My Cat Sit Kit

When I go pet sitting (mostly cats and rabbits), you'll see me carrying around a black bag that looks rather heavy! It's not just a matter of taking keys, and I'm off. It seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, so sat down with it just now to see what's in there.......

A bag of bin liners
I get through loads!! I've got bin liners of every size, from very small ones, to great big heavy duty black ones. I don't like to leave rubbish behind, it's not nice for someone to come home from their holiday to find it all - and after a few days it can smell. So, if I've had to throw away food left over from the day before, dispose of food containers, or have cleaned out the litter tray, it all goes into a plastic bag of some description, and then gets thrown away in the outside bin - every day.

Antiseptic wipes
Happily these aren't needed for every visit, but dealing with messes are more common than you'd think. Whether cats have missed the litter tray, or been sick, it all has to be cleaned up. And I always like to leave a spotless sink area, so will wipe down every day.

Kitchen roll
Sometimes people leave these out, but I can't rely on that so always bring a roll along with me. I never know when they'll come in handy.

Loo roll!!
On a busy day I'm going from house to house, and at some point I'll need to use the bathroom - I really can't just pop home! It's amazing how many times there's no loo paper on the roll when people leave to go on their hols, so I make sure I bring my own!

Tea towels
To my mind it's essential that cat bowls are properly washed every day - even if they just eat dry food. And of course they need drying, and I don't want to be using too much kitchen roll, as it's a waste of paper. Sometimes there are tea towels in the kitchen, but I don't like to use these - I prefer to use the ones I've specifically brought for drying cat (and rabbit) bowls.

Sporks
I don't use the forks in cutlery drawer as many people don't like to use the same implements for their pets - so I bring my own! I have lots of coloured plastic spork (cross between a spoon and a fork) that I take from house to house with me, ensuring they're always cleaned properly between visits.

Sanitiser gel
Sometimes cats pick up bugs and viruses, and I think it's important that I don't pass these around as I go from house to house. So I ensure that I always wash my hands then use sanitiser gel to kill of any remaining nasties at the end of each visit, before I go to the next one. I learnt about the necessity of being scrupulous with germs from my visits at Animals in Distress, and I think it's been a great lesson.

Hand cream
I'm always washing my hands so my hands can get very dry. The hand cream is in the bag, but to tell the truth, it doesn't often come out! Don't really get the time!

Mobile phone
Obviously an essential item these days, but even more so for me, so that I can send texts to all the animals' families while I'm out taking care of their little treasures.

Keys
I've usually got a large bunch of keys with me, all labelled up securely so that I can tell (and no-one else can) which houses they belong to. So they don't go astray in the bottom of my bag, I keep them all in a pencil case.

Emergency Food
Wouldn't it be lovely if all the cats I visited dutifully ate all the food that was left for them? Sometimes though, this doesn't happen, and I don't like to think of them going for days without eating. There can be many reasons for this but it's possibly because they're on their own all day and night, apart from my visits, getting bored. If they're used to eating the same food all the time, chances are they'll also be bored with that too. You know how it feels - if what you have to eat doesn't appetise you, you can lose your appetite. Plenty people tell me that if the cat is really hungry, he'll eat. Well, a lot of the time I find that's just not true - or at least they'll leave it far too many days to eat, and then I'd worry. So, when I'm visiting I like to be certain the cats are eating, and if that means I've got to tempt their taste buds with something different, then that's what I'll do!! Oh, and treats. Very useful for distracting cats who'd otherwise try to squeeze out the front door with me when I go!

Well, that'll be why it's so heavy then.......

Sidney and Edward's Good News

Sidney and Edward came into Animals in Distress in the middle of 2009. They were brothers and about 8 years old. Sidney was fully black and Edward ginger and white. Although different colours their fur had the same quality, and their faces were the same - you could tell they were brothers.

My hairdresser had told me about another of her clients who was having to rehome her very loved cats, and was struggling to find anyone to take them, so she turned to me. Now, I know lots of people who love cats, but mostly they've already got cats. But I tried anyway, after all, you never know.

Despite my efforts, I wasn't successful, so persuaded her to bring them into Animals in Distress. She had been a little concerned, knowing they weren't young cats, and that they might be there a while. In her own words "I really couldn't bear to think of them ending their days there." I reassured her that even the very difficult cats do find homes eventually, so although it might take a little while, they would be found loving new homes one day.

Well, it was difficult. Most people do want younger cats, and trying to find a home for two together was also challenging. Lots of people offered to take Edward - he was slightly more friendly and forthcoming, and ginger cats are always very popular. Black cats on the other hand do take a little longer. It's thought that it's because it's more difficult to see their faces - and that does make some sense.

Time went on, and I'd go to see them regularly. They were doing ok, but clearly getting a little frustrated from time to time - and with each other sometimes. They really needed to be in a new home very soon.

Then the recent cat flu virus hit. Despite my shock and sadness, there was a glimmer of happiness in that (so far) Sidney and Edward had survived. They'd very likely been immunised and had all their boosters, and perhaps being together took away some of the stress that other cats on their own might feel. All this may have protected them, but we didn't really know for certain. And it also wasn't certain they'd continue to survive.

