1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: This is pet Life Radio. Let's Talk Pets. 2 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 2: Hello, cat Levers, Welcome to Cataitude. I'm your show host, 3 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,119 Michelle Berne. Happy Monday. We're recording this on a Monday, 4 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,000 and if you're listening on a Monday, Happy Monday, or 5 00:00:35,039 --> 00:00:37,640 whatever other day of the week, you're listening to us. 6 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,560 So today we have an author who wrote a book 7 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:44,759 and this subject is near and dear to my heart, 8 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:49,439 rescue tn R. It's so important we cannot, you know, 9 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,920 educate ourselves enough or our children. So stay tuned. We'll 10 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:54,679 be right back. 11 00:00:58,159 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: Talk to the PA. 12 00:01:00,039 --> 00:01:02,479 Speaker 3: Hi, this isn't Amy Sure. Hi. I'm Jane Lynch. This 13 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:04,719 is Mandy Bourne. Hi there, I'm Kate Waler. This is 14 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:05,439 Katherine Tiger. 15 00:01:05,599 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: There's only one station that gives you the scoop on 16 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,200 wagging tongues and tails and who's walking who in rent 17 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,000 in tencil Down pet Life Radio, the tail Wagger. 18 00:01:17,239 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 4: Let's talk pets on Petlifradio dot com. 19 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 2: Welcome back everyone. I'd like to welcome Vanessa Nitez. She 20 00:01:35,239 --> 00:01:38,840 is the author of the Adventures of PuppyCat and the 21 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,920 Lost Name. Welcome Vanessa, Thank you so much. 22 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:43,159 Speaker 3: I'm so happy to be here. 23 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:47,439 Speaker 2: Very happy to have you. So what inspired you to 24 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,560 write the Adventures of PuppyCat and the Lost Name. 25 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 3: So the Adventures of PuppyCat and the Lost Name was 26 00:01:54,959 --> 00:01:58,319 inspired by my real life rescue cat, SNAr, who I'm 27 00:01:58,359 --> 00:02:01,400 super excited to tell you more about. But even before 28 00:02:01,439 --> 00:02:04,799 I met Snark, I'd always loved animals, and I think 29 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,280 I've kind of always been a bit of a storyteller 30 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,319 on the Mexican side. Like the older relatives, they kind 31 00:02:11,319 --> 00:02:14,000 of passed that down to me. You tell your story, 32 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,000 use your imagination, you kind of pass it down. So 33 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,039 since Snark is my rescue cat that I actually just 34 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,400 found in the garbage one day, I have no idea 35 00:02:24,439 --> 00:02:27,240 where she came from, so I kind of started just 36 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,680 creating a story in my mind, like what what she 37 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:32,159 could have gone through? You know where she came from, 38 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:34,719 and that's kind of where the story came from. 39 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: Okay, thanks, So wow you said you found starf in 40 00:02:38,879 --> 00:02:39,840 a garbage can. 41 00:02:40,159 --> 00:02:42,039 Speaker 3: Yes, I found her in the garbage one day. 42 00:02:42,719 --> 00:02:46,199 Speaker 2: Doesn't just blow your mind that people just take living 43 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,960 creatures and just throw them in the garbage. I can't 44 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,719 even fathom that, but it happens, right. 45 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,599 Speaker 3: I can't even imagine how she exactly ended up there, 46 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,759 And that's kind of part of the book, Like how 47 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,639 how does this beautiful cat end up in a garbage can? 48 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:03,599 Speaker 2: It's really shocking to me. I mean happens very often 49 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:08,120 with kitties, which is horrific, and puppies too, and grown 50 00:03:08,159 --> 00:03:11,319 dogs and cats now for sure. So tell us the 51 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:16,520 story of how you actually found Snarf and how that 52 00:03:16,599 --> 00:03:17,919 moment stayed with you. 53 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:21,879 Speaker 3: So, you know, just to preface the story, I just 54 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,560 wanted to share that I've always loved animals, but I'm 55 00:03:25,599 --> 00:03:29,159 actually allergic to cats, like pretty allergic to them. So, 56 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,319 you know, despite this fact, I always think it was 57 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,360 passed down from my family, Like I would like to 58 00:03:34,439 --> 00:03:37,439 feed straight cats, but I wouldn't kind of get too 59 00:03:37,479 --> 00:03:39,680 close to them because I was a little concerned for 60 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:42,800 my health. So one day in March, I'm in my 61 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,599 neighborhood and I hear some rustling and noise coming from 62 00:03:46,599 --> 00:03:50,120 the garbage can. So I look a little closer and 63 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:55,400 how tumbles this super puffy, fluffy, long haired cat from 64 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:58,560 the garbage So already I'm shocked. I'm like, I've never 65 00:03:58,599 --> 00:04:01,479 seen a cat like this, know arout other people, but 66 00:04:01,599 --> 00:04:04,000 usually when you see a straight cat, it's usually not longer. 