Monday 25 March 2013

When you touch a cat with your spirit....

How lovely.  This was posted on my Facebook timeline this morning, and thought it was too lovely not to share on.  It's a beautiful relationship isn't it?  And it's the same for any animals we have living with us, not just cats.  We give them so much, and they give back to us.  Or is it the other way around?  Those of us who have animals living with us know we're so blessed.

And touching once again on the subject of their leaving us, I thought this sentiment was wonderful:


Each animal we have living with us is completely unique.  We never ever replace one who's left us, but when we bring another in, and we've all got to know each other, we discover new joys.  We are so honoured. 




Sunday 24 March 2013

Oh, how I’d love to be able to foster!!

Just the other day, a lady came to the sanctuary with a very pregnant mum, in the process of giving birth to 3 lovely kitts.  And just the week before a new mum and her tiny babies arrived. We don’t keep mums and kitts at the sanctuary, as they always do much better living with someone in their home, so depend on people to foster.  All the time!!  I’ve often met the cats, then not seen them again, until perhaps the babies have become old enough for their own homes – kittens always go quickly – and the mums come into the sanctuary to wait for a new forever home of their own. 
 
It seems such a fantastic thing to be able to do, to help at such crucial time in their lives, watch them growing and becoming personalities, learning to do things, to become more and more independent.  And to give mum a safe comfortable place to be where she can rest and feed them (which is most of what she has to do!), such that they’re all happy and contented.  And there are times when we have a cat come in that needs close attention or medications due to an illness, or perhaps an oldie who might not thrive in a sanctuary environment.  So many reasons.  And I’d love to be able to help them all.  With Reiki too!!
 
I know it can be sad to say goodbye to an animal you’ve become close to, but that happens anyway at the sanctuary.  And to know that they’re going to a lovely new home always makes me happy.  I was talking to one of the other volunteers, who has also fostered for a long time, and all her adopting families keep in touch with her.  So wonderful!!!
 
I have two of my own – Bella and Dylan – and it’s a small house, so no room for me to do this.  If it’s a long term foster, perhaps an oldie or a cat on meds, then really they need to be living with you normally.  The lady that Billy (used to be Bruce, lived in my garden as a stray for over a year) went to just over a year ago, also fosters – for a rescue that only uses fosterers, doesn’t have its own premises.  She has plenty of space, with a spare room, and the foster cats often live in the house with the 5 of her own.  In fact Billy does a fantastic job of helping to socialise and train the more “difficult” cats.  He was always supposed to go and live with her;  he has a real purpose in his life.  He has also been amazing with her own 3 autistic children.     
 
New mums with kittens really only need a spare room, all to themselves.  They want a place of their own where they know they’re safe, and aren’t likely to want to be wandering all over the house anyway.   And it’s not for long, only a few weeks, until they find their own homes.  But I don’t even have a spare room!!!
 
So I have a dream.  I’ve told the Universe about this, and am expecting it to manifest any day now!!  I like my little house, so have decided the best thing would be for my premium bonds to come up, and the two lovely boys next door to decide they want to move.  Then I’d buy their house, and can still live here, while taking care of foster cats next door.  With an internal connecting door.  Oh, I’ve already done the plans.  I know exactly how it will work.  And I’ll enclose the garden so that they have somewhere safe to be outside.  When the weather allows!!  Or perhaps I will come into some money, and decide to move to a bigger house.  I’ve done the plans for that too.  But really, I know that I just need to leave my wish with the Universe, and trust that it will be delivered to me, in the right way. 
 
I’m so excited, I can’t wait!!! 
 
So, I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about fostering.  Perhaps you think you can’t as you already have animals.  But if you have a spare room that you don’t otherwise use, then you can!!  Have a think about it.  Then get in contact with your local animal sanctuaries to see if you can help.  And share your stories here.  Even better, if you already foster, I’d love it if you would share your experiences with us.  

The extra mile

I do what I do because I love doing it.  I’m lucky, my job is something I’d do even if I didn’t get paid for it (but we all need to keep a roof over our heads!!).  It never feels like work, even if I’m up to my arms in cat poo and smelly litter trays.  (I take care of dogs, rabbits, and other creatures too, but it’s mostly cats.)
 
Once the feeding and litter are sorted, to sit and be with a cat, letting them cuddle into me, letting them feel and know the Reiki they’re enjoying, is just wonderful.  I am very blessed.  And I know they are too.  No false modesty here!!  (For any new readers of my blog, I am a pet sitter with added Reiki, quite unique in my local area.  So all visits to feed animals automatically come with Reiki too, and I see time and again how much they enjoy it and benefit from it.)
 
My visits are timed to be 30 minutes each.  Sometimes people ask me to come and do longer visits, which is fantastic, as they enjoy it so much.  What happens in that 30 minutes varies a lot, it depends on how many cats there are, what needs doing, whether there are litter trays or not, and how many, and much else besides.  On some visits, the “chores” might only take a couple of minutes, so I have the rest of the time to spend with the animal, whereas others might take up to 20 minutes, leaving less time.
 
For me, and for most of the animals I visit, although they need their food and litter tending to, what they really want is plenty of love and attention.  And even those who aren’t quite as tactile, who might even go and sit in another room, – but really, not so many of those – still need to know I’m there.  Just because they’re choosing to be elsewhere doesn’t for one moment mean they’re not appreciating my presence.  And they’ll still receive their Reiki. 
 
It often feels that 30 minutes goes so quickly, and before I know it I’m off again.  (Some animal visitors only plan on 20 minute visits, I really don’t know how that works.)  I’d always love to stay longer, and the animals often tell me that too.   In their own, but very straightforward way! 
 
If I have a busy day, then I have to stick at 30 minute visits, otherwise I’d never get to them all.  And it’s so important that I don’t feel rushed.  My energy needs to be calm and relaxed, otherwise it affects the quality of the Reiki they’ll receive from me.  But I have days that are quieter, and I like nothing better than to take longer with my visits.  In particular, if I sense that a cat is feeling anxious, or perhaps is a little poorly, then if at all possible I do stay with them for longer. 
 
I enjoy going the extra mile.  I provide a service, and for me that’s what it’s all about.  We all gain – the animals are happier, and I just love spending more time with them.  Sometimes the extra mile is spent in other ways though.  It’s often the case that people leave to head off on holiday in a hurry, and the washing up is still piled around the sink.  As long as it doesn’t impact on the time I spend with the animals, then I’ll take care of that.  After all, it’s quite difficult for me to do the cat bowl cleaning every day if I can’t get to the sink!!!  And dried on food tends to smell a bit after a while too.  And when I think about it, lots of other things that I do too, just to help everyone to be a little happier.   If it’s in my power to do something, and I have the time, then I will.
 
 The vast majority of my lovely clients are always very appreciative.  Sadly I’ve had one or two who have taken this for granted in the past (if I’ve told them I’ve stayed longer because I had some extra time that day, they’ve then asked another time if I have some extra time, can I spend it with their cats).  And very unfortunately, an awful experience just before Christmas this year, which was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and hope to never again.  Not going to say any more about that, still upsets me too much to think about it.  I must admit, that when people take advantage of my good nature and desire to do the best I can, it has stopped me in my tracks.  But not for long.  I remember that it’s only a very very small minority, and that I couldn’t be, and wouldn’t want to be, any other way. 
 
I can’t think of any other job I’ve ever had where going the extra mile made me quite as happy!