The Zoe Logo

Zoe was selected as the official logo for the foundation back in 1989. Her likeness is now registered with the US Patent & Trademark Office.

During the early life of the foundation it was not a nonprofit organization. I was working to acquire funds solely through product sales, then donated a percentage of those dollars to needy animal organizations. My work revolved, to a great degree, around domestic cat products.

Zoe was given to me by a very close artist friend who had already named her. Zoe in Greek means Life in all its Manifestations. I fell in love with this extremely intelligent cat and decided her illustrated form would make a fitting logo. Originally it was a ‘small cats helping big cats’ direction because my sales and research efforts were directed primarily at domestic cat owners.

As the years passed and I met Dr. Bleyman the focus of the foundation became more targeted. We received our nonprofit status and now focus on saving the tiger. But Zoe remains our logo because she's my inspiration and has been here from the beginning. It may be a little confusing to some people to see a Manx cat as a logo for a tiger project, but as the project moves from planning to reality her association will be solidified.

It’s still small cats helping big cats to a great degree because many domestic cat owners have a greater appreciation for the felids than do people who do not own, and maybe just don’t really understand cats. Of course this is not always true, but ten plus years of consumer research on this subject points to that conclusion.

That’s the story of our inspiration and logo - Zoe, the world's #1 Manx!

Zoe

Zoe was a rambunctious bi-color, (black and white), full rumpy Manx. She weighs about sixteen pounds. She was given to me by a very close friend, Kata, who is a fine portrait artist who now specializes in Elvis Art.

Zoe was born on July 28, 1987 behind a bed in a ninety year old farm house in Georgia. I located the lady who owns Zoe's parents. She raises Manx cats, and places the kittens with families close to her home so she can visit them. Zoe is the only kitten so far who got away from the area. A friend of Kata's brought the kitten from Georgia but did not tell the lady she was going to leave the state with her. She actually gave Zoe to Kata as a gift. Kata gave Zoe to me because the fellow she was going to marry was allergic to cats.

Zoe's grandparents were two wild Manx cats that were found near where she was born. Kata named the cat Zoe after the Greek word zoe meaning 'life in all its manifestations'.

I had Zoe for nine years as an only cat. Her new roommate,Ben, was a shock to her being.

Ben

Ben is a five year old bicolor, (orange and white), twelve pound stumpy? He is either a Japanese Bobtail or a Manx. I met Ben while I was working on a historic home on Savage Street in downtown Charleston. He was found shortly following hurricane Hugo and adopted by an older, retired gentleman that everyone in the area called 'The Mayor of Savage Street'. His wife told me he just loved the cat although he never really liked cats until he adopted Ben. Ben would follow him up and down the street as he would walk the neighborhood greeting workers and friends.

Mr. Hewitt, 'The Mayor of Savage Street' died suddenly one morning. When EMS came they scared Ben. He seemed lost and alone after Mr. Hewitt's passing. Ben was wandering around a busy street, and Ann, Mr. Hewitt's wife, was moving to a smaller home several blocks away. She decided she could not take Ben and asked the neighbors if anyone wanted him. Only one of the neighbors, who all loved to pet him, was interested. However, the woman who offered traveled extensively which meant it would have been difficult for her to keep him. That's where I came in.

I said I would love to take Ben. Mrs. Hewitt really wanted one of the neighbors to take him, but she decided it would be best for me to have him. I built a new fence off the back of the studio and installed cat fencing so he and Zoe could not wander. I installed two cat doors so they could go in and out when they wanted. Zoe has been an indoor cat all her life, so when she got out it was great for her.

Ben is a very gentle, playful cat. He sleeps atop the laser printer most of the time. He's another fine cat!

Update: (12-11-97) Zoe and Ben are fine up here in North Carolina. We moved in July to help further the tiger program. They have a much bigger cat fenced yard, but Zoe rarely goes out. Ben is out all the time. They get along a little better.

Update: (02-19-01) Zoe and Ben are still hanging in there. Zoe still doesn’t go out much although she has a half acre of cat fenced area to roam. She gets along fairly well with Ben, but she still doesn’t like Samson, a male short hair. Maybe because he has a tail?

Update: (07-15-01) Zoe is fine after a tooth extraction several weeks ago. A tissue sample was also taken for cultivation and frozen storage at Lazeron. Ben and Samson, my third rescue, are fine as well.

Update: (May 2, 2002) Zoe passed away today.

Update: (September 3, 2002) I just designed a new site in Zoe's honor featurig domestic cats. It's called The Manx. Have a look. We feature an In Memorial section as well.

Update: (October 10, 2003) Samson passed away today.

Samson passed away today - Friday, October 10, 2003 - trying to fight cancer that was discovered only a month before. I rescued Samson from atop a fence near a gas station in Charleston, SC when he was a kitten eleven years ago from this Thanksgiving Day. He was a wonderful cat. I will miss him. God's speed Samson. Read more about Samson on The Manx memorial page.