Cats are often depicted in mystery books as well as romance. There’s just something ‘cat-vating’ about kitties! Photo credit: Unsplash

She took a small bag of cat treats from a nearby cupboard and then walked down the hall to the large room that served as her office. A soft overhead light guided her way. She opened the last door on the left where another shimmering light greeted her. The Seal Point Siamese/Snowshoe cross looked up from her vantage point: the high bed of a cat tower near the east-facing window. Amber tabby Scarlett peered from a cat bed placed in a chair under the west window.

            “Hi, girls,” Rhiann greeted them, closing the door behind her. “Settling in all right, are you? Much better in a home than even the Kitty Condo, uh? And it’s a lovely Kitty Condo, if I do say so myself!”

            She walked to Scarlett first, who ducked her head.

            “I know, sweetie – too much change in such a short period of time. You’ll be all right. We’re going to take care of you the rest of your life.”

            Rhiann walked closer to Emmy, who stretched out a brown and cream paw. Rhiann shook it gently.

            “You, too, Emmy-girl. You’ve been together all your lives and you’re going to stay that way. We still have bridges to cross, like meeting two spoiled dogs, but I’m sure everything will work out. You just have to stay in here for a few weeks. Slow introductions with new animals is best for everyone. I learned that years ago from Miss Rachel, who brought you here.”

            Rhiann pulled the bag of treats from a side pocket of her jeans and shook it slightly. She smiled and cooed, “Merry Christmas, kitties!”

            The sound made both cats stand up. Rhiann sprinkled a few morsels onto the cat tree near Emmy’s feet and then turned to Scarlett and placed a few in front of the more shy feline. Neither one hesitated about gobbling the tidbits. Rhiann chuckled.

            “That helps us be better friends, doesn’t it? Here’s a few more.”

            She presented each cat with four additional treats and then closed the bag.

            “That’s all for now. More to come before bedtime. Enjoy!”

            After a gentle pat on each cat’s head, Rhiann walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

– Excerpt from Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Story

The newest book in my Pet Rescue Romance series, a story set during the holiday season, is now available in e-book format as well as print from retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple Books.

Cats have graced my life since age 7 when a stray, 6-month-old calico kitten followed me home from school. After no luck finding her family, I christened her ‘Precious,’ and she lived with my parents and me for more than 10 years before passing away. Currently, two 16-year-old felines reside with me and my husband, coming to us from friends who found their pregnant mama on their ranch. Although we don’t know how much longer Bailey and Murphy will be with us due to their elderly status, we treasure each day … and the 16 years of memories we’ve collected.

Cats add joy to our lives. Their purring, warming our laps, greetings when we arrive home, playfulness, and quietness teach us simple life lessons: friendship, trust, gratitude, joy, enjoy, and rest.

I like cats so much that I recently began transporting for a cat rescue, helping once abandoned or neglected felines (and/or their offspring) find new, loving homes. I’ve driven 160 miles north and 180 miles south, taking cats and kittens to different communities outside of my own to meet their new friends. I began transporting dogs for rescue nearly 15 years ago. Now, adding cats to my volunteer transport duties, I not only have the satisfaction of rescue, but the enjoyment of travel during a beautiful season of the year: autumn. I’ve experienced bald eagles, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, hawks, and wild turkeys during these travels, and those natural encounters have added to the joyfulness of transport.

Two kittens I recently transported to rescue. Photo credit: Gayle Irwin

In my new book, Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Christmas Story, my characters Rhiann and Levi adopt two cats that come into their rescue. Rhiann has previous experience living with cats; Levi not so much. But, his love for his wife, and his desire to provide animals with a loving environment, prompts him to say ‘yes’ to adding cats to their household. Later in the book, his friend Phil comments, “I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be living with felines and not just canines.”

My dad is a good example of this. When he allowed me to keep Precious all those years ago, he was not a fan of felines. After living with two other cats after Precious’ passing, he now adores cats. In fact, nearly ten years ago, I helped him and mom adopt a cat after their previous one unexpectantly passed away at the vet’s office. Her name is Patches, and she, too, is a calico. She and dad have an evening routine: after her night-time snack, she lays on the arm of his chair while he reads. At 11 pm, he feeds her a ‘midnight snack’ and then Patches goes to bed with mom; dad hits the hay 30 to 60 minutes later.

Joy comes our way no matter what type of pet we have, but there’s just something extraordinary about cats – their distinct eyes, erect ears, some independence mixed with socializing, and that purr… nothing quite like a kitty purr! Such beautiful mews-ic!!

If you are a cat person and enjoy romance mixed with some intrigue, you might enjoy the author Kris Bock and her Cat Café Sweet Romance series. She gives away a novella in the series – find out more here: https://www.krisbock.com/

My new Christmas story goes on sale in e-book format for just .99 starting Thanksgiving Day! Available on various platforms, including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, and Amazon Kindle. Click here for further information and to purchase during Thanksgiving weekend: https://books2read.com/u/3RJdPj

Paws-ing for Love: A Pet Rescue Romance Christmas Story goes on sale in e-book format for JUST .99 cents starting Thanksgiving Day and continuing through Cyber Monday!
Order a copy for yourself, a friend, a family member … or all three! https://books2read.com/u/3RJdPj Pet Principle:

Whether in stories or real life, cats add joy, and sometimes drama, to our lives. In books, they help solve mysteries (or are a part of the mystery); in romance, they bring people together as couples or as friends. In real life, they give us companionship and they teach us responsibility and trust. For those of us who live in the United States, this is the week of Thanksgiving, and we can be thankful for the animals in our lives, whether cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, rabbits, or other creatures. ‘Paws’ for a moment and give thanks for the furry friends in your life … and remember to keep your animals safe this holiday season from rich foods to electrical cords. Find safety tips from the ASPCA here: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips

Caring for our pets brings us great joy. Photo credit: Unsplash