My guest post on Pets360 “The Truth Behind Cat Women” featuring six so not crazy and so very sexy cat ladies was such a hit I decided we needed a second installment!
So today we’re featuring three Sexy Cat Ladies from New York, NY, Miami, FL and Portland, OR. One of them is a celebrity in her own right who is more known as a dog lady so today it’s all about her cat! Another literally has a “Sexy Cat lady” license plate on her car, and one of them never considered herself a cat lover and now she has a business that’s all about cats!
So without further ado, here you go!
Name: Wendy Diamond
Residence: NYC
Occupation: Animal Rescue Advocate, Entrepreneur, Author, TV Personality
Cats: Pasha, a Russian Blue Rescue and the inspiration behind www.animalfair.com.
Hobbies: Traveling all over the world helping endangered animals, and thrift shopping
What’s the biggest misconception about women who have cats: That there aren’t any normal ones.
What’s a crazy cat lady stereotype that in no way describes you: I am crazy about Pasha – if I was a kitten I would be in Love with Pasha – he is the most handsome cat (even as an older gentleman). What do I care what other people think?
What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you: Simple and beyond down to earth!
How have your cats made you a better person: Inspired me to dedicate my life to help animals by creating Animalfair.com Animal volunteer/rescue work: Lucky Diamond Critical Care Ward at the Humane Society of New York (Named after Lucky, Pasha’s puppy sister), to be honest there are so many charities we support – my whole life is helping the underdog who can’t help me.
Do you consider your cat (and dog) pets, children, companions or something else all together? I treat my pets like my family, best friends – there is nothing I would not do for Mom that I would not do for Pasha. Yes my family has finally accepted this reality.
Name: Christine Michaels
Residence: Miami, FL
Occupation: Boutique tour business in South Beach (Miami), FL. Cats: 6 indoor cats Jean Pierre (11 years), Helio (4 years), Geisha (4 years), Hansel & Gretel (4 years), Johnny Walker (3 years) and 21 outdoor neighborhood cats (feral, semi feral and friendly) and they each have names and know their names. Hobbies: Sunbathing by pool or beach, dining out with friends, trapping/feeding/ caring for stray cats, reading, blogging and traveling. What’s the biggest misconception about women who have cats: That we’re lonely. Not at all! I have an active and full life. What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you: That my home is clean and NEVER smells like cats. I vacuum daily and hire someone if I don’t have time or have to travel. How have your cats made you a better person: Absolutely! My cats were all rescued from the neighborhood. In my daily visits in monitoring for new cats outside, feeding them and petting some, these cats are grateful for a little affection and food. That have no voice to say “please help, I’m itching from ants that bit me, I’m thirsty, I’m pregnant and need natal care…” They are stoic and fighters and keep living, fighting to survive no matter the circumstances. The are constant reminders not to get upset over little, insignificant things and live each moment to the fullest.
They are always happy to see me the cats literally come out of hiding and run to me, some semi feral ones even rub against my legs. If you recall the beginning of the movie Cinderella, all creature from birds to rabbits and squirrels scamper towards Cinderella when she starts singing. When I call out “kitties” the same happens for me. I truly feel like Cinderella. That is true unconditional love.
I encourage everyone to find a positive force (i,e. church, charity) and contribute. Volunteerism is powerful way to uplift the world. If everyone volunteered, the world would be a better place. Animal volunteer/rescue work: Started not one but two animal non profits. Riverfront Cats specializing in rescue/adoption and TNRM. Pawsitively Humane also addresses all other pets. More importantly both organizations are getting to the root of the problem through education.
Name: Shana Freimark
Residence: Portland, OR
Occupation: Founder + Designer, Sweet Pickles Designs
Cats: Pickles
Hobbies: Skiing, reading, sewing, yoga, pottery, playing with my three dogs and Pickles.
What’s the biggest misconception about women who have cats: They are lonely.
What’s a crazy cat lady stereotype that in no way describes you: I don’t have thousands of cats at home, just one.
What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about you: I used to think I wasn’t a cat person.