67 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,240 That was like the first time I ever saw a 68 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,560 cat that looked like her. So she was just like 69 00:04:08,719 --> 00:04:12,319 beautiful and unique, and you know, I just saw her 70 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,719 and I was just like, Okay, she's nowling, she's madded. 71 00:04:15,759 --> 00:04:18,480 You know, I know she needs help. But it was 72 00:04:18,519 --> 00:04:21,920 difficult because I was a little confused because I wanted 73 00:04:21,959 --> 00:04:25,399 to take her in right away, but I have allergies 74 00:04:25,439 --> 00:04:27,959 and I have asthma, so I didn't want to also 75 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:32,120 have an anasthma attack. So what I did was right 76 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,399 away I ordered a cat condo, like an outdoor cat condo, 77 00:04:35,639 --> 00:04:37,480 just just to figure out what I would do with 78 00:04:37,519 --> 00:04:40,000 her in the meantime. But I knew she needed help, 79 00:04:40,199 --> 00:04:43,079 and I got her into the vet. So when I 80 00:04:43,079 --> 00:04:45,680 got her into the vet, they checked for a microchip, 81 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,360 and she had no microchip. She did kind of look 82 00:04:48,439 --> 00:04:51,240 like she had something. It looks like she had a 83 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,839 collar around her neck that may have been removed because 84 00:04:53,959 --> 00:04:56,480 the hair around there was like kind of pressed in 85 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,600 her neck, so who knows what happened to it. So 86 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,720 in any case, from there, I contacted family and friends 87 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:09,199 and local animal shelters, and nobody could take her, they 88 00:05:09,199 --> 00:05:12,879 didn't have room. And then in the process, what I learned, 89 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:15,399 because I you know, I didn't know until I met Snarf, 90 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,519 is that a lot of these shelters they don't take 91 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:22,639 in the grown cats. They taken kittens. And I got 92 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:24,920 a lot of no's, and you know, we need kittens. 93 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,079 And how old is she? Perhaps because you know, it's 94 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,759 not as much of a demand, I'm not too sure, 95 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,560 but you know, they wouldn't take her in. So I 96 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,839 just decided, I said, you know what, all these doors 97 00:05:36,879 --> 00:05:41,519 are closing, maybe it's for a reason. So I made 98 00:05:41,519 --> 00:05:43,120 the decision. I said, you know what, I got to 99 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,920 get allergy shots. And it's a huge commitment. It's shots 100 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,040 once a week for one to two years, and then 101 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,720 after that once a month for three to five years. 102 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:58,720 But now she's mine and she doesn't make me sneeze, 103 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,160 and I'm just so happy we're I don't regret one 104 00:06:01,199 --> 00:06:02,399 shot that I had to take for her. 105 00:06:02,759 --> 00:06:06,079 Speaker 2: Well, I'm glad to hear it. And allergies and cats 106 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,160 vary a lot. I'm allergic to cats and I have 107 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:12,879 asthma too, but it's not the same. So I don't 108 00:06:12,879 --> 00:06:16,720 get itchy, I don't sneeze I just get wheezy, right. 109 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,199 So I have three cats in the house, and I 110 00:06:19,240 --> 00:06:20,920 had two dogs at one time, so that was a 111 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,519 lot of hair and dander and stuff. You know, as 112 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:26,480 much as you clean, you just don't get rid of it. 113 00:06:26,639 --> 00:06:29,959 But all allergy, you know, the effects of allergies are 114 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,319 all different, and yours was more, way more extreme than 115 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,959 mine was. At one time, my spouse wanted me to 116 00:06:35,959 --> 00:06:39,800 get another cat inside, so four cats inside, and I said, yeah, well, 117 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:41,639 if you want me to breathe, that's not going to happen. 118 00:06:42,079 --> 00:06:44,600 So it was so we didn't do the fourth inside, 119 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,600 but we adopted because the litter one of my cats 120 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,800 came from was three, so we had found homes, legit 121 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:54,000 good homes for two. But I commend you because that 122 00:06:54,199 --> 00:06:58,879 is definitely taking on a lot of responsibility to save 123 00:06:59,439 --> 00:07:01,839 your cat. So thank you for that. 124 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 3: And there is truth. 