Simon's Cat

I've been following Simon's cat for a while now, and it's lovely gentle humour, tongue firmly lodged into the corner of his mouth! He's now on You Tube. Have a look and smile away your Friday.

Animal Communication - of a Different Sort

David Evans loves animals and is setting up a new website where the animals themselves can talk to each other (through us!). It's still under construction, but he has now created his landing page, which I'm linking to here. He's keen to get ideas, etc from the pet loving public, so I said I'd ask you guys for your feedback.

Is this something you think you'd use? What would you like to see on it? Any ideas at all at this stage are very welcome as it's still very early days.

Please feel free to contact him direct on yourpetsdailylife@btinternet.com.

Many thanks!!

The Purpose of Species

A great friend of mine, Julie Lines of Voice of the Animals, has just started a new blog dedicated to channelling messages from the various species (as collective consciousnesses) we share this planet with - messages for the human race. This is a fascinating project, and one we would love as many people as possible to become a part of.

The animals on this planet have thousands of years of wisdom and for each species, their own individual way of interpreting what's happening right now.

This is the website, please jump right in!!

Me and the Pigeons

Ever since I can remember I've had a very close relationship with nature. I've always been able to feel the connection of all things on this planet, and one of my favourite things to do, still, is to sit quietly in nature and let my energy and the energies of all the animals, birds, trees, bushes, and plants merge together. Even the unseen energies like the weather and the feel of a day, and then at night the moon and stars. Absolutely magical!

Even after all these years I'm still trying to come to terms with spiders (like many humans), but I find I can love most of the species we share this amazing world with. After all, we were all made from the same stuff and really, we are all the same.

There are some species that get a bad press. Particularly rats and pigeons. In fact many people consider pigeons to be rats with feathers!! It's easy to get drawn into the collective conscious, and start to believe what other people believe - if you're not alert and careful not to do this. To be honest, until a few years ago, I'd never given much thought to pigeons, one way or the other.

Then I found I was looking at them with new, fresh eyes, thanks to my friend Mark. He's always loved them - when he was a young boy his grandfather used to keep racing pigeons. So now I'm much more aware of them, and they make me laugh, can keep me amused for hours!!

Bella and I can spend ages watching them in the garden. We feed the birds, and of course, that includes the pigeons. They've become quite savvy these days. In the morning, there they are, all gathered on the roof. When I come down to the kitchen, they fly down to sit on the fence at the bottom of the garden, waiting for me to come out with something to eat. If Bella and I take too long sitting there, a couple of the more confident ones will jump down and walk up the garden towards us. Asking for their food!! They've become almost tame.

The other birds don't seem bothered by them, although there are one or two bullies that chase off any other birds, fellow pigeons included. But on the whole, they all bustle around in the garden quite happily together.

All it takes is for one bird to get brave, then the others follow - almost like the sheep of the bird world. Their landing and take off skills aren't wonderful, and it's hilarious watching attempted landings, only to see them lose it and fly back up to the roof. And they're great at spooking each other. If one takes fright at something (usually nothing at all!), they all lift off together in one noisy cloud.

I love to have them around, and so does Bella. (and I love rats too!)

An Amazing Ability

If you've been reading my blog posts you'll know that I spend a lot of my time communicating intuitively with animals. I didn't realise that I could do this until three cats shocked me by communicating with me!! It's clear now that they knew that I could do this easily, and I'd love it!! And I do.

It's brought a whole new dimension to my relationship with Bella and all the other animals I take care of. When I'm taking care of animals while their families are away, I can be sure that I'm doing everything possible to make their time as happy as it can be. It's helped when it's time for an animal to leave this physical existence as I've been able to pass messages between them and their carers, and more recently I've found myself repairing difficult feline relationships (will write a separate blog post on that - absolutely fascinating!).

The great thing is that we can all do this. It's part of who we are as human beings, to be able to communicate intuitively with others. We actually do it a lot without even consciously realising that's what's happening. And it's very easy to learn how to do it consciously.

It's my dream (well, one of them) that there will come a time when the whole human species has remembered how to do this, but we're getting there.

If this is something that fascinates you, or you'd just like a fuller, more meaningful relationship with the animals in your life, then help is at hand!!

Julie Lines runs Voice of the Animals, and from time to time she runs playshops (so much more fun than workshops), to help people to learn, to open up to this amazing ability. I'm thrilled and honoured that she's asked me to come and co-facilitate a playshop she's running here in Manchester on 27/28 November.

Have a look at her website for more information, or to book. Also, I'm very happy to help with any questions you might have. Looking forward to seeing you there!!

The Healing Cats

To those of us who share our lives with cats, they are amazing magical creatures. We know they have the ability to intuit when we need comfort, and they love to sit with us to bring peace and stillness. It is in this peace and stillness that healing takes place............

I've said it before (and likely will again from time to time), but I really have learnt so much from the cats I spend my time with, and my own special angel cat, Bella. But the most wonderful thing I have learnt is how they all have this ability to heal, all in their own ways, if we let them.

Some cats, though, are more special than most. And I've just spent an hour or so with two of them.

It must be nearly a year ago that I started to take care of Nina and Simone when their family went away, and I've been back a few times since. It probably wasn't until this week though that I truly realised what they were doing. They talk a bit, but mostly show me what they want by gentle leading. And what's been happening is..........

I arrive and we all sit down for a bit of a fuss. Lots of purring and chirping takes place (them, not me, I just tell them how lovely they are), then I do the washing up and put fresh food out. While they're eating I go off to sort out the litter, and by the time I've done it, they're hanging round the bedroom door, and lead me in.

It's now become obvious to me that I would do this consciously at first, and sit down on the floor with them while the Reiki flowed - me leading them. But now I'm just following them, and while I sit there with my hands open, they sit on the floor beside me, one either side of my outstretched legs. The clever thing is that while I send Reiki to them, they are reflecting it back to me and each other. So the three of us have a little energy circle, without touching, but all feeling the energy move between us, building and nourishing more and more and more. Every now and again I take a peek, and they're sitting quite still with their eyes closed, relaxed and meditative, but alert at the same time. Very conscious of what's going on.

Simone is the leader in this, she's the very wise one, an old, old soul, who's been helping other creatures for many thousands of years. Nina is getting there, helped by Simone, but her own spiritual development is very young in comparison.

I love my visits with these very special animals, and come away feeling refreshed, uplifted, serene and in love with everything. Thank you so much Nina and Simone. xx

Snowy's Story

It's not surprising really that I get asked a lot if I can help find a home for someone's cat. There are all sorts of reasons why a person finds they're no longer able to care for their cat, and wants to ensure that they go to a good home - after all, they've been very loved for many years. I know from my experiences at Animals in Distress that many people don't do this, so if someone asks for help I try very hard to do all I can.

