Last night I had the cutest dream that a new cat was in our house. He was white and had orange around his eye, like the trademark David Bowie logo. I told my husband I wanted to name the cat “Bowie.”
I Googled to see if I could find a photo of Bowie with a cat, and sure enough I found this gem taken by Greg Gorman, from 1987. The cat looks like an Abyssinian.
Interesting, tomorrow is the birthday of the late David Bowie.
In honor of David Bowie, and cats, here is his song, “Putting Out Fire” from the movie “Cat People.”
To this day, when he first sings, “with gasoline” — whoa, chills all over my body!
I’ve shared a few times that I saw David Bowie perform twice–at Madison Square Garden in 1984, 10th row “Serious Moonlight Tour”; and at Giant’s Stadium in New Jersey, 1987, “Glass Spider Tour.”
But I’ve also walked right past him at an Iggy Pop show. I was close enough to see his two different colored eyes. It was at the Ritz in NYC, late 1980s, and I was with a friend heading to the upstairs bar.
All of a sudden I heard a strong voice shout, “EVERYONE MOVE TO THE RIGHT!!”
Bowie was accompanied by two body guards, and walked down the stairs. It didn’t even occur to us to follow him; we continued upstairs, pausing briefly to say, “That was David Bowie.”
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Christmas Day was wonderful. Dennis and I hosted for a party of six, and had a ton of vegan food — homemade and catered. We had Beyond sausages with peppers, onion, and potatoes; roasted carrots and brussels sprouts; homemade brownies (sweetened with dates, not sugar); pistachio nuts; vegan cheese and “gummy bear” grapes.
We had a variety of Christmas music playing for a variety of sources–old classics, newer classics, and stuff that was just plain weird and fun.
As always the cats were a hit–Nicholas and Sammy that is. These cats are like dogs, they are man’s best friends. They go to everyone. They love to be stroked, held, complimented. They get in on everything.
But Happy, the feral kitten we rescued during the pandemic is still “shy.” I’m the only one who could pet him, and he hides when company is around. Some thought perhaps he might come out eventually, but I knew that wasn’t going to happy. So my husband suggested, “Show them pictures of Happy.”
I scrolled to my phone and there’s so many photos of cats because of my cat-sitting business. I send photos to the owners, and don’t have the heart to delete them.
Finally I came up with this cute photo of Happy playing with my yoga mat. He’s a little sweetheart. My brother-in-law calls him “The Ghost” because he’s never around. Though shy, he’s a great cat. Never hisses. Never scratches furniture. Gives cute little mews to say “hello” to me. He’s only 3 and maybe he’ll come around someday.
Happy aka ‘The Ghost’
You can tell by looking at him that he is a sweet cat. He has a nice face. He’s just a timid little thing.
His tiny head fits in the palm of my hand. I’m the only one he lets snuggle with him, usually early in the morning and again in the afternoon.
Sammy, enjoying the new bed
The kitties were totally spoiled this holiday season. We got them the new bed, a new cat tower, and those Christmas trees you see in the bed. They got one each. My sister brought them treats too.
They have so many toys to begin with, but each passing year, you still want to do something because they are eternal babies! Precious animals that know so much love!
NOTE: Pet companies, please do not promote yourself here; you are wasting your time because your comment goes directly to spam. If you want to give me free product for a blog, we can talk. Email me at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
For those who follow know I’m a journalist/public speaker, with a side flourishing business as a cat sitter. Since I began this business a year ago, I’ve been taking care of so many adorable, sweet cats. Most cats are tabbies, but I’ve taken care of some exotic breeds like a Sphynx and a Siberian.
This past week I’ve taken care of a Bengal. And due to respecting the privacy of the owner and the cat, I am not posting photos of her, nor her name. Instead I found an adorable photo on Freepik that closely represents her.
I wasn’t aware of Bengals until I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook (which I am no longer on, but still keep in touch with the friend via emails, phone calls, and texting). She has two that she shared pictures of. I was astonished by their beauty. My friend is an amazing photographer and she truly captured their essence. She also shared that they are very high maintenance and very entertaining.
I was lucky enough to learn this firsthand. Right from the meet and greet, this little sweetheart of a cat was vying for my attention. Bengals are not shy. They will not hide. They are always in the mix.
