Monica Zimmerman and her family moved to Blairstown in 2019. Their home is a menagerie of all types of pets. They have three dogs, three cats, three guinea pigs, a snake, a lizard, a turtle and some tropical fish.
She grew up in a pet friendly home where cats always were a ‘purrfect’ companions. “A house without a kitty cat is like a garden without flowers” Zimmerman maintained.
The front foyer is literally “Cat City” – a playground for the three cats, Pongo, Elvis and Pixie. It consists of multi-level climbing platforms and cat walks suspended along an ascending staircase. The cats love their space, they jump from one platform to the next and they can hide in the cat boxes.
It’s not the typical space, one might say, “No one owns a cat they own you” Zimmerman said.
She encourages her two children to embrace all critters small and large. Her daughter’s favorite pet is a baby albino ball python named Roy who adorns her neck like a reptilian garland.
“I think if you want a pet that is easy to keep, a bearded dragon is good to begin with,” she said. The family den showcases two 125-gallon fish tanks one with tropical fish and one with Jeremy, a red eared slider turtle. The family rescued three Guinea pigs, Ginger, Marianne and Lovie.
Check out this web site from PSI is an organization for professional Pet Sitters at https://www.petsit.com/2022-pet-holidays-and-observances. They have a calendar to download with every pet holiday for the year.
Zimmerman says to love your animals, don’t eat them and remember some bunny loves you!
MB Journe, Contributing Writer
My name is Marybeth Journe, I feel blessed to be living in this part of New Jersey. I have enjoyed this community taking advantage of the lakes and woods. Always supporting the local businesses that make this my home. As a local artist myself, I know many of our residence if not by name, at least by sight. I feel comfortable interviewing others. I have worked for The Paulinskill Valley Chronical where I provided articles, photographs and billing. I consider myself an artist, journalist, naturalist, gardener and a teacher for the YMCA Camp Mason. I look forward to the work ahead
