It's remarkable that we only have one day set aside officially to give thanks for our blessings. Perhaps I feel that way because I've reached the age where I no longer take the bounty life has given me for granted, and now give thanks every day for my blessings. Since Thanksgiving is only a few days away in the U.S., I thought it would be appropriate to spread our thanks over a period of time instead of waiting for the "big day." I'll start, then add more thanks as the days pass by, and I encourage my readers to contribute.

Today I am thankful for having known Kari Winters and having benefited from her passion for writing about and helping cats. It was a pleasure and an honor to call her "friend."

I'm thankful for Tabby's Place, my favorite cats sanctuary, and for Jonathan, Angela, and all the volunteers and staff that give a loving home to special needs cats.

I'm thankful for organizations like The Animal Rescue Site, and FreeKibble.com, along with their sponsors, who make it easy to help feed shelter animals on a daily basis.

I'm thankful for the many cats who have passed through my life, leaving the imprint of their unconditional love. Shown here is Shannon, who gave us 19 wonderful years.
_{Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy}

Your turn now.

Kari was a lovely, gracious woman who dedicated her life to helping others, especially the cats she loved so well. She generously shared her knowledge, and during her career received a number of awards for her writings. Even after her passing earlier this year, Kari has received another award. It was recently announced that Kari Winters has received posthumously the Winn Feline Foundation 2009 Media Award.

I was fortunate to meet Kari early in my own career, and her genuine passion for helping cats was infectious and inspiring. Kari wrote guest articles for my site, including Knowing When to Let Go and Feline Bordetella. I was honored when she asked me to write the forward for her book, Princess Fiona - My Purrsonal Story, which I subsequently reviewed. The proceeds of that book went to the CASR (California Siamese Rescue), one of Kari's many passions.

Today I am thankful for having known Kari Winters. She will be sorely missed, but her selfless work will live on in her memory, long after her passing from this earthly life.

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Most cats love turkey, but the highly spiced holiday bird is often too rich for them. Cats with specific medical problems should eat the special foods prescribed for those problems. Giving them table scraps will only ruin their appetites for the foods they really need.

On the more serious end of the scale, certain foods are downright toxic to cats, and should be avoided at all times. That gravy-slathered turkey likely contains onions, which are highly toxic to cats. The bottom line is that it may be okay to give kitty a tiny scrap of roasted turkey (in the kitchen, not at the table), but avoid encouraging "cats as dinner guests," if you get my gist. Better yet, give the cats their own dinner before you sit down to eat.

This recipe would make a good meal for your cats for their own Thanksgiving dinner, or as an occasional meal any other time of the year. If your cat is allergic to rice, barley might make a good substitution.
_{Photo Credit: © iStockPhoto/Joe Biafore}