As a cat sitter, it makes your job more fun when they are active. I have the gig down to a science. Enter. Feed cat(s). While they are distracted with eating, clean the litter box. Then the remainder of time play/cuddle. If a cat is shy and hides, I’ll just talk to the cat and tell him/her that she is loved and his/her Cat Mommy and/or Cat Daddy will be home in a few days.
But that won’t happen with a Bengal. They have the energy of a child/kid/teenager. They want your undivided attention. Even when I was texted photos to the owner, this little sweetheart would paw at my leg and mew-mew-mew. After all, it’s all about her! How dare I ignore her! TOO CUTE!
She runs through the home like a gazelle. She literally bounces off the walls. Did you ever see a cat throw themselves against a wall? It’s crazy! I called her “Party Girl.” I have two more days to go with her and in the short time, she’s broken a vase and her water fountain.
For Thanksgiving, I gifted her with a few cat toys. Are they too small and boring? I wondered.
Not at all. I was happy to see, the following day, that she had them out of her basket. She liked them! A small stuffed pig and an elephant.
A year of cat sitting, I can honestly say most cats run to the door like dogs when I come. They mew, they jump on the counter, and I can’t feed them fast enough. But not the Bengal. I’ll feed her, but she’s more interested in play. She’ll take a nibble, then ignore her dish. She wants me to play with her non-stop. All the toys come out of the box as she ricochets about, zipping through her cat tunnel and pouncing on the fish toy. I’m often faster and I pull it away as she seizes. That’s when she jumps in the air and twists her body like a pretzel, then BOOM, always landing on her paws. Then she gallantly walks away and prepares for another round. This goes on nearly 40 minutes.
Yes, a cat can wear you out. It’s double my 20 minute per day cardio routine!
“Let me change your litter first, then we can play.” She’d follow me to the litter box and paw at my feet. I clean as fast as I can so I can appease this sweet little baby. When I return, I see her plate is clean. Yes, she eats, but play time is more of a priority for her.
When I start packing up my stuff, getting ready to leave–she knows. She shows her belly (a cat’s way of being vulnerable) to try to entice me to stay. “Yes, you’re beautiful, but I have to go sweetie.”
I hate to leave her. Just once she gave me a really hard time about leaving, following me to the door and trying to leave with me. Other times she just stared at me, confused. Why would anyone leave such beauty, such cuteness? she may wonder.
Let’s not forget my favorite part–the cuddles. When I first come in, she jumps on the kitchen island/counter to be at my level. I pull her close to me, scratch under her chin and kiss her little head. It’s more of the same as I’m leaving. I tell her she’s beautiful and that I love her.
I think of her often during the day and look forward to the next visit. I have two more days with her this weekend, then her Cat Mommy returns.
I will surely miss her because we both got attached to each other. If dog is man’s best friend, I can safely say a Bengal is a woman’s best friend. Throughout the decades, as cats have become more domesticated, they’ve become more dog-like and less aloof as the cat cliche paints them to be.
Every cat I’ve ever owned was more dog-like. But as cuddly and affectionate as they are, they can be fine on their own (though they may not like it sometimes, they are okay with it). It’s different with a Bengal. They won’t let you out of their site. It’s heart-warming how much they love people, and how attached they get to you.
Would I get a Bengal? As much as I’d like to say I would, unfortunately I’d have to say no. The breed would not go with my lifestyle. Cats like routine. As a journalist, I don’t have a routine. I could be home, writing for days, but then there’s events I have to go to. It breaks my heart as it is when I have to leave my three tabbies. Especially the senior, Sammy. He looks at me with those huge eyes, equivalent to a Margaret Keane painting, Where are you going, Mommy? And it breaks my heart when Dennis and I go away and have the luggage out. Our middle “child” Nicholas actually turns his back on us as if to make a statement.
An exotic cat that needs a lot of attention is nowhere in the cards for us, as I love my career to much to ever retire. I can easily love any type of cat from afar, and there’s always cat sitting which gives me a taste of different types of cats with different purr-sonalities.