Trouble is, although I know lots of people who love cats, it's probably because they've already got cats, and there's no room for, or possibility to take, another cat into the home. I've written before about multiple cat households, and it can be very difficult integrating a new cat, ensuring that all are still happy. So, although it's always disappointing when people say no for this reason, that really is for the best. They say no because they care about them all and wouldn't want to cause any distress.

But I do what I can. I send emails, ask my customers, post notes on Facebook, even write blogs. I even suggest seeing whether a local animal sanctuary has room, and although lots of people are very reluctant, they do an excellent job of finding good new homes. Earlier this year I wrote about Sid and Eddie - I asked around, but no-one was able to take them, so they went into Animals in Distress. It took a little while, but eventually a lovely lady from Warrington took them to live with her and her Westie.

So when I received a mobile voicemail from a lady who said that my hairdresser, who's a friend of hers, told her I could rehome cats my heart sank! I called her anyway, and had a lovely chat. As with most people her situation was very genuine and rather sad. She'd recently had a baby who was very poorly and would need lots of attention and time. She had two cats, one of whom was really quite independent, but they were worried for Snowy who was very affectionate and needy. A real lap cat, never happier than when snuggled onto someone's knees.

Anyway, I'll always ask around, and hoped (against hope) that I could find someone. My friend Janet had lost her lovely Mungo a few months before, and he had been very affectionate. Although Tiggy still lived with them, she just wasn't that sort of cat, and they missed having a cat they could cuddle. She did wonder how Tiggy might take to a new addition to the family, but she'd been used to another cat before - in fact Tiggy came to live with them while Mungo was there.

So Janet decided she'd give it a go. Snowy was brought to them a few weeks ago now, and really settled in fairly quickly. There was a little growling between the two cats, but neither seemed to be too bothered. I went to meet her for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and she is so beautiful! And doing very well too. She's got lovely soft white fur and bright green eyes, like emeralds. They'd bought her a green collar and bell to match her eyes, and the effect is stunnng. I keep getting updates from Janet - I can't help but be interested to know how she's doing - and it's really all good news.

The important thing is that the house and garden are both big enough so that they can both have their own space, and special places to go. Janet's not forced either of them, and has continued to reassure Tiggy that she always loves her - giving equal attention to both cats in the way that's right for them. Of course, it's still a work in progress, but things are looking good. And I'm so glad that I was able to help Snowy to find a lovely new home.

I'm sure that I'll continue to receive similar requests from time to time, and I'll always do what I can - but it's not always as easy as this.

Another litter tale

Never imagined I'd be able to mine such a rich seam on this subject!! You probably all think I love writing about litter - well, not really, but there turns out to be so much to say.

I've recently finished looking after two girl cats, and wanted to tell you about the litter issues I encountered, as well as the solutions found.

When I went to meet them and their family before I went away, I was told that they'd recently attempted taking a friend's cat into their home - with disastrous results. This cat had been used to a catflap, and had not used a litter tray, apart from when he was tiny. So, when he got caught short, and he was inside, he'd just go in the house, on the floor, or wherever. There was a litter tray, but he didn't use that.

The poor girls felt more than a little intimidated by him and took to pretty much living outside. Their mum was so upset to see them like this, that very quickly she had to find him another home, where he could roam about as much as he liked.

By the time I came to take care of them, they'd returned to the house and felt much more at home again. However, he did leave a legacy, that I was soon to discover.........

The first day I went to see them, they were outside, and came in when I turned up. The weather wasn't at all nice, so didn't want to go out again. No cat flap meant that when they were in, they were in - and when they were out, they were out. The next day, I checked the litter tray, but strangely it hadn't been used. They'd been in for 24 hours, and eaten all their food, so this didn't make much sense.

I decided to check around the house, and the first thing I found was that they'd used a plant standing on the floor as a litter tray - quite common actually, and when you think about it, why not, it's just like the garden!! So, I cleared out the mess, but knew that they would use it again - their scent was now in it, so it was doomed. I couldn't shut the door of that room to stop them using it, so knew I'd have to check each day they were indoors.

Nothing more was found until I got to one of the bedrooms on the top floor - and in 3 of the 4 corners, were neat little piles waiting for me. I cleaned them up, and shut the door. In fact, I shut all the doors that could be shut, to disuade them from using any rooms again. It was rainy again that day, so left them indoors again when I left.

On my return the day after, I was thrilled - they'd used the litter tray!! Hurrah!! But of course, they'd also used the poor plant, which by now was looking decidedly dead. A friend of their mum's was going to take care of them over the weekend, so I texted their mum to say I'd shut all the doors, and why, and would she let her friend know. But, when I came back again after the weekend, the doors were open, and once again little piles were left for me.

It became apparent that they were using places the other cat had used as the scent was there telling them that this was a suitable toilet. They wouldn't know any different. When the doors were shut, they happily used the litter tray, but otherwise, they'd use the other places.

It was a large house, over 3 floors, and knowing that 2 cats really need one tray each, plus another, meant that only one tray in the kitchen just wasn't sufficient. Also, the tray was by their foor, and as cats are very fastidious, they really don't like to toilet close to their food.

So, I suggested I purchase a couple more litter trays and place them in different parts of the house. I shut all the doors, and the cats were in for the day. The next day I nervously checked. Yes, the plant had been used, but so had both of the new litter trays. The one in the kitchen still hadn't been touched, so that really needed moving too, but I was so pleased that the problem had been resolved so simply. They just needed more options, and also to be kept away from the other smells they and the other cat had left.

I passed on a few other tips to their mum. For example, as cats don't like to eat and toilet in the same place, how about discouraging use of the old places by putting a small bowl of food in the corners of the room they'd used. That's a trick I've used successfully on a few occasions. Clearly the plant would need to be repotted - and perhaps just thrown out - and the litter tray from the kitchen could be placed where the plant was. And there are some great products that can be bought to properly clean old toileting smells - even if we can't smell them, the cats can!!

I've just had an email from their mum to say they're home now, and there are two very happy cats. And the multiple litter trays are working well!!

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.

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.

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........

More on communicating with animals

Many of you will have participated on training courses at work, where you're taught that communication is more than just the words. In fact, when talking to someone, the actual words used convey the least meaning. When you verbally deliver a message, you have the option of varying the sense of the words by the tone you use, and your body language and behaviour as you speak says more to the receiver than both of these. If this is something you learnt before, then just take a few minutes to ponder on it; and if this is something new to you, then perhaps take a few more minutes to consider.

