Editing Cat. The first feline editor of the book I’ve just published, Catwoods, Stories and Studies of Our Feline Companions, was our late Minou, tuxie extraordinaire and a real scholar. When I started writing the books in 2004 both volumes were woven together. So he had a complex task early on. Here Minou studies abstract expressionism to better comprehend painting, which informs so much of the prose. This wasn’t my favorite of my paintings ever – abstract expressionism just wasn’t my thing – but it’s durable, the only one of my large paintings to survive storage problems. Displayed in my late Mom’s house in the rooms wrecked by the tornado, it survived that too. Art from a later phase after I hit my stride:
https://catwoodsporchparty.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/cat-inspected-art/
Our late Minx, who graces the cover, was a Non-Editing Cat, but she was the Muse for all ages and every cat knew it. She and Minou would be so thrilled that their stories are now published! But catlike, they’d never let it show! (There are many other cats in the book, the fifteen that lived in our house over the decades, my Mom’s cats, cats of friends, cats we found homes for.)
Editing Cat. Bud the Editing Cat, a brown and white tuxie of mind-boggling size, took charge of editing when he came along! Here he puts himself in place for a take-over! While Minou instilled the editing process with scholarship, Bud brought vigor, delivered with a RAWR.
Editing Cat. After Bud left us for the Rainbow Bridge, Ultraviolet, AKA Little Girl, stepped up. She positioned herself perfectly for editing by snuggling upon me in front of the computer. She brought a sweetness to the process during the most crucial and complex editing time. She too departed for the Rainbow Bridge at the end of last summer. As that anniversary approaches, I’m really sad.
Non-Editing Cat. Has his own agenda. Our Franklin came to us last fall, after we lost UV. There was still editing to be done but he was having none of it! Standing tall to scratch the back of the computer chair was the extent of his participation. He indicates he might help with Volume 2, where he shows up. We’ll see!
Cats, both Editing and Non-Editing, are a gift. We adore Franklin! And, since cats are highly opinionated, it was a bit of a breather to have some editing time without constant, sometimes fussy, feline input. Don’t tell Franklin I said that!
Lagniappe:
Franklin slacks off and looks adorable doing nothing!
Stay tuned! We have a lot in the works although we don’t work fast. One thing we have done, we’ve had all those ads removed from our site. Yay!
Wow, I never knew so many cats were editors. I am half and half – if I can’t have my way, I become an editing cat. If I can, I get the staff to NOT be editing, MOL
Congratulations on publishing the book, and I look forward to reading it.
Hahaha funny editing cat technique, Erin! Thanks for the kind words and for reading my (our with all the kitties) book, we appreciate it!
Such a wonderful post about the cats in your life. How would we live without their beautiful presence?
The kitties and I thank you, Inese! I know I’d be sort of lost without cats!
Sending love ❤
Good work and that black cat is proper sweetie. It looks like my Megan Sweetie. Keep up the great work. Best! Ashraf
Franklin and I thank you, Ashraf! Megan Sweetie sounds like a nice kitty!
All beautiful kitties. I look forward to reading their stories.
The kitties and I thank you!
Thank you for giving jobs (or not) to black cats. They often are overlooked!
Yay for no ads! Thanks for that, too! 🙂
Ahahaha Terre, funny! That must be why Franklin is such a little troublemaker! He has no work ethic!
Ha, ha, ha, ha! Some cats don’t because they feel they are above all that work stuff!
Charlee: “Nice to meet all the editors and non-editors! But we cats aren’t really THAT opinionated, are we?”
Chaplin: “I think we are.”
Charlee: “We’re definitely not.”
Chaplin: “No we totally are.”
Charlee: “ARE NOT!”
Chaplin: “ARE TOO!”
Lulu: “You realize you’re both arguing the ‘cats are highly opinionated’ side, right?”
Ahahaha Charlee Chaplin and Lulu, very funny!
I had no idea you were writing a book about your cats. That’s wonderful. And you had some very beautiful cats, both the editing and non-editing ones.
The kitties and I thank you, Robin! I’ve been writing the book(s) for such a long time and I haven’t always mentioned it. In fact, I still have a few finishing touches to add to Volume 2!
Leah, your cat memory book looks just like mine, heavy on the black and white.
Our late Tuxies were: Coco, Rex, Ginger, and Cole. But since only Cole’s back feet were white, we called him a Leisure Suit. Current Tux in residence: Max.
Late pure black: Cleo and Yul. Currently in residence: Roc.
Rounded out by two pure white kitties, the late Fred Astaire, and his still-living (at 19) “sister,” Adele Astaire.
Ten kitties in all. Coco was first, back in 1970 or ’71, so that makes me pretty old, too!