Two more days to go, sitting the Bengal, and then I will miss her very much. She will always be in my heart. Sweet, sweet leopard, gazelle, cat. I trust I made her life a little easier while her Cat Mommy was out of town. She will never be forgotten. What a little doll!
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit: Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
After witches, I’d say vampires are my favorite Halloween characters. Who wouldn’t want to live forever? (Especially after seeing the Johnny Depp version of “Dark Shadows,” my favorite vampire movie ever).
Last night Dennis and I attended a lecture on vampires at the Barron Arts Center. It was presented by historian Greg Caggiano: https://www.gregcaggiano.com/
I have to say, Greg Caggiano is one of my favorite speakers.
Nearly two hours of vampire history was a fabulous addition to this month’s festivities, as Voltaire’s “The Vampire Club” keeps dancing around in my head. I love that song so much because it pokes fun of goth culture and people taking themselves way too seriously (which I also do in my upcoming book, “The Gypsy Smiled” giving the lead male character an obnoxious fake name “Dionysus”).
And just being in the historic Barron Arts Center added to the touch.
Of all the stories in Caggiano’s presentation, I have to say I loved the story of Elizabeth Bathory best, a Hungarian serial killer who was known for drinking the blood of young peasant virgins in order to stay youthful.
What is it that’s so fascinating about vampires? One of my Halloween costumes as a kid was a vampire, though I remember hating the fake teeth I wore.
Each Halloween Dennis and I visit the house Charles Addams lived in. I had a cat, Derick, who lived to 19 and he never wanted to leave our side. So, the last two years of his life, we dressed him up and took him out on Halloween when we visited Charles Addams’ home. One year we put a little cape on Derick and we told children he was “Count Cat-ula.” Derick loved dressing up. He went along with everything, as long as he held him. During our Halloween walks, Derick would sit on Dennis’s shoulder, like a parrot. It was the cutest thing when children would point at him and say, “Look, it’s a cat!!” They got so excited to see him.
Derick and Sparky
And also relevant to Halloween — CANDY!
Yesterday afternoon I was THRILLED to interview one of the co-presidents of Smarties! Yes, the candy that’s been around for over 70 years (and haven’t changed their formula!) It’s a female run business, and guess what? Smarties are VEGAN! So, that will be the Halloween candy du jour in our household this year. I’ll link to the article when it runs.
I can go on all day with Halloween stuff, but as a music fan, I’ll end with a few cool vampire songs. Since everyone knows “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus, I’ll leave that one out and go for some that aren’t as popular, yet super cool.
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Not even a year ago I started a side gig — cat sitting. Why not? I love cats. No, I more than love cats — I live cats! These magical, sweet, beautiful creatures, I just can’t get enough of them.
In the beginning I had a gig here and there. But now I have five repeat clients who go away several times per year. From yesterday until mid-September I have cat sitting gigs; two per day, one after another.
Now I have to squeeze in time for my writing career, my self-care appointments, and of course social engagements. These are the times I call myself “super woman” as it all gets done more effortlessly than I’ve imagined. Needless to say, I am super excited. I make very good money as a cat sitter per hour, plus most clients tip extremely well; in fact some over tip. I also set my own rates and my own hours. And I choose how far I was to travel.
It’s adorable when a repeat client books me because I already know the cats and some of the clients let me keep their keys or fobs because they like me and want me again. It’s equally as sweet when I get to meet a new client and a new cat (or cats).
Today I’m meeting a new client. And it’s a crappy driving day in New Jersey with rain and thunderstorms. It’s days like this I wish I could just stay home and work on my writing assignments. But driving all over New Jersey in a thunderstorm for cats makes it worth it. Doing something you love always gives you the incentive to go that extra mile, like staying up late to make a deadline — or driving in a thunderstorm to see kitty clients! Ah, life is good and cat business is BOOMING like a thunderstorm!
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
The year after my father-in-law passed away, I took my husband out for Father’s Day, celebrating him as a cat daddy. I figured it would soften the blow of missing his own father. It was cute, fun, and created a sweet memory. The following year, my husband did the same for me, even though my mom was still around. We’d first go to eat at a restaurant we enjoyed, then go see my mom, who is older and doesn’t like to go out to restaurants anymore. Six years later, we’re still doing it. Not only by taking each other to restaurants, but celebrating with cards and gifts as well.