When we communicate with our animals it works very similarly. We get to know each other very well, so we learn what some of the words sound like. Our cats and dogs will know the word for food (or whatever word we use), and other things that are important to them, and repeated often. We get to know some of their words too. Perhaps not so consciously, but when you stop to think about it you'll realise that's true.

Then there's how the words are delivered....... For example, if Bella wants to eat she'll come and tell me, and I know what this word sounds like. But if I'm distracted or doing something, and she's not getting through, she'll shout. If I look at her while she's doing this her face and body posture changes; she's putting all her energy into trying to get me to listen/understand. So she's using her body language too.

From this I can appreciate how important it is. Then if I get up to follow her into the kitchen, I get confirmation as to what she wants by where she goes. If she were desperate to relieve herself she'd be standing by the back door, still shouting up at me (even though she has a litter tray, she always prefers to go outside). When it's food she'll lead me round to the left hand side of the kitchen - that's the direction of the cupboard where her food is stored.

So from this I've understood in 3 ways what she wants and how urgent it is. If I continue to be distracted, eventually she'll stop, have a grumble, and walk away grumbling more. Sometimes she might have a bit of a tantrum, running all over the place, trying to lose some of the energy she's built up. (It's very funny, I try not to laugh!!).

If I want her to do something, I'll talk to her too, and will employ all three methods too so that she understands what's needed.

But there's more to it than that. All animals communicate through the medium of feelings, so there's a further dimension of meaning in communication. We have that ability too, but largely we've forgotten how to do it. It's been many, many thousands of years since human beings learnt to speak, and in that time we've buried the other ways that we know to communicate. Speaking is easy, it's immediate and leaves little room for misunderstanding (or does it?), so as we've evolved, we've come to depend on verbal (and its younger brother, written) communication to convey ideas and thoughts more and more and more.

Trouble is, it's moved us further away from our animal companions. They do what they can to communicate verbally with us, but they do get very frustrated that we're not listening with all our senses. We miss so much.

But it is very easy to learn how to do that, much easier than most people think. In fact we do it all the time without being being very aware that that's what we're doing.

To do this we just have to get back in touch with our feelings and emotions, and spend less time in our minds, thinking and talking. Meditation is great for this. It's just a process whereby we sit quietly and still the mind. One of the simplest ways is just to follow the breath - and by that I mean to be conscious of breathing, how the breath is moving into, around, and out of the body. Don't be impatient with this, it does take time and practice. Just enjoy it for what it is and what it brings you (which will amaze you). If you make meditation a regular practice you'll soon notice a difference in yourself.

And one of the other great things you can do is to try to live in the moment at all times. This is what our animals do, and this will bring you into their world. And as with meditation, you'll discover all sorts of wonderful unexpected benefits. We only ever live in the moment of now. It moves along with us, but that's the only place we exist. What's happened has gone, so absolutely no point in languishing in guilt, regret or any of those other destructive emotions. And the future hasn't happened, and never will, it's unreal - it's just a now moment that continues to move along with us.

These two practices will become habits that you'll enjoy, and will bring you closer to your animals, as well as bringing you so much more. I'll write again in a couple of weeks, saying more about what you can do to communicate intuitively with your animals - through emotions and feelings - once you've become used to stilling the mind and living in the present.

Cat Visits - How Frequent?

When I get asked to visit cats, mostly people ask for daily visits. Some people just want the one, others need two, and I've a couple of customers I visit three times a day.

But now and again I get asked something different..................... This week I've had both ends of the scale.

Firstly, I had an email from a lady a couple of weeks ago, enquiring into my services. I did the usual, and replied by email, as always hoping that she'd like to book. I always stress the Reiki element, how that can help, especially for cats who are a little anxious, or if their carers think they'll get lonely. Sometimes people respond back immediately, wanting to book. If I've not heard in a couple of days, they've usually decided to do something else - but I usually email back again to check, just in case.

This lady hadn't responded in all that time, so decided she wasn't going to book. But I received an email from her yesterday, and it was clear she'd been worrying about this a lot. She had decided not to book, but was kind enough to tell me why (so many people just don't bother!!). Despite first deciding she wanted a pet sitter, she then felt that her cat just wouldn't cope well on her own with just a visit or two each day. She wanted company for him all the time, so she's exploring other options at the moment.

Then I received a phone call from a man wanting care for his two cats while away on business. The cats would be on their own for 5 days, but he was asking me to come for only 3 of those. I took a deep breath and very kindly told him that I only take bookings where I visit every day - I said that if he was determined on every other day I'd have to decline. I explained my reasons.

Until last year I'd never been asked this before. And then I had two in the same week! I'd never even considered that someone might ask this, so was a bit caught out. Instinctively I didn't feel right about it, but said yes anyway. Both were cats who lived on their own, and they both absolutely loved my visits. But as the week went on I could tell that they weren't happy that I was only coming every other day. So, I started to visit every day. Result - happier cats, but not good financially for me. I couldn't ask the families to recompense me as they'd not asked me to do it!! Trouble is, because I communicate with animals, because I know how they're thinking and feeling, I couldn't ignore them. They wanted me to come every day.

And all the cats I visit feel the same. They're not living wild, they live with us, and we've conditioned them to depend on us. They are used to seeing us every day, and it's not fair to deprive them of human contact for any more than is necessary. That's why many of my customers ask me to come two or even three times every day.

For many, once is day is fine, as, if they're not being entertained, they'll probably sleep. But to go a whole day with no-one to visit them, to cuddle and stroke them, is miserable. And what happens if the cat is unwell? A daily visit minimum is essential to ensure they're ok, and if a visit to the vet is needed, it can happen sooner rather than later.

How do I know Reiki works?

Good question. Is that you asking or me? Because it could be either. There are times when I find myself doubting it, and I know plenty of other practitioners who feel the same from time to time too.

The trouble is that we are very subject to our conditioning, and we've been so used to looking at things from a very rational perspective. For most of my life, up until recently, that was me too. The people who ask me this question are no doubt using their reason to try to understand it, and there are countless scientists, who through their very rational experiences and approaches really struggle with this sort of thing. Many people who ask me about it want to see some proof, or empirical evidence; they feel that if scientists can tell them it's ok, then it's ok.

But I have recently come across a number of scientists who are able to use their vision and imagination, and have learnt to see and explain things differently. That's really all it takes; a change of perspective. But of course, having been taught to see things rationally all our lives, sometimes that takes a little while. Sometimes we need that quantum leap of insight and experience to show us, and unlock that amazing part of us that lives in a different world.

