They Had Me At Meow is a loving tribute to homeless cats

September 23, 9:58 AMSF Cat Rescue ExaminerBarbara Kohn

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Out on a walk in her neighborhood 13 years ago, Bay Area resident Rosie Sorenson ran into someone feeding a colony of homeless cats. Compelled by her deep love for cats - a love inspired by her father when she was a child – she got involved. Little did Sorenson, who has written for the LA Times and San Francisco Chronicle, know at the time her decision would evolve into a ‘life-and soul-searching ritual” that would help her cope with a succession of serious medical problems.

Sorenson now is sharing her story about her beloved group of homeless cats in Buster Hollow and their profound effect on her life in "They Had Me At Meow," which she recently published. The book has received endorsements from animal welfare organizations as well as from Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, best selling author of "When Elephants Weep," about the emotional lives of animals, and Ed Asner.  

Rosie and Turtleman

The subtitle of the book “Tails of Love from the Homeless Cats of Buster Hollow” is your clue that this is not a guide on how to manage a homeless colony of cats but Sorenson’s recounting of the personal relationship she forges with each cat in her colony. While you learn through Sorenson’s own experience what you can do to trap, neuter and release (TNR) homeless cats, provide them with daily care and attend to their illnesses, more importantly you get to intimately know many of the cats in Sorenson’s group through individual chapters about them and wonderful photos.

Rosie and some of her colony at feeding time

Among the many cats you’ll read about is Turtleman, who Sorenson eventually took into her home, Buster, Priscilla and Thelma and Louise – who found homes with the help of a cat rescue group – and more. Sorenson’s uplifting and loving portrayal of her colony cats is a tribute to all homeless cats and a reminder that every animal, regardless of its circumstances, is a uniquely individual creature with its own personality and habits.

The book includes a Frequently Asked Questions about feral cats, including what is the difference between a feral and stray cat, where do they live, how people care for them and what you can do to help. For anyone who is involved with homeless cats, this is a wonderful book to reaffirm why you do what you do. It also makes a lovely gift for your cat loving friends and is a great resource for any group to use to help the public understand and come to care about homeless cats.

You can find about more about “They Had Me At Meow” at Sorenson’s website, with information about purchasing the book. Animal welfare organizations will receive a quantity discount.