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They Had Me at Meow - inside a feral cat colony
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Rosie Sorenson and Turtleman.
For the past 13 years, Rosie Sorenson has lived inside the world of a feral (wild) cat colony called Buster Hollow. Her new book They Had Me at Meow reveals the lives and personalities of the more than 30 cats she has come to love.
Rosie Sorenson is a retired psychotherapist who accidentally found her way into a feral cat colony while taking a walk near a small lake by her home in Northern California.
There she met a man named Nick Manelli who was feeding a group of felines. He told Sorenson that he had been taking care of the colony for 17 years. Sorenson, who has been a cat lover since childhood, was deeply impressed with the friendship he had developed with the cats and watched with amazement as he lifted several of them to give them kisses or to cuddle them in his arms.
The next day Sorenson grabbed a bag of cat food as she went on her daily stroll around the lake and within a couple of weeks, the colony of cats began to come to her when she called. Now after 13 years she has become their guardian, protector and friend.
They Had Me at Meow tells the tales of cats like Green Eyes who was the first feline Sorenson skittishly trapped and took to be neutered, or the beautiful, Siamese-Tabby mix named Priscilla who took a full year to gain her confidence and allow Rosie to touch her, or the adorable kittens named Thelma and Louise who were able to be socialized and adopted into new homes.
Sorenson also fondly reminisces about the stunning black cat named Turtleman who was the leader of the colony and later became a beloved family member when Rosie opened her home to him. Turtleman happily lived with Sorenson and her “sweetheart” Steve for many years.
Throughout the book, Rosie’s stories demonstrate how love and compassion can tame even the wildest felines. She dispels the myth that feral cats can’t be socialized and helps readers learn about the sadness of their lives. She also educates people about the need for Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) programs that sterilize stray and feral cats and return them to their colonies.
Rosie Sorenson said she wrote this book, “To change people’s attitudes toward feral cats. Some cats live indoors and some live outdoors, but they all have the same needs.” They Had Me at Meow is a little book with a big punch that demonstrates the bonds between humans and animals.
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