Tuesday 24 August 2010

Getting to know you


Those of you who have been reading my blog posts regularly know that I have a lovely little girl called Bella who lives with me. In the four years she's shared my life I've got to know her very well. I know her little foibles (and there are many!), what she likes and doesn't, when she's upset or cross, and what all her little words mean.

And all of you who share your lives with animals will know exactly what I'm talking about. If you have more than one animal, they all have very different personalities and characters, and even if they sometimes frustrate you, I'm sure you've had a great time getting to really know them.

When a new animal comes into our lives it takes a little while - sometimes quite a long while - for us to get to know each other. We're learning them while they're learning us.

It's no different when I go to take care of animals when their families are away - except that perhaps I have less time to get to know them well. But it is essential that I work hard on getting to know them, so that I am able to give them the best possible care, and ensure they're happy and well.

For me, pet sitting is so much more than just popping in to replenish food and perhaps sort out the litter tray. I've written about this before, but often it seems to me that the food is the least of the issues they're concerned about. That's not to say they don't need feeding - of course they do, and I'd be extremely remiss if I didn't do this, but they all need nourishment for their souls as well as their bodies. The two are equally important.

So, when I first visit a new animal customer I take time listening, observing, talking, and learning about them. And this continues through all my visits with them as we get more and more familiar with each other. I guess I'm lucky in that I can tune into them intuitively, and know how they're feeling - about being on their own, my coming to visit, and what they like to do. Actually, as I've said before, we all do that very well - but not everyone realises they're doing it. It's very subtle, but easy to learn.

I get to know their personalities, and of course their foibles too. I do what they like. Some want loads of fuss, to be on my lap, purring away, so that's what they get. Others love to play and run around. I carry a selection of toys around with me just to ring the changes with their own toys, and bring a little excitement into their lives. Most like a little of both, but I have to be alert to know when to switch from fussing to playing.

Then there are a small number of rather shy cats I take care of where physical interaction must be on their terms. I've learnt a lot from the cats I visit at Animals in Distress, and I never push myself on a cat - it's essential they come to me. For some of these it takes a long time, but that's fine - just because they don't want any physical contact doesn't mean they aren't happy I'm there. In fact the opposite is usually true - they love my presence, but don't want to be forced. And that's perfectly fine. I'm not there for my own gratification, but to take care of them. Although having a cat loving a good fuss is very gratifying!!!

It doesn't take long before I'm able to tell how a cat is feeling - physically and emotionally. Although I take care of lots of cats I know them all individually, and have learnt what's "normal" for each of them. So, when I text the families to tell them how their animals are doing each day, I'm able to tell them.

Mostly they're fine - and I put this down in large part to the Reiki I bring along with me. If an animal is out of sorts when I arrive, I can feel the change happening in them while we sit quietly together, sending healing to them. Animals live in the present, and the best way to help an anxious or unhappy animal is to join them in the present moment. So I clear my mind of any thoughts and just focus on them - in a positive way - opening my heart and sending love into theirs. I don't fret if they're fretting as this just adds to the distress - my own emotions need to be strong to help theirs. I talk to them and tell them what they need to know or to hear - again, because I've learnt what is important to them, or how they respond to different situations.

So, the time and effort I put into getting to know an animal well means that they're going to have the best possible time while their families aren't around.

Sunday 15 August 2010

Healing Animals


My friend Mark had a very good friend pass away a couple of weeks ago, having lived with cancer for a year. He spent his last few days in a lovely hospice, where they took such good care of him and all the friends and family who spent his last days there with him.

Mark told me about a couple of cats that lived in the home. They'd not belonged to any of the staff or residents, but just moved in themselves. They would just sit and be with the residents, bringing them love and caring, just like the staff. I've frequently heard about hospices where cats have moved in, and seem to know who needs them, who to be with. At the end of peoples' lives, even if nothing further can be done to help their bodies, the cats seem to bring them peace and spiritual healing. I've also heard of dogs that perform similar functions, although of course they don't decide to move in themselves.

Our cats have so much wisdom, and always know when they can help to heal. I've read many stories of animals who seem to know that their role is to be with others - whether human or other animals - who are poorly, sad, or suffering in some way. Everything about their presence brings comfort, caring, hope and love - all of which are essential to healing. We are very honoured to have these wonderful and wise beings living among us.

In fact, there's a wonderful charitable organisation called Pets as Therapy which helps to train cats and dogs to work in residential homes, special needs schools, hospices and many other places as therapy pets, helping people with a wide range of conditions and issues. A lot of the time, all they need to do is to be with the people, sitting with them, or on their laps, and being stroked or petted. We all know how wonderful it is to be able to stroke or cuddle an animal, and what peace it can bring.