I enjoyed hearing about your cats, Karen, and I took another look at your pictures! What beautiful kitties, the black, white, and the black and white combo. LOL, Cole the Leisure Suit! Our cat starting date was 1969, very close to yours! We had 15 in all, many black, but some tabbies, a tortie, and an orangie. Franklin is our one remaining cat, for the moment.
Yay no ads and hurray for your side
Thank you so much Lauren! Good to see you, I’ve been wondering how you are doing.
Hey, Leah! I’m doing well and I hope you are too. My cats are very well and we pray your cats are happy and well. Be of good cheer, you are an overcomer!
Glad to hear you and cats are well!
Great review of who did what when. I remember those guys. Yes, we miss Ultraviolet too. How Franklin is going to participate probably remains to be seen for a while.
Thank you Greg, glad you liked the post and that you remember my kitties and miss sweet Ultraviolet. There have been many more cats in our life too, long before the website began. Franklin’s role may well have to be mainly inspiration as he retains some feral characteristics.
Love this! Wonderful tribute to your cats!
FACE Foundation, thank you, the cats and I appreciate it!
They are all beautiful little cats. Your book is a wonderful way to remember them and share them with the world!
The kitties and I thank you, Lavinia! In fact, occasional memory failure was part of my motivation for writing the book(s).
You are amazing and you did great dear Leah, I loved too. Beautiful work… Thank you, have a nice day and weekend, Love, nia
Nia, I’m so happy you enjoyed the post and thank you so much for your kind words. I love your photography and writing so much! Happy days and weekend to you also, Love, Leah
You for sure have quite the series of kitty helpers and writers! And well, of course inspirations:)
Indeed we have! They do inspire as well as “assist” in so many ways!
I love your capture of the cats that were and are dear to you.
And I like the fact that all have a black of partially black fur!
Thank you so much Yvon! I do love black kitties! Many, but not all, of our 15 or so cats have been black, but we had some torties and tabbies too!
Annie will be thrilled to hear about the tabbies and torties 😘
And I forgot to mention that we had one orangie and one with blue-point Siamese markings!
wonderful 😃
That’s wonderful you and your kitties got the book together. You have beautiful, fun kitties.
The kitties and I thank you so much for your kind words, Tim!
Oh wow you are an accomplished writer and the cats that have shared your life are gorgeous. I have never owned a cat. Dogs yes. I have always enjoyed your posts and thank you for always reading mine. Garfield hugs
Garfield Hug thank you so much, Garfield hugs in return and I hope you are recovering as quickly as possible. I always enjoy reading your posts too and it’s my pleasure keeping up. I’m sorry I’m not too good about commenting as I have a fatiguing chronic ailment. Best wishes always, Leah
You take care. Despite your chronic condition you still continue on. 💕🤗
Hi. Excellent cats!
For the last year I’ve been meaning to upgrade my WordPress plan and get rid of the ads. Shows how quickly I get around to doing things.
Neil Scheinin
Hi Neil, the cats and I thank you! Ahahaha I do stuff at about the same pace you describe. I call it putting some thought into things, lol.
Leah
Love this post, Leah! So fun to read, and so wonderful to see all of your kitties/editors! I can tell you’ve had a loving—and intelligent—group of felines come into your lives. Lucky you! I have your book on my “to read” stack. I’ve been doing a lot of writing lately, traveling, and taking care of Chuck, who’s been having GI problems besides his seizures, but soon I’ll be heading north with books in hand where I can sit on my porch and read, read, read! I absolutely LOVE the cover of your book—it’s beautiful! Deb
Deb, thanks so much for your kind words and for getting my book! I’m so sorry to hear that Chuck’s been having so many problems. I hope that sweet little guy feels better soon! Your writing is always so brilliant and it’s good to hear that you are busy with writing! But reading on a porch also sounds pleasant, it’s all good news! I’m happy you like the book cover! Photo credits are inside, hubs took the cat on the front and I took the back, hubs did a lot of photo shop and illustrator work that is beyond me, the publisher did a little photo shopping too and put the grayed rectangle in, we didn’t have that. We know we always have to make some compromises, so all’s cool. All the best, always, Leah
Really enjoyed this photo gallery, Leah! How lucky your feline companions have been. 🙂
Thank you so much, Cate, I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures! I feel fortunate to have been found by such marvelous kitties.
Awesome!
Thank you so much, Leslie!
What a wonderful post. I haven’t been able to catch up with all your cats, and now here they are.
Thank you Bernadette, I’m happy you like the post! There have actually been about 15 cats in our home over the decades, covered in the book. (I’m sort of old.) Only a few of those had editing inclinations, lol. There were also quite a few of my Mom’s cats, ferals we fed, and many friendlies we found homes for.