How have your cats made you a better person: My cat has pretty much changed everything in my life. Besides converting me from a non-cat person to a full blown crazy cat lady and inspiring me to start a line of cat accessories, she has taught me to think big and love life. She lives with 3 huge dogs (all out weighing her by at least 50 lbs) and she spends her days wrestling and cuddling with them; a situation most animals would avoid and yet she approaches with excitement. Her approach to everything has taught me that even if you are a small fish in a big pond, you don’t have to think that way and there is just so much in life to love.
Animal volunteer/rescue work: Volunteer Oregon Humane Society. We also dress as many of the adoptables at their Westside Adoption Center in Portland.
Hmmm…I have always associated Wendy Diamond with dogs…not cats
Never knew she is a cat person til now……
Glad to see Christine Michaels make the list but you left out one super important sexy cat lady…….Deb Barnes!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and of course……………ME………………….roflmao!!!!! (kidding about ME! but not kidding about Deb!)
xoxoxo
I KNOW re: Wendy Diamond! Isn’t it great she’s an all around animal person! I guess it’s just harder for her to tote Pasha around and show her off! Don’t worry my dear, we’ll have plenty more installments if this post is a success (so be sure to share it! haha!)
Lovely humans! They deserve their part of fame, even if that’s thanks to us kitties
Purrs
Well said Texas cat, well said! ha!
Looking good, ladies! I am a crazy cat lady, but only if you mean crazy as in passionate and devoted about taking care of them and ensuring their well-being. I know Christine personally and not only is she a gorgeous and beautiful woman, she is also a warm, compassionate, intelligent, and sophisicated woman.
Thanks for the article, and Caren, THANK YOU, for the extremely kind shout out!! You are too much and I would be honored to be featured in the next installment with you!!!!
Thanks Deb for your support and readership of I HAVE CAT! You rock!
Wow, Deb I’m almost in tears. You are so kind. Well no doubt Tamar will feature you as well given your sexiness and dedication to cats!!!
I have spoken to Christine Michaels on a couple of occasions, and she was a very kind and helpful person, I asked her for help with a FeLV cat I had rescued (Tatiana, who I wound up keeping). She was very nice and even was kind enough to post a photo of my stray on her site and ask those around if they could help find her a home. I contacted a lot of people in the cat rescue community, A LOT, and only about 3 actually went out of their way to try and help me and actually be nice about it. Great article.
It’s a shame that we have this stigma, like we’re a bunch of nuts walking around in our pajamas with unkempt hair. Well, maybe on the weekends, but we are strong intelligent women, with happy lives. When did being kind and compassionate toward another living being suddenly become a joke? Bah!
My name is Nuria Rodriguez, I have 6 cats and 1 dog, I’m a cat lady and an animal lover and I’m damned proud of it!
Hi Nuria! I think about Tatiana often and wonder is she still living in the bathroom or does she have free range of the apartment now?! That’s WONDERFUL that Christine was such a great help but it doesn’t surprise me. Trust me, I’m in my PJs with unkempt hair on the weekends and days i”m not working (shhhh don’ tell!).
thanks as always for your readership and your thoughtful comment.
Hi, Tamar! Yes, unfortunately little Tati is still in the bathroom. I continue to pray that I can either find the means to get a larger place with an extra bedroom for her, and possibly a friend, or that my vet will finally be able to adopt her. For now, this is the best I can do for her. As many have pointed out to me, she’s inside, with plenty of comfy beds, plenty of food and medical care when she needs it. Certainly she would never have made it had I left her outside, she was just too sick and skinny. When I got her she was barely 2 pounds, and she’s now tipping the scales at between 5-6 pounds! She has her days, due to the FeLV, but for the most part she’s a happy healthy girl. I bring her down into the living room in the evenings, and put her in Sofie’s little cage. It gets her out of the bathroom and allows her some different scenery, but keeps everyone from getting close and having contact with her, which the others cannot safely have.
I could be wrong but i think as long as there is no fighting that entails scratching and blood being drawn FeLV kitties can often live in harmony with non FeLV kitties. Have you talked to your vet about it?!
