Fun Feline Finds: Kitty Karma Books

Cat tales fund shelters for abandoned, unwanted felines in need

A guest blog by Wai-Lin Terry, Founder & Publisher, Kitty Karma Books

Why should dogs feel all the love? That’s what I asked myself before epiphany struck.

I have seen so many books devoted to dogs – not that there’s anything wrong with that, dogs are wonderful – and I thought it was time to have one devoted to cats. After all, a life graced by a cat is changed forever.

I was also looking for a meaningful way to honor my cat, Kealani, who died right in front of me in November 2016. I wanted to channel my grief into something positive for all cats.

And with that, Kitty Karma Books was born. Kitty Karma has grown into a force for doing good, designed to help elevate the quality of life of cats around the world… one, two, or three kitties at a time.

Kitty Karma Books

With help from the global cat-loving community, Kitty Karma Books aims to honour all cats, elevate the welfare and improve the lives of abandoned, unwanted and disabled cats and kittens in need.

How am I doing this? By publishing cat books and donating all net proceeds from book sales to cat shelter charities around the world.

The first book is Kitty Karma: Big Stories of Small Cats Who Change Our Lives, an anthology of unique cat stories. Some are hilarious, others heartbreaking. You’ll read about adventure-cat escapades and heart-wrenching miraculous rescues. The book also sheds light on the shadow aspects of the cat world – things like cruelty at kill shelters, cat abuse, and irresponsible ownership. It features tales of adventure cats and feral cats; cats who are sailing on high seas off the coasts of New Zealand and Mexico; and a cat sanctuary located in a war zone. Readers will learn about a popular cat café in Ontario, Canada as well the very first cat café in India. The book will be published and available for sale in November.

Our authors include award-winning writers, journalists, animal communicators, rescue workers, and amazing cat parents. All of them have donated their stories for free because they care deeply about the cause. They may be from all over the world, living different lives and bringing different perspectives, but they are united by one simple thing: a fierce and passionate love for cats. Check out the full list of contributing authors here.

The Hero Cause

Some call it a cause. I think of these shelter organizations and the people who toil in them as heroes. Kitty Karma Books has chosen three hero cat shelters to receive donations out of the net proceeds from sales of this first book.

The Cat Man of Aleppo or Il Gattaro d’Aleppo, is saving, feeding and housing cats left hungry and homeless by the Syrian war.

If you haven’t already heard of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, you may be in the minority. He and his big heart have been the focus of international news coverage, like this NBC News story from May 2017. The book includes a full-length chapter about Alaa, as his friends call him, and readers will learn about his commitment to cats in the face of grave personal danger.

Abaykitties is near and dear to my heart. I’ve spent a lot of time on the Big Island of Hawaii and I’m always sure to visit Abaykitties. They tirelessly care for the feral colonies on the Big Island of Hawaii, where there is no natural fresh water source and the cat population must be managed.

And Whangamata CAT (cat adoption team), a small group of New Zealand volunteers providing safe refuge, food, and veterinary care for misplaced cats. Whangamata was referred to me by Skatty, a famous adventure cat who has been featured in online and traditional media. Partly because he’s a gorgeous polydactil maine coon, and partly because Skatty is the ears for his deaf sailor cat parent Paul Thompson. (You’ll hear from both Skatty and Paul in the book.)

The Indiegogo Campaign

I’m raising money via an Indiegogo campaign to help with the start-up costs to get this book out to the public. There are production, design, publishing, promotion and distribution costs. The sooner you can help me meet those production expenses, the faster I can provide an economic benefit to the cat shelter caregivers and the cats they care for.

The campaign is live, and I’m thrilled that at the ten day mark we achieved nearly 50% of our goal. However, it’s not time for a catnap. My hardworking team and I need all the help we can get in order to provide the much-needed support for these cat charities.

To honour your contribution, Kitty Karma has assembled a furr-tastic array of perks. We’ve had fun naming them: There’s the Head Bump Hello, Morning Meow, Cat Stretch Cursty, and Kitty Lick Love, to name just a few. Get free early-bird stories, copies of the book, or signed limited edition hard covers. Maybe get your own beloved cat featured in our M-M-Meow Gallery. Certain perks include social media shoutouts, or acknowledgement right in the book.

(Note from Mudpie: We've pledged and secured our copy of the book! I can hardly wait to get my paws on it!)

Can You Help?

We’re launching a special challenge. For every single contribution at the $200 Cat Stretch Curtsy level that comes in this Friday Oct 13 and Saturday Oct 14, Kitty Karma Books will directly contribute 15%, or $30, to Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel aka the Cat Man of Aleppo. With renewed bombing in the Syrian civil war, an increasing number of cats to house and feed, and his work as an ambulance driver, his need for our support has become acute. We wish to respond, together, to help him elevate the lives of the cats in his care at House of Ernesto.

Wanna play? Here are the next steps.

1. Visit the Kitty Karma Indiegogo campaign page, select the Perk Challenge $200 Cat Stretch Curtsy.

2. Hover your mouse over the date shown at the bottom of the perk description until it turns PINK, and click.

3. Follow the rest of the prompts, easy peasy.

You can, of course, choose any other perk level that suits your budget – we offer options from $5 all the way up to $2500. This weekend, however, the 15% direct donation applies only to the $200 Cat Stretch Curtsy perk.

The following two weekends we plan other surprise challenges aimed at directing early funds to our other two recipient shelters. You’ll have to check back with us for the details.

Cat Blessings

I believe that cats bless us when they favour us with their attention and the world is a better place when there is a cat at home and cat fur on our clothes. The width, depth and breadth of joy a cat can bring into our lives is without measure.

Kitty Karma Books’ aims to do good in the world. Starting with the cats.

Wai-Lin Terry, Founder & Publisher, Kitty Karma Books.