I Chose the Aunt Life

Last night, our friends and their kids had dinner with us then came over to hang out with the kittens. During our meal, the elder asked me why and how we are their aunts because we aren’t related to them. That opened a conversation about choosing family and that we chose to be involved in […]

Free to a Good Home: 12 Bits of Advice for First-Time Cat Ladies and Friends

Foster Kitten Pittsburgh

It was two years ago in late December when we began feeding a Domestic Long-Haired cat who showed up on our deck. It was so cold and snowy that we set up a makeshift feeding station for her and a few friends who showed up. Fast forward two years. That particular kitty and her bonded […]

Introducing the Sheffield Trio – Eight Week Old Kittens Born on the Northside of Pittsburgh

Meet our newest foster kittens: Susie Myerson, Sophie Lennon, and Maisel. They are eight weeks old. They were born in late October under a porch on Sheffield Street here in Manchester. When the homeowners discovered Mama Cat (now known as Faith) caring for her brood, they turned to the cat ladies and friends for help. […]

Celebrate the Holidays with ‘The Carols’ at Carnegie Stage

The Carols Carnegie Stage

It’s Christmastime in 1944. War is raging and, here at home, a group of neighbors gathers at the VFW to make the most of what they have. This new original musical comedy, first staged in 2017, is back by popular demand and tells the story of an oddball friendship between a trio of singing sisters, […]

Twinkle! Kids Drag Variety Show Lets Kids Express Themselves

Drag Variety Show kids Pittsburgh

This is a post from contributing drag artist, E! The Dragnificent ~ Sue Twinkle! is an amazing kids drag variety show that lets kids express themselves the way that they thrive in performance. This annual show was founded by my mother, Dré Aliquo-Varela in August of 2014. The first-ever twinkle show was put on at […]

We need just $390 to buy TNR cat lady supplies for Pittsburgh #GivingTuesday

Fundraiser for homeless cats

In October, we created a crowdfund to benefit the Homeless Cat Management Team. Our goal is to raise $2500 to purchase trap/neuter/return (TNR) supplies including a drop trap kit, humane traps, carriers, gloves, nets and so forth to have available for Northsiders rescuing cats. The gear will be the property of HCMT, but live with […]

Trauma and Tough Love Do Not Mix

Trauma Tough Love

Content Note: trauma, friends with good intentions, tough love   I did not have a particularly pleasant or peaceful holiday. Turkey Day itself passed relatively benignly until I got home. That’s when an overwhelming sadness swept over me as I realized I had spent the entire day with extended family, but not a single person […]

Pittsburgh Needs Policies for Urban Wildlife and Homeless Domestic Animals #NaBloPoMo

The Prompt – Is Pittsburgh a cat or dog city? (Or alligator city?) Explain your answer. I’m a cat and dog person, but I have more cats right now. Thus, I plead the Fifth on this one. I wish the CITY as an entity had more concrete policies with regard to homeless cats and dogs. […]

Network Exhaustion

We’ve accomplished a lot together this year. We’ve rescued and raised six homeless kittens, along with taking care of a feral colony. Plus, we collected A LOT of cat food to help other folks caretaking colonies. We’ve redirect lots of items destined for the landfill to help cats – blankets, towels, beds, etc. We supported […]

Coping with Four Facebook Bans over Eight Days, Personally and Professionally

Social media bans silence political bloggers

  This morning, I was notified that I have a 24-hour ban from Facebook. It is my fourth ban in an eight day span. There’s no explanation, there’s no clarity on exactly which Community Standards I violated, there’s no information. And there’s no way to compel Facebook to do anything. So I’m not going to […]