HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO HEIDI, THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

FROM THE CATS WE TAKE CARE OF & CAT DADDY STEVE

We are the cats and other fur babies protected by your monthly donations to the ASPCA. Some of us have very sad stories to tell, but life is getting better because of your love and support.

We are a colony of cats that lives near the seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah on the Atlantic cost of Essaouira. The fishermen with the famous blue boats give us lots of fish scraps and chin rubs, but the Moroccan Dirhams Uncle Steve donated helps a team of volunteers to build us shelters.

We are the Kedi of Istanbul. You saw us in an award-winning documentary. Turkey may be the best place on earth for a street cat to get the love of every passerby. But still, there are countless numbers of us, so Uncle Steve’s donation of several hundred Turkish Lira helps volunteers in our ancient city to build clusters of homes for us.

We are the felines of the Cat Café outside Orlando. While Disney, Sea World, Universal and water parks get all the attention – we’d like to think we are the most wonderful location in the land of theme parks. We loved the hugs you gave us, the money you donated and we look forward to safer times when you can visit again.

CAT CAFE - 6

SOUTH BEACH

CAT CAFÉ SOUTH BEACH

1423 Washington Ave., Miami Beach

305 397-8201

10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

CatCafeSobe.com

http://catcafesobe.com/

CAT CAFE - 5

SOUTH BEACH

More than 100,000 stray cats run rampant in Miami-Dade County, the Humane Society of Greater Miami estimates conservatively. 

Other volunteer organizations put the number at 150,000 in Miami Beach alone.

About 15,000 cats are brought to Miami-Dade County Animal Services every year, while only about 3,000 are adopted.

--Carlos Frias, Miami Herald

http://catcafesobe.com/

CAT CAFE - 4

SOUTH BEACH

Customers pay $15 to enter the cat area, where they can play with and adopt the animals.

Proceeds go toward the cafe’s partner, Sobe Cats Spay and Neuter, to help control the feral cat population in South Beach. 

There’s no extra cost to watch from the cafe side while enjoying coffee ($2.60), Cindy Lou Cookies ($5), loaded tater tots ($3.50) or avocado toast ($8), among other options.

--Carlos Frias, Miami Herald

http://catcafesobe.com/

CAT CAFE - 3

SOUTH BEACH

Cats and kittens rollick in the room next door. 

They climb replicas of South Beach’s iconic life guard stations. 

They tight-rope-walk a scaffolding high above the room. 

And they jump and chase cat toys beneath a sunny, beach-themed mural.

--Carlos Frias, Miami Herald

http://catcafesobe.com/

CAT CAFE - 2

SOUTH BEACH

Between the two are double-glass doors and a high-efficiency air filtration system to make sure kitties and dander stay on one side and baked treats on the other.

Before passing between areas, guests must disinfect their hands and wear plastic booties over their shoes.

--Carlos Frias, Miami Herald

http://catcafesobe.com/

CAT CAFE - 1

SOUTH BEACH

It’s real, Miami.

In the works for over a year, it quietly opened Friday morning at 1423 Washington Ave.

Just as renderings had promised, it’s part adoption center, part coffee shop, where you can buy pastries, gourmet Cindy Lou’s Cookies and locally roasted coffee while watching adoptable cats jump, climb and frolic on the other side of a thick, glass pane.

--Carlos Frias, Miami Herald

http://catcafesobe.com/

THANK HEAVEN FOR

CATS, OUR FUR BABIES

Honeybear has been with us for 5 years.

We guess that she’s about 8.

It turns out a neighbor down the street had her when she was a kitten and responsibly got her treated so she couldn’t have more kittens.

HB did give birth once, to a litter of 3.

The only baby of hers that we know of is a very skittish Tortie that dubbed Cocoa Kitty.

When Honeybear went out in daylight and nighttime, mother and daughter would hunt together, sand bathe together, hug and fight (as HB the queen would smack her grown kitten – just to make it clear who the king of the hill was, is and always will be).

We tried to get Cocoa Kitty to be an indoor cat, but it’s not for her. So we bought a used dogloo and set her up with food and water in the back of our house.

Before long, many cats were visiting. We bought a used small tent and used it for shelter, with a food bowl in it.

We bought cushions and built shelter out of some old benches left behind by the previous owner of our house.

When one of our most beloved visitor couples – a Maine Coon dubbed Big Boy and his lady Squirt – a tiny ginger cat – had 4 kittens, we went into action.

We worked with Miami-Dade County Animal Services (perhaps the best department in the County) to work with the Trap-Neuter-Release program.

A wonderful, soulful worker named Octavio came by long before dawn and set up a half dozen traps.

Repeating this routine over the years, we have helped far more than a dozen cats to be spared from giving birth. You can tell by their clipped single ear.

We don’t want to turn a sweet tale into a lecture.