According to National Day Calendar, there is a pet parent day, the last Sunday in April. But we like to keep it traditional, going with the real Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
Couples who choose not to have children, but pets instead have a strong bond with their pets. They truly are our “children.” And they can be a responsibility much longer than a child. A kid grows up, goes to college at 18, but a cat can live well into its 20s and still be a baby. You have to feed, take to the vet, care, cuddle, worry about.
It’s a beautiful tradition we started. It’s our special way of saying we created this sweet life together — taking in kitties that had no homes. Caring for them, keeping them well fed, healthy, and happy.
Are you a pet parent? Don’t underestimate yourself; you are truly making a difference in a pet’s life. You should be celebrated, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and every day!
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
My Sammy, holding me tight with his paws! He knows he’s so loved!
You hear it all the time, from motivational speakers, “Get out of your comfort zone.”
Yes, to get to another level in life or career, we must get out of our comfort zone. But how many people get out of their comfort zones for animals? How many times have you shared a petition about animal abuse only to be ignored by your friends who turn a blind eye because they can’t take a few seconds out of their super busy lives to sign it? How many times have you rescued an animal only to have sanctuaries turn you down because they are “full”?
Yes, it’s frustrating. People say they love animals, but do they really?
Can I ask everyone today, kindly, if one of your friends shares a petition, please sign it.
For over a year now, I’ve been anti “The Dodo” because they create scenarios that put animals in harm in order to create content, and jack up their views on You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, TikToc, and Facebook.
I’ve tried to get people to unlike their page, stop following, but people do not listen. Who am I? Nobody.
But if they REALLY loved animals, they would stop following this creepy company who disguises themselves as a “heartwarming” entity.
For over a year, I’ve been reaching out to animal organizations to bring to their attention a woman who is promoting cat abuse on The Dodo (and Instagram, and TikToc, and Facebook, etc.) She teases the cat, allows her child to tease the cat, and then the cat gets all bent out of shape and hisses at the camera.
Why is this TRASH even allowed?
Well, of all the animal groups I’ve contacted, the vice president of Care2 wrote me an email that he will let his campaign team know and hopefully they can do something.
“Hope” isn’t good enough. “CAN” is better. And I let him know not to sit on this and that I will be checking in and contacting him.
If there are any TRUE ANIMAL LOVERS out there, who want to team up with me on this case and be unstoppable for this cat who is being teased and videotaped on a regular basis (which is traumatizing to the cat, a cat this woman had since it was a kitten — not a feral cat that she took in. She RUINED this cat with evil!) PLEASE email me (maryannechristiano@gmail.com) and let’s work together as a real team.
ANIMAL EXPLOITATION SHOULD BE TREATED AS THE CRIME THAT IT IS!
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Two days ago Mother’s Day was celebrated in the USA.
Although I do not have human children–by choice–I am the “mom” to three amazing cats. For those who don’t have cats, or don’t view pets as family, you can stop reading now, as you will not relate to what I’m about to say. But for those of you who do see cats as family — read on, this is for YOU!
Taking in these wondrous creatures who put 100 percent trust in us in incredibly rewarding. They are little souls who had a history before us, and it’s up to us to make their lives as comfy as possible. We have to take the time to make the connection. It takes some patience, but in many cases a cat will be as loving and welcoming as a dog.
Our babies are spoiled, but they also know their boundaries. With a firm, but sweet, “No, we don’t do that…” my kitties know not to pounce on the computer when Mommy is working. They do not scratch our furniture because we have scratching posts in most of the rooms in our home.
With tender love, and care, cats can be dream cats. There is no such thing as a “bad cat” — only a stressed or sad cat. Any type of cat can be trained to be a good one. It’s a mutual respect that works both ways.
I’m wishing a Happy (Belated) Cat Mommy Day to all the good cat mothers out there. Thank you for taking the time to put the effort into these sweet babies and giving them great lives! I appreciate you! (And so do your kitties — but you knew that!)
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
âBe (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Heroâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
âI Donât Want to Be Like Youâ is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Donât Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book âLove Catsâ second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta 
You must be logged in to post a comment.