photo by Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph Tyler resident Mary Ann Clifford keeps her cats entertained at her home Monday. Clifford is the author of new book Reflections of a Cat Whisperer. The autobiography provides information on the many facets of felines, inspirational and humorous stories about Clifford cat encounters, as well as advice on how she handled cats with physical and emotional disabilities.

Mary Ann Clifford’s passion for cats is evident throughout her immaculate south Tyler home with its displays of ceramic cats, dolls and other keepsakes. She stays busy, beginning at 3 a.m. each day, caring for cats belonging to her and to others.

Around 1 p.m., it’s near the end of naptime for the Clifford cats, who slowly but surely stretch and crawl out from wherever they are sleeping.

They’re inquisitive but laid back. Each has a name that is descriptive of their appearance, how they were found or their personality.

Willow Bend, with his Siamese and Domestic Longhair background, got his name because he was “all legs and no body like a willow tree.”

Kitty July roamed into Mrs. Clifford’s life on the Fourth of July. Jack Nicklaus and Fairway are obviously a salute to the game of golf as they were found near a course.

Foxy has streaks of red-orange hair and Cocoa is coated with a big puff of chocolate fur. Just like their appearance, they have assorted mannerisms.

“They all have their own personalities and I think the most interesting one is the one I have in my lap at the time,” Mrs. Clifford said. “They’re so different from each other. It’s like asking a parent which child they like the best.”

The very petite woman lights up at the sight of her cats, especially if they are being silly or affectionate. There’s no doubt they each have a special place in Mrs. Clifford’s heart, even the ones who are no longer around. She doesn’t say they have died, but that they have become “kitty angels.”

She has no children of her own, but the cats are like her babies.

“Because they are babies. Yes, four-legged ones,” she said.

Over the years, she’s rescued dozens of cats and continues to babysit regularly. No one outside of the Clifford home really knows how many cats she has or cares for, and she always responds with “more than one,” when asked. She keeps it quiet for several reasons, but primarily to avoid others placing the “crazy cat lady” label on her and to keep well-meaning strangers from dropping cats on her doorstep.

Her keen relationship with felines and her ability to train them has earned her the moniker “cat whisperer.”

“I basically got the title ‘cat whisperer’ because people are amazed with my cats, that I can get them to do things that other people can’t,” she said. “I don’t use treats. I just work with their personalities.”

 

THE FELINE CONSULTANT

Mrs. Clifford received her first cat, Mickey, at age 4. That strong bond between human and feline followed her throughout life.

“I’ve always had a special touch with animals, period, even dogs,” she said. “But I have this affinity, I think, for cats. It’s innate. It’s just been a part of me and I’ve been teased that possibly I’ve been a cat in my past life.”

When she married her husband, Pat, it became a part of his life, too.

“My husband had no choice when he married me,” she said. “I came with a cat.”

Mrs. Clifford studied art education in college and had no trouble finding work in the field. But something was missing. She soon found that she needed to work where her heart had always been — with cats.

Mrs. Clifford was a registered lobbyist for animal rights causes while living in West Virginia. She later went on to work in animal control, then as a veterinary technician at a clinic.

A friend talked her into having her cats serve as therapy animals because she believed they were exceptional. For the last 13 years, she has volunteered with Therapet, a local animal-assisted therapy program. Five of her cats provide services every two weeks. Historically a program involving dogs, Mrs. Clifford’s cats have shown that they too can soothe patients and warm their hearts. They know commands such as “paws up” with the use of hand signals.

She also works with people in their home or at hers as a feline caregiver. This entails domesticating, grooming, babysitting or nursing a cat back to health.

In December, Mrs. Clifford published her first book, “Reflections of a Cat Whisper.” It’s a collection of short stories, thoughts and lessons learned from the perspective of a cat lover. Profits from her book will go to the Feline Health Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, N.Y., to research hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common progressive heart disease in cats. She’s lost about 10 cats to the disease over the years.

“I’m hoping that someday there will be a viable treatment or a possible cure,” Mrs. Clifford said. “It’s something that touches my heart.”

She’s learned a lot about cats just from interaction and opening up her imagination. To her, they’re esteemed beings with wisdom that can teach humans a thing or two about obedience.

Mrs. Clifford contends that the misconception that cats are aloof and unloving creatures couldn’t be farther from the truth.

“It’s just that they size up a situation. They don’t jump in,” she said. … “A dog will willingly give his love to a human. A cat will not. You have to win it. When you gain their trust, it’s wonderful.”