125 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 2: Especially we always say April through October starts kitten season, 126 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,800 but like a lot of things, it's starting earlier this year, 127 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:13,920 or it's been starting earlier, so now it's really like 128 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,079 March through October. And I think a lot of shelters 129 00:07:17,439 --> 00:07:20,199 they have concerns because they either are full or know 130 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,759 they're going to get full from kittens, you know, from 131 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,120 all the faro cats not being spade and so, and 132 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,560 it is harder to adopt a grown cat. And a 133 00:07:28,639 --> 00:07:30,839 cat might have just been a year old, you know, 134 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,079 or maybe technically still a kitten. But once it's past 135 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,879 the little cutesy stage, a lot of people are like 136 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,160 they don't want to adopt it, or they only want 137 00:07:41,439 --> 00:07:43,959 they don't want an adult because they assume an adult 138 00:07:43,959 --> 00:07:47,160 cat might have issues, which is not the case, right. 139 00:07:47,199 --> 00:07:49,839 Speaker 3: I think it was more so like of a demand thing, 140 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,519 like maybe they thought if they would take it in 141 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,120 it would be harder to adopt. So I kind of 142 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,720 understood where they're coming from, but she still needed help, So. 143 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:02,839 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, absolutely. The title says the Adventures of Puppy 144 00:08:02,879 --> 00:08:04,959 Cat and the Lost Name, So what does the lost 145 00:08:05,079 --> 00:08:05,879 name mean? 146 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:11,879 Speaker 3: So? I wanted to be pretty intentional about that because 147 00:08:11,959 --> 00:08:14,600 I kind of feel like, whether you're a human or 148 00:08:14,639 --> 00:08:18,040 a creature, anything, really, you start and and everything with 149 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,600 your name. It's part of your identity, your story, It's 150 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,240 kind of who you are, right. So when I wrote 151 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:29,519 this story, I just started thinking about just like a 152 00:08:29,519 --> 00:08:32,200 cat who had an owner, their identity was they were 153 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,320 somebody's pet, and all of a sudden that's taken away. 154 00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:39,440 So one of the lines in the book is I 155 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,519 don't know who I am. I don't know where I'm from. 156 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:45,679 I was dumbed to the streets and my owners are gone. 157 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,000 So I was intentional about it because I wanted to 158 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,759 show the effect of what happened when a cat loses 159 00:08:52,799 --> 00:08:55,519 their home. It's dumped on the streets and now theur 160 00:08:55,639 --> 00:08:56,840 just trying to figure out who they are. 161 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 2: So what is one of the things in writing the 162 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,679 book that you really hope children and then parents, because 163 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:06,440 many parents, you know, read to their children take away 164 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:07,240 from this story. 165 00:09:07,639 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 3: So I really hope that when they read the book, 166 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,000 children will learn to have more and more compassion and 167 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,200 empathy for animals. And I hope it gives them a 168 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:19,759 glimpse of how rough it is on the streets as 169 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:23,799 a stray cat. But at the same time, like you know, 170 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,759 seeing puppy cat, I hope they realize that they're these 171 00:09:26,799 --> 00:09:31,879 amazing and curious and beautiful creatures and very important. I 172 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,840 want them to learn that it's not just kittens we 173 00:09:33,919 --> 00:09:37,000 need love. It's grown cats. It could be a senior cat, 174 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,159 a special needs cat, and after that, I want them 175 00:09:41,159 --> 00:09:45,519 to learn about friendship because in the book, she encounters 176 00:09:45,639 --> 00:09:49,039 a dog that is not her species. It looks nothing 177 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,639 like her, and the dog is just trying to be friendly, 178 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:56,919 but she's she's weary. She's suspicious, right, because you're taught sometimes, 179 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,399 oh this person looks like this, you're not supposed to 180 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:02,279 be their friend. So I hope this kind of teaches 181 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,559 them to just give people a chance and to look 182 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,840 past their looks and like, look at who they are inside. 183 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,399 Speaker 2: You just mentioned one of the wonderful parallels in this story. 184 00:10:11,919 --> 00:10:15,000 Do you think with more and more books being written 185 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:21,159 about head adoption, about understanding what it's like to adopt, 186 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,320 to understand spay and neuter, that maybe I don't know, 187 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:27,679 might not be the next generation, might be a couple 188 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:31,039 of generations, that this will really have an impact on 189 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:32,919 less cuts being euthanized. 