Happy Valentine’s Day. This is my February edition of “Cat Tales.” Valentine’s Day is not for just the young, it’s for the “young of heart” at any age. My hope is that everyone, young or old, will embrace it, enjoy it, and make good memories of it.
So where should I begin? What a crazy start to the New Year. Actually, I’ll start with December 30th. My mom has severe back spasms from a disease she has where all the new bones that are growing are compressing on her spine. It’s very painful. She had friends from church take her to urgent care, but they couldn’t help her and transferred her to a hospital in the next town over. They gave her a morphine shot and did a CT scan. Then a few days later she had an MRI done at another hospital. So yesterday she had her first ever nerve block and is supposed to have two more. She’s really struggling with her health right now, but she has a good attitude about it. She says “it’s just one more thing.” She tells me I make everything better. I love my mom.
I had blood and urine tests done again back in December, and I have kidney disease. That’s pretty much all I have to say about that. And my thyroid (T4) wasn’t where the doctor wanted it to be, so I will go back in a few weeks to have more tests. Oh, and I lost a little more weight, and that isn’t good. I need to gain weight. I’m trying to think positively. I hear my mom crying sometimes when she doesn’t think I hear her. That makes me sad.
Something my mom and I are doing is having Bible reading time together each day. Once in a while we miss a day or two, because of appointments and medical things, but for the most part it is everyday. If I am in the bedroom on the bed resting, my mom holds up the Bible so I can see it, signaling it’s Bible reading time. She told friends the other day that as soon as she holds up the Bible, I am like a kitten running and jumping off the bed, and then jumping up onto the love seat my mom is sitting on, and onto the arm of the chair. I love my reading time with my mom. She reads out loud, and I purr the whole time. We aren’t reading the books of the Bible in any particular order, but right now we are reading the book of Acts. It’s our special time together.
Here is an interesting tidbit to read:
Owning a Cat Reduces Cardiovascular Disease and Lowers Cholesterol
Doesn’t it seem like cat ladies live forever? That’s because they do! Cat owners enjoy the companionship of a four-legged friend along with a lot of additional health benefits. It’s a heart-warming cat fact to know that owning a cat reduces the chance of cardiovascular disease and lowers your risk of a heart attack.
Another heartening fact is that owning a cat has also been shown to lower cholesterol and reduce high blood pressure.
Cats actually reduce allergies and asthma. While it may seem like a counter-intuitive cat fact — like the fact that cats can hear better than dogs — it’s true. Studies have shown that infants and kids exposed to cats are less likely to develop allergies and asthma later in life. Being exposed to cats early in life triggers a child’s immune system to begin developing immunity.
These little feline healers are holistic practitioners. Owning a cat is good for both your body and your mind. Cat owners frequently report lower levels of stress than other people, and cats have even been shown to help provide therapy for autistic children.
A cat a day keeps the doctor away! People who own cats also require fewer trips to healthcare professionals. No wonder the Egyptians adored cats and many people still treat them like gods today!
Okay, so I’m not sure how accurate that last paragraph is. My mom has to see medical professionals a lot.
Here are some other fun facts. These are from Pure Paws Veterinary Care.
Cats can make over 100 different sounds. Unlike dogs, who have a limited set of vocalizations, cats are incredibly vocal. They can produce over 100 different sounds, including meows, purrs, chirps, and even hisses. This extensive range of sounds allows cats to communicate their feelings and needs effectively to both humans and other animals.
Cats can jump up to five times their height. If you’ve ever been amazed by how high your cat can leap, you’re not alone. Cats are exceptional jumpers and can leap up to five times their height in a single bound. This incredible agility helps them catch prey in the wild and escape potential threats.
They sleep for about 70% of their lives. Cats are famous for their love of naps, and it’s no surprise that they spend about 70% of their lives sleeping. Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk, which is why you might find your cat sleeping during the day and becoming more active during the evening hours.
My mom and I have been looking at books online, and there is a new book called “Crouton.” It’s a picture book about a cat told from the cat’s perspective. It’s great for readers ages 4-8. Make sure to start your children and grandchildren reading early. And if you don’t have children or grandchildren around, then do what my mom does, and that’s read to your cat. The book is written by Kristine A. Lombardi.
My mom was telling me some funny stories regarding Valentine’s Day. Her husband died young, so I didn’t know him of course, but she told me when they first met and were dating, he gave her a battery for her car for Valentine’s Day. I broke out in cat giggles. She said that she needed a new one and she appreciated that gift. But when her friends found out, they gave her then boyfriend a tough time about it, telling him that it wasn’t romantic. That if he was going to buy the battery, then at least get her something else too, that speaks of Valentine’s Day. She said she really didn’t mind it because car batteries are expensive and she didn’t have the money to get one. She was just a teenager at the time.
But this next one, she minded. She told me that when she and her husband were first married, she made a special dinner for him. She went to the store and bought heart shaped individual cake pans and got a strawberry cake mix. She made the cakes and frosted them in pink icing. She can’t remember if she wrote messages on top or not, but she put a lot of work and thought into it. She fixed a special meal, turned off the lights, and lit candles. He had barely sat down, when he said I can’t see what I’m eating. Oh boy, even I know not to do something like that. Let’s just say he never said anything like that again.
Years later, a manager walked into the office my mom was working in at the time. It was Valentine’s Day, and he walked in boasting he had gotten his wife a great Valentine’s Day gift. When asked what it was, he smiled and said a weed whacker. My mom said the office ladies gave him a hard time, but he said that that was what she wanted. Then my mom thought back all those years ago, and thought of the car battery. She didn’t give him a hard time after that because she understood.
But guys, please, if you’re going to give a gift like that, then also give her a card and candy, or some perfume. Make it romantic, something she’ll think of forever. Okay, so my mom does remember the car battery from 50 years ago, but I think you know what I mean. Women can be sensitive, and they like to feel special. I sent a card to Spaghetti Betty. She’s my friend, not my love interest, but Valentine’s Day is for everyone. Even grandparents would love to get a card from their children or grandchildren. It’s the thought that goes into it that’s special.
If you have any funny Valentine stories like the ones above, please let me know in the comments section.
I am going to close with this quote: “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.”― Leonardo da Vinci
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Love Maverick
- My Mom Is Home - May 19, 2026
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- The Cat Walk - March 15, 2026
