Real love never sleeps.
It just sleeps over.
And sometimes, it brings pizza.
By now, you are weary of words like “thundersnow” and “bombogenesis.”
The groundhog’s brazen accuracy has you reconsidering your lifelong vegetarianism. The last thing you want to hear about, on this blog of all places, is The Blizzard of 2026.
But we’re not going to talk about the blizzard.
We’re going to talk about the blissard.
A blizzard is a winter storm in which the following conditions prevail for three or more hours: sustained wind or frequent gusts to 35 miles an hour or greater, combined with falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile.
A blissard is a winter slumber party in which the following conditions prevail for as many hours as necessary: sustained shenanigans involving 100 cats or more, combined with selfless and/or sleepless staff reducing fear to less than 1/4 micro-smidgen.
So, while Facebook meteorologists salivated like Saint Bernards, unsung saints gathered at Tabby’s Place with their sleeping bags, weatherproof love, and microwave pizzas.
The forecast called for up to 24″ of snow at Tabby’s Place. The governor declared a State of Emergency, and it was not in response to mystery diarrhea in Suite D.
Roads would be impassible. Travel would be impossible.
The cats would be unimpressed.
Breakfast would be expected.
The paraplegic cats would need their bladders expressed, bomb cyclone or no bomb cyclone.
The diabetics would need their insulin every twelve hours, even if we got twelve feet of rainbow sherbet. (Never underestimate a Facebook meteorologist’s predictions.)
So, with good cheer and great love, a team of four of finest humans I have ever known hunkered down with a species who stays up all night.
Since my colleague-friends are as humble as they are heroic, I won’t embarrass them, other than to say that their names are Carolyn, Colin, Jae, and Mario, and they are valiant legends who teach me daily what it means to live a life of love, and I want to be more like them when I grow up, and history will show that they were among the great ones.
(That is all a considerable understatement.)
We must also lend our admiration to their auxiliary team of Jess (who cared for Jae’s cats in their absence), and fearless Monday crew Claudia, Danielle, Drew, Kelly, Kimmarie, and volunteers Beth, Susan, Toast, and Kanta.
While most of us hid under our heated blankets and researched recipes for groundhog gumbo, they were the cats’ angels.
But before morning came, there was the business of the night.
And at Tabby’s Place, the business of the night is the party of the century.
Mario comforted our dowager queen, Theodosia.
Jae brought boundless joy to their roommate Anka.
Carolyn’s presence made Lornadoone purr at a volume that drowned out the 50 mph winds.
Colin bathed Peabody in peace. (He also bathed him, period. Peabody appreciated both acts of love.)
If you heard meows and chirps that sounded like laughter, that was the Lobby cats showing off their night moves.
If you look closely at these photos, you’ll see some of our most timid cats, like Bing and Rubiks, emerging from fear’s fog to personally thank the slumber partiers for being there.
For, although pizza and scrumptiously bad movies are important, the one thing necessary for a blissard is being there.
That is the celebration immune to all precipitation.
That is the light that snickers at snow.
That is the love that never sleeps. It sleeps over.
And now, I must issue my own alert for a Weepy Advisory, for our blissard heroes have a few words about why this was a must-attend slumber party. Ready your Kleenex, for you are in for a high probability of happy tears:
Carolyn: “Honestly, these last two sleepovers have been really helpful to me as someone who gets really anxious during inclement weather.
“Instead of constantly worrying about when it’s going to stop and how I’m going to get to work to take care of the kitties, I can just put my energy and focus into the things I can affect — like making sure Lornadoone has a comfy bed and a snuggle buddy. I also want to shout out Beth for taking care of my critters at home so I knew that they were happy and had full bellies while I was at Tabby’s Place.”
Colin: “Before the last big storm, I was so worried about how the incontinent, diabetic, and seizure-prone cats would be if no one could make it in to give them the care they need. Sleeping at Tabby’s Place was such a relief, because I knew that I and the rest of the overnight crew would be there with them no matter what happened.
“When we heard about this storm, there was no doubt in my mind that I would stay with the cats again. I’m so grateful that all of my animals at home were taken care of too so I could make sure the same was true for our Tabby’s babies!”
Jae: “Being able to sleep over also helps me feel less anxious about making sure that we have enough people able to get in to take care of the cats.
“Having a team already there first thing means that we can ensure that all of the medications get administered on time and that there are no delays to our cats’ very important schedules. Anka definitely appreciates the extra snuggles as well!
“I also am always interested to see what the cats get up to after 6pm! Some of our shyest cats are quite active as soon as they think we’ve left. Rusty and Uni were bouncing around their suite all night, Willie still watches intently out his windows after dark, and I woke up this morning to find Clifford staring directly at me.”
Mario: “Obviously, being there for the cats so as to ensure everyone gets what they need, and not having to actually worry about getting there, is a huge relief. As much as I think we all feel responsible to do so, it’s not a very tall order. Call me simple-minded, but hanging out with a bunch of cats in a blizzard, and with pizza on deck? That’s just a no-brainer for me. And to see what they get into after-hours is well worth the price of admission. I got to hang with Theodosia, and we both appreciated the company. Sign me up for the next one.”