But back to the question........ If it's me that's doing the asking, then for every time I doubt, there are at least 10 times more that I absolutely know that it does work. Now, this knowing isn't something that goes on in my head. That's actually where the doubt lives. It's the mind that is rational, and too much thinking is destructive. The knowing is something that I feel in every part of me - it lives in a different place and inhabits every fibre of my being. If you take the time to stop and reflect for a while, I'm sure that you'll be able to find beliefs that are very personal to you; things you know you know, but might struggle to rationalise, explain, or put into words.

I also know through the evidence of my experiences with Reiki. I have spent time with many animals who have very obviously been healed in some way. (But possibly in a way I might struggle to explain satisfactorily to a scientist!!) When I think of the animals at Animals in Distress I have helped, and the often very quick results seen - whether physical or emotional (and frequently both, as they're very strongly linked). The cats I go to look after who have turned from very scared, frightened cats into cats who have grown in confidence. Helping to take away pain and discomfort from dogs with arthritis - and seeing the change in their whole being. And also opening up my intuition once again so that I can communicate intuitively with animals - which is also key to helping them to heal.

And even my own knees!! Yes, one of the great benefits of Reiki is being able to treat yourself. And you don't argue with your own evidence!

If it's you asking the question......... Well, if you're asking it may be that it's not for you. Having an open enquiring mind is great, but looking for hard evidence means that you may be disappointed. Reiki is never forced on anyone. All good Reiki practitioners will happily provide information as to what Reiki is and how it works, and if that resonates with you, you'll probably be asking for a treatment. Because you've asked, you're open to the healing energy and will let it flow into you, to wherever it needs to go, and to do whatever it needs to do. If you're doubtful you'll be blocking any energy that might be able to help you.

So how does an animal ask me for Reiki? Same thing really, it's never forced on them. The great thing about animals is that they don't spend all their time thinking like we do. They feel more, they're very in tune with what's going on around them, and they live in the moment. This means no wondering what Reiki is, whether it might work or not....... They sense the energy, and intuitively know that it may be able to help them. They may even have found a subtle way to direct you to a Reiki practitioner.

When I start to treat an animal I always ask, and I always explain. I never force myself on them, and generally start by holding my hands out close to them so that they can sense it. For some it's a little intense, and don't want to come too close, but others come and rub themselves in my hands straightaway. It's an amazing thing to be in a room of animals, just hold my hands out and watch what happens. Everything goes quiet, and I can feel the energy stilling. The animals just sit there with their eyes closed, looking like they're drinking it in. They might settle into a comfortable position, and I'll often see yawning – a good sign.

It's taken me time to learn how best to treat animals. Having learnt my Reiki with Chris Parkes, I then went on to study intuitive animal communication with James French, who is also an animal Reiki practitioner. I've talked about my journey to this point in previous posts, and have been especially grateful to James for sharing his Trust Technique with me. I have read lots of books about animal communication, animal healing and animal Reiki – all written by expert practitioners with many years' experience. Each time my learning has deepened, as I reflect on an approach or practice that's new to me. Through the wonders of the internet, I have become good friends with some people who work with animals at an energetic level as I do. But the best teachers of all have been the animals themselves. I suffered a few bites and scratches before I learnt that it's sometimes too intense for some animals – so I don't treat directly, I let the Reiki flow and they come to me if they want to physically place themselves in my hands. They soon get to know the feeling, although there are many animals who still prefer to receive the energy at a distance.

I'll finish this post with a very recent experience. Rod and Stewart are about 6 months old and recently became residents at Animals in Distress. As they were brothers they were placed in the same pen, but it became clear there were difficulties. Stewart was painfully shy and always hid himself away. One day he attacked his brother so badly that stitches were needed, so it was obvious the problems were more than just shyness. Rod was patched up by the vet, and on his return was given his own pen. I visited both cats the same day and it was apparent that both cats had been extremely traumatised by the experience, and whatever had caused it.

Rod was very shocked, and also sad. He really couldn't understand what had happened, nor why. He missed his brother. Stewart continued to hide under the cushion of his bed. I visited frequently to administer Reiki to both boys. Rod recovered more quickly – both physically and emotionally, and seemed to understand that he needed to be on his own. He was very friendly and affectionate, and his energy was good. Stewart though was still hiding – until this week! On Monday I visited again, and went to see Stewart, still under his cushion. I lifted it gently, and gave him a couple of treats. I then sat down on a little stool, a little way from him and started to send him Reiki. I could see the cushion move as he ate his treats. After a while his little ears and eyes popped up, but when he saw me, disappeared again. I must have been sitting very quietly!

After about 20 minutes I left his pen, and thanked him (as I always do for all the cats) for letting me into his home. I was a couple of pens away, and as I looked to my left I could see little Stewart at the front of his pen. So when I had finished with all the cats I went and sat just outside his pen door, and watched him through the mesh. I popped a couple of treats through, and he got brave, picked them up, and ran back with them. But he was starting to get more comfortable with me there, and I could see his confidence was growing. The energy coming from him felt especially happy and buoyant. By then he was rubbing himself on the mesh itself, and allowed me to scratch him through it. I thought I'd open the door and prop it with my foot to see what happened. Bit by bit he moved toward the open door, then through it. Suddenly he was under my leg, rubbing his back on me! I held my hands out and he thrust his face into one of them and absolutely loved having his ears scratched. Next thing he was on my lap, on his back, in ecstasy! What a change, and how wonderful. He's still a little anxious with people, and they have to approach him gently. But now he's loving human contact, and winning everyone over. I'd worried before that it might be difficult to ever find him a home, but not now!

I love my happy endings, and it's great for me to know that Reiki has helped another living being to enjoy their life. I'm sure I'd still have a scientist or two saying that this isn't proof, but do you know what? I know it works, and so does Stewart (and Rod, and all the others). And that's good enough for us.

Hooray – Henry finds a home!!

Bella's always been a little picky about the cats she'll let into her garden. In fact, with just one exception a couple of years ago, she'll hiss and spit at them all, and once even took a run at a poor hapless cat sitting in the middle of the lawn, landing a smack around the chops.

But a few weeks ago a lovely young boy cat came calling, and it all changed. She'd lie on the patio in front of him, legs in the air, flirting like mad. He didn't seem to know what to make of it, but was friendly enough. It was fairly clear though that he was a stray, and he'd worked out that where a cat lived, there would also be food. I used to find him sheltering inside the compost bin (not used for compost, just looks like a redundant dalek), so started putting food in there for him. Of course, he became a regular visitor.

What made me so sure he was a stray was that he was always on the lookout for food, his coat was a little dirty, he was always around, and he very obviously hadn't been neutered. I was starting to think that I should put notices up to see whether any neighbours came forward to claim him, and if not, would see if I could get him along to Animals in Distress – so that he could be checked out by a vet, neutered, and hopefully found a lovely new home. He was quite friendly, although fairly quiet and shy, but had a gentle way about him – I was sure he'd settle well into a home with someone. I'd even started wondering whether Bella would be happy for him to move in with us.