190 00:10:33,279 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 3: That's what I hope. Then that's why I decided to 191 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:39,120 make it a children's book, because they're very young, and 192 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:42,240 they can they can learn, like from the very beginning, 193 00:10:42,759 --> 00:10:46,720 to have this compassion to not look past the straightcat, 194 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,480 you know, to help feed them. So maybe ask their parents, hey, 195 00:10:50,519 --> 00:10:52,480 is it okay if we put out some food for them, 196 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,320 and then later, Yeah, you're right, then they can teach 197 00:10:55,360 --> 00:11:00,960 them more about staying and neutering and controlling the population. Unfortunately, 198 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,840 like there's so many kittens and there's not enough homes. 199 00:11:04,279 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Okay, we're gonna take a short break and we'll 200 00:11:07,159 --> 00:11:08,080 be right back. 201 00:11:10,879 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 3: Mollie, here's your dinner. Zeuce. 202 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:15,879 Speaker 2: That's not your food. 203 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 5: Don't let that happen to your precious cat. Elevates your 204 00:11:20,039 --> 00:11:23,279 cat's eating experience with the cat tree tray. The cat 205 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,120 tree tray keeps your cat's food off the floor and 206 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,279 conveniently located on the cat tree. It's the perfect way 207 00:11:30,279 --> 00:11:33,720 to eat. 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We're talking to Vanessa Benitez and 220 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,279 we're talking about her book, which is the Adventures of 221 00:12:23,399 --> 00:12:28,200 PuppyCat and the last name based on her real life cat, 222 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:33,519 her rescue cat, Snarf. So rescuing Snarp was the real 223 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,879 life experience that influenced this story. Do you have any 224 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:42,679 other rescue stories that played into or rescue stories you 225 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:45,600 read about that might have played into your story. 226 00:12:45,919 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 3: So it's kind of interesting because you know, like I said, 227 00:12:48,759 --> 00:12:52,840 I had the allergies, so I always fed animals, but 228 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:57,080 I kind of did it from afar, So before Snarp, 229 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,879 I didn't have maybe those up close and personal experiences. 230 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,919 But after I met Snarf and I started getting the 231 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,720 shots number one, I started getting better, right, so I could, 232 00:13:06,879 --> 00:13:09,720 you know, be a little closer to them, And I 233 00:13:09,919 --> 00:13:14,360 started having these, like you're saying, like closer experiences with 234 00:13:14,519 --> 00:13:16,559 strays because I was able to get closer to them 235 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,559 and I learned how to do T and R. So 236 00:13:20,279 --> 00:13:23,960 in the process, I would name every cat that I 237 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,159 that I trapped, right humanly trapped. I made sure I 238 00:13:27,159 --> 00:13:30,399 give them a name, and then you know, i'd make 239 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,440 sure they got the medical care and I would bring 240 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,120 them back. In the process, I kind of saw like 241 00:13:35,399 --> 00:13:37,840 all of the stuff they were going through, Like these cats, 242 00:13:37,919 --> 00:13:40,159 some of them would be limping, they would have you know, 243 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:44,080 patches of firm missing, they would be always hungry. So 244 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:49,480 those experiences when I wrote the book. Although Puffy Cat 245 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,320 isn't sick in the book, she's very hungry. So I 246 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:54,799 kind of wanted to show that that, you know, these 247 00:13:54,879 --> 00:13:58,279 cats have these strong needs and I don't want them 248 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,039 to be forgotten. So that was kind of like my 249 00:14:01,159 --> 00:14:03,600 whole thing when I wrote this book, like I want 250 00:14:03,639 --> 00:14:05,879 you to remember those cats that you pass by you 251 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,480 might ignore. I don't want you to ignore them anymore. 252 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:10,440 I want you to see what they're going through. I 253 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:10,840 like that. 254 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 2: You also have partnered with Four Animals Inc. Can you 255 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,360 tell us about the work they do for stray cats. 256 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:22,399 Speaker 3: Yes, I'm so excited to partner with them. So Four 257 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,639 Animals Inc. Is a nonprofit organization and what's great about 258 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:29,679 them is there a small organization and so you know 259 00:14:29,799 --> 00:14:32,200 the big ones, you know, kudos to them. I'm so 260 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,039 happy that they're getting the funding and the recognition that 261 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,000 they deserve. But this is just a small one in 262 00:14:38,200 --> 00:14:41,840 Queens New York and they service New York City. You 263 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,120 can contact them and if you have these feral cat communities, 264 00:14:46,759 --> 00:14:49,480 they can go in there and they can humanly track 265 00:14:49,559 --> 00:14:52,799 