A few years ago, a centerian named Lilian lost her cat Sammy. Her passing had left a hole in Lilian’s heart, and she longed to have a feline companion in her life again. Earlier this month, Lilian celebrated her 103rd birthday. The staff at the assisted living facility where she resides contacted a local shelter, and found 9-year-old Marley, whose kind and gentle temperament made her the purrfect candidate to become Lilian’s new pet. Visit the Dodo for more about Lilian and Marley, and heartwarming photos about the two.*

If you missed any of the stories featured on the Conscious Cat this week, here’s a recap: on Monday, Dr. Lynn Bahr answered reader questions, on Tuesday, we celebrated Ruby’s 7th adoption anniversary, on Wednesday, we introduced you to the art of Carolee Clark, on Thursday, we explored whether cat litter could present health risks to you and your cat, and on Friday, we reviewed DIY Projects for Cats and Dogs.

Today’s video makes me smile every time I watch it – enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

* I suspect that there will be varied reactions to this story. Let me be clear that I don’t advocate giving a cat as a birthday present. I also realize that adopting pets to seniors, let alone a 103-year-old woman, despite overwhelming evidence that pets bring amazing benefits to the elderly, can be a controversial topic. I believe that each situation needs to be addressed individually, rather than with an across the board policy that hurts adoptable cats and the seniors that need the love of a feline friend in their lives.

Photo via The Dodo

The Conscious Cat is an award winning website published by writer and cat expert Ingrid King, author of Buckley's Story and Purrs of Wisdom. Here at The Conscious Cat, we're passionate about cats. Our mission is to educate cat guardians so that every cat, and every cat's human, can have a happy, healthy life together.

On this site, you will find expert advice from a seasoned cat consultant. The Conscious Cat features articles on cat health, cat nutrition, cat behavior, cat lifestyle, pet loss, and, of course, pictures of cats. We'll bring you product and book reviews, as well as news from around the cat world.

We'll also share Purrs of Wisdom: lessons in conscious living, inspired by the cats who share our lives. Other features include our Mews and Nips; fascinating feline stories from around the globe, and Allegra's World and Ruby's Reflections; written from the perspective of Ingrid's two feline companions. After all, who better than a cat to teach us a thing or two about how to live a joyful life!

And let's not forget, we have a soft spot for tortoiseshell cats and their unique personalities, also known as "tortitude."

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Herman II, an 8-year-old cat, has made the ambulance station in Washington, PA his home, and the stretcher his bed. “He pretty much runs the business,” said Manager Rodney Rohrer, who is allergic to cats. “He has a lot of different beds around here. He likes to make himself comfortable.” Herman wandered into the ambulance garage as a stray kitten several years ago. He is the successor of the original Herman, who was the deparment’s pet for about 20 years. For more about Herman II and some wonderful photos, visit the Observer-Reporter.

If you missed any of the stories featured on the Conscious Cat this week, here’s a recap: Continue reading…