Before I could do that, someone beat me to it! There were posters attached to lampposts with his lovely face on. They said that he'd been visiting these people, and that he was very friendly – but clearly they wanted to find out whether he belonged to anyone. I called and left a message, and a few days later Sophie called back. No-one had contacted her apart from me, so they were certain he didn't have a home to call his own. She and her partner had decided that they would be happy for him to live with them, which was great news.

They decided to call him Henry, and he now sports a smart new green collar, which will indicate to people he has a home to go to.

Things are going quite well. The weather's been fine recently, so most of the time he seems happy to be outside, continuing to wander around his territory. But he always knows where to go for food, and whenever Sophie opens the door at meal times he's always there. He's even slept in their bedroom 3 times.

And I've been to take care of him as Sophie and her partner have been away for a couple of weekends recently. It's lovely to see him in his new home, and see how well he's doing. On Saturday morning he came in for his food, then went upstairs. I followed a little while later and found him flat out on the bed, fast asleep. He stirred a little as I went in, but not for long. It was an extremely hot day, and I think all the heat had made him very tired. Also, when you're living the life of a stray cat, you can never quite switch off, even while you're asleep – who knows what other cats might be coming around? He just needed a good long sleep, knowing that he would be safe. The next morning he looked very refreshed, and ready to go out again.

He knows where his home is now, although having spent a while as a stray, he might never really become a home-loving cat, preferring to wander outside as much as he can. But he loves his new garden, knows it's his, and is never far from the back door. So, I've not seen him here now for a couple of weeks; now that he has a home and regular food, he's less need to go finding food where he can. For a few days Bella would go outside looking for him, but I think she's forgotten now. She'll get over it!

The Trust Technique with James French

I've written before about how I first realised I could communicate with animals, how I went on to learn more about it, and how it's now an essential part of how I care for all the animals I go to see.

I'm returning to this theme as I wanted to share a wonderful video with you. I have studied animal communication and behaviour with the amazing James French and his partner Shelley. At one of our learning sessions he introduced what he calls "The Trust Technique" to the group.

Although it was a very, very cold November afternoon, we all went and stood in the stables with a couple of horses who had both experienced very traumatic pasts, and their behaviour showed this. They were very aggressive (and in a big animal that's also very dangerous to anyone nearby), and clearly extremely scared. I was so moved by what happened that I didn't feel the cold any more, just wanted to stay with the horses.

We had all learnt before how to still our minds, to be in the moment, in order to be able to communicate with animals, and this took it one stage further. By being quiet and still with an animal, finding that place of gentleness and love inside, and being totally in the present moment, it is possible to help the start of the healing process for the animal. It's easier if you watch what happens, so please have a look at this amazing video that James has posted. The link is at the end of this blog post.

I found it so powerful, and also so obviously simple (and through Reiki and intuitive communication, this was what I was doing anyway, but not necessarily so aware), I consciously brought this technique to the animals I work with at Animals in Distress. Healing takes time. It's not immediate. Many of the animals I work with have learnt to be very scared, especially of human beings. But in time, and sometimes in very tiny steps, this has helped them to start their healing, and learn to trust people. Once they've been able to do that, then the people who care for them are able to help them to heal even further.

Enjoy the video, and please post any comments, thoughts or questions you may have.

Click here for the link to James' blog, which contains the video.

Barnie's story

My friend Cindy has a lovely dog called Barnie who's a 14 year old Malinois (Belgian Shepherd dog). He'd recently been taken to the vet for a gland problem, and was prescribed a course of anti-biotics. Unfortunately the drugs did nothing to resolve the gland problem, but brought with it other problems, including being entirely off his food and losing a vast amount of weight.

Blood and urine tests were done, and they came back fine, so the vet wanted to take a sample and do some exploratory x-rays. Cindy was extremely reluctant to put him through something so stressful, with no real idea whether any particular cause would be identified. He's an old boy, suffers with osteoarthritis, and also had a severe bloat attack a couple of years ago. He'd also been on antibiotics before, and they'd done nothing to resolve the problem then either.

Intuitively Cindy felt that neither drugs nor surgery were the answer. Thinking about the anti-biotics, she'd been wondering whether as well as killing off the bad bacteria, they'd also been stripping him of all his good bacteria, and was this now at the root of the problem? Would a good pro-biotic be helpful for him?

She contacted me to see whether, in my experience with animals, I could offer any ideas or suggestions. Well, I've had no experience in the use of pro-biotics with animals, so wasn't in a position to offer any ideas. And I didn't know of any vets I could recommend to talk to about this. But I've been going to a naturopath for a number of years, and she's extremely expert on the use of pro-biotics albeit with people and not animals. Gabi has a dog, so I wondered whether she had any experience of using pro-biotics with Ollie.

She provided some very good advice which I passed back to Cindy, who then went off and did lots of internet research. Seems that her intuitive idea was a good track to follow..........

Very quickly she got some pro-biotics for Barnie, and his improvement was almost immediate. A few days later she was in touch again to say that he continued to get better and better. How wonderful!!! She never did get a complete diagnosis for whatever it was that was wrong with him, but it does look like the anti-biotics had a lot to do with causing the problem.

Clearly she'll continue to monitor his condition closely, and of course, will return him to the vet should she need to.

But this story raised some interesting issues for me....... These are very personal issues, but they might resonate with you too, would be interested to hear your views.

The first is that Cindy trusted her intuition as to Barnie's needs. She was tuning into him, and learning what it was that might resolve his problem. As you all know, I communicate intuitively with animals all the time, and I strongly believe that we can all do this. Cindy also did this.

The second is that mainstream medicine - both for people and animals - needs to open its eyes and heart more to other approaches. A client of mine put it very well: "...seems awfully cruel and patronising to insist that no cure has taken place because science struggles to explain it." There are a number of scientists at the cutting edge these days who are understanding the link between what they would call rational science/medicine and other healing modalities. Clearly as a Reiki practitioner, this is a subject very close to my heart.

Many are still subject to their very limited thinking, and possibly ruled by either ego, fear or financial considerations. After all, the drugs and chemical companies are extremely rich and therefore wield a certain amount of power! For many people, it's not comfortable for the status quo to be challenged, and things they've always known or believed in to be changed or shaken up. There are a small number of vets who take a holistic and/or naturopathic approach, but are still rather few and far between.

This doesn't mean I'm advocating turning our backs on mainstream medicine either. That would be daft. There is so much we've learnt about the ways our bodies work, and so many amazing advances towards improving health have been made over the years. There are thousands of wonderful medical and healthcare professionals.