all of them. They'll get them vaccinated, they'll of course 266 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:55,840 get them stay neutered, they'll make sure they're okay help wise, 267 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,360 and then they'll return them, you know, because it's important 268 00:14:58,399 --> 00:15:01,440 to return them to the same area so other cats 269 00:15:01,519 --> 00:15:04,039 don't go. It's like a vacuum effect. But then in 270 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,080 addition to that, if they catch a cat or a kitten, 271 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,679 doesn't matter which one. If the cat is like somewhat 272 00:15:10,799 --> 00:15:13,879 friendly and you can touch them, they will put them 273 00:15:13,919 --> 00:15:16,440 with a foster parent and they will do their very 274 00:15:16,559 --> 00:15:20,279 best to get them adopted. So I partner with them. 275 00:15:20,399 --> 00:15:23,600 So what I'm doing is every time you buy the 276 00:15:23,679 --> 00:15:26,879 adventurous cat a puffy cat on the lost name, I'm 277 00:15:26,919 --> 00:15:29,840 going to donate a portion to them so they can 278 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:30,759 help more cats. 279 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 2: Oh that's wonderful. Now you mentioned tan R for those 280 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,399 which is trapped need a return. So why for those 281 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,879 that don't know, why is that so important? 282 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 3: So shop need in return is really important because it 283 00:15:45,799 --> 00:15:49,279 helps control the plot population. Because I was reading a 284 00:15:49,399 --> 00:15:53,000 statistic that they were saying, if a cat remains unstayed 285 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,440 in a lifetime, they can have between one hundred and 286 00:15:56,559 --> 00:15:59,559 one hundred and fifty kittens. So I can't even imagine 287 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:01,759 what they would due to the poor cat's body and 288 00:16:02,279 --> 00:16:04,159 then all these little kiddies on the street and not 289 00:16:04,279 --> 00:16:07,559 on a pone. So it helps control the population. In 290 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:10,679 addition to that, both male and female cats, it helps 291 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,360 them reduce different types of cancer. So for the female 292 00:16:14,399 --> 00:16:17,879 cats it can reduce breast cancer bearing cancer, and for 293 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:22,919 male cats it helps reduce testicular cancer. So not only 294 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,559 does it control the population, but it keeps the cats 295 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:27,840 that are already around, It keeps them healthier. 296 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 2: Yes, it does. Have you trapped any cats yourself? 297 00:16:31,639 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 3: Oh? Yeah, trapped plenty of cats. Once I got the 298 00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:37,759 ALGA shots, I became cat crazy, so I've got a 299 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:38,759 dozen of them. 300 00:16:38,919 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. 301 00:16:39,399 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 2: Did you ever run into any challenges? 302 00:16:42,159 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 3: It was more so like getting the hang of it, 303 00:16:45,519 --> 00:16:48,080 Like you know, I would see stuff online. I also 304 00:16:48,159 --> 00:16:50,480 knew people who were doing it, and I was trying 305 00:16:50,559 --> 00:16:53,320 to kind of skip steps, like I wouldn't put the 306 00:16:53,399 --> 00:16:56,720 newspaper in the in the cage, or I wouldn't put 307 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,320 it in an area that you know, other cats can 308 00:16:59,399 --> 00:17:00,840 kind of get to the fool because they fight for 309 00:17:00,919 --> 00:17:03,000 the foods. You know, it's a little difficult. Sometimes you 310 00:17:03,039 --> 00:17:05,400 have to fend off one cat throwing pro checken of them, 311 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:08,759 and then try to lure the other cat in. But 312 00:17:09,519 --> 00:17:11,480 it's more so just getting the hang of it. But 313 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:13,759 I got I will say I got pretty good at it. 314 00:17:14,519 --> 00:17:17,640 I've saved a lot of cats, thank god, and I've 315 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,039 gotten a lot of kiddies' homes. 316 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 2: Oh, that's wonderful. I think there's a special talent because 317 00:17:23,559 --> 00:17:26,400 when who was it that I had a trap? Molly's mom, 318 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:30,240 Sammy could not trap her. Sammy and Jethwa have passed 319 00:17:30,279 --> 00:17:32,960 on since, you know, they've been gone about a couple 320 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:37,359 of years now, unfortunately. But Sammy was this skinny little 321 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,960 cat that I thought was a kitten, and I had 322 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,960 a higher a cat trapper I tried. I caught the 323 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,839 baby daddy twice. I caught a raccoon once. No, no, Sammy, 324 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:48,799 she was so tiny she was able to like put 325 00:17:48,839 --> 00:17:52,160 her paw in and clever put her paw into the contraption, 326 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:58,279 move the food. So I actually all a cat local 327 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,200 cat trapper, you know live you know, in the South. 