating anyone's allergies, so much the better! Thanks fo rsharing her story (and cuddles to Jack)!

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  20. Shalom Reds and fans. As a child, my family had neither dogs nor cats. My first time living with a cat was in college in my dorm rooms. I shared 3 rooms with 3 other students and one of them had adopted a tiny orange kitten. He named him Puff. I was from New York City and we used Scott’s or Kleenex. I didn’t know from Puffs. Our rooms were quite a distance from the center of the campus, so I don’t remember spending a lot of time in the dorm except to sleep or maybe to listen to music. This was before Walkmans. The kitten was very playful and delighted in ambushing you as if your feet were trespassing rodents.

    It’s many years later and I don’t live with any cats now. I live in a small apartment and I share the four rooms with a roommate. We have a lot of “stuff” and it’s just too cramped for cats or dogs. However, I believe having pets is good for your physical or emotional health.

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    1. I believe you're right, David, and I'm glad you had that time with Puff in college. Thanks for sharing!

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    2. Puff was Dick and Jane's cat!

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    3. Exactly, Pat D! And David, I so agree!

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  22. Clea, sorry to be late to the party today! Congrats on 25 books! And congrats on An Incantation of Cats--love the title, love the cover. When I was growing up, my mother didn't like cats, so it wasn't until I was in college that I acquired my first kitten, a little marmalade female who loved me but HATED everyone else. I've seldom been catless since, and they have all been entirely unique. I had one tortie, years ago, and have always wanted a calico but the cat gods haven't seen fit to send me one. At the moment we have a tuxedo, a docked-tail tabby with a massive attitude, and we are in the process of trying to introduce a neighborhood tabby to our inside cats. This kitty adores the dogs, by the way, and vice versa, so hopefully progress can be made on the feline front.

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    1. Oh, I hope your inside kitties accept the newcomer! I'm sure you know the routine – keeping them separated but letting them smell each other (through a door, or by moving towels back and forth between "territories") And you know about Feliway plug-ins? I thought they were, um, hocus pocus until my dear departed Musetta (a tux!) developed some behavioral issues around the litterbox (she was a lady, so I'll be discreet here). If not, I highly recommend. Good luck! And thank you for your kind words – and for caring for these wonderful beasts!

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    2. Thanks so much, Clea! I did not know about these. Do they really work? As for now we are putting the outside kitty in a separate room when she's in the house, but I would eventually like my guest room back, lol, and would like for her to be a completely inside cat.

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    3. They really do - our vet actually recommendned them. Get the real ones (Feliway) not the cheaper knockoffs. They emit pheromones that are not perceptible to humans but really do calm cats. THey take a few days to work, but you plug them in and leave them for a month. Might only be necessary during the transition, but with Musetta we had them throughout her life. Good luck!!

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  23. Clea, congratulations on your new book. An Incantation of Cats is a great title, and the cover is wonderful, too. I'm a dog person, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the amazingness of cats. Unfortunately, I just allergic enough to cats to make spending large amounts of time around them uncomfortable, as I eventually will start sneezing or getting nasal discomfort. However, we did have a cat for many years. The way it happened is the way so many pet stories start. An adorable little kitten showed up at our house, and I started feeding it (well get to gender in a minute). Well, once you start feeding an animal, it's pretty much yours. We had a dog, and I really didn't want a cat, but my kids were little then, two and five, and thought the cat was so cute, and it was. We named it Salty, but the only reason I can remember for that is the cat was a gray and black tabby, with very little white. Hence salt and pepper, hence Salty. I guess. It's a bit hazy. But, even though if I sat around the cat for very long, I started exhibiting some allergic signs, we took the cute kitten in. My husband wanted to make sure the cat didn't get pregnant though, so we took her to the vet and left her to have the "operation." However, we got a call from the vet's office to inform us that they couldn't do the operation because our she was a he. So, we now embraced a male cat instead of a female cat, which didn't matter, of course. The irony of it all was that for someone, me, who had not grown up with cats, only dogs, and was clearly on the dog side of the pet preference, ended up taking in a sweet little kitten that lived for 22 years.

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    1. That little kitty knew you were HIS people, even if you didn't. What a wonderful story. I'm so glad you took him in and gave him such a good, long life! (PS - Dogs are great too, aren't they? I love all companion animals!)

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    2. 22 years! Yay, you. Meant to be. xoxo

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  24. Both my cats knock the drain trap out of the way so they can drink drips from the faucet directly off the tub. The trap both captures a little pool of water and gets in their way.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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    1. thisbe does that too! Sometimes she unscrews the drain cap and carries it around in her mouth. We find it in the oddest places. At other times, she bats at the faucet, tryng to get it to turn on (if we're around, it magically does). Ha! Aren't they great little creatures?

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