Please have a look at their website, and if you'd like to help in any way, I know they'd be very happy. And perhaps your animal companion might make a great therapist too - the mother of one of my customers has recently had one of her cats accepted as a therapy cat, and is doing so well.

Saturday 7 August 2010

Key Stories



Talk to any pet sitter or dog walker, and they'll tell you they often feel like a jailer - so many keys to take care of!! I have a little key safe that keeps them secure, all with little tags, but no addresses. I know who they are!!

When I go to meet a new customer, before I come away with the keys I always check that the key works in the door. Even if they're well used, and not newly cut, there are always little idiosyncracies, so it helps if I know the ones that might be a little fickle. I've been caught out before!!

Sometimes though, it's not possible. For example, one of my customers moved recently, and popped the new key in the post to me. I went along last Saturday, put the key in the door and tried to turn it, but nothing!! I could hear Tiggles on the other side of the door, miaowing at me, and I really did want to get in, but couldn't. Poor thing. I tried and tried and tried, but no good, so thought that I must have been sent the wrong key. I called my customer, and luckily she had her phone with her. She explained that, yes, it was very fickle, and she also had the same problem with her key, from which mine had been cut. But she had tried mine and it did work - eventually. At least I knew it was the right key, so just kept trying, and she was right - it did finally give and I was in.

But that happens so often! A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting a couple of sister cats, and had been told that the lock was temperamental, that I might be standing there for a couple of minutes trying to get in. At least I knew what to expect, but when it's not your own house, you expect that a neighbour is thinking you're trying to break in!! The cats there were very used to it, and showed great patience, but it was frustrating for me to know that I had to go through this every time.

I go to see Billy fairly regularly, and there's not usually too much of a problem with the lock - but when we had that very very hot weather a little while back he was due a visit. No matter how I tried I just couldn't turn the key in the lock. The lock had been in full sun all day, and the metal had expanded in the heat. Nothing for it but to try again later, which I did do - and glad to say it worked this time. I won't bore you by telling you all my stories about having to jiggle keys in locks, but there are lots and lots. I've often wondered whether a sideline as a locksmith might be a good idea!

Then there was the time that I'd gone to meet a new customer, we'd worked out which keys I'd need, tried them, and off I went with them - to discover that in fact they weren't all the right keys after all! Still no idea how that happened, but on my first visit it was very clear that one of the keys wasn't right at all, and I just couldn't gain entry. She called her Mum who arranged to meet me there later with her own set of keys, and all was well for the rest of the visits. But I'm still baffled to this day as to how that happened. Must have been the key gremlin!

The first time I went to visit Nia, no luck with they key then, even though I'd just tried it myself a couple of days before. It just wouldn't turn. I tried to call my customer, but there was no answer. I decided that I should go to do my other cat visits and return again later - but still no good. Called again, and left a message saying that I was calling in a locksmith. When he came he used a great instrument that had a mirror on the end to look at it from the inside - and could see that there was a key in the door on the other side of the lock. That didn't make any sense as they couldn't have left the house and locked it from the outside with a key in the other side. The next minute though the door opened!! They'd had plasterers in a few days before, but told them not to come while they were away - but the workmen hadn't listened. He must have heard me trying to get in for ages, so why didn't he come to open the door straight away? Guess who paid the locksmith's fee...... (and it wasn't me!)

But the worst was when I locked myself out of my car on Christmas Day a couple of years ago. I'd done my first visit, popped open the car boot, returned the house key to my bag and retrieved the one for the next visit. I shut the boot again, and went into my fleece pocket for my car key. It wasn't there!!! I couldn't quite believe it and spent a couple of frantic minutes checking all my pockets (all 2 of them), looking under the car and around, but had to admit that somehow I'd also put my car keys in my bag in the boot. There was no way to open the car or the boot and I was stuck! I'm going to cut a long story very short, but I spent 3 very cold hours on Christmas morning sitting on a doorstep waiting for my friend to drive over from Leeds to my house, let himself in to get my spare car keys, then drive down to Didsbury. And then I still had all my other visits to do!!! It's never happened before, or since, and I am so, so, careful now to be sure that I've always got my car key before I shut the boot.

So, I'm looking forward to the day when there are other means to get into homes that don't involve mechanical locks. There is one cat that I visit where there's an electronic lock you use a fob with, much like a car, but what happens when the battery runs out??? We have the technology for iris recognition or fingerprint control, so wonder how long it will be before our homes are secured in this way........