Announcing the winners of the Cat Therapist's "Men and Their Cats" contest

Give a stray food once, and he will take over. The black shorthair had been the "whipping boy" of the neighborhood for years, but would happily come running whenever he saw me. One December day, I found him wheezing, and missing lots of fur. He had a severe flea allergy, and FIV. I could not let this cat down, which had suffered so much, yet remained friendly to me, so I paid the large vet bill, and his kingship began. Now he spends his time ruling my apartment, and keeping me, his loyal subject, in line. Somehow, I expected this.

~Justin Hodgdon

The Cat Decision was made for me when my future wife announced that her dowry included five cats. Reluctance overwhelmed me. One day my (now) wife ran out of the car. I wondered what I said. She returned with a tiny multicolor kitten that nearly got hit, then ran to rescue its tiny peach brother, our new kids. Months later, I awoke in pain; Peachfuzz was sprawled across my back, stubbornly refusing to leave. At the ER I was told I had congestive heart and kidney failure. I believe Peachfuzz attempted to heal and protect me. And maybe he did. 

~ Thomas


Dear Guardian Thomas:

Aren't you a lucky Guardian. After all,  Peachfuzz has certainly been your bodyguard and pal.

» MYKOS SAVED MY MARRIAGE  

In 2000, I was on the island of Mykonos, Greece with my wife. We went out quite late for dinner the first night and I thought I knew the way back to the hotel. WRONG !  As my wife
was cursing me more and more and using the "D" word with greater frequency, I heard a noise coming from behind a hotel dump that sounded like a kitten. Knowing my wife's great affection for cats (which often exceeds her affection for me! ) I pointed to the spot of the meowing. She cradled a tiny black kitten in her hands and the love affair began. We took Mykos (from Mykonos) back home with us and the other 6 cats. I went from bum to hero real quick that night!

~ Michael Polak
Montreal, Canada 

» WHAT AN ADMIRABLE CHOICE

Many years back, I came home from work one day to find a new little addition to the family. My young daughter gave this little gray fuzz ball with four white paws the name Flower (after a skunk cartoon character in the movie Bambi). Twelve years later another little black fuzz ball was brought home by my daughter from a litter of strays found at school. He was named after a boyfriend I believe... Markus. Last year my wife wanted a divorce and the cats WERE going to the pound unless I kept them. So the two cats and I are keeping each other company in our little apartment and I wouldn't want it any other way! So I am their sole Guardian. I know the neighbors wonder why I carry on conversations by myself in this multi unit apartment building but I find myself explaining how the day went to both cats all the time. My two buddies... Flower and Markus.

~Michael

» BOBBIE

My wife got Bobbie a couple weeks after we were married, I told her it was her responsibility to take care of him. She would be the guardian.

So she brings home this orange thing with a 3in tail that went round and round like a helicopter blade; it made me laugh ! That evening after he finally settled down in his new home Bobbie curled up on my belly and went to sleep. That's where he continued to sleep night after night. He chose me as his companion ! After 9yrs of marriage Bobbie still sleeps with me at night.

» SIAMESE TABBY

My Siamese tabby had been out all night and now it was time for breakfast. I called, and saw her crawl up from under the redwood deck. That's when I noticed the gashes and blood. She had been attacked by a raccoon! Already in shock, I raced to the vet where they stabilized her as best they could. I was told they could not perform the needed surgery there; I had to take her to another vet twenty minutes away.  Four months and three surgeries later, I have my Shysi back with me. Friends ask why I spent over two thousand dollars saving my cat. I need only remember the image of that brave Siamese fighting her way up to the back door. Her extraordinary strength and perseverance has inspired me and made me a better person.

Kent Miller
Sacramento, CA

~ Kent, you are one devoted Guardian.

In this world where beauty is all consuming and perfection is the only standard of judgment by which we accept things, animals as well as people to our great loss have fallen through the cracks. Today I have found the most important prerequisites of beauty, the Heart, Soul and Personality wrapped in a beautiful package named Franci. Most orphans like Feral Cats are deprived of the most important and most lacking quality on this earth, Love. But what is not known to the detriment of the so called human race, is their ability to bring love into one's life. When I come home, she is there to greet me and when I am down, she picks me up with her antics. She like all animals, loves unconditionally, no matter what the status or physical appearance of their human counterpart. Finally like any living being, we do not own them. We accept them as part of our life. Feral Cats are a product of what our world has become, breeding of any sort, both uncontrolled and for profit, causing the overpopulation in shelters or dumping them by the roadside. When people get tired of or have any change in their lifestyle, the first to go is always the companion animal. Children should be taught at a young age that animals, like others who cannot take care of themselves, should be protected and loved. Just as they themselves need to be protected and love-they should be the Guardians.

The luckiest man in the world,

John.

» AN ODE TO LANEY

Since Laney's arrival into my family (via discovering her climbing a palm tree at Laney College), Laney has been my steadfast companion and friend. Laney alerts me when a study break is needed by sitting on the open pages in my textbook, shares simple conversations with me in the meow dialect, and boosts my energy by activating my chase mechanism while she darts full speed around the house for absolutely no reason (at least none that I know of). Laney is my Prozac when I am feeling down. Her playful attitude and backpack burrowing habits provide me with constant amusement and lighten my step at the end of a stressful day.

-Martin Hensley

» For MORE INFO, ask the cat therapist