February 20th is Love Your Pet Day. It's a day set aside to pamper your pets and spend extra time with them. I'm not sure where this unofficial holiday originated, but that's okay. I've always been a big pet lover. I got my first cat as a birthday present when I was 5 years old. Her name was Missy. Since then, I don't think there's been a time in my life that I've been without a pet. We currently have two cats -- Belle & Kitty. Both of our cats are featured in my newest picture book, Lemur Troops & Critter Groups, illustrated by Nikki Shoemaker. They're the kitty cops, with Nikki's cat, Allie.
Belle is getting up there in age and will turn 17 next month. Up until just recently, she's always seemed like a kitten that never grew up. However, just this past week or so, she seems to be slowing down. We're not sure if she's sick or if her age is catching up to her. It's sad to see her getting skinny and acting a little off, but I have to remember how old she is. CJ was old at 14, and Belle is nearly 17, so I try to keep that in mind. Right now she's sitting next to me in my laundry basket. She's been in there most of the week and I don't have the heart to put the clothes away. Poor little old lady. She's the cat in the picture above.
Kitty is my girl's cat. She was pretty much a feral cat when we first discovered her at our house in California. She was skin and bones. The girls tried to approach her, but she'd always run away. They started leaving food out for her and eventually she began trusting them. Right before we planned our move to Montana, the girls started keeping her inside so she'd get used to that. Now of course, she's an indoor-only housecat. She took the move really well and has no interest in going outside anymore. I tried to fatten her up when the girls were gone because all she did was hang out with me. Now that Nichelle is back, Kitty is back in her room where she belongs. She's kind of skittish, but has a funny personality. She's pictured below.
So, if you have a pet -- Happy Love Your Pet Day!
What a great holiday! I just told my husband he celebrated it today and didn't even know about it. He took 3 boys and Cookie,our beagle,for a long bike ride. It's close to 50 degrees out.Cookie came back panting and happy. I personally think every day should be Love Your Pet Day!
ReplyDeleteLeanne
Loving my pet is an easy request. Our Ursa Dog is 100 pounds of love and adoration.
ReplyDeleteLovely pussycats, Rena. :o)They make such great companions.
ReplyDeletePretty kitties!
ReplyDeleteMy dogs do get lots of attention, but I'll give them some extra tlc today!
Kitty has such a pretty face!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great holiday! Can I celebrate it today with my pups since I missed it yesterday?! :) I'm sure he wouldn't mind at all. Hee
ReplyDeleteGood thing we took the dogs to the park today and I didn't even know we were celebrating.
ReplyDeleteNo pets for me, but I'll send a little love out to my sister's pets. She has so many, she needs the help to spread the love around.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I nominated your blog for a Creative Blogger award. Check out my blog for the details!
Well I am in a much better frame of mind as I read your blog. (I seem to think when you posted about this holiday on FB, that I had been in a very bad cat mood. I was ready to celebrate No pets day or Accidentally leave the door open and see how the declawed babies do in the real world day!) But that probably had to do with the fact that we have the two dumbest cats in the entire world. (I blame Toby completely as we had him first and got Nelly as a kitten so he 'taught' her everything he knew!) This includes the love of eatting ribbon and then violently being sick.... and then eatting more ribbon, as well as knocking over any vase of flowers I have ever been lucky enough to receive and waiting til the babies are asleep and then setting up the mewling concert directly outside the nursery door. Let me tell you my cats have been for sale a few times! lol
ReplyDeleteBut the funny thing is that I am allergic to cats. I swell up whenever we visit anyone who owns a cat... and yet our two are all over our bed at night and I don't even sneeze! I guess they were made for us after all... so I guess what I am trying to say is ... happy Love your Pet day! :)