For the Love of Cats: Amazing True Stories of Cats and the People Who Love Them - Softcover

Carol Kline is an animal welfare advocate and serves on the advisory board of the Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, in Fairfield, Iowa, a volunteer effort that saves lost, stray and abandoned cats and dogs. A freelance writer for fifteen years, she has coauthored several books on a variety of topics, including the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, Happy for No Reason, and Love for No Reason.

Acknowledgments

It takes a talented team working behind the scenes to make the magic in a book happen. There are dozens of people, each with a specific niche, who brought For the Love of  Cats from conception, to creation, to its place on your favorite booksellers' shelves.

Our biggest thank-you goes to our cats―past and present―for their patience while we learned how to love, nurture, and care for them, and appreciation for them letting us into their world.

We especially thank our publisher, Peter Vegso, who believes in us and supports us in myriad ways, for publishing our last eight consecutive pet books. With HCI Books there is harmony, joy, trust, flexibility, excitement, experience, professionalism, can-do-ism, and a shared love of both pets and people. We tip our hats in sincere appreciation and respect to every member of the HCI team whose efforts allow us to show these books off with pride!

We owe a huge amount of gratitude and love to our story editor, Cindy Buck, whose enormous talent and commitment are only rivaled by the beauty of her heart, mind, and spirit. Cindy, we couldn't have done it without you―nor would we have wanted to.

On a more personal level, we simply cannot do what we do without the support of our families and friends.

Marty wishes to thank his beloved wife Teresa, son Lex and daughter Mikkel for their love and support. The Becker family shares Almost Heaven Ranch in northern Idaho with a menagerie of four-legged family members―dogs, cats, and horses―that are a constant source of joy. Worthy of special mention is his colleague, mentor, and friend, Dr. R. K. Anderson, one of the cofounders of the Delta Society, a world-renowned veterinary behaviorist, inventor, and the founder of ABRIonline.org.

Gina's love and appreciation goes out to her brother Joe, who is her very best friend, and her parents, Louise and Nino, her brother Pete, his wife, Sally, and their bright and talented children, Kate and Steven. Thanks to Christie Keith and Morgan Ong, friends who are really family. And, of course, to all the ­animals who continue to teach the lessons of love and acceptance.

Carol thanks her husband, Larry, who is the love of her life and who not only makes it possible for her to spend all of her time writing and editing, but makes it all worthwhile. Thanks also to her wonderful stepchildren, Lorin and McKenna, and to her mother Selma, brothers Jim and Burt, and sisters Barbara and Holly, and their families, for being her favorite people in the world. Big belly rubs and lots of w-a-l-k-s for dogs Beau, Beethoven, and Jimmy-pop, and perennial love and fascination for the cats of the world.

Mikkel foremost wants to thank God for his love and blessings. Her children (pugs), Willy and Bruce, keep her entertained with their wrestling and cuddling. And special thanks to her family cheerleaders, who have shared her accomplishments and achievements: Marty, Teresa, Lex, Valdie, Rockey, Virginia, Joan, Pete, Mike, and Joanie, for their enduring love and support.

Marty Becker
Gina Spadafori
Carol Kline
Mikkel Becker

©2012. Marty Becker, Gina Spadafori, Carol Kline, Mikkel Becker. All rights reserved. Reprinted from For the Love of Cats. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442