Man Saves Cat...Cat Saves Man

Growing up with dogs, Tyler Feneck had no exposure to cats until 1995, when he rescued a 2 month old kitten from a Southern California animal shelter and named her “Erica.” 16 years later, he’s written a book about their relationship called “The Cat & The Comedian.”

“It’s a love story, memoir, and self help book all in one,” Feneck says. “The self help part isn’t preachy. It’s just about the process I used to get my self happy.”

It also deals with loss, as Feneck’s father passed away last July from cancer. “He was my best friend. When I heard of his diagnosis, it was as if everything I learned in 10 years of self-help went out the window. My anger and rage got the best of me on a daily basis. The only thing that saved me was Erica.”

For the last 20 years, Feneck pursued a number of fields in showbiz including acting, writing, producing, directing, and stand up comedy. He battled many demons along the way including alcoholism and depression, but insists it was his huge ego and massive libido that almost did him in. “To write this book, I had to make peace with my past, and learn to love my self unconditionally. It led me to a better place, and allowed me to accept others for who they are and love them unconditionally too.”

To read more about Tyler and Erica, visit www.thecatandthecomedian.com

The Libido & The Ego

In 1991, I graduated high school at the Jersey shore and celebrated the summer of my life with the best friends and family a guy could ever ask for. I had already slept with more women than most men do in a lifetime, so I figured the next logical step was to go to Hollywood and become a movie star.

My father pursued acting too, but gave it up at the age of 40 to become a music editor in New York. There he met my mother and settled down, but not before leading the life of a highly active bachelor who had been with nearly 300 women.

He retired when I was 10, and it was like having access to a living, breathing, encyclopedia of sex. Nothing was off topic, and I felt extremely lucky to have him as a mentor, friend, and father.

By the time high school rolled around, I was already a full-blown stud. After meeting a girl on the beach or boardwalk, I’d take her home and screw her brains out. Topless posters plastered my bedroom walls and I was given a subscription to Playboy at 14.

My parents not only backed my sexual freedom, they believed in my thespian dreams and agreed to float me for four years, the same amount of time they would have had I gone to college.

So, now it was my chance for fame and fortune in “the land of opportunity.” In NJ, I was a big fish in a small pond, but in Los Angeles, I was just another type. Not only was there was a ton of competition; they were taller, better built, and better looking.

My acting abilities at the time were virtually non-existent. I had no idea who I was, other than the fact that I could score with women. You’d think I could have slept my way to the top, but somehow that didn’t happen. Instead, my ego created a narcissistic, arrogant cover for my persona, and I walked around like I deserved an Oscar, adding fire to the gasoline.

Meeting Erica

Due to my location and hours, a dog still wasn’t an option. But the concept of an indoor cat really appealed to me, so the day after my promotion, I headed over to an animal shelter in Van Nuys, and set about my task.

I had good luck with female pets growing up, and wanted to keep that trend alive. I also wanted a kitten, so I could raise and train her as my own. Most importantly, I wanted her to be people friendly. A woman in the room suggested sticking my finger in each cage and if any approached, that would be the indicator I was looking for. As I passed the first six or seven cages, my finger was stuck in, rejected, and hissed at, but most of those cats were adults anyway.

Finally, I arrived at a cage of kittens, asleep in a big pile. On top slept an exotic looking one with silver fur. According to the info tag, it was also a female. I stuck my finger in the cage and her beautiful green eyes opened immediately. She leaped off the top of the pile and came right over to my finger, playing with it for several minutes before politely turning her back and taking a dump. I thought, “All the affection and a lady too? This is definitely the cat for me!”

Comedian Debut

Having so many women around also inspired me to be funnier at my daily pep talks, which was a good thing, since my debut as a comedian was rapidly approaching.

I booked an audition showcase at a comedy club in Encino called the L.A. Cabaret. The owner would be there, and book me for future shows if he liked what he saw.

By the time my big night rolled around, my jokes had already been tested on the telemarketers, who incidentally, were peppered throughout the audience. Seeing their supportive faces made me feel right at home, and when I took the stage, I did so with confidence. I wasn’t nervous; I took care of that by sinking a six-pack in my car ahead of time. My act consisted of impressions, observations, and dick jokes. I didn’t “kill,” but people laughed in all the right spots, and in comedy, that’s the bottom line. The owner was so impressed he booked me for eight additional shows!