Happy autumn CWA members. The cooler weather is perfect for snuggling up with a cat and a good book. If you’re a member with a book coming out or other career news, email me, Layla Morgan Wilde at info@catwisdom101.com. We’re always looking for guest bloggers to shine the light on fellow members.
Our guest book reviewer is professional blogger and free-lance writer Caren Gittelman at Cat Chat With Caren and Cody.
Women Who STILL Love Cats Too Much by Allia Zobel Nolan with Cartoons by Nicole Hollander.
For those of us “of a certain age” the first thing that came to mind when I was sent a proof copy of by Allia Zobel Nolan with cartoons was the classic self-help book for women that was popular in the mid 80s, (Women Who Love Too Much by Robin Norwood). It’s premise was that “women who get mired in obsessive relationships” need to find help for themselves.
Are YOU a “woman (or in my opinion, a MAN), Who STILL Loves Cats Too Much?
Do YOU need to help yourself from your obsessive relationship with cats?
Are you covered in cat hair? Do you reek of Feliway? Is your kitty’s happiness your one desire? Millions of women struggle with the same challenge. They feel inadequate when it comes to satisfying their kitties. So they wind up on a never-ending quest to do more, be more, give more.
Some say being addicted to cats plays havoc with self esteem, makes you the brunt of jokes, and interferes with quality of life, relationships and careers. Most women feel that’s a small price to pay.
I brought this hilariously funny and brilliantly illustrated little book (80 pages of fun), to the hair salon today to occupy me while I waited for my color to set, and found myself laughing out loud and nodding in recognition throughout the entire book! I give it FOUR PAWS UP and I am certain that you will too!
If you’re on the fence about your cat codependency, Women Who STILL Love Cats Too Much can help! It showcases warning signs for those hoping to get their lives back with examples such as:
- You throw away fifteen or more catnip toys until you find the one your cat prefers
- She complains because she can’t find “Kitty Boo-Boo on TV, so you switch to another, more expensive cable provider.
- She brings you a dead mouse in the middle of the night and you feel compelled to get up, say “What a good kitty,” then take a photo for her Facebook page.
- He sighs and you immediately run to the cabinet for treats.
- You won’t turn over during the night no matter how uncomfortable you are because you might disturb the cat.
- You go ballistic when your date sits in your cat’s favorite chair (I particularly related to this one from my single days because I did the same thing!)
And oh so many more! Can you relate? If you answered yes, what do you think you should do if you love your cat(s) too much?
Read what Allia Zobel Nolan had to say when asked a similar question!
Q. Can you give us three things women who love cats too much can do to course-correct their lives?
A. Well, first, many of us (and I include myself in the quotient), don’t want to course correct. Our lives may not be as smooth as they would be if we didn’t love cats too much. But then, surely our lives would not be as fulfilled as they are now. But for those who may consider (however briefly) changing, I would suggest: Be firm when it comes to opening and closing the door for your cat. Do it fifty times, and then leave the door ajar. Kitty may learn the mechanics of door-opening, and you’ll have ten, maybe twenty, extra minutes in your day. Here’s another thing: Try (and I say try, because you may have to give in) not to feed puddy every time she stands at her feeding bowl starring at you with soulful saucer eyes. Walk away, engage yourself in busy work, build a catio…anything to get your mind off that face. If you can’t stand the silence though, wait a while before you fill her bowl. This way, she’ll know you are NOT at her beck and call. The third thing is to try (I know it’s difficult) to do more outside the house: volunteer, go shopping, get the mail. If it becomes simply too unbearable, you can always get a video monitor app for your phone to check on them. Course-correcting will not be easy, so take baby steps.
Taking the questions a step further Allia was asked:What is the most bizarre thing you’ve ever done for your cats?
A. Well, I don’t consider anything I’ve ever done for my cats “bizarre.” The book notwithstanding, others whose involvement with their puddies may not run as deeply as my own, may think I spoil them—what with insisting on fresh, wild caught (never farmed) salmon for their meals, or hiring a vet technician to come in to the house six times a day to make sure they are okay when I’m away for more than two hours. Also, when I’m cuddling my newly-rescued baby, Nolan Nolan, I also run my face up and down his fur, imitating the licking gestures a mommy cat makes when she cleans her puddy. I do that because he is under a year old and may be missing being groomed by his birth mom. But I don’t consider any of that “bizarre.” However, I read on the web of some woman who actually “married” her cat. Now, to me, that’s bizarre. That’s like marrying your child.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Allia Zobel Nolan is a published, award-winning author of over 200 children’s and adult trade titles. Her books reflect her two main passions, God and cats, and include such varied titles as Purr More, Hiss Less:Heavenly Lessons I Learned from My Cat, Cat Confessions:A Kitty-Come-Clean Tell-All Book, The Ten Commandments for Little Ones, The Worrywart’s Prayer Book and Whatever: Livin’ the True, Noble, Totally Excellent Life
Zobel Nolan lives and loves her puddies way too much in Connecticut with her husband, Desmond Finbarr Nolan, and their feline children, Sineady Cat, the Fraidy Cat, and Nolan Nolan.Visit the author at AlliaWrites.com
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Nicole Hollander created and produced the syndicated cartoon strip,Sylvia for a gazillion years. She blogs six days a week at www.Badgirlchats.com and offers a Sylvia archival strip every day-as well as links to politics, a cultural commentary, and, of course, more cat videos than you can shake a stick at!
Thank you for sharing! Loved this book! catchatwithcarenandcody
Wow. Another round for this paw-some review…. And, right on time for the book’s Amazon release. Thanks so much Caren and Layla. One thing, though: the book cover needs to be larger. (Just kidding.)
This was such a delightful and heartfelt read! It’s refreshing to see a piece that celebrates the deep bond between women and their feline British shorthair price in India companions without falling into tired stereotypes. The humor and honesty made it feel both relatable and empowering. Thank you for giving a voice to the many of us who unapologetically love our cats — perhaps a little too much, and proudly so