328 00:18:01,279 --> 00:18:04,319 It's yes, we have kitten season, but it's warm all 329 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,519 the time, so there's always stray cats. And I knew 330 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,720 the numbers. I knew if I didn't catch her, she 331 00:18:09,799 --> 00:18:13,359 would have another litter. Baby. She had a second litter 332 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:15,279 while I was trying to catch her. 333 00:18:15,599 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 3: Oh wow, so that's how fast. 334 00:18:18,519 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: Because I don't know offhand the gestation period. I want 335 00:18:22,039 --> 00:18:24,359 to say it's about three months or something. 336 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's around three to four months. 337 00:18:27,559 --> 00:18:31,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so it's very short and it took that long, 338 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,400 you know. Okay, she just had the babies. Okay, all right, 339 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,640 so let me and it wasn't even kitten season. Let 340 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,960 me try to capture her. No, no, so interviewed and 341 00:18:40,079 --> 00:18:42,759 she used like a roadrunner type. So if you guys 342 00:18:43,039 --> 00:18:46,240 date myself, it's in an old cartoon, look up roadrunner 343 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:50,160 and that's kind of a drop trap. But boy, I 344 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,319 even asked her success rate. She said, you have to 345 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:55,519 follow my directions with a certain food, do this, do that, 346 00:18:55,799 --> 00:18:58,680 and you know it worked. She went on to live 347 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,920 four good, healthy years that I don't think she would 348 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,400 have had otherwise, and then there would have been more kittens, 349 00:19:04,799 --> 00:19:08,519 you know, gone, because even in the wild while they 350 00:19:08,599 --> 00:19:12,920 might not be euthanized. There's you know, straight animals, There's 351 00:19:13,279 --> 00:19:16,000 I live in the suburbs, but there's still there's coyotes 352 00:19:16,079 --> 00:19:19,119 around in the suburbs and raccoons and they get in 353 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:22,240 fights and cars and all this kind of stuff. So 354 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,240 I'm really happy you are do T and R. Thank 355 00:19:26,279 --> 00:19:29,400 you so much for that. What was the process like 356 00:19:29,799 --> 00:19:34,519 going from the idea of writing about snarf to actually 357 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:35,720 publishing the book? 358 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,799 Speaker 3: So this thing all started me taking the subway, So 359 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,559 when I was taking the train to work, the story 360 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,680 was kind of coming to my head. So what I 361 00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:49,000 did first before I wrote the book because I kind 362 00:19:49,039 --> 00:19:52,720 of had like ideas, but I wanted to like figure 363 00:19:52,759 --> 00:19:57,200 out the characters furs. So first I already knew PuppyCat 364 00:19:57,319 --> 00:20:00,640 was the star, right, but I wanted to figure out 365 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,000 who would Puffy Cat's friend be. So it was really 366 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:08,279 just researching like really adorable dogs, and I was looking 367 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:12,160 up all different types of breaths, and I absolutely fell 368 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,400 in love with polly dogs because I think they're hilarious looking. 369 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:17,720 They remind me of mops and they have the little 370 00:20:18,079 --> 00:20:21,640 the little the hair that drops to the floor. So 371 00:20:21,759 --> 00:20:24,160 I figured out, okay, that that seems like a very 372 00:20:24,319 --> 00:20:28,759 likable character. So that's where I started. And then every 373 00:20:28,799 --> 00:20:32,200 book needs kind of like that bad guy. So I 374 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,079 had to figure out what type of what type of 375 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:36,599 character would be the person that Puffy Cat might have 376 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,960 some problems with, right or the or the creature, I 377 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,279 should say. And so when I was looking it up, 378 00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:44,599 I didn't want to like pick a big dog because 379 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,880 I felt like that would be like just like a stereotype, 380 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,400 and then before afraid of the both, so I didn't 381 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,480 want to go there. And then I just thought about 382 00:20:52,519 --> 00:20:56,319 the chihuahua, this like spicy little dog, and I figured, okay, 383 00:20:56,839 --> 00:21:01,279 let's make the Chihuahua Chico. Let's make him the bad 384 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,119 guy in the book. So then after that, that's kind 385 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,279 of when the story unfolded. And I only wrote a 386 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,160 little bit in the morning, a little bit in the 387 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:12,200 morning on my commute, a little bit home on my commute. 388 00:21:12,599 --> 00:21:14,839 So I work in a school, so it pretty much 389 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,359 took about an entire school year, and then that's kind 390 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,160 of when the story unfolded. Once I had I had Chico, 391 00:21:21,759 --> 00:21:25,039 I had a twisty dog, and then I had Puffy Cat, 392 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,279 and I already knew I wanted it to start for 393 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:31,720 pumbling from the garbage and then from there. You know, 394 00:21:31,799 --> 00:21:33,319 I wrote the story within a year. 395 00:21:33,519 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 2: And it's very well illustrated. 