I am a spoiled cat as you can see from the position on my mom’s lap, as we recently drove through West Virginia on the way back to our summer home in Pennsylvania. We have been doing this for many years and I just turned 12. Both my vets say I look so young for my age and I attribute it to al the good food I get to eat (and I DO love my food!) and all the love I have bestowed upon me on a daily basis.

I was born at our neighbor’s home. Alaina Z. asked my mom if she wanted a kitten and I was really hoping to get away from the many dogs and cats that were living there on their farmette at the time. My dad was in Chicago, so mom just decided to take me in without asking him – something she is kind of known for. At the time, Tarzan a dark tabby that my mom was VERY in love with was nearing the end of his life. He was almost 19! I was sort of a goofball and took right over but I really liked him. She told me that no other cat she has ever had been as feisty as Tarzie.  She really, really loved him but the very first night I was in the house I laid right on her chest when she went to sleep, as if to say, yep, I like it here and I am here to stay! Well, I cannot help it because I was a kitten and my name is Safari and I am a jungle cat – mom named all her cats after things having to do to with the jungle.

I was happy to be an only cat for many years after Tarzan crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, but when we lived in Chicago (yes, we lived in three places at once for 7 years!) we had a little yard and Suri, a pretty Golden Retriever, lived on one side and Charlie, a Cocker Spaniel, lived on the other side. I would get to go out on my leash and I liked to sit by the fence near Charlie. He really liked me so I started to become fond of dogs and hoped that one day I might get to keep the company of one someday.

That day came on June 20, 2008 when Mom went to Angels for Animals to see a Border Collie/Collie mix named Bailey. Dad did not go with because he had some workers doing a project on the house so she went on a Friday night and later came home with a 7 year-old senior dog that she quickly fell in love with. I loved her too, I did not like to show TOO much affection for her, but she was always gentle and sweet with me. Border Collies love cats because they think they can just herd us around like sheep! Well, not this cat!

Bailey had a lot of health problems it turned out and crossed over the Rainbow Bridge just after a little more than 3 years. Mom has no regrets. She loved Bailey so much and took the best care of her I was with her when she died and I was very sad and started to sleep in her spot. She was a very special person. She had her own blog of course www.baileysjournal.com.  Mom loved her so much that she wrote a book about her and now it’s being published. I was hoping to get another dog to live with someday, but mom and dad needed some time, so for six months we were “dogless.”

Before Bailey died, mom asked her to please send her a sign in regards to another dog. It would take a while, but sure enough, Bailey did. On May 11, 2012, Joy came to live with us. Bailey must have told mom to go to www.petfinder.com and look up Border Collies. She did and found Indian Summers Border Collie Rescue – www.indiansummers.org and that is how she found sweet Joy. Another Border Collie! YAY! She is a young one though and we like to play together. She loves to chase me around. I pretend not to like it, but it helps me to exercise which I really do NOT like to do generally speaking. I am more the relaxing guy myself! Secretly I thank Joy for moving me around a little each day! I like to play with my toys but not for as long as I used to – it gets too boring, but Joy never does!

Since writing Bailey’s Journal and then Joy’s Tail www.joystail.com she had a suggestion from Laurel, a fellow animal lover (and reader of her blogs) that I should perhaps have a go at this writing thing and I could NOT agree more. It’s about time after all I have been around the longest and have seniority!

I just had my 12th birthday like I said and I am looking forward to giving my perspective on here because we all know a cat is way smarter than a dog! Well, I do live with the smartest of all breeds, so we MIGHT be tied in the brains department. Best of all we are all tied up in the love department and today I am thankful for my mom and dad and sister on this day we honor the men  in our lives. I think we should honor our parents everyday!  I will be reporting back here very soon. Nice to meet you all…

With Love,

Safari

 Me and my sister Joy!