Looking at my sleepy, spoiled girls...

makes me so thankful that they are here with me forever, and have nothing to worry about. They'll always have food in their tummies, medical care when they need it. They will never be declawed. They never have to worry about someone hurting them out of anger, because I would protect them any way I know how. Thinking about any cat getting declawed breaks my heart and I don't know why I can't make people do the right thing. Seeing my girls sleeping peacefully makes me so happy, but then I think of all the kitties I can't help, and I can't help crying. It's just hard to accept that all I can do is take good care of them, and the kitties outside and do my best to educate people.

I think about the same thing all the time when I look at my babies. Where I take in a lot of fosters and deal with rescue, I am ALWAYS telling mine they should be thankful because they could have it so much worse.

I love watching my babies sleep. I remember the first day I brought each of them home and how much love I felt for them. It amazes me to this day the capacity for love and trust that each of my precious kitties have. I adore watching them sleep -- their warm, purring bodies pressed up against me or their precious way of snuggling on the chair, sofa, or bed. It's magical and, regardless of what's going on in my life, I always feel happiness, joy, and love.

But, I can also relate to the sadness I feel for the kitties who do not having a safe, loving home. Where do those cats sleep? It's positively heartbreaking if I allow myself to go there. So, I try to focus myself on my babies and doing all that I can to ensure their health, happiness, and well-being. And, wherever possible, I do what I can to be an advocate for cats (and other animals) everywhere. Sometimes it's through donations, other times it is putting shelters out around downtown for the strays and ferals, and I have done fostering and volunteering as well. But, mostly, I try to lead by example. My friends have learned a lot from me about animals and their proper care. They, then, have been able to help others. Being an example, sharing information when possible, and being open and willing to help when asked are things I can do each day to better the lives of cats and other pets. It's not always easy -- especially when hearing about neglect or abuse -- but, I feel it is my duty.

And, when things get too difficult, I just need to look at my precious kitties sleeping. They know love -- they have everything they need. I may not be able to save the world, but, I have saved lives. My babies are proof of that.

to you honey. We all do the best that we can. I get very emotional when I think what might have happened.. what WOULD have happened if I hadn't intervened and pulled the cats I have now from a high kill pound. I get sick to my stomach.

As I type this, Kasey, the tortie is snoring contentedly in a pet bed, close by; as she often spends time any where in the house where I happen to be.

Her story is in "My Cats" in the header of this post.

She leads a far different life than she did just two years ago.

My only regret was waiting until May 2008 to bring her home, I should have done it a few years before that.

I know how things are out there and we can't save them all, thats the tough part but it is a great feeling when the opportunity comes to be able to make a difference.

I know Kasey is happy here.

This morning I went back to the kitties rooms to say good morning. Slick and her kids, Fetch and Bubble were all curled around eachother in their bed. I put my face down and felt how warm they were, even when it was only 60 in there as the rest of the house (its always cool in the am).

I gave each a kiss between their sleeping eyes and they started to stretch and show me their bellies. Life does not get much better than that.

Then I went in the "senior" room. That is where my 7 seniors live. Same thing repeated.

As long as I have a roof over our head, food and my cats, I have it all.

Yep, we love to spoil them. I tell my cats all the time they are better taken care of than some children in this world.

I feel the same way. I tell my girl about a hundred times a day that she has no idea how much she is loved. Which is really pretty ridiculous, because she DOES know how much she is loved. She proves it every time she answers me when I talk to her, or when she cuddles with me on the couch, or when she snuggles with me under the covers. But especially when she falls asleep on my lap and is just dead to the world, belly exposed and all four paws in the air, loving and trusting enough of ME to allow herself to conk out the way she does. It's indescribable...

Awww i so know that feeling as well Their always on the bed when i wake up, and Jack lets out a scream as soon as i speak to them then rolls all over the bed as if to say "At last she's awake!". I would miss having that