396 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 3: Oh thank you, and you know what, I've never met 397 00:21:37,440 --> 00:21:38,920 the illustrator. 398 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,559 Speaker 2: But you did well in describing what you needed because 399 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:42,880 the illustrations are great. 400 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:44,160 Speaker 3: And yeah, story. 401 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 2: Well, so there's maybe a little bit of people out there, 402 00:21:48,079 --> 00:21:50,839 not too many that might think, well, talk about teenare 403 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,359 the kids that might be a bit much What would 404 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:55,799 you say to those people? I know it sounds crazy, 405 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,039 but I do think there's some that might say, oh, 406 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,640 you know, it should be all snowfla and no, that's 407 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:08,039 not the expression snowflakes and rainbows or lollipops, you know, 408 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,400 when you're talking to kids. But and even little kids though, 409 00:22:11,519 --> 00:22:17,759 you know, I disagree with that that sunshine lollipops because kids, unfortunately, 410 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,640 even little kids, have to experience things that are not 411 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:24,720 always you know, happy, even small things like if they 412 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,559 drop something and break it that they like that's a 413 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:30,240 small thing, but they still have to experience that too. 414 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:34,559 So talking about T and R and kind of explaining 415 00:22:34,599 --> 00:22:36,880 it in the way that kids relate, what would you 416 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,680 say to those that say no, we shouldn't tell our 417 00:22:39,759 --> 00:22:40,079 kids that. 418 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,039 Speaker 3: Well, first I'd say, read the book and you can 419 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,720 see how it's kind of written. But also I think 420 00:22:47,839 --> 00:22:51,519 that you can touch on things in a way that 421 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,079 you don't have to use like language that's going to 422 00:22:55,119 --> 00:22:58,519 scare them. So the book itself is written in verse, 423 00:22:59,039 --> 00:23:01,519 and I I made it a point to do that 424 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,400 because I wanted to introduce a little bit of a 425 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,480 heavier subject in a light, lighter way, like a light, 426 00:23:07,599 --> 00:23:11,319 more fluffy way. And if you look at the illustrations, 427 00:23:11,599 --> 00:23:13,920 you know, you see like a very happy dog, you 428 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,079 see a really cute cat. So it's kind of it's 429 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,640 a way that you can teach them something that is 430 00:23:19,799 --> 00:23:22,720 very important and can be very beneficial to the lives 431 00:23:22,759 --> 00:23:26,480 of different cats and help them also when they grow, 432 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,519 like you know, keep that compassion from like a young child. 433 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:31,599 But it's a way to do it in a fun way. 434 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,039 So I just think committed to that because I knew 435 00:23:35,079 --> 00:23:37,240 that I was going to teach kids something, and it 436 00:23:37,279 --> 00:23:38,880 was going to teach them in a fun way. There's 437 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,880 always a way to teach kids like heavy lessons in 438 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:44,640 a way that is going to be easy for them 439 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:46,559 to understand and not going to scare them. 440 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:52,440 Speaker 2: Okay, thanks? What should our listeners do, especially if they're 441 00:23:52,559 --> 00:23:55,079 kids with them and they see a stray cat in 442 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:55,839 their neighborhood. 443 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,359 Speaker 3: So it really depends on what you're able to do, 444 00:23:59,559 --> 00:24:01,880 right because you know, like we talked about, some people 445 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:05,039 might have allergies, you know, and some people maybe they're 446 00:24:05,079 --> 00:24:08,279 in different financial situations. We don't know, right, but at 447 00:24:08,319 --> 00:24:10,359 the very least, I would say if you're able to 448 00:24:10,440 --> 00:24:13,359 give some food and water, that might be a good start. 449 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,359 You can always take a pet to the vet, and 450 00:24:16,519 --> 00:24:18,480 that's a free service, and you can see if they 451 00:24:18,559 --> 00:24:21,160 have a microp chip because they also might be a 452 00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:23,559 lost cat, right so if they're lost, you want to 453 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,759 try to reunite them with their owner. And hopefully, if 454 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:30,279 they're listening to this before anything like that happens, they 455 00:24:30,319 --> 00:24:34,279 can research a different organization, like in their neighborhood that 456 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:36,839 can help them. So maybe they can't do t and R, 457 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:39,279 but maybe there's an organization out there that can do 458 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,519 t and R or help a cat get adopted or fostered. 