Belinda Alexandra - The Divine Feline: A chic cat ladys guide to womans best friend

Cats and women share many traits: beauty, elegance, sensitivity, affectionate natures, a knack for nurturing and a love of the luxurious.

Then there are the qualities cats possess that women long to emulate: fighting fiercely to protect themselves, never saying yes when they mean no, and being unafraid to claim the best seat in the house. Cats are loyal to those who love them but couldnt give a toss about what others think. They dont suffer self-esteem issues or worry if theyre overweight. And then there is their air of mystery, that slinky walk... oh to be a cat!

Belinda Alexandra, writer and ardent cat lover, makes no apology for celebrating the bond between women and their cats. In The Divine Feline , she shares her own experiences, looks back at the relationship between women and cats throughout history and solves behavioural questions in a whimsical and practical way. Viva la cat lady!

Belinda Alexandra is the international bestselling author of nine works of womens fiction. She is a devoted animal activist and patron of the World League for the Protection of Animals (Australia).

Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the World League for the Protection of Animals

Introduction

T hroughout history women have had a special relationship with cats: from the ancient Egyptian priestesses in the temples of the goddess Isis, to witches of the Middle Ages and career women of today. This makes sense, as women and cats share many traits: beauty and elegance; sensitivity; affectionate natures; a knack for nurturing; and a love of the luxurious. Cats also embody the feminine dark side, with a tendency to neuroses and fear of change. Then there are those qualities that cats possess that women long to emulate. A cat will fight fiercely to protect itself; never says yes when it means no; and isnt afraid to claim the best seat in the house for itself. Cats are loyal to those who love them, but couldnt give a toss what people think of them. They dont suffer self-esteem issues or worry if they are overweight. In addition, they exude an air of mystery in that slinky walk... oh, to be a cat!

Yet society has often driven a wedge between women and their cats, both physically and emotionally. In history, they were persecuted together during the witch-hunts, and even in modern times the lore of the crazy cat lady persists. The cat lady is thought of as a hermit and a hoarder. Shunned by society, she dies alone. Her body isnt discovered for weeks and when it is, she has been half-consumed by her ravenous cats. The story is a subtle warning to women who want to remain single, independent and childless: better get a husband and family or this could be you! (Its interesting that there is no equivalent of the crazy cat lady for men.)

In this book you will find none of that. It is an unashamed celebration of the spiritual bond of feline and feminine that has been handed down to us from ancient times. I will describe the history of the relationship of women and cats through the ages and share the journey of my own life with cats, relating how they have influenced my writing. Ill also show you how to revive the sacred bond of the witch and her familiar (an animal that assists a wise woman to travel from the physical to the spiritual realm) by suggesting ways you can create a magical connection with your cat (or cats, as the situation may be).

As a lover of history, Ill share some endearing stories of famous people and their passion for cats, and as an amateur cat behaviourist Ill give you some insight into why cats do the things they do. Ill also provide information on how to understand the ways your cat communicates with you, suggest home remedies for simple ailments, and ponder with you on the question of whether it is possible to train a cat or notthey have certainly trained us! As a lover of all animals, and especially wildlife, Ill propose ways to both enjoy your cat and be mindful of all the other lives around you too. Ill also describe some ways to create a stimulating environment for indoor cats to take care of their psychological and physical needs.

But most of all this is a book about joy. Quite often women who love cats are made to feel guilty about it. We are almost compelled to describe ourselves as crazy cat ladies by way of apology for our passion. There is a difference between a cat hoarder, who keeps herself and her animals in terrible conditions due to a tragic mental health issue or other trauma, and an everyday woman who happens to like cats and maybe even has several. Youll notice that Ive taken the crazy out of the subtitle of this book. Im all for joshing and not taking ourselves too seriously, but youll see when you read the history of women and cats that the belittling of the relationship has some dark undertones.