But mainstream medicine doesn't necessarily have all the answers. So, what needs to happen now is for both approaches to appreciate that each have so much to offer, and they are two sides of the same coin. Let's all start to work together now in a spirit of trust, hope and endeavour to continue to understand and improve health for all living beings on this wonderful planet of ours.

I could go on and on and on on this subject, but will leave it there I think....... (although may possibly return to this issue from time to time!!)

Finally, although Barnie is clearly doing so much better now, this isn't necessarily the end of the story. It is possible that he'll suffer a setback, or develop something else. But that can happen anyway, whether with mainstream medical intervention or other approaches. Or perhaps he will just get better and better and live well and comfortably until the end of his natural life........

I'll finish this story by sending love and healing to Barnie and Cindy. xx

On the subject of cat litter again....

I know, I've written about cat litter a couple of times before, firstly about how I really do detest that awful fullers earth clumping stuff, then about the habit they all seem to have of needing to christen a fresh new litter tray straight away.

But this is different. And a bit of a plea..........

All the cat experts will tell you that cats like to be fastidious and clean, and that their litter trays should be kept spotless at all times. Well, I'd echo that. I get to see a lot of litter trays, so I know what I'm talking about.

In my experience, for indoor cats, I'd say that many people need to completely refresh the litter more frequently than they think. And whenever you do a complete change, always properly clean and disinfect the litter tray. It's much better to err on the side of cleanliness.

It's also recommended that there should be one litter tray per cat in the household, plus one extra. Again, unless the cats are mostly outdoor cats and only use the litter tray infrequently, I'd agree with this. If you do have them sharing a litter tray, then it will definitely need a complete change every day.

This might sound a little over the top, but really, if you want happy cats, and a happy house this is the only way to be. And please stay away from Fullers' Earth litter!!

Complete or Complementary Food?

When you last bought food for your cat or dog, did you check the label to see whether it was Complete or Complementary? And what's the difference anyway?

It's so easy to assume that the premium brands, often at the most expensive prices, are going to be the best to feed your pet. But many of these will be labelled as Complementary, so won't have all the nutrition necessary for proper health and development.

I've been doing a bit of research, and have learnt that Complete foods can be classified as follows:

"A complete pet food is one which, when fed for an extended period (ie covering the whole period of the life stage) as the only source of nutrients, will provide for all the energetic and nutritional needs of the particular animals of the given species and physiological state for which it is intended."

In particular, cats must eat food that contains taurine, as they are unable to synthesise it themselves. This is essential for optimal retinal function and is vital for reproductive efficiency. All Complete foods will contain the required amount. Taurine is found naturally in meat, but not fish, so a Complete fish food for a cat will have added taurine. It shouldn't be assumed though that a cat food with a meat flavour - for example beef - will contain sufficient taurine (and other essential nutrients) unless it is labelled as a Complete food.

The legal definition of a Complementary food is:

"......one, which by reason of its composition is not sufficient to ensure a daily ration unless used in combination with another food."

Complementary foods are absolutely fine to feed your cat or dog, but you will always need to ensure that a Complete food is also provided. This doesn't mean that Complementary foods are poor quality - the vast majority are extremely good quality, but will not contain all the nutrients needed.

The information in this blog post has been found in the following document from the European Pet Food Industry Federation, which contains much more information - if you feel inclined to read it! http://http//www.fediaf.org/Pages/NutritionalGuidelines%202005.pdf

All you need to do though, is to check the labels when you're shopping and ensure you know what you're feeding your cat or dog. Complementary food is absolutely fine as a treat from time to time, but always ensure that they receive Complete food at least every day.

Oh for a nice cup of tea......

A few weeks ago I went to meet Natalie, a new customer, and her cat Louis (he does look very regal, so very well named!). We had a lovely chat over a cup of green tea - peppermint is my favourite, but she didn't have any in, so green it was.

Anyway, a few weeks later, I went along to take care of Louis while she and her family were away for a long weekend. She was very sweet and had bought a pack of peppermint tea for me, and left it in the kitchen along with a cup, with a note to help myself.

So many of my customers are very kind and leave out the tea and coffee for me. But the reality is that I rarely get time to drink anything, other than a slurp from the bottle of water I always carry around with me (it's thirsty work!).

The thing is, if I'm there for half an hour, if you take away the time spent washing up the cat bowls, putting out more food, and checking or changing the litter, it only leaves a few minutes to be with the cats. And to be honest that's what I'd rather do - that's what I'm there for, and that's why I do what I do. I've thought before about popping the kettle on, and making a cup of something hot, but with a cat on my lap, or wanting playing with, a very hot mug in the other hand isn't very safe. And then up I jump to go to see the next cat - and it's probably still too hot to drink.

So, for all you people imagining me spending the day sitting down drinking tea and coffee, you'd be wrong!!

Adopting from Rescues or Buying?

On Linked In, I'm a member of a group that is related to those who work with animals, and there are various discussions that go on on line.

A recent discussion was one that is close to my heart. Someone raised the question about why so many people are reluctant to take on a rescue animal, as opposed to buying from from a breeder. The writer was from the US, so she was quoting recent data she'd come across (didn't cite the source though) that less than 20% of animals in homes are from rescue centres.

I've been trying to find data on UK rescue ownership, but finding it difficult - however, when I do, I'll update you. But I was surprised the figure was so low, as so many people I know, whether they're customers, friends, neighbours, family, etc do have animals that were once resident at rescue centres. And people seem to be really happy to let people know that their animal came from a rescue centre.

As with any discussion, it did get off track a bit, what with people flying the flag for their own issues. However, even if the figures are different for the UK, I'm still interested to know why people, if they're making a conscious choice, prefer to go to rescue centres to find their animal companions. And if they've decided not to, then why not?

Please join in with your own thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences.

What happened in May?

I started writing this blog for a number of reasons, but mostly because I found it enjoyable. To sit and share with you all my experiences in working and being with animals, my thoughts, ideas, opinions and suggestions - and to hear from you about yours - is a great way to add to what we all know about the animals with whom we share our lives.

I've always had plenty of ideas for subjects, and found that in a spare few moments, I'd be happily typing away. But the whole of May has gone without a single post!! That's very unusual. Ever since I started I've made a number of posts every month - some months have been very full! Now and again, when things get really busy, I might struggle to write as many, but still, manage always to write a few.

May has been very busy, both with animals, and with my people related activities. But I'm sure that I could have found time somewhere to write a post or two. And it's not that I have no ideas for subjects to write about - there's loads buzzing around in my mind, even as I write now. I have a list with subject titles, just ready to be written about.

