My guest today on Who are the Cat Writers’ Association? is award-winning blogger Rachel Loehner. Here’s a bit about Rachel:

I’m proud to have won Best Cause Blog in 2017 from BlogPaws. I’ve also won Certificate of Excellence awards from the Cat Writers’ Association for blogging, social media and photography. Three Chatty Cats is also a two-time winner of the CWA Muse Medallion for Best Humor/Entertainment blog.

I’m currently serving as a board council member for the Cat Writers’ Association.

 Tell us  more about your blogging.

In December 2015, I was browsing a now-defunct social media app for cat lovers. Everyone was sharing their cat photos but also stories about their cats (including me). Something clicked and I decided to start a blog called Three Chatty Cats. My blog and related social media accounts are the perfect blend of my love for everything cats, writing and photography.

When I started the blog in 2016, many of my posts featured cat rescue groups – and I was known as a “Cause Blog”. Over time, the blog morphed into chats with my cats, which only seemed natural with a blog called Three Chatty Cats (we’ve grown to a household of five cats now).

How do cats inspire your creativity?

My cats all have distinct personalities. Sometimes, I can look at one and know exactly what they’re thinking or about to do. But other times, they can be a mystery. So, why not imagine what they’re saying or thinking? And that’s exactly what I do with our daily chats. Short and simple, it’s my way of sharing both the individual personalities of my cats and their beauty through photos.

Now for a few arbitrary questions:

1. Did you grow up with cats?

Yes, I grew up with cats and lived with at least one cat in our house my entire childhood and teen years. Oddly, I became allergic to cats later and didn’t think I could have one as an adult. When my husband and I found a stray kitten 12 years ago, we took him home and my allergies seemed to have disappeared.

 2. What crosses your mind when someone tells you they don’t like cats?

What’s wrong with you?!? Just kidding (kind of). I usually think that they probably haven’t been around cats. Because once you’ve been around cats, how could you not like them? My husband grew up with a family dog and never had cats. But here we are, living the dream with five cats! He loves them just as much as I do.

3. What cat-themed item is sitting on your desk right now?

A calendar with vintage cat art, a cat mousepad, a cat ruler and multiple cat notepads.

4. “Adopt, Foster, Volunteer, Donate, Educate” is a common slogan for animal rescue. What do you like to do?

I try to do all of them. While not currently fostering, we did end up adopting two of our foster cats. I’ve also volunteered with rescues at events, and I’ve volunteered with an organization that supports cat shelters nationally (writing and editing for them). I donate as well, and I’ve used my blog to educate.

How about the names and brief descriptions of your cats?

Dexter

Dexter was our first cat. We found him as a tiny stray kitten on Father’s Day in 2010. He was outside in 100+ degree weather in a California desert town where we were visiting family. Dexter is a very cautious cat, and he looks like a grump half the time. But he loves his two cat sisters and is very curious, investigating anything new in the house. On the blog, we call him the Timid Dreamer.

Olive

Olive is our tortie who we also found as a stray kitten about one year after finding Dexter. She loves her big brother, but she’d be perfectly fine being a single kitty. Olive is our smallest cat, but she is also our fiercest and truly embraces the tortitude stereotype. She is not a lap cat, but she will come up and tap you if she wants pets. It’s quite adorable. Olive is our Rebel Starlet.

Sophie

Sophie was our third stray kitten that we found two days after Thanksgiving in 2014 outside a movie theater. She’s a clumsy, sassy lovebug and a fan favorite on the blog. If Sophie could only live with one human, she would choose her cat dad in a heartbeat. She is the most likely to get into trouble (i.e. go through the trashcan, counter surf, eat someone else’s food, etc.). Sophie is our Mischievous Goofball.

Woodrow

Woodrow was our first foster fail win. We had him for several months before deciding to adopt him in 2017. Woodrow is our biggest cat, weighing in at around 14 pounds. He comes off as a bit dense sometimes, and his main focus in life is food. Woodrow is our one true lap cat – any lap will do, even a stranger’s lap. Woodrow is affectionately referred to as the Lovable Dum Dum.

Harley

Harley is our most recent cat, another foster win, who we adopted in 2018. We estimate him to be no less than 16 years old now, and he’s our grumpy old man. Harley has chronic kidney disease but handles his meds and sub-q fluids like a champ. He bosses the other cats around and will demand they move if they’re in a spot he wants – and they immediately vacate the area. Harley is the boss, and he is known as our Hangry Curmudgeon.

Check out Rachel’s fun blogsite http://www.threechattycats.com, or connect via the following Links:

http://www.facebook.com/threechattycats

http://www.instagram.com/threechattycats