Feral cats are in the news, as communities nationwide ponder their fate. What can towns and individuals do when faced with a population of feral cats? Should these animals be caught and killed, or neutered and returned to their neighborhoods? Are they ruthless killers of songbirds or homeless animals that need and deserve human compassion?
In a celebrated novel by Cathy Unruh, formerly feral cat, Lucy Miracle, offers answers from a feral cat’s perspective. The national tour to promote “Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat” comes to Columbus on April 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Colony Cats (& dogs) Kit & Kaboodle Boutique, 2736 Festival Lane in Dublin. Both Unruh and Lucy Miracle will be on hand to share their story and sign books. The event is free. A limited-seating, fundraising dinner will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. at Camelot Cellars in Columbus. The $65 ticket includes dinner, wine, an autographed book and the chance to meet Unruh and Lucy Miracle. Proceeds will benefit Colony Cats (&dogs). For reservations and details go to www.colonycats.org or email colonycats@yahoo.com.
About the Book: Published by Collage Books, “Taming Me: Memoir of a Clever Island Cat” is loosely based on the real life of Lucy Miracle. As the novel’s protagonist and narrator, Lucy offers an intimate look at the thoughts and emotions of a kitten as she struggles to survive in the wild and learns the intricacies of human interaction. Trap-Neuter-Return, a method for humanely controlling cat populations, is one element of the novel’s page-turning plot, while a cat-hating villain provides intrigue and comic relief. Animal behavior scientist Jonathan Balcombe notes, “Unruh brilliantly captures the inner world of a cat,” while journalist Darlene Arden remarks, “You’ll cry, you’ll laugh and you will love Lucy.” The book’s many supporters include Alley Cat Allies, The Humane Society of the United States, Neighborhood Cats, Farm Sanctuary, Florida Voices for Animals, actress Loretta Swit, and popular authors Rory Freedman and Carolyn Haines.
About Cathy Unruh: A nationally recognized animal advocate and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, Unruh’s work has been featured in such print and on-line publications as Cat Fancy, Paw Nation, The Examiner, and AOL/Huffington Post. She currently hosts a talk show, Up Close with Cathy Unruh, for WEDU-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida.
About Colony Cats (& dogs): Founded in 2002, the primary mission of the all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is to reduce cat overpopulation through public awareness and spay/neuter efforts. Colony Cats is the first and primary organization in central Ohio to offer support services to feral cat caregivers. It also rescues and finds homes for domesticated cats and dogs that have been abused, abandoned or relinquished due to financial hardships. To date, the group has facilitated the spay and neuter of nearly 9,000 cats and dogs and placed over 6,500 pets in homes. For details visit www.colonycats.org.
Availability: Cathy Unruh and Lucy Miracle are available for appearances and interviews by arrangement and via telephone or Skype.
