"Animals may aid us in our everyday lives, in our dreams and meditations. Since they were created before humans, they are close to the Source and can act as allies, guides, and familiars in our search for wholeness."
-Anonymous Native American Woman
Animal lovers know…pets can be the warmest of companions, a source of 
comfort, amusement, and (yes) wisdom. A beautiful feline is like a work of art, a cat with big personality is an endless source of comedy. Watching a mother and her kittens can melt your heart. Whether great or small, animals truly are God’s creatures. It’s not hard to guess why writes have a special affinity for cats. Zenlike they sit, under my desk, on the back of my chair, on my lap, providing good, quiet company during long hours of solitary writing. It’s no wonder the Coyle household has been befriending and sheltering homeless New York cats for over five years now. The latest additions are in this photo, part of a litter from a feral mother (who we named Caltiki).
In the picture are her babies: the longhaired female kitten on the right is Bo-Bo. The little gray male kitten in the middle is Rebel. But we need help naming the little feline on the left! Do you have any possible names? Or tell me about your favorite pet and/or pet memory. Maybe I’ll borrow the pet name for this little one!
Wishing you all java joy, 
Cleo Coyle
P.S. Ending with great good news on my latest release MURDER MOST FROTHY (Coffeehouse Mystery #4), which made the Entertainment Weekly paperback bestseller list, published in their popular Fall TV Preview issue (September eighth). A friend just told me about this because I missed it. Just barely made the list, but what a smokin’ boost!
Hi Cleo,
How cute are those cats? I just LOVE furry cuddly kitty cats. If I could (my husband won’t let me!) I’d be “The Crazy Cat Lady”…
Over the years, I’ve had 3 feline friends. I lost two of them and miss them terribly. Other members of my family have cats as well, so I’m going to give you the names that were chosen for all of them:
I’ve had a black female. She lived for 16 years, her name was Jimmy Dean (I liked the name, took it from that Cher movie!). Then I acquired one of my sister’s female calico (I’ve heard they’re also called halloween cats) named Citrouille (which is pumpkin in French) The one that’s still with us is a grey female and I got her at the pound, her name was Mara, but I had trouble saying the name properly so I converted it to Marabou (grumpy in French).
My Dad lived in the country for a number of years and had 2 barn cats. One was called Kiwi, the other Radish (he liked to plant gardens!). Another sister’s cat is named Sissi, like that the Empress in that long ago movie with Romy Shneider. My youngest sister had one that got adopted because she wouldn’t leave our childhood house, she was named The Min…
Do those names give you any ideas?
Comment by Jaclyne Laurin — October 22, 2006 @ 9:41 pm
Way to go on the EW list Cleo! I can’t even begin to imagine what that felt like!
My sweet furry baby is an 85 lb golden retriever who thinks she’s an 8 lb lap dog, but she’s amazing. Nothing like a loyal pet to remind you that there’s SOMETHING in this world that will love you no matter what!
Comment by Heather — October 23, 2006 @ 9:10 am
I’ve got two crazy cats and a spoiled full size collie. They all have such distinct personalities.
Congrats on your EW listing!!
Comment by Jolie Mathis — October 23, 2006 @ 10:02 am
Er…well, Cleocatra does spring to mind…
Comment by Little Lamb Lost — October 23, 2006 @ 11:56 am
We had a crazy cat named Sassy. She definitley lived up to her name.
Comment by Maureen — October 23, 2006 @ 2:05 pm
Oh Cleo, you’re kitty post made my day! They are so adorable. I love all the suggested names, especially Radish and Sassy. The nameless kitty reminded me of a cat we took in a few years back, when her owners moved abroad. She was a proper little lady called Lydia. Alas, we lost her to cancer a couple of years later. I still miss her every day, she was a real writers companion, like yours. One of my favourite cats growing up I called Sinbad, because he was a true adventurer, into everything. We only have one at the mo, she came to us with Lydia and her name is wait for it.. Big Cat. She’s massive and it does suit her, but I did try to call her Sheba for a while. She ignored it! She’s an old lady and not tolerant of other cats at all, so we decided to let her see her days out as queen of the house. Then I will be like you again, covered in them.
Many congrats on your listing, that’s such fabulous news!! I love hanging out with the talent here
Comment by Saskia Walker — October 23, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
Oh Cleo, you’re kitty post made my day! They are so adorable. I love all the suggested names, especially Radish and Sassy. The nameless kitty reminded me of a cat we took in a few years back, when her owners moved abroad. She was a proper little lady called Lydia. Alas, we lost her to cancer a couple of years later. I still miss her every day, she was a real writers companion, like yours. One of my favourite cats growing up I called Sinbad, because he was a true adventurer, into everything. We only have one at the mo, she came to us with Lydia and her name is wait for it.. Big Cat. She’s massive and it does suit her, but I did try to call her Sheba for a while. She ignored it! She’s an old lady and not tolerant of other cats at all, so we decided to let her see her days out as queen of the house. Then I will be like you again, covered in them.
Many congrats on your listing, that’s such fabulous news!! I love hanging out with the talent here
Comment by Saskia Walker — October 23, 2006 @ 3:20 pm
What cute kittens! I have 8 cats and 1 Yorkshire Terrier. It is too hard to pick one of them as my favorite. The cats are named Callie, Chatty, Purrs-a-lot, Nosey, Tara, Bobbi, Nico and BatCat.
Comment by Estella — October 23, 2006 @ 6:01 pm
Jaclyne, Heather, Jolie, Little Lamb, Maureen, Saskia, and Estella!
On my next post, I’ll give you the update on what name she chooses!
Thank you so much for your cat stories and cat names. It warmed my heart to know so many others feel the same way I do about my furry friends! I’m going to be trying out some of your cat names with the little unnamed feline. You know how it is with cats, (per Saskia’s Sheba story)…they usually tell YOU what name they like.
Luv,
Cleo
Comment by Cleo — October 24, 2006 @ 1:07 pm
Cleo, huge, huge, HUGE! CONGRATULATIONS on making the list. Woo Hoo. You deserve it. Keep on smokin!
Comment by Annette Blair — October 25, 2006 @ 12:23 pm