Sunday, October 29, is National Cat Day, a very special day meant to celebrate all things cat and to help more kitties find their forever homes. To celebrate, Walk & Wag team member Liz has shared a little bit about her journey with feline friends and her two lovable cats, Erik and Wynne Dixie. Enjoy!

Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods.
They have not forgotten.

~ Anonymous

Cats are very special creatures indeed and have been a part of my life since childhood. Our cats were both indoors and outdoors.

This cat tradition continued as I reached adulthood. My own first set of kitties were what I call “designer cats.” I had an Abyssinian and Oriental Shorthairs from the 1970s through the 1990s.

In early 2000, I began helping out at the ASPCA in Virginia Beach with their spay/neuter and shot programs. I came across a pretty large group of strays near our neighborhood post office. Lucky me! Erik and Wynne Dixie were among the kitties that I helped get neutered/spayed and vaccinated. They were homeless, and I was so delighted to adopt them!

These guys are my first “regular” kitties (no pedigrees). It’s only a guess as to their exact ages, but in 2004, they were definitely “teenagers.” Now they are spoiled, gracious, indoor-only, approximately 13-year-old seniors.

Erik is a precious cream colored tabby. He is extremely affectionate and loves to curl up in bed with me. One of his favorite activities is batting pens or pencils around and chasing his sister. He was named after “Erik the Red.”

Wynne Dixie, my Maine Coon, is my constant groomer and chow hound! She is partly named after the sweet lady that helped feed the group of strays and partly after the movie Because of Winn-Dixie.

Find time today and every day to celebrate the wonderful cats in your life!

Walk & Wag Team Member Liz

Happy National Cat Day!