No, I think that what happened was that I lost the muse for a little while. When I started I wanted this to be enjoyable first and foremost, but during May, whenever I sat at the keyboard ready to type, it felt like a chore. Now, there's no way I want to force something out if it just doesn't want to come. It won't read right, and I won't be happy about it. So I've been a little quiet.

I also think that it's part of a little phase I've been going through. Normally I'm a very sociable person, who likes to reach to out others, to communicate, to bring people together. It's who I am. But now and again I feel the need to bring the drawbridge up for a bit, curl up inside myself, hold myself in. So, it's not just my blog. I've been in contact less than normal with my friends, family and other people I know. Even with Facebook and Linked In, even though I've been reading what others are writing, I've felt less inclined to include my own comments.

But it's different when it comes to being with animals. Although I've held back from people a little of late, I've done lots of talking to the animals I've been with. They are so wise, loving, giving and accepting. Perhaps that's what I've needed. Perhaps that why I felt the need to shut up shop with people for a bit. Now that I can feel myself coming out the other side, I can appreciate that it's been good for me, I've needed to do this. And I know that I do this from time to time - confuses those who don't know me so well, but good friends and family understand. I feel nourished and refreshed now, and ready to take on the world again - but in a quieter way than before.

So, I shall still be writing blog posts from time to time, whenever the mood takes me. And I look forward to hearing from you all too - please share you own thoughts, comments, ideas and suggestions.

Kitty goes travelling

One of my lovely customers sent me an email with a link to a fabulous story of a young French couple who travelled from Miami to the southernmost point in South America, with little Kitty the cat along for the ride too.

She seems to have loved her journey, and the pictures are amazing!

I wanted to share this with you, so here is a link to their website, with the story of their journey, and best of all, some fab pictures. The picture at the top is from their portfolio, and hopefully will encourage you to have a look at the others.

On Facebook? Then become a Whiskers Pet Care Fan

Much of the world is now on Facebook, and it's a great way to keep up to date with people you don't see often (and even those you do), as well as friends and family in other parts of the world. Recently it's become very popular for businesses to have a fan page - less formal than some of the business networking sites, with the focus very much on fun, and light-hearted matters - although it's an opportunity too to raise awareness of some more difficult issues.

Whiskers Pet Care now has its own fan page, and I'd love for as many people to join. I've set it up so that fans can all post their own stories, thoughts, words of wisdom and pictures, so that we can all share and know how amazing all of our animals are. I'd love it to be a celebration of the animal world.

Please join in!! I'd love to have you all along....... Just click here to take you through to the page. If that doesn't work, then just pop Whiskers Pet Care in the search box at the top, and you should see the little purple cat face - click on that, and it will magically transport you to the world of Whiskers Pet Care.

What shall we call her?

Names are tricky aren't they? Whether it's a new baby or a new animal coming into the family, there's a huge burden of responsibility to get it right. After all, they'll have the name for the rest of their life. Names do matter. If they didn't, why would we spend so long thinking about them?

So why do they matter so much? Well, whether you realise it or not, a name gives a whole sense of identity. It's more than just something to call out when you want Buster to come in, or it's food time. There's meaning behind names, and we want to make sure we've got the right meanings. It's often something to live up - or down - to.

The name has to suit the animal, say the right thing about it. I've just mentioned Buster. When you hear that name, what sort of animal does it conjure up in your mind? How do you see their character? Or say you decided to call your cat Fleur....... try that one on for size. See what I mean? Perhaps the way that you see Buster is different to the way I see him - and clearly Buster is a name for a boy, so already there's some meaning there.

The thing is, once you have a sense of what this name means to you, every time you use it, you'll bring that meaning in. Meanings carry emotions, feelings, vibrations - and animals pick this all up. This will have an effect on their character, and also the relationship you have with each other.

At Animals in Distress, there's a continual struggle to find names for the animals who come to stay. Some come in with their own names, but mostly the staff there have no idea what an animal might have been called before. Ideally the names should be new, not used before - in practical terms that causes less confusion, but it's also because each animal deserves a name that's right for it.

A little while ago, when it became clear they were starting to find it difficult, I decided I'd do some thinking. And came up with a list of over 200 names!! Some were more suited to dogs, others to cats, and some more to rabbits or guinea pigs. Again, there's a sense of meaning that comes through here. I thought about all the animals I'd known, those I care for now, and even found myself scouring names on the credits of TV programmes! Trouble is, once I started I couldn't stop, and even now in unguarded moments I find myself thinking about names for animals. Drives me mad!!!

The reason I knew that Animals in Distress were having difficulties was when I discovered they'd called a cat Grubbi. Admittedly she'd come in looking rather dirty around her face, and at first wasn't wonderful at keeping herself clean. But if you looked through that you could see she was really rather beautiful. The name Anna jumped out at me, so to me, that's who she became. They're used to me renaming cats to something I think is more appropriate!! The problem with carrying a name like Grubbi is that whenever one of the staff go to talk to her, they're just reinforcing this sense of being dirty, and that's how she'll feel. Giving her a name that carries feelings of femininity and beauty means that she might just feel that way about herself - and start to take more pride in her appearance. All makes sense, doesn't it?

My cat's called Bella. I decided that was going to be her name before I even found her. My maternal grandmother was my favourite person when I was a child, and despite the fact that she really didn't like animals at all, she had a lovely sweet face, just like a little cat. So, I wanted to name my new companion after someone who was so lovely herself. Bella found me, so must have decided that this was to be her name, and she would live with me. And of course, in Italian, Bella means beautiful.

I'd love to know how your animals got their names, so please all join in and share your stories!

A difficult topic to think about......

Even though we don't like to think about it, we all know that our animals aren't going to be with us forever. Sad as it is for us, one day we're going to need to say goodbye. But what happens if it's the other way around?

This is something I've thought about from time to time, then put out of my mind. If anything happens to me, what happens to Bella? And I don't just mean my passing on, but I could have an accident, and no-one might know that she's here needing taking care of.

I was watching a re-run of the Dog Whisperer recently, and that really brought it home - all those animals that got left behind in New Orleans with no-one to care for them. Until a humanitarian team went back into the city searching for them - breaking down doors, windows, anything to be sure that the animals were rescued. Amazingly, some of them were re-united with their families who'd since moved miles away. But if something happens to us, they can't tell people where they are, and that they need taking care of.

I was talking to a friend the other day - she had two elderly cats, and one passed away last year. The other is now about 20 and very weak, and is approaching the end of his life. She says she won't be ready for another cat straight away, but then wonders if she'll ever have another cat at all. You get to a certain point in your life where there's a chance your animal might outlive you. She didn't want to think that any new animals in her life might have to fend for themselves.

