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Did you know that September is Happy Cat Month?

At Chicken Soup for the Soul we tend to celebrate cats all year long! And why not � cats make us better people. They are our protectors, our role models, and our best friends!

Here are two of my favorite stories from our book, Chicken Soup for the Soul - Life Lessons From The Cat , with the lessons we can learn from our cats!

Accept it when something is meant to be
In the story "Journey of Love" Andi Lehman tested as allergic to pets, so her family had to give away their dog, cat, and guinea pig. Andi was devastated by the loss of her cat Grungy, who they had adopted six years earlier while stationed with the U.S. Navy in Turkey. That cat had survived many near-death accidents and travel adventures as they moved around the world with the Navy. Grungy was given to a young couple two islands away in the Florida Keys, but two weeks later, the wife called to tell them Grungy had gotten away. Months went by, and Andi mourned for her lost cat. And then one day, she stepped outside their Key West home and almost tripped over a matted, filthy, skinny cat. It was Grungy, who had walked ten miles to get home, traversing two bridges between the islands while he was at it. He was welcomed home permanently, with the only proviso that he sleep on the screened porch due to Andi’s allergies.

Taking care of yourself should come first
In her story "Speed Bump" Veronica Bowman wasn’t sure she wanted another cat, but she couldn’t stop checking one photo on the local shelter’s website. Finally, after two weeks of resisting, she and her husband went to see the cat in person. They fell in love. Veronica hadn’t thought she had time for a cat, because she had health problems and too many obligations. But that cat worked wonders. Instead of causing more stress for Veronica, the cat forced her to slow down. Now Veronica was brushing the cat’s fur every day and spending quiet time with her. Veronica concedes, “I was mistaken in thinking I didn’t need another cat. I needed help in getting my out-of-control days under control. I needed motivation to slow down and stop pushing my body beyond its limits.�


Amy Newmark

There's something so magical about cats � their elegance, confidence, resilience, and independence are so often combined with affection, intuition, courage, and just plain smarts. They make every day an adventure!

Here are previews of two of my favorite stories from our new book Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Cats that show how cats added magic to the lives of our writers:

Cats remind you that rules are made to be broken.
In veterinarian Jan Rottenberg's story "Ben the Benevolent" she was about to close one night when a man brought in an abandoned, sickly kitten. He could only contribute $50 to the kitten’s care, but Jan took the poor little thing and nursed him back to good health, albeit with only one eye, over the next few months. She took him home every night but resolutely put him up for adoption when he was fully recovered. When someone offered to adopt him, Jan realized what her heart had known all along. She was going to break her very strict rule—you can’t keep a cat you’re fostering. Not only did that new cat blend in well with her other cats, but he also brought her paraplegic senior cat back to life, becoming her new friend. Since then, he has also welcomed two new rescue kittens. Jan says, “Ben not only earned his keep, but is also proof that every homeless kitten deserves a chance.�

When a cat chooses you, accept that the cat knows best.
In her story "Demands Attention" Morgan Rondinelli didn’t intent to adopt a pet but she found herself drawn to the local shelter every time she drove by. After several visits she was hooked by a dark gray cat with brilliant green eyes who walked over and plopped herself in Morgan’s lap. Jade chose Morgan and that was that. Even when Morgan thought she should keep looking, and tried to visit the cat room down the hall, Jade would have none of it, chirping at her argumentatively. Morgan hadn’t intended to adopt an eight-year-old cat either, but now she says, “I’ve heard it said that senior animals love deeper, and I think that’s true. I know from Jade’s cheek rubs and kneading my legs that she seems extra grateful to have been adopted.� Morgan also appreciates the lack of kitten energy, so they can spend “weekends lounging and napping together, with the right amount of occasional play.�


Amy Newmark

Did you know Monday, February 20, 2023 is Love Your Pet Day? The day is dedicated to celebrating the special bond between pets and their owners. For many pet owners, their pets are more than just animals; they are family members, friends, and companions. Love Your Pet Day provides an opportunity for pet owners to express their love and appreciation for their furry friends.

At Chicken Soup for the Soul we think every day should be love your pet day! And what better way to celebrate Love Your Pet Day than by reading stories from our two newest books � Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Dog and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Cat.

Here are previews of two of my favorite stories:

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Dog
In her story, "You Can't Fool Me," Mary DeVries’s German Shepherd was not pleased when his humans brought home a kitten. That kitten followed the dog everywhere, trying to play with him and climb on him like a jungle gym. The old dog tried to ignore her antics, although occasionally he’d reach out a paw and swat her away.

Then, when the kitten was six months old, she went to the vet to be spayed and had to stay overnight. The dog was in the car when they went to pick her up and he was overjoyed to see her! Mary says, “All traces of Mr. Cool were gone. His beloved baby sister was back, and he couldn’t be more pleased. We had to restrain him from smothering her in kisses. Back home, he insisted we put the kitten on his bed where he curled up next to her and stood guard until she was back to her feisty, annoying self. Once she was healed, he tried to return to his previous aloofness, but we knew the truth.�

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned from My Cat
In Laura Plummer's story, "Letting Love In," Laura knew she could never love another animal the way she loved her cat, Chulo. So, when she was asked to foster a one-month-old kitten until she was old enough to adopt, Laura agreed, knowing she would have no trouble passing the kitten on to her forever family.

That little kitten brought so much light and laughter to their family. Even Chulo loved her. After a month, when they were to return the kitten to the shelter, she developed an eye infection, so they had to keep her another two weeks.

And then it was finally time to surrender the kitten and let another family adopt her. Laura says, “I’d been so sure that my heart couldn’t accommodate another pet that I’d never worried about loving Lena. The truth was, I couldn’t imagine giving her back to the shelter� She showed me that my heart could expand to let love in. I realized that I was never really her foster mother. I was always just her mother. I’m a foster failure. And it’s one of the best things to ever happen to me.�



Amy Newmark