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(Allia Zobel Nolan and Nicole Hollander's newest book, Women Who Still Love Cats Too Much, will be released in September 2015 but is now available for pre-orders. Enjoy this interview with the author to understand her obsession affection for felines.)

Cats are ridiculously popular these days. But it wasn't always so. When and what got you interested in writing about these feline fur babies?

Truth is though I always had an affinity for cats, my parents were really 
dog people. In fact, my mom really didn't like cats at all...said they were 
sneaky. Then one Christmas morning, a friend dropped off a box for me. It was large, moved, and had holes in the top. It turned out that inside the box was a white ball of fluff...the cutest white kitten I'd ever seen. I named him Oscar Pooke. Much to her dismay, the tiny fur ball followed Mother around all day and at night, sat in the crook of Dad's neck while we watched TV. Needless to say, Mother fell in love with him; father fell in love with him, and of course, I was over the moon. I was about 15. Ten cats later, I'm still smitten.

Do you consider yourself a "crazy cat lady?"

You know the stereotypical image of the crazy cat lady is of a spinster, in slovenly clothes, who lives with hordes of cats in a stinky house that looks like a bomb hit it. Other than the messy house, I don't fit that category. Some may consider my over-the-top treatment of my cats "crazy." But I believe if you are blessed with the care of an animal, you should do all you can to make it happy and comfortable...everything.

What is the most bizarre thing you've ever done for your cats? 


Well, I don't consider anything I've ever done for my cats "bizarre." The 
book notwithstanding, others whose involvement with their puddies may not run as deeply as my own, may think I spoil them - what with insisting on fresh, wild caught (never farmed) salmon for their meals, or hiring a vet technician to come in to the house six times a day to make sure they are okay when I'm away for more than two hours. Also, when I'm cuddling my newly rescued baby, Nolan Nolan, I also run my face up and down his fur, imitating the licking gestures a mommy cat makes when she cleans her puddy. I do that because he is under a year old and may be missing being groomed by his birth mom. But I don't consider any of that "bizarre." However, I read on the web of some woman who actually "married" her cat. Now, to me, that's bizarre. That's like marrying your child.

Does your love for your cat interfere with your love life? 


Well, truthfully, my husband, who is Irish, prefers dogs. However, it's a matter of the old saying, "love me, love my cat(s)." I really couldn't spend my life with someone who doesn't like cats. I'm not saying they have to be ga-ga over them - like I am - but they have to at least understand where I'm coming from. I just lost a cat, Angela Dahling, who had thyroid disease and kidney failure. For two years, I hand-fed her, or arranged for her to be fed, four times a day. She also had to have fluids three times a week and Vitamin B12 shots, and all of this was very time-consuming and costly, both physically and psychologically. And my husband was very understanding of it all. Many wouldn't be, but then, I wouldn't be with a person like that.

Can you give us three things women who love cats too much can do to course-correct their lives?

Well, first, many of us (and I include myself in the quotient), don't want to course correct. Our lives may not be as smooth as they would be if we didn't love cats too much. But then, surely our lives would not be as fulfilled as they are now. But for those who may consider (however briefly) changing, I would suggest: Be firm when it comes to opening and closing the door for your cat.
 Do it 50 times, and then leave the door ajar. Kitty may learn the mechanics of door-opening, and you'll have 10, maybe 20, extra minutes in your day. Here's another thing: Try (and I say try, because you may have to give in) not to feed puddy every time she stands at her feeding bowl starring at you with soulful saucer eyes. Walk away, engage yourself in busy work, build a catio...anything to get your mind off that face. If you can't stand the silence, though, wait a while before you fill her bowl. This way, she'll know you are NOT at her beck and call. The third thing is to try (I know it's difficult) to do more outside the house: volunteer, go shopping, get the mail. If it becomes simply too unbearable, you can always get a video monitor app for your phone to check on them. Course-correcting will not be easy, so take baby steps.

Many people don't like cats at all. They prefer dogs. In fact, many people think dogs are the superior companion animal. What do you say to that?

Hogwash! I've written extensively...books and articles...on why the cat is paws-down above and beyond the dog. For starters, unlike dogs, cat don't have self-esteem issue. They're not hyper and aren't in your face for approval every half-second. They may sit on your computer or book now and again. But that's only for your benefit - so you don't feel they're not paying attention to you. A cat's breath doesn't smell like a mixture of a dumpster and an old locker. Cats would never cling to a guest's leg, nor slobber all over them. Cats wouldn't dream of rolling in the mud, then jumping all over you. I could go on and on and on. But you get the picture.

- Allia Zobel Nolan

Allia Zobel Nolan is an internationally published, award-winning author of more than 200 children's and adult trade titles. Her books reflect her two main passions, God and cats, and include such varied titles as Purr More, Hiss Less: Heavenly Lessons I Learned from My Cat, Cat Confessions: A Kitty-Come-Clean Tell-All Book, The Ten Commandments for Little Ones, The Worrywart's Prayer Book and Whatever: Livin' the True, Noble, Totally Excellent Life. Her newest book, Women Who Still Love Cats Too Much, will be released in September 2015 but is now available for pre-orders.