Henry’s career as a soon-to-be-famous literary cat had an unlikely beginning.
He was an intrepid, curious, outdoor kitten ” a brown-striped tabby with a little Maine Coon ancestry ” who showed up at the Julian weekend retreat of La Jolla psychotherapist Cathy Conheim and Dr. Donna Brooks, a sculptor and retired OB/GYN, in the fall of 2004.
He was only four months old when his boldness left him with a dangling left front leg following an accident shortly before Thanksgiving.
Once they discovered the injury, Conheim and Brooks whisked Henry to their country vet, who offered euthanasia or a costly amputation necessary for Henry’s survival.
Both animal lovers but avowed “dog” people, with a combined 132 years of dog experience, they knew they didn’t like cats and their dog, Dolly, was uncomfortable with cats. They opted for a merciful end ” until Henry’s trusting green eyes, soft purr and engaging personality captured their hearts.
Conheim never thought she’d ever share her home with a cat, let alone imagined a new career as a “cat scribe.” Raised by a mother who hated cats because they killed birds, she inherited that view.
“I’m 62 years old and I’d never challenged that prejudice,” she said.
Henry’s saga of overcoming his disability and his new moms’ prejudice against cats unfolds in “Henry’s World: A Three-Legged Cat’s View of Human Absurdity,” a book written and compiled by Henry’s cat scribe “Mom Cathy” Conheim from the “e-mail odyssey” recounting their adventures.
Conheim and Henry’s “Dr. Mom” Brooks will be at the San Diego Zoo’s ZooStore, located at the park’s exit, on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. both days, signing copies of Henry’s glossy book, filled with 250 photographs of Henry and his feline and canine friends.
Henry, a domestic animal who cannot visit the zoo, will offer his paw through a larger-than-life cutout and via video.
Conheim considers the resilient Henry a “therapet,” a healer with an unusual ability to connect with people and help them transcend their own struggles and losses.
“Henry came to teach us something about ourselves,” she said. “You can only hate what you don’t understand. It’s not the events of our lives, it’s our own response to the events that dictates what happens. Henry’s task was to get beyond the physical barrier of losing a leg and the belief barriers about prejudice against cats, which turned out to be his strength.”
Henry’s tale of overcoming life-changing injuries and unreasoning bias has resonated with animal lovers, veterans and healthcare workers. Conheim has shipped multiple copies of “Henry’s World” for distribution to sick children at children’s hospitals and wounded veterans and amputees at military hospitals.
Henry’s arrival turned his humans’ lives upside down but also brought fresh life after extended grief. Conheim sent an e-mail to 20 friends, sharing their adventures with their unlikely adoption of a three-legged cat into their dog-oriented household. Friends forwarded e-mails to friends around the world.
Soon Conheim and Henry began receiving responses from hundreds of unknown recipients, speaking through their animals. Henry received advice from another three-legged cat about overcoming his disability and from other cats on living with and dominating a dog. Henry took over the correspondence, expressing thoughts in a simple, concrete way that connected with his growing network of “paw pals.”
“Keep your spirits up. After all, there are many wounded souls like me who need love and kindness,” Henry wrote.
Many of his paw pals shared thoughts with Henry that they could not express to another person.
“Some of these people were seriously depressed and say writing to Henry has turned their lives around,” Conheim said. “Henry’s a very giving animal spirit. Henry writes to people in need of hope.”
“I think he has powerful things to teach as a wounded animal. He has been a healer in many ways. He’s been able to make bridges where there were only barriers,” she added.
For Conheim, Henry demonstrates a special truth: “Just because you can’t do everything doesn’t give you permission to do nothing,” she said.
The power of storytelling is central.
“People forget facts and figures but remember stories,” Conheim observed. “Once I saw [his story] was going to turn into a book, I thought, why doesn’t Henry fund-raise for animals?” Conheim decided proceeds from sales of his book and his just-released birthday calendar, bookmarks and forthcoming children’s book would benefit only animal healthcare and welfare organizations.
That’s why Henry’s book is sold at the San Diego Zoo, both in the ZooStore and online at www.shopzoo.com, and through groups including Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS), Spay and Neuter Action Project (SNAP) and veterinarians, as well as on his Web site, www.henrysworld.org.
Selling a book about a pet cat in the San Diego Zoo’s shops may seem unusual, but came through one of Henry’s paw pals, a former zoo merchandising director who was touched by Henry’s story and saw its potential to benefit all animals.
“The San Diego Zoo is dedicated to conservation of animals and their habitat. If people have a connection with a domestic cat, they are more likely to have a connection with one of our rare endangered cats,” explained Yadira Galindo, zoo spokeswoman.
“Henry’s World” is also sold at the Cheshire Cat Clinic, 1945 Garnet Ave., in Pacific Beach.
Please note that the zoo event will require the purchase of a regular zoo ticket for admission to the shop. Those who leave the shop within 30 minutes will be able to get their ticket price refunded.