And Along Came Samantha

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Pamela Knudsen

In the winter of 2021, I was grappling with the loss of Bobcat. He’d been one of my feline companions for about seven years. After his best pal, Lexington passed away in December of 2019, Bobcat and I formed a deeper bond. Without Lex, I could focus all my attention on Bobcat and he lapped it up, becoming more affectionate and playful. We became so in tuned with each other, it was no surprise that Bobcat knew I had cancer before I did. The weaker I became, the stronger he doted on me. I couldn’t lie on the sofa without him settling in on my lap with his face inches from mine. I would hold him and he would “kiss” my forehead and stare into my eyes, as if trying to heal me. He became my nursemaid from pre-cancer diagnosis, during treatments up until two weeks before cancer surgery, when he experienced renal failure after a battle with diabetes, and passed.

I was a cat lady with no cats for the first time in thirty-three years. It was an adjustment that I could not get accustomed to. After a couple months of grieving, I’d had enough.

* * *

Samantha Jo (fka Annie) was under weight, had badly matted fur and three bladder stones when she was relinquished to the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. When I met her she was recovering from bladder stone removal surgery. We locked eyes as I stepped into the small room in the shelter in which she was staying. She hopped down from the top of the cabinet she was perched upon and sashayed over to me. I sat down on a towel that was on the floor. She sat next to me then put her paw on the top of my hand and let out a soft “mew.” When I laid eyes on her, I knew we were a perfect pair, and this validated she felt the same way.

My adoption application was approved that day, but Samantha was still recovering and couldn’t be released for a couple weeks, and I had my final chemo treatment to endure and recover from. The adoption would have to be put off. In the meantime, the shelter let me visit.

On April 2, 2021, Samantha came home with me. Although we had a connection, she was guarded for the first year, keeping her distance as we got to know each other. I would often catch her staring at me from across the room, a penetrating stare as though she was sizing me up wondering if I would keep her, or if she’d end up back at the shelter. And if I tried to pick her up, she instantly wriggled out of my arms.

Today, Samantha Jo is my constant companion. I can’t be in the kitchen without her overseeing my every move, from pouring a glass of wine to making tea. She seeks me out to play tag, keeps me company as I work, and once in a while when I pick her up, she melts into my chest, and lets me hold her.

News Flash: I wrote a short story prequel to this adoption story, which is being published in a beloved book series of over 275 titles that has sold more than 110 million copies across the U.S. and Canada, and in 2008 became the best-selling trade paperback series of all time.

I’ll share details over the coming weeks before the sales release date, May 20^th!

Cats and Dogs and Chili Oh My!

Posted on July 2, 2023 by Pamela Knudsen

I reside in a city that has a small-town vibe because of its historic charm, its quaint downtown by the sea complete with a tavern dating back to 1934, the Marine Room Tavern, and its ongoing community events. And what better way for a small town-ish community to kick off summertime than to have a Pet Parade & Chili Cook-Off?

The event, hosted by the Laguna Real Estate Charitable Assistance Fund has been supporting Laguna Beach’s animal nonprofit organizations for over 20 years. From sea lions to felines, Laguna Beach loves its animals, and what better organization for a cat lady to be involved with than The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats? I’ve been a volunteer for 10 years and have worked the Blue Bell booth at several Pet Parade events. This year was extra special because of the event’s return after a 4-year hiatus thanks to the pandemic and skyrocketing costs of the longstanding venue where the event was held.

A new venue was found and on Saturday, June 24^th, the parking lot of the Neighborhood Congregational Church was filled with people and their pets, colorful booths holding space for animal nonprofit organizations including Catmosphere Laguna Foundation, The Blue Bell Foundation for Cats, Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, One Mutt at a Time and Friends of Normie, various real estate firms, and the Laguna Beach fire and police departments.

One Mutt at a Time

I was honored to meet the police department’s support dog K9 Cooper, a loveable Lab who joined the police force to offer support and comfort to survivors of crime and people dealing with trauma. Not only do Lagunans love their animals, they understand the animal-human bond and the positive impacts that these precious beings have on us humans.