I remembered about an article I'd read in Your Cat magazine a few months ago. It's a difficult subject, and one we'd all rather not spend too much time dwelling on. But neverthless, it's important to be practical, and with some planning ahead, this situation can be avoided.

The RSPCA, PDSA and Cats Protection all have schemes that all help in one way or another. If you ask them, the PDSA and Cats Protection will send you emergency care cards for you to complete and carry around with you. The RSPCA has a scheme called "Home for Life", which is a free service where they will take an animal in after you've gone, and ensure they are re-homed.

Ideally, it's best to talk to family and friends, and make definite arrangements for them to take your animal in if something happens to you. Perhaps you can do the same for them? And useful too to note any arrangements in your will. The key though is thinking about it and then putting plans in place. That way you've got peace of mind, and don't need to think about it again.

If you'd like to read the article in more detail, go to http://www.yourcat.co.uk/ - it was in the January 2010 edition. And also check out the websites of the RSPCA, PDSA and Cats Protection for more information on their schemes.

Intuitive Animal Communication Playshop

Just a reminder about the Intuitive Animal Communication training weekend that I'm going to be co-facilitating with Julie Lines of Voice of the Animals. Plans are well under way, and we're currently finalising a great venue - if possible with animal teachers on site!

Also, good news - we appreciate that things are still rather tight financially for many people, so because this is something we feel is so important to share, we've reduced the investment for the weekend to just £150 per person. That's just £75 per day, and you get two expert trainers for that, and perhaps even some real animal teachers too! Just need to book before May 7th to qualify for this great price (after that it's £200 per person), or book in as a group of 4 people or more.

Location: Manchester area

Dates: 22/23 May 2010

To book, contact either Julie or me:

julie@voiceoftheanimals.org.uk

jean@whiskerspetcare.co.uk

Details of what you will learn to do can be found here.

See you on 22nd May!

A Memorial

My good friend Janet lost her beloved cat companion of nearly 20 years the other day. His name was Mungo and he'd been with her since he was a tiny kitten. Like so many of us, although she knew that he wouldn't be with her forever, she somehow hoped he would be. He was already 8 when her daughter was born - and she'd never seen him as a kitten or a young cat. Thought he was so cute when Janet showed her pictures of him yesterday.

20 is a good age for a cat, and many more are getting close to that these days. If we take good care of our animal friends, feed them with good quality food, ensure they get vet treatment whenever it's needed, and most of all, give them love, love and more love, they have every opportunity to live on to this age.

I've lost lots of cat friends over the last year, including Kat, Daisy, Kiki, Oscar, Billy Phelps, and so many others too, as have lots of my friends. Lucy recently lost her beloved Ellie (again at 20 years of age), and Vicki lost her lovely cat a few months ago too.

With Mungo's passing I thought I'd write this blog post as a memorial to them all, to send them love, and thank them for all being angels in our lives. They enrich our lives in ways we can't begin to count, and we are better human beings for what we learn from them. Thank you all, and may you all rest in peace and love eternally. xx

My Dream - Reprise

In November I wrote about my dream of building a wonderful bright shiny new sanctuary with loads of room, to update the current Animals in Distress sanctuary.

That's still a big dream of mine, but in particular I'd like to do something for the elderly animals and those who are very hard to home.

One way or the other, most of the animals do find new homes, but some take a long, long time to get there. This is especially true of the very old ones, and those with medical conditions that might cost a new carer a fair bit if they take them into their homes. Additionally, those that come in as ferals, or who prefer to be strays generally aren't great candidates for re-homing, but still need somewhere safe to be, a regular supply of nutritional food, and access to vet care when needed.

And there are some rescue centres who choose to euthanase older and poorly animals, rather than give them a good quality of life as they approach the end. I do appreciate that finances play a big part in these sorts of decisions, but what I'm talking about here is My Dream. What I'd do if I had all the money I needed to realise it. I'd take them all in, from all rescue centres, and give them love and care for the rest of their natural lives.

The times I've drawn out my designs, how it would look, work; the people I'd have to take care of them. There would be a full time vet on site, and they'd get weekly, if not daily, health checks. Any operations could be carried out on site. There would also be a team of people whose job is solely to be with the animals, to give them love and healing. Most rescue centres struggle to find enough volunteers, and those who do are often asked to do the cleaning jobs. These are obviously very essential tasks, but so is giving love to the animals. So lots more people needed.

There would also be an army of healers of all types - either employed or coming as volunteers. Of course, this is the part I love best, so I'd be one of those people too.

They'd all have their own little "house" for want of a better word. Not just a cage with a small run. Somewhere where they could lounge on a couch or bed, and somewhere for the carer to come and sit properly with them, for as long as needed. Appropriate light and heating would be provided, along with toys, games and stimulation. Animals respond really well to music, so that would play gently into their houses during the day.

The "house" areas would all be linked to a central area in hubs where carers can prepare food, clean litter trays, store cleaning materials etc. And in the other direction, there would be access into an individual outdoor area. There will be enough land and enough money to build as many of these as needed.

For the dogs, these will have the potential to be linked with a gate, so that they can socialise with each other under supervision. And then there would be a large dog exercise area with games, trees, training facilities, assault courses, muddy puddles, streams........... Very obviously then, we'll have a dog cleaning area, before they are returned to their houses.

The cats individual outdoor areas will need to be fenced in and properly enclosed, to keep them in and safe. There will be lots of trees to climb, plenty of bushes and shrubs, so they've got somewhere to go and hide, as cats sometimes like to do. And of course, lots of places that catch the sun (where there is some!). The cats' houses and enclosures will be large enough to accommodate two, or perhaps more, cats who have been used to living together and can't be split up.

Understandably, as a home for elderly animals, it's clear that we will have to be dealing with animals passing on, perhaps fairly frequently. What's really important is that the animals know that this is somewhere they've come to spend their last days/months/years in peace and with love, so that when it's time to go, they will be happy. It won't be a sad place, as all the animals will be receiving love and healing all the time. Animals always know when it's time to go anyway, so will be able to move on happily - so we should be happy for them. I, and the other healers, will be able to help this important life process by the use of whatever our healing skills are, together with lots of intuitive communication. This helps us to know what's best for a poorly animal - ie whether to treat or not. In many cases we'll just be ensuring they are comfortable, pain-free and loved in preparation for moving on.

The place will be so filled with gorgeous energy, light and love, and joy that it will be a very magical, special place for all the animals (and human animals) who are part of it.

So, this is my dream. It keeps changing as I keep dreaming about it, but it just keeps on getting better and better. All I need now is for the means to make it real!!!