Bloganuary Challenge – Day 17 – What Superpower Would You Like to Have?

Derick, The ‘Invisible’ Cat

This question is irrelevant for me. I went through all the super powers I could think of and none of them appealed to me.

I don’t want to fly. My head is always in the clouds. What I need is to be grounded.

I don’t want x-ray vision. I want to make people happy, not embarrassed.

And I certainly don’t want to be invisible. I worked hard my whole life to be seen and heard.

But speaking of invisible, I once had a cat who sometimes thought he was. Derick was the first cat I owned when I was single and living alone. Since kittenhood he was extremely attached to me. He’d follow me from room to room. He’d sit on my lap almost the entire day as I worked. He’d be at my side while I relaxed. And God forbid I left the house. He’d sit on the window sill, awaiting my return. If I sat in my backyard, he’d be in the window mewing, demanding that I come back in the house.

I had another cat, Billy Cat. Billy was more shy. He hid often. But in his later years, he competed with Derick for my attention. However, Derick wouldn’t have it. There would be friction between them whenever Derick saw Billy near me or on my lap.

Sometimes, randomly, Derick would take a swat at Billy. Billy would meow so loud, it was like the scream of death. Then they’d get into a rumble. My husband and I often caught Derick just in time. His paw would rise up to swipe Billy, and both of us would say, “No….” in unison, dragging out the “o” to show we meant business without getting loud or yelling. Derick would immediately freeze and his paw was comically suspended in mid-air. Then he would put his head down, and walk away ashamed.

However, Derick was relentless and not one to give up. His future attacks on Billy wouldn’t be so obvious. He would creep slowly into the room, then hunch his body down low as he inched towards Billy, sneaking up on him. My husband caught him, just in time, and said, “Hey! You’re not invisible!”

We laughed so hard over our “invisible” cat.

But I will say, the two did have their loving moments. They slept together, groomed each other, and had many peaceful moments. When Billy got older and had trouble walking, due to arthritis, and later cancer, Derick was a concerned little cat brother and doted over Billy until his death at age 19. Two years later, Derick died. He was also 19.

Does your cat have a super power? I’d love to hear about it!

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” 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/

Loving You is Easy ‘Cause You’re Beautiful

Happy Valentine’s Day from Nicholas Gray

Can’t get enough of cats? Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” an erotic chick flick novel set in the 1980s. He loves cats; she hates them! Will this couple survive? Find out and order “Love Cats” — available in both paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Cats-Maryanne-Christiano-Mistretta/dp/1681020513

The Love of an Animal

Nicholas Gray and Maryanne

“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France. 

 

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” available on Amazon in paperback and kindle editions: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Cats-Maryanne-Christiano-Mistretta/dp/1681020513

Christmas Kitty

Nicholas with your eyes so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight? 

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Cats-Maryanne-Christiano-Mistretta/dp/1681020513

Meet Nicholas Gray!

Nicholas Gray

Yesterday my husband and I got word that our new rescue cat has a perfect bill of health.

He’s about 3-years-old and a friendly little bugger. He loves to cuddle, but really loves to play. He’s also a big guy; at 11 pounds, he’s heavy!

It’s been so long that we had a cat so close to kitten-hood. My last two lived to 19. The oldest, Billy Cat, passed in 2013 and Derick, just a little over a month ago.

Derick wasn’t even gone a week and friends started asking if we wanted a cat. We weren’t ready. We mourned a long time and even after getting Nicholas, things about him reminded us about our others that made us sad.

That’s the thing, you never forget your old cats. But a new one can bring so much joy. Since my other two lived so long, I forgot what it was like to have a cat that loved toys and jumped around a lot and scattered through the house. It’s just so much fun!

Like the other two, Nicholas has some “dog-like” qualities. He loves people. He runs to the door when we come home. And he’s very affectionate, purring up a storm when we hold him.

Just like love for a human being, it’s always when you least expect it that you’ll fall in love with a new pet. When the right one comes along to adopt, you just KNOW it.

We love our new baby and are very happy with him.

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681020513

Five-Star Review of ‘Love Cats’ on ‘Reader’s Favorite’

Love Cats (back and front cover)

I am ecstatic to accidentally have come across a five-star rating and book review of my second book “Love Cats” on the “Reader’s Favorite” website, written by Janelle Fila: https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/love-cats

Love Cats is available in paperback or via Kindle from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681020513

Here is Janelle Fila’s five star review (Thank-you Janelle! <3) 

Love Cats by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is a sizzling romance set in the 1980s that is part historical fiction and part hot and steamy romance. Janey Peyton is a goth chick who also happens to be filthy rich. Alone and lonely, Janey meets Beck Stewart at a trendy night club. The two hit it off and seem to be moving in the right direction. Except for a love of cats, the two have a lot in common (Beck has a cat he loves but Janey is not fond of felines). Until Beck starts spending too much time at work and Janey’s jealousy gets the better of her. She decides to take revenge on Beck and teach him a lesson. Will she ruin the one good thing she has going in her life? How much will Beck take before he gives up on Janey forever? The best thing about this story is the 1980s setting. The author does a fantastic job of creating a very realistic setting and never deviates from it. Readers who love all things ’80s will love this story. Likewise, readers who are cat fans will also get a big kick out of this story as well. It was fantastically written, especially the two characters. I loved the differences between Janey and Beck, but I also loved when they came together. They had a chemistry that seemed very authentic and I was rooting for them the entire story.

