The three beauties featured above were rescued by my friend, Paul DeCeglie, an American writer who now lives in Thailand, or, as he says, "Paradise." In honor of black cats everywhere, he has generously contributed several photos of his little family, Sambo, Spade and Buckwheat. They were found as tiny kittens, barely alive and ignored by passersby, on the streets of the city where he lives. They are now fully grown and completely healthy, which keeps Paul on his toes as he ensures they all enjoy the life they deserve. Sambo and Spade were found first, and as litter mates, are totally bonded. Buckwheat, in front, was found later and isn't always included in their games. They seem to regard her as the tag along little sister. But they're still youngsters and no doubt will learn to love her as they all mature.
Speaking of bonding...
Recent studies are showing that cats bond with their humans in much the same way that children (and dogs) bond with their guardians.
According to Science Daily, "Cats have a reputation for being aloof and independent. But a study of
the way domestic cats respond to their caregivers suggests that their
socio-cognitive abilities and the depth of their human attachments have
been underestimated. The findings show that, much like children and
dogs, pet cats form secure and insecure bonds with their human
caretakers." The study was conducted at Oregon State University. Read these interesting articles:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190923111229.htm
Again, thanks to Paul DeCeglie for sending in the above story, and this video, below:
Black Cats Tell All
Be sure to get this book by my friend, Layla Morgan Wilde. She's not just a writer of cat stories...she's a true cat advocate and professional cat behaviorist, devoted to the welfare of all cats, with a special interest in the black cat experience. She created Black Cat Awareness Month to serve the needs of these wonderful cats who, more than other varieties, suffer from many dangerous and useless myths.
This latest book is a compilation of stories submitted by many of us who have been lucky to have black cats in our lives. Yes, I am a contributor as well. I shared the story of Toledo, a black cat I rescued many years ago. He is no longer with us, but he exemplified in many ways the misunderstandings associated with being black and how he was lucky to be alive!
Other stories in the book are more interesting, exciting and fun, and I highly recommend getting a copy. If I did it right, the cover image below should link directly to Amazon to order this book.
Please also visit Layla's blog at
https://catwisdom101.com/
to get all the information about the book and how to order it, her journey with many
cats (read her very engaging story about Clyde!), and her work with non-profit
projects to benefit cats, including this one.