But people really do need to be responsible and get their cats fixed – and even work with Animal Services to get in the TNR program. It doesn’t cost a penny and at the most, you will move your car out of the driveway to create room for some humane traps.

Cats, after surgery and recovery, are returned to your lot 48 to 72 hours later.

Our all-time beloved baby from TNR is Dusty.

THANK GOODNESS FOR HONEYBEAR

OUR MEEZER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

Before we knew it, our Siamese cat visitor had a name – we called her Honeybear.

She launched a months-long plan for getting us to fall in love with her.

It worked.

At first, she was going out when we went to bed and when we left the house.

We were still so new to cats, we feared she would soil our beds, furniture, etc.

We were too dumb to buy a litter box.

Heidi started DVRing Jackson Galaxy shows and reading things online.

Soon, Amazon was delivering cat books.

And Honeybear was only going out at night.

Soon, we loved her so much, we were afraid she might get hurt outside.

Multiple test litterboxes arrived.

She hated the covered one.

She was too big for the one labeled large.

She had a favorite dry cat food.

She had multiple water bowls.

Before we knew it, HB (as we call her when shortening her name) was inside 24-7.

When we traveled, we hired a trusted person to come in twice a day to look after Honeybear.

Mom Heidi bought air prey and other speciality toys, when we realized our Meezer’s health depended on play and exercise.

Daddy Steve welcome Honeybear into his bed.

She curled up right next to him, often snoring, frequently walking over his body and sweetly coming up to smooch him.

(part 4 tomorrow)

WE PAUSE TO GIVE THANKS FOR

OUR FELINE FRIENDS

In early fall 2013, I was on FMLA leave from a miserable job – gladly taking unpaid leave to care for Heidi, my companion of one third of a century.

She was having a hip revision and would be recovering for up to two weeks in a great hospital’s rehab ward after her daylong, brutal procedure.

I would sleep at our house and I would run home to do chores and all – allowing Heidi to rest and get crucial physical therapy.

One day, I was taking a medical device out of a ton of shipping cardboard.

A cat jumped on it and sprawled out.

She had been darting around on and under the wheelchair ramp that leads to our century old house.

We called her the mottled kitty.

Now, in the sun, I could see a beautiful Siamese cat.

She wanted to be petted.

I took some pictures and shared them with Heidi during my long visit.

She said our mottled kitty was at least 75% apple head seal point Siamese.

Not long after Heidi came home, we were out enjoying the break in the weather and doing some yard work.

The Siamese cat came over and let me pet her.

Then she took some milk.

And some kibbles – as we had bought a small bag of cat snacks.

Soon, she was visiting us inside the house for 30, 60, 90 minute periods.

(part 3 tomorrow)

I GIVE THANKSGIVING FOR

DISCOVERING THE LOVE OF CATS 

We were a dog family growing up in exurban Ohio.

Cats were thought of as a nuisance.

They caused allergic reactions and dug up plants.

At best, something an old spinster would keep as a pet, because they were low maintenance and could be virtually ignored for weeks.

I never hated cats, but I really didn’t get them.

It’s like cats have the worst public relations firm on earth.

Every negative stereotype gets repeated in movies, TV shows, even cartoons.

Little Havana, sadly, is a dumping ground for cats.

Moving into an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, turn your poor kitty out to the streets in Little Havana.

Kids lost interest in that kitten you got for Christmas – dump it around Calle Ocho.

Didn’t get your cat fixed and have a litter bigger than you are ready to take on – cast the poor critters off to fend for themselves in the blue collar neighborhood of Shenandoah.

So we were used to cats.

We talked to them.

We had a few run in the house.

We were never mean or anything, but we just didn’t take much interest in having any kind of pet – because we travel a lot and we’re always on the go.

(see part 2 tomorrow)

I AM THANKFUL FOR

COCONUT GROVE ANIMAL CLINIC

We love living in Miami.

But in the big city, there are very few small town businesses that treat you like family.

Coconut Grove Animal Service is one of them.

Now operated by the 2^nd and 3^rd generations of Marmesh family Veterinarians, the practice has been open since 1965 – one year after we were born!

The people are amazing. Loving, intelligent, expert.

The prices are unheard of. Very fair.

Since we took in our rescue cat Honeybear about five years ago, she has been a regular at the Grove Animal Service’s quaint and slightly cramped office on Grand Avenue at 32^nd Ave.

Our beloved Siamese has gotten her shots, her wellness visits and some treatments when she’s had an infection or GI symptoms.

Check out the practice at:

http://www.coconutgroveanimalclinic.com

THE BEST CAT AND DOG CARE IN MIAMI

COCONUT GROVE ANIMAL CLINIC -- SINCE 1965

We love Dr. Marmesh (he gets extra points for graduating from Heidi’s alma mater, Ohio State University) and the third generation talented vet in the family – Dr. Kate Marmesh.

They have lovingly cared for our healthy Siamese rescue cat Honeybear for half a decade.