Rest in Peace, Derick “Mommy’s Little Heart” 6-24-96 to 4-29-16

Beautiful Derick

Last night my husband and I had to make that awful decision of putting down my 19-year-old cat, Derick. He had kidney failure and it was the humane thing to do, as he stopped eating over a week ago and was losing weight rapidly. Worst of all, he was lethargic … spacing out. And he had his last epileptic spell yesterday. We did everything we could, even left him at the vets a few nights hoping he’d have an amazing comeback. But that didn’t happen. The vet suggested taking him home to live out his life comfortably. Yet, he was anything but comfortable, and just hanging on — as the survivor. The last straw was that he could no longer stand to drink his weather — or walk. May he rest in peace, my beautiful little boy, Mommy’s little heart.

This cat gave me so much joy for 19-years. Back in the 1990s my friend Janet had a beautiful gray cat. When I learned this cat was pregnant, I just had to have one of the kittens. One was a beautiful orange and white cat. I choose that one, but Janet said, “That one is for my niece. She’ll kill me if I give her away.”

So Derick was my second choice. Janet said, “That’s a great choice. He does funny things.”

And for 19 years he continued to do funny things. Derick was my heart and soul. From the time he was a kitten, he slept with me every night, putting his paw around my arm, as if to say, “This is my chick!”

Derick was much more than a cat. He was very smart, as if a little person was inside him. And he played my husband like a steel guitar. Derick truly knew how to “work the cute.”

There were many legendary moments, but these are my top three favorite.

#1. There’s a movie about The Turtles called “My Dinner with Jimi.” Derick really seemed to take to the Turtles music and the first time we watched the movie, he watched it with us — from the opening song, to the ending credits. He’d sit with us and watch the entire movie. We watched it again, and he did the same thing. Even a third and fourth time. He just loved that movie. If we couldn’t find Derick in the house, all we had to do was put on “My Dinner with Jimi” and he’d come running into the room.

#2. Derick always picked on my other cat Billy. Derick was extremely jealous of Billy and would get into these terrible fights with him and we’d have to separate them. One time I caught him in the act — about to take a swat at Billy with his paw. Really loud, I scolded, “No, no, no!” Derick just froze, paw in mid-air, then in very slow motion brought his paw down and walked away, slowly, with his head down.

#3. The time my father-in-law was over watching baseball and Derick tried to hit the ball on the television with his paw.

#4. Derick adored my husband. The week before Derick passed, my husband came home a little later than usual. Derick heard the door and sprang off the couch and ran to him. Both of my cats did that. When my husband came home, they’d run to the door like dogs. And when I went out, my husband said, Derick would stand by the door and cry for me.

How could anyone not love the unconditional love of a pet?! Some say dogs are more lovable, but not in this house. If you provide a cat with a lot of love, he/she will give it back tenfold. They may seem aloof, but they are not really. Cats are just as mushy as dogs, if you let them be.

It’s said that dogs can make about 30 different sounds and cats can make 100. Well, Derick must have discovered all 100 sounds because his vocals were legendary — so much so that my husband and I would randomly pick a sound and mimic him just for a laugh. My favorites were “Mur-ROW” and “Et-OW!”

One night my husband and I were the in the audience of a cable show where his band was going to perform the following week. During the dead silence in between acts, my husband let out an “Et-OW!” in honor of Derick. It was funny to us, of course, but no one else knew what it was about. Our little cat secret.

We have so much love and respect for anyone who treats cats like family. I think both of my cats lived to the age of 19 because that’s exactly how I treated them. They were just there, as part of my life no matter what was going on. In 19 years, the cats were with me in three different homes — my first apartment that I sublet from my grandmother; my second apartment; and finally living in a house with my husband, a house both cats embraced and eventually took over. Our cats home, and we just live here. That’s exactly how it was and every pet owner understands it.

And then they steal our hearts … with the unconditional love, their funny ways, the late night snuggling … as they go from kittenhood, to kitten/cat, to cat, and then old cat. They grow with us and change as the years go on. There’s always something to learn from a cat. While my oldest Billy Cat taught me to slow down and embrace life; Derick taught me to be strong. Derick was always the survivor, the true meaning of a cat having nine lives. While Billy was never sick until his old age, Derick was always in and out of vet’s offices. I still can’t believe he made it to 19. But as one vet said, “Feisty and stubborn.” That was our Derick, and that’s what we love about him.

My God! I will miss that little critter terribly.

Last night a big chunk of our hearts — ripped out and tossed to the curb.

But he is no longer suffering … waiting for us, in greener pastures, out of his suffering and kitten-like again.

Derick, you will always be Mommy’s little heart, and our little kitten in heaven. ❤

In my old apartment in Montclair

Showing off and looking pretty!

Hugging my husband — Derick loved his Daddy! ❤

Last photo of us together at animal hospital

Being Strong for My Cat

With my kitty Derick, age 19

Visiting time with Derick at the vet. On the outside, being strong for my baby, on the inside heart is breaking.

It’s his kidneys and he’ll be staying at the vet for the second night tonight. Doesn’t look too good; but I always believe in miracles and he’s in very good hands.

Coming home to a house without a pet is the saddest thing. My other cat, Billy, lived to 19 too and died in 2013.  After tonight Derick will be spending one more night at the vet. If there is no improvement, we’ll be taking him home to live out his final days. He’s not in pain, the vet says, his body is just weakening with age.

We just want him to be as comfortable as possible during his last days, like we did with Billy. With the guidance of the vet we are making the best decisions.

First Cat-urday of the Year!

Me and “Johnny Cat” (owned by my friends Daniel and Patty)

It’s almost evening, so I hope it’s not to late for the first Cat-urday of the year!

This photo was taken yesterday at the home of our friends Daniel and Patty, owners of this adorable fluff! ❤

ENJOY!

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681020513

Christmas Time for Cats

From a Cat’s Eye View, in the PT Cruiser

Every year my husband and I love to take our cat, Derick, out to see Christmas lights. It’s so cute to see a little kitty in awe of the Christmas magic.

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of “Love Cats” — available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681020513