459 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:46,599 And to just reach out to your network of family 460 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:48,920 and friends, you know, there's a lot of people who 461 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,480 might even want to take the cat in maybe you 462 00:24:51,599 --> 00:24:54,079 can't take the cat and belily they can. So it's 463 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:56,680 important just to keep a strong community, and you know, 464 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:01,279 research different animal organizations and speed them. They're so cute. 465 00:25:01,319 --> 00:25:04,319 Speaker 2: Hopefully you can do that, yes, of course. So how 466 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:05,680 is Snarf doing today? 467 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 3: So Snarf just her eight years old. She's doing amazing. 468 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,359 I had a little cat celebration for her. I'm not 469 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,200 going to say a party because a part of me 470 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,720 and I invited guests and I didn't go that far. 471 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,799 But I decorated her cat tree, and I gave her 472 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,440 dry treats. I gave her tuna treat I gave her 473 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:27,359 a little cat nip toys, so you know, she has 474 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,519 a great life. Her favorite toys are really just a 475 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,960 cardboard box and a grocery bag. So you know, she 476 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,240 stayed humble. That's what she likes. And you know, she 477 00:25:37,440 --> 00:25:40,880 makes my day happy almost every day just being around. 478 00:25:41,039 --> 00:25:44,240 And I hope I make her days happy by you know, 479 00:25:44,559 --> 00:25:46,079 just getting her a cat mama. 480 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 2: I'm sure you do. I had a laugh that cardboard 481 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:52,680 box and plastic bag. You know, you could spend so 482 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,079 much on things. I mean, you need a cat tree, 483 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,519 so that's not a toy. Though, but then you get 484 00:25:57,559 --> 00:26:01,200 a box or a plastic bag the best thing ever 485 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:02,079 for a cat. 486 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 3: Right, that's their favorite thing. Yeah, they go buy them 487 00:26:04,559 --> 00:26:05,759 the toy, but they want the box. 488 00:26:06,079 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 2: They want the box and the canaan and they make 489 00:26:08,559 --> 00:26:12,920 themselves spit no matter what the size, which is crazy. Okay, 490 00:26:13,039 --> 00:26:16,720 where can people find out more about the adventures of 491 00:26:16,839 --> 00:26:19,400 PuppyCat and the last name? And also where to buy 492 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:19,880 your book? 493 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:24,279 Speaker 3: Okay? So it's being sold right now online on Amazon, 494 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:28,079 Barnes and Noble and Wilmer on their website. And I 495 00:26:28,279 --> 00:26:31,799 have a website called Puffycatbooks dot Com where you can, 496 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:33,920 you know, find all the links. They're easy if you 497 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:37,519 need to. If you're local. There's a cat cafe called 498 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,440 Esperso where they actually spell the book hard copy if 499 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:43,759 you want to, like like fun stuff and you want 500 00:26:43,799 --> 00:26:47,599 to see the real Puffycat. I have a TikTok and 501 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:51,319 an Instagram or should I say smart does and the 502 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:56,920 handle is snarf Underscore aka Puffycat and also for animals 503 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:58,720 like if you want to learn more about them for 504 00:26:58,839 --> 00:27:01,440 animals dot com and they also have the same name 505 00:27:01,519 --> 00:27:02,640 for TikTok and Instagram. 506 00:27:02,799 --> 00:27:05,079 Speaker 2: I want to thank you Vanessa so much for coming 507 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:10,279 on Catitude and congratulations on your book, The Adventures of 508 00:27:10,319 --> 00:27:11,880 PuppyCat and the Lot's Name. 509 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:13,559 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having me. 510 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,559 Speaker 2: I want to thank my guest Vanessa Benitaz for coming 511 00:27:17,759 --> 00:27:21,440 on Catitude and telling us all about her book, The 512 00:27:21,559 --> 00:27:25,039 Adventures of PuppyCat and the Lost Name. I want to 513 00:27:25,079 --> 00:27:28,400 thank all my loyal listeners of Cataitude. I've been hosting 514 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,680 the show, coming up on nine and a half years, 515 00:27:32,039 --> 00:27:35,960 so thank you so much. Thanks of course to my 516 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,880 cat crew Dennis, Charlotte, Molly, all rescues. Thank you to 517 00:27:41,559 --> 00:27:45,799 all the furbabes in my life that were rescues, Miss c, 518 00:27:46,319 --> 00:27:50,640 mister Z, Sammy and Jethro. And of course the show 519 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,160 would not be the same without the magic of my producer. 520 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:55,680 Thank you so much, Mark Winter for all you do. 521 00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,960 And hey, remember lose the attitude, Have Catitude. 522 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:05,680 Speaker 4: Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on petlight 523 00:28:05,839 --> 00:28:07,000 Radio dot com.