Dogs, puppies, cats and kittens were entered into the parade in various “cat-agories”. One of Blue Bell’s feline residents, Honey, won the award for “Most Gorgeous Senior Pet” and friend of Blue Bell, Rolo, won first place in “Best Costume” and “Happiest Rescue”. It was great spending time with Rolo and his mom Elizabeth who adopted Rolo at CatCon.

Blue Bell Resident Honey

Friend of Blue Bell Rolo the Adventure Cat

You don’t get much more of a small-town feel than being in a place where everybody knows somebody, the aroma of chili permeates the air, and people gush over pets in costumes.

And back at the cottage, Samantha has been her usual sweet and sassy self.

She expressed her dismay about not being able to go to the Pet Parade & Chili Cook-Off.

Yet she found solace on a sun hat.

Samantha was thrilled to see herself in Laguna Beach Magazine’s June/July issue, which featured my book Two Cats, a Mermaid and the Disappearing Moon!

And she adores my new home-office chair.

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Daydream Kitty

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Pamela Knudsen

Bouncing back from my post-surgery chemo treatment in early March was tougher than anticipated. My body’s constitution had been weakened from surgery and was still recovering, so adding chemo to that caused the fatigue, weakness and GI distress to drag on longer. Yet, I was recovering from the loss of Bobcat—still missing him—but the heaviness in the atmosphere around me and in my heart had lifted. I started daydreaming about having a kitty and thought that having a girl again would be nice. I’d not had a feline gal pal since Bella died in 2012.

Miss Bella

Miss Bella

One particular image in my daydreams became more frequent; that of me holding a young female feline with fluffy cream and peach-toned fur. This visual worked its way into my mind at night, as I would fall into a twilight zone before falling into a deep sleep. And actually, this image started popping into my mind shortly before Bobcat passed; yet I dismissed it. But now I started to pay attention. Could this picture in my mind be a sign of what was to come? I imagined living life alongside a feline companion again. I started visualizing the kitty in my daydreams snuggling next to me on the sofa and thought about what I would name her.

On a recent Saturday morning after scrolling through Instagram, I texted a friend, Ann Marie, asking about something she’d posted. I also gave her a heads-up that I was in the market for adopting a kitty, as she volunteers at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter. Three days later, Ann Marie sent me a text telling me that she’d met “Annie” on Saturday (the same day we texted) and if I liked Persians, I’d love her. She included a link to the online news publication, Stu News Laguna, where Annie was featured as the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter’s “Pet-of-the-Week.” My heart started racing and I had that feeling in my gut that you get when something big is about to happen. I clicked onto the link, and the photo of Annie made my jaw drop. There she was…the cat of my daydreams. This is my kitty! My girl! I said out loud as tears streamed down my cheeks. I’ve been extra emotional since the cancer journey began, but this emotive visceral reaction was coming from my knowing that Annie was The One.

Daydream Kitty

I met Annie at the shelter the following day. At one point during my visit with her after taking a break from tossing cat toys and watching her enthusiastically bat them around, I sat on a towel placed on the floor and motioned for Annie to sit next to me. She pranced over and sat close to my hand that was resting on the towel in the space next to me. Annie then carefully placed her paw on top of my hand and held it there as she looked up at me. I melted. A volunteer asked me what I thought of Annie. My reply: “I’m in love. If you approve my application, I want her.” My application passed the shelter’s scrutiny with flying colors.

Annie saying good-bye to me after we first met. We did the slow blink with each other for several minutes.

Annie was recovering from bladder stone surgery and couldn’t be released until the following week, around the time I had another chemo scheduled. The shelter kept Annie until I was able to sign the adoption agreement and take her home, and in the meanwhile, I was able to visit her.

On April 2^nd the adoption became official and I brought Annie home with me. I re-named this elegant, playful and affectionate kitty of my daydreams Samantha. And that day she settled into her new life with a new name and her new mama in a cottage by the sea as though she’d been with me forever.