‘Owned by cats’: long-time cat-writer Sally Bahner authors ‘The Art of Raising a Kitten’

Lisa Reisman interviewed me about “The Art of Raising a Kitten” for the ShoreLine Times.

Author Sally Bahner photographed with her book, The Art of Raising a Kitten, at her home in Branford.
Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

BRANFORD — This is the tale of Sofiya and Skitch Henderson and Skitch’s offspring Dewey and Tinkerbill.   

It’s the tale of long-time local reporter Sally Bahner who’s spent the last 50 years, as she puts it in her delightful “The Art of Raising a Kitten,” “being owned by cats.”

“I can describe my life by the cats I’ve had over the years,” she said at a recent pop-up book signing as part of the Holiday Cookie Sale & Gift Fair at the American Legion to benefit the Branford Compassion Club. 

“They’re just exquisite,” she said, when questioned on her love affair with felines. “Everything from their different personalities to their presence. They have such a presence.”

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Welcome Stormy. And Good bye.

Stormy in her new home.

After I lost Celica Blue, I was ambivalent about adopting another cat. Losing her had taken the stuffing out of me, emotionally and financially. We love all our cats, but there are those who wind themselves around your heartstrings; Celica Blue was one of those cats.

So, I wasn’t really looking for another kitty when I stopped by Branford Compassion Club in early March. However, Krista, one of the volunteers, whispered in my ear and said, “There’s a gray kitty over here.”

Branford Compassion Club Turns 20!

Pat Cotton and Boots

Twenty years after its founding by Eunice Lasala, Friskie Wheeler, and Ann Marie Lorello, the Branford Compassion Club has grown from a group of dedicated volunteers feeding feral colonies to a full service brick and mortar adoption facility.

That facility, officially the Branford Compassion Club Feline Rescue and Adoption Center, now has a full-time shelter manager, Pat Cotton, who oversees the daily care and vetting of all the felines who set paws through the doors. Since opening more than six years ago, close to 1,500 felines have found their forever homes, and approximately 2,000 total since 2008. Cotton is backed up by a team of 50 to 60 volunteers who cover all shifts within the shelter. Another 30 or so help with non-shelter related work such as publicity and fundraising.

Read the whole story here.

Photographer to the shelter pets

Note: A version of the story originally appeared in the Branford Eagle (branfordeagle.org).

Sally Anderson Bruce (Photo by Mary Johnson)

What do CEOs and shelter pets have in common?

Sally Andersen-Bruce knows the answer because she’s worked with both. Bruce is the shelter pet and stamp photographer whose portraits of aforementioned shelter pets have graced the US mail since 2002.

Andersen-Bruce discussed her experiences at an event sponsored by the Branford (Conn.) Compassion Club and the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter. Attendees talked about their pets while sipping wine and dining on hors d’oeurvres to the piano jazz of Lori Fogler-Nicholson, and viewing the animal portraits in the rotunda.

Black cats and other feline myths

Black cats are bad luck? Fail! (Photo: Black Cat Rescue via Petco)

No creature on earth is surrounded by myths more than a cat. Friday the 13^th is a perfect time to explore 10 of them.

 Black cats are bad luck.

Western culture in particular has associated them with evil omens and as familiars of witches, but Japan, Great Britain, Ireland, and Scotland consider them symbols of good luck. Shelter works, however, are quick to say that they’re the last to be adopted from litters of kittens.

Pulitzer: My problem child

Pulitzer, looking so innocent.

In every multiple cat family, there’s one who can be fingered as a “problem child.” Maybe he’s a bully and picks on the youngest or the most timid. Or maybe she’s the picky eater. Or a door darter.

Or the hoser.

Pulitzer. I’m talkin’ ‘bout you, boy.

Throw-Aways

Just in the last few weeks:

Dusty's owner "suddenly" became allergic.

Dusty’s owner has suddenly become allergic – after eight years; she’s a beautiful, apparently purebred Ragdoll.

Minuit is on the verge of euthanasia because her owners can’t deal with her being diabetic; it’s something that can be managed by taking her off the dry food she’s been eating.

Mousam was found starving, and hanging around the yard of a residence in Old Lyme; he’s sweet and friendly and has been vet-checked as healthy.

A very large friendly black cat and tiger kitty, who appear to be companions, were left at the door of a veterinarian.

A pair of tiger kitties was dropped off at the East Haven Shelter, which is at capacity.

I received an email regarding a pair of adult cats who are on the verge of being given up because there’s a new baby in the household.

Let’s celebrate cats 12 months a year

Coming in late on Adopt-A-Cat month. Some times you have to choose the paying gigs over the non-paying, even if they are self-promotional.

So what more can be said?

Not much, except: Just Do It.

I’ve been writing an Adopt-A-Cat/Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat column for more than 10 years, starting with a tribute to our black and white Rainbow Bridge girl, Hemmie, who showed up on our deck at the start of Adopt-A-Cat month in 1999.

Mollie was a shelter kitty.

We adopted Mollie from the East Haven shelter a little less than two years ago and we calculated she was born in June, which makes

Peanut is at the East Haven (CT) Animal Shelter.

her doubly qualified for Adopt-A-Cat status. The shelter has just posted the photo of this adorable little guy, Peanut, who was left at

the shelter without his mom or littermates.

Sometimes a kitty chooses you, other times you choose him or her.

Miss Mollie settles in

Molly enjoys a prime snoozing spot.

Mollie finally joined us the end of September. It has been practically a seamless transition.

We figured it would be relatively smooth since Dusty, Pulitzer and Tekla were all part of a multi-cat family, and Mollie had exposure to all types of cats at the shelter. Of course there was the initial wary curiosity, but early on she learned to defer to the older guys. Of course there was the exploring and hiding. We kept her in the playroom for a short while, and thereafter the house was hers. Other than a few hisses, the process was incredibly smooth.

Welcome, Mollie

We are anxiously awaiting the addition of Mollie, a little black and white bundle of joy. We lost two members of our feline family within the last few months — Hemmie in November and Coco in February, so now it is time to fill the hole in our hearts. Actually she will be Paul’s girl, not a replacement for Hemmie, who was his special kitty, but someone to help with the healing process.

She will be adopted from the East Haven Animal Shelter. We must wait for her to be spayed, seems like it’s taking a

Mollie and Daddy.

long time for her to reach that 2-pound goal.

We hope the others will accept her. She’s used to being around other cats and our cats have always lived with several others. Since they are 15, 9 and 6, it was time to add to the herd. We expect her to have a long, healthy life with us!

Note that the black splash across her nose looks like a kitty!

Mollie will join us soon.