“Birds, Mice, and Apple Pie” A Tasteful Read
For Cat Lovers

RESCUE, CA – February 1 – Animal expert Susan Fiedler introduces readers to life from a cat’s perspective in her newly-released “Birds, Mice, and Apple Pie” (ISBN 0-9778580-1-4), a non-fiction paperback published by Spotted Cat Designs.

Fiedler tells her tale from the viewpoint of a third-generation feral kitten adopted by a family of humans. Six cats from different backgrounds tell their stories to the young kitten with a mix of matter-of-fact compassion and humor. Through these stories, readers are given a cat’s-eye view of feline life, shelters, catteries, birth, dying with dignity, and human cruelty and kindness. As Fiedler puts it, “Those creatures who dare to share their lives and love with us deserve our respect, compassion and love in return.”

Fiedler draws from almost 40 years of experience taking care of animals and pours her love for them into this timeless book.Without heavy-handed moralizing, “Birds, Mice, and Apple Pie” provides a heartwarming glimpse into the lives of abandoned and unwanted cats. And in the tradition of books such as May Sarton’s “The Fur Person,” Susan Fiedler’s cats come to life in a unique way that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Readers can also visit the companion web site to “Birds, Mice, and Apple Pie” at www.SpottedCatDesigns.com where they can read articles on cat care, browse the latest cat news, and ask questions about interacting with their own cats. “Birds, Mice, and Apple Pie” is now available from major booksellers including Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. For more information, or to order a signed copy, readers can visit www.SpottedCatDesigns.com.

You can also read the stories at places like Publishers Newswire, Send2Press, News Media Release, PR Leap, Newswire Today, PR.com

Contact: David Fiedler
david@spottedcatdesigns.com
Office: 530-677-4520
Mobile: 530-306-8291

Backgrounder: About Susan Fiedler

Susan Fiedler is a working mother who has been rescuing animals for many years. She lives in a rural area near Sacramento, California with one husband, two sons, seven cats, many fish, and a 40-year-old boa constrictor. Their property is certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

Fiedler’s interest in understanding people and animals has been lifelong. At 11, she learned to take care of an orphaned Maine Coon kitten. Later, Susan became the first junior member of the New York Herpetological Society, then based at The Bronx Zoo near her home. One freezing cold March day, a man brought in a baby boa constrictor who had been born after his mother was discovered in a shipment of bananas. Only the size of a pencil, and fed only once since his birth the previous year, he was nursed to health by Susan, and remains with her to this day, although he has grown quite a bit larger and heavier at age 40. At fifteen, Fiedler’s experiences with reptiles and amphibians led her to contribute the humorous column “Snakes Alive” to her summer camp newsletter.

Flash forward to Queens College (CUNY, NYC) where she studied Cultural Anthropology, Psychology, and Ancient Civilizations. At Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ) she earned a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Service, which enabled her to become more comfortable with computers and enhance her research skills.

Articles written by her husband David led them to start a publishing company which specialized in reviewing products and services in the computer industry. Two magazines and one newsletter were successfully launched and eventually sold. David kept writing about computers, while Susan went on to other projects.

Two sons and lots of volunteer work later, Susan did what many Moms do: she went back to work. She now works at a pet superstore with some of her favorite animals, and teaches people how to properly care for their own pets.

Backgrounder: About Animal Communication

All animals communicate with each other through sound, scent, and behavior. Most of us know what a dog wagging his tail or a purring cat is “saying”. But when there are “problem behaviors” that humans do not understand or do not want to take the time to solve, they often abandon the pet or at best relegate him to the county shelter. If the animal is lucky, she will be adopted by a new loving family who will work with her. The unlucky ones are euthanized.

Some people have tried to take understanding animal communication to a new level. It started with Penelope Smith publishing a book about her experiences communicating with animal companions. Now, with literally dozens of books available on the subject, it’s almost a mainstream phenomenon.

Animal communication is not “just some air-headed New Age nonsense,” although it often sounds that way to people initially. According to Susan Fiedler, for a human to experience it, she must be willing to focus totally on the specific animal using empathic listening and feeling, and to push doubts and preconceived ideas out of her mind. Asking a clear question with a simple yes or no answer is one way to start. Be honest and straightforward without sarcasm or humor.

Even if you refuse to believe in empathic animal communication, “Birds, Mice, and Apple Pie” remains a heartwarming story of a multi-cat household.