Bailey- No Ordinary Cat Read online

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  is available through the Library of Congress

  © 2019 Erin Merryn

  ISBN-13: 978-07573-2184-9 (Hardcover)

  ISBN-10: 07573-2184-4 (Hardcover)

  ISBN-13: 978-07573-2185-6 (ePub)

  ISBN-10: 07573-2185-2 (ePub)

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher.

  HCI, its Logos and Marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

  Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

  3201 S.W. 15th Street

  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442–8190

  Cover and inside designs by Larissa Hise Henoch

  Inside book formatting by Lawna Patterson Oldfield

  Once in a great while, a pet enters our lives, enchants us, and changes everything. A giant soul inside of a tiny creature who most assuredly was sent to us for reasons beyond our understanding. Bailey, a tiny orange tabby cat, broke the mold when he became Erin Merryn’s furry companion hailing back from her college days when he illegally shared her dorm room through to becoming the eldest sibling to her three young daughters. What went on in Erin’s household morphed into a career for Bailey as family entertainer and social media mega-star. His behavior was beyond cat-like with monk-like tolerance and uncharacteristic patience. Most cats would never be caught in a tuxedo or wearing sunglasses or sitting in a high chair to eat dinner, but that’s what made him Bailey, No Ordinary Cat.

  Bailey leapt into my heart (literally) the day I went to a pet store to pass some time. I’d never met such an affectionate cat. I couldn’t leave without him. He was my copilot, my fur baby, my daily dose of laughter.

  The tear-jerking part of the story is that Bailey, like all cats, was not destined to live forever. A heartbreak to his human siblings, Bailey was summoned to kitty heaven after some struggles with his health at the ripe old age of fourteen. He gave the family a bonus year when he was first diagnosed but his nine lives ended before he could enjoy being heralded as a bestselling book star. But, at the time of writing this note, the late Bailey still enjoys off-the-charts social media fame and has been the subject of stories as far as Taiwan and Australia. The out-pouring of love for this extraordinary animal has come from all over the world in letters, gifts, and a plethora of stuffed orange kitties for the children (Abby, Hannah, and Claire Joy). Never mind the “You Are My Sunshine” video that virally made it on Ellen and Good Morning America and countless blogs while Bailey was still alive. Rarely is there a dry eye at the end of this video!

  Turn the pages and we guarantee mostly laughter, some expressions of disbelief, and possibly a tear or two when you witness the many expressions of Bailey’s personality and his one-in-a-million spirit. We know you’ll appreciate this lovable rascal who will continue to evoke warm feelings, smiles, and love beyond his years here on earth.

  Now, without further ado, we give you, Bailey, No Ordinary Cat.

  Naps

  and

  cuddling,

  my two favorite things.

  Yes, I know

  I clean up well.

  She is my

  sunshine.

  Would you please

  stop

  laughing

  and just unwrap me already?

  Does this

  onesie make me

  look fat?

  I am the

  teacher’s

  pet . . .

  literally.

  Hey, put your

  phone down and

  look at

  me!

  Are you sure

  you know what you’re doing?

  You look a bit young for

  med school.

  And they

  call this

  “some assembly required”?

  What, you have

  never seen a cat

  potty-train

  a toddler before?

  Cats

  need

  vacations,

  too.

  I said I wanted a

  Cat-illac

  and they got me

  this Mustang.

  Is it my imagination,

  or do these pillows keep

  kicking me?

  When is someone going

  to tell them that

  cats hate

  water?

  The things I do for

  love.

  I think we’re

  going to need a

  bigger tub.

  I’m the

  cutest bug

  in the bunch.

  She’s

  mine.

  I was here

  first.

  I told you

  not

  to wake her.

  She must be

  getting back

  at me for nine months

  of laying on her in

  Mama’s belly.

  Yes, I know I’m

  cute.

  When will they

  figure out

  I’m a boy?

  Sometimes the

  best gifts

  aren’t wrapped.

  If I sleep,

  she will sleep;

  it works like a charm.

  Sometimes

  you just have to

  roll with it.

  You know,

  I really don’t think

  anyone

  else is paying attention.

  Hold on, Mom.

  Just gotta update the

  fans.

  Naptime.

  You act all tough now,

  but just wait

  until I get this

  door open!

  You are getting sleepy.

  No, wait,

  I am getting sleepy.

  This is how you get on

  Mom’s good

  side.

  They say every vote

  counts.

  Don’t tell anyone

  but I’m her

  favorite.

  Apparently I need to

  eat all of

  my vegetables.

  I don’t think

  the chef

  read my

  bib.

  Finally,

  my turn!

  Who says cats are

  finicky

  eaters?

  Better than

  the Elf on the Shelf,

  the Cat on the Carpet.

  Aren’t there

  supposed

  to be presents

  under there?

  Enjoying my

  cat-ppuccino.

  My other crimes include

  impersonating humans and

  stealing

  hearts.

  Just call me

  Pablo

  Pi-cat-sso.

  Kisses.

  More

  Kisses.

  Where are all the kids?

  I bought

  Kit-Cats

  and 3 Mouse-keteers.

  No one talk to

  me until I’ve had

  my coffee.

  Baby Claire

  thinks this book is a real

  snoozer.

  Hug

  like you mean it.

  So let me understand,

  this product was

  not tested

  on an animal but it is

  now being worn

  by an animal.

  I’m ready

  for my close-up.


  The baby not so much.

  Did somebody say

  birthday?

  I wish for a new toy mouse

  and a big pile of

  catnip.

  Is there any chance

  that there’s a little

  brother

  in there?

  They say

  good things

  come to those who wait.

  Why does she get the

  cute hat?

  Who says cats

  can’t read?

  Is it just me

  or are my friends

  a little “stuffy”?

  All I need

  is red, white . . .

  and you.

  It’s rare

  to find a cat who makes

  house calls.

  . . . in case you

  haven’t

  figured it out yet.

 

 

  Erin Merryn, Bailey- No Ordinary Cat

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