Here’s a bit more about the high quality, low cost clinic in their own words:

Coconut Grove Animal Clinic was founded during the days of the 'Old Grove.' It has been rich in family tradition and pet care ever since. 

After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Dr. Michael Marmesh, Sr. opened Coconut Grove Animal Clinic in 1965. 

His wife, Sarah Marmesh, acted as office manager, and they maintained a small-town business in an area that quickly grew up around the clinic.

In 1978, the couple was joined by their son Dr. Michael E. Marmesh, Jr. after he graduated from The Ohio State University. 

The father and son pair worked together until Dr. Marmesh, Sr. passed away in August 2000. 

Michael's wife Nancy has taken on the job of business manager after recently retiring from her work as an elementary school gifted teacher.

Most recently Dr. Kate Marmesh (daughter of Dr. Marmesh, Jr.) has come to work with her father. 

She graduated from St. George's University in May 2005 and worked in Fayetteville, Tennessee until June 2008. 

She has returned home to be the third generation in this family business.

http://www.coconutgroveanimalclinic.com/about.html

I GIVE THANKS EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY

FOR THE LOVE, COMPANIONSHIP AND
CAT GUARDIAN EXPERTISE OF MY WIFE HEIDI

That’s our Siamese Rescue Cat Honeybear in the picture.

We bought her a sleep mask as a joke.

She didn’t like it.

But I snapped a picture.

And Heidi, my wife of 30 years, edited it and posted in on her Facebook page.

Barely a day goes by without a cat pic or video shared by my Heidi.

Barely a week goes by without a heartwarming animal clip comes in, often from the Dodo, courtesy of my beloved.

We’ll have about a week’s worth of cat parenting stories posted for the Thanksgiving week.

For now, I need to tell my bride how much I love her.

She bought us tickets to a special Jackson Galaxy appearance – which also funds the Cat Network.

My Heidi DVRs Jackson’s My Cat From Hell TV show – and watches it like a master’s class in cat behavior.

She has purchased books by Jackson and others, to learn about felines.

She found us a wonderful vet nearby in the Grove – a blog item will touch on that this week.

Heidi found cat toys and helped us assemble an emergency first aid kit, should our inside Meezer get hurt.

She scans all of our feline baby’s medical records.

We chose to never have kids.

With Honeybear our indoor baby – and dozens of outside cats that we care for on our small urban lot in the heart of Little Havana – we have become parents.

FINDING A FRIEND IN A MOST IMPROBABLE WAY

EarthBound TomBoy

By Heidi Johnson-Wright

I am just as human as anyone else. Which means I’m susceptible to the stupid ideas that humans can have.

I must confess that, even though I pride myself on championing the rights of the marginalized, I am sometimes guilty of buying into ugly biases and stereotypes. In this case, I held prejudices about a friend.

I met her about a year and half ago. She lives in my neighborhood. When we first saw each other, I sensed that she wanted to connect with me. Looking back now, I can see that she was clearly afraid of trusting too much.  Afraid of getting hurt.

I took her standoffishness as arrogance, because that is what I’d been taught to believe about her group. That her ilk thought themselves better than everyone else.

So I steered clear of her, until her overtures of friendship became more insistent. Okay, maybe she’s different, I thought. Plus, I’m a sucker for a pretty face, and she surely has one. Her eyes dazzle like blue topaz stones.

We began to connect over food. My husband was the one who suggested we break bread together. And after a week or so, it became clear that we were nurturing a real friendship.

I finally began to let go of my prejudices. Why? Because once I got to know my new friend, I realized she was amazing. Smart. Sweet and gentle. Funny as all get out.

Within a month, she began visiting our house on a regular basis. After two months, she was coming to our house every day, both before I went to work and just after I returned in the evening.

Shortly after that, I had to admit that my initial biases about my friend were really more about me than her. I harbored unfair notions because I was afraid of being rejected. Of being made to feel not good enough. Of being seen as an awkward freak in a sinister, mechanical contraption on wheels.

But my friend treated me no differently than she treated my able-bodied husband. She was not the least bit afraid of my wheelchair. She didn’t run and hide when I moved closer to her. In fact, when I transferred to my living room recliner, she would sit in my wheelchair right next to me. She still does.

Perhaps you’ve guessed by now that my friend isn’t human. She’s a cat. A gorgeous, brilliant, delightful Siamese kitty.

I’d grown up in a family of “dog people.” I bought into their anti-feline propaganda. That cats are cold and unaffectionate. That they see humans solely as sources of food and toys. That they are incapable or unwilling to bond and love the way dogs do.

What rubbish. In a few short months, Princess Miyuku Honey Bear of the Royal Court of Siam (that’s her name) taught me the beautiful truths about cats. The finest of those truths is that cats can love and accept me, sometimes more wholeheartedly than humans do.

I am most honored to be one of Honey Bear’s guardians. Because she’s sweet and silly and whip-smart. But mostly because she accepts me, wheels and all.