It’s not just the drawing of blood. The virus is also spread via saliva. So if they are friendly and groom each other, the virus can spread. FIV would actually have been better, because that one isn’t spread the same way, and that’s where the fighting/drawing of blood come into play. She could very well have been fine with the others with FIV because there would have been no fighting.
Wow it’s a lot more complicated than a realized. It’s good you give her some cage time for a change of scenery
Oh my gosh Nuria! I remember you!! I wondered what happened to Tatiana. You know, you gave me an idea to do a posting about Feline Leukemia. I had a former coworker come across the exact same situation. It’s extremely difficult to find homes for FeLV cats. The word scares so many people from adopting, especially potential adopters who never had cats before. So my coworker kept her kitty in the basement. But since she could not find anyone to adopt, she allowed the cat to mingle with her three other cats. No fighting or scratching, so far so good!
Wow we both have exact number of indoor pets: 6 cats and a dog! How funny.
Well once my work season slows down I hope to write that article on FeLV. Good luck and keep me posted! You can reach me at riverfrontcats@yahoo.com.
Christine, you were so helpful and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you going out of your way and allowing me to post that photo and information about Tatiana. So many people either just turned me away, were just nasty, or told me to put her down. You were one of a small handful that actually tried to help me and I am ever grateful to you for that.
FeLV does sound scary, and it’s really something that should be taken seriously, but it’s not a death sentence either. I have read of many cats with FeLV living a very long time! Tati just turned 2 last November, and while she has certain days in the month where she will not eat for a couple of days, she recovers and she is otherwise a healthy girl. I give her Lysine twice a day to help keep her immune system strong, and I feed her a grain free diet. Her vet told me that as long as we can keep her symptom free, her prognosis is good.
FIV is spread from cat to cat through biting and fighting, but FeLV is found in saliva and urine, so it can be spread through direct contact, unlike FIV which can only be spread through biting and scratching, so please let your friend know she needs to be careful.
If you ever need to contact me, please do not hesitate to do so! Here’s my email: wicked.cats@yahoo.com
Loving this series. So many stereotypes about cats need reframing. Shared at some Linkedin groups.
Thanks Layla! For your ongoing support and for sharing!
Nice article. I’ve always been a cat female, from birth. Stereotypes suck; I never, ever, give them any credence. But one thing for sure: CATS are the nation’s and the world’s most beloved companion, far and away! With NO apology.
Thanks Jmuhj! They ARE the most popular companion so it’s crazy that cat lovers still have to deal with such silly and incorrect stereotypes I agree. Go cat ladies! And men!
Thank you Tamar for this posting that will help overturn misconceptions about cat women. Having one or more cats doesn’t make us crazy, it makes us better people! Here’s to getting more cats off the streets, out of shelters and into loving homes.
Thanks for agreeing to be featured! Sexy Cat Ladies rule!
Nice article, it’s unfortunate in our society today that we still have to overcome stereotypes of any kind. My husband and I share our home with three great cats. I volunteer at my local humane society working with the cats and I also am the program coordinator for our Unsocaliized Stray Cat Initiative which offers low cost spay/neuter services to people with stray, barn or feral cats. I don’t consider myself as a crazy cat lady, I consider myself a person who wants to improve the lives of cats in any way I can.
Bless you and your husband for being such great cat lovers and supporters! THank you for everything you do for the kitties and thanks for your readership and taking the time to leave a comment on this post! =^^=
Yay, I love seeing Shana here!
I know, isn’t she the best?!
My best friend is 23 and a sexy crazy cat lady for sure!
That’s awesome!!!! She should submit her photo and the answers to the above questions and maybe I can feature her next time! Tell her to email them to ihavecat(at)gmail(dot)com. And if you liked this feature, check out all our other sexy cats in our Cat Lady Wednesday column http://ihavecat.com/tag/cat-woman-wednesday/
Great post…we know that most of the cat moms aren’t crazy cat ladies, even if they say they are. We are just glad that they are crazy about cats! Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave a comment! So glad you liked the post! Go cats and sexy non-crazy cat ladies!