Cat lovers love to tell stories about their cats. And they like stories about other people’s cats, too.
That thought led Joe Popovitch, who publishes under the name Joe Pops, to put together a book of over 20 nonfiction stories about senior cats, to be published this summer.
Nine ½ Lives (see What we are reading), is a fundraiser for cat rescue group Spay Day HRM, and a project of the Tuxedo Party, a political movement that aims to improve cat welfare in HRM and beyond.
Stories are by seasoned and new writers from Canada, the US, the UK, and France. Nova Scotia writers, including St. Margaret’s Bay residents Kathy Chisholm and Ellen Helmke, were invited to contribute. Other participants submitted their stories through a writing contest promoted on the Tuxedo Party’s Facebook page.
“That page has 45,000 followers, and many have been with us for years, supporting the cause in various ways, so we wanted to involve them,” says Joe, a former board member with Spay Day and a longtime cat-rescue volunteer, along with his wife, Cindy Murphy, with both Spay Day and the Tuxedo Party.
Hugh Chisholm, a retired veterinarian and Kathy Chisholm’s husband, is president of the Tuxedo Party. A photo of the Chisholms’ cat Thelma, who lived to 18, is on the book’s front cover.
“She had more health problems than Heinz had pickles,” Hugh says. “And she was worth every bit we spent on her.”
He’s glad the book focuses on senior cats.
“In most cases, you’ve had this pet for years, and you’ve had a lot of ups and downs together,” he says. “It’s like an old married couple, where you don’t need to talk about everything—you can just sit and share time with your cat on your knee, and you both know you love one another.”
The Tuxedo Party wants the book to draw attention and buyers from around the world.
“We’re grateful for people supporting this fundraiser,” says Hugh. “The cat rescue need is enormous.”
Joe says it would be great if the book also encourages more people to consider adopting a senior cat.
“My heart always goes out to them,” he says. “If you want a cat, please look at shelter cats, and definitely look at the old guys.”
Hugh agrees: “When I was in practice as a veterinarian, older people would sometimes tell me their pet would have to be their last pet, and I always shook my head. There are so many senior pets, perfect for older people, and they still have a lot of love to give.”
Print copies of Nine ½ Lives will be available this summer at Otis & Clementine’s and through Amazon and other booksellers. An e-book will also be available.