In the days between then and New Year I didn't visit - as there were very few cats to visit and I was very busy with my own clients. I didn't dare to contact them to see whether Sidney and Edward were still with us - if not I couldn't bear to hear of it. I also didn't try to contact them intuitively, as I was afraid what I might pick up. I kept remembering what their previous human carer had said "I really couldn't bear to think of them ending their days there." I felt I'd have let her down.

I needn't have worried. On New Years Day I had a call from Jo at the sanctuary. A lady in Warrington had adopted the boys the day before!!! I couldn't stop crying with the joy of it. Normally they don't adopt animals over the Christmas and New Year period - for obvious reasons. But given recent circumstances, and this lovely lady was prepared to take the both of them, they relaxed their rules.

She'd recently moved to the area and also lost a beloved cat. She knew he couldn't be replaced, but wanted another cat. When she heard about Sidney and Edward's story her heart melted and she offered to take them both. So Sidney and Edward went off to live with this lovely lady and her little Westie in Warrington, and I wish them all a happy life together.

Another small silver lining from the awful cat flu situation....... and good to see how sad times can turn in to happier times.

Farewell and Rest in Peace to my Lovely Cat Friends

I've written before about animals passing, and how I've been able to help them and their human carers. It's something I feel privileged and honoured to be able to do. I feel happy for them knowing they're moving on in peace, but sad for those they leave behind.

Over the last two months I've been personally tested in this way too, as I've had to say goodbye to a number of cats I've come to love very much, as well as some others I've not known so well. It's difficult to write about, and I must admit I've put off writing this post, although I knew I had to eventually. To leave it out would be to leave out something so big and important, such that the other posts would almost seem pointless. And then something happened this week which told me the time was right. So here goes.....

My birthday is just before Christmas, and it was a quiet day, just before the Christmas rush started. I try to get to Animals in Distress at least once a week, and it seemed perfect. Go to see all my lovely animal friends on my birthday, and bring them lots of love and Reiki cuddles.

I got there and started to walk towards the office as usual, to get an update on who'd been homed, any new residents, etc. But I didn't get that far, as Brian - one of the regular staff - came walking across the yard towards me with a serious look on his face. His news was devastating. They'd been hit by a cat flu bug so vicious that it had very quickly killed nearly all the cats they were caring for. I felt I'd been hit in the heart, and I could see and feel his pain too.

Now, at a sanctuary this is one of those things than can, and does, happen from time to time. But never usually with such speed and severity - thankfully that is extremely rare. Given that people bring cats in with all sorts of backgrounds, most of which we'll never know, there is a good chance that some of these will be carrying the virus. But mostly the virus will lie dormant unless there's a trigger to set it off.

If a cat does start to show symptoms, they have a tried and tested process to contain it so that none of the other cats will even be aware there's been a bug around. And most of the time this works well. One or two cats might be lost, but the majority will never know, and things can continue as normal.

All this could be helped of course, if people would take their cats along to the vet once a year for their injections/boosters and a health check. It doesn't cost much, and to help people, there's often an amnesty for a month every year where people can bring their cats (and dogs) in to have them immunised for free. Then, even if strays are brought in that have maybe lapsed and are carrying, the rest of the population will stand a better chance if they've had their boosters regularly.

So, I went into the office, and sat with the other staff. The mood was very sombre, and although they had to go about their jobs - they had other animals to care for too - it was clear that this was all very difficult for them to bear. I could go home after my visit, but they had to return day after day to somewhere that had such sadness associated with it. They do get used to it up to a point - after all, it's the nature of the job. But the scale of the loss was almost too much to take.

While I was sitting there though, they were working hard trying to find good things to talk about. It gave them the opportunity to give all the cubicles and pens a really, REALLY good clean (although I have to say they're always scrupulous), and they showed me some pictures of a cat that had recently been rehomed, with a lovely letter from his new person, telling us how well he was settling in. This helped us all.

I went home, and since then have been sending them regular Reiki - to help them all to cope with the devastating loss. There were also a very small number of cats who had survived up to the point of my visit, so I also sent them Reiki - to help to strengthen them against the virus, and to bring them comfort, as they will have been acutely aware of what had happened to their friends. As you do at times like this, you find yourself trying to find answers - why did this happen?

A few days later the big freeze started. As we all know, much much colder than we've known for a long time. There were a couple of cats still in the outside cattery - which is where they go when they're ready for rehoming - and they were moved inside. Had the inside cattery been full, as it nearly always is, there would have been nowhere to put these cats, and it would have been extremely difficult to keep them warm. Even the water in their water bowls was freezing up, so they couldn't drink. It was then that I could start to see that some good came out of the very sad event a few days before. Who knows - many of the older and weaker cats may not have been able to survive the cold.

I lost some great friends, some cats who had been with us for a while, who had proved to be difficult to rehome, but had great characters, all the same. Some I had become particularly close to. It was very hard.......

So, then headlong into a very busy (and challenging due to the weather) Christmas and New Year period, which was probably what I needed. It helped me to put things in perspective, to be with cats who were healthy and thriving. It also reminded me that although we lost a few cats in that awful week, it was a drop in the ocean compared to the cats that are rehomed by Animals in Distress every year. The great majority do, and always have done, go on to lead happy, healthy lives in new homes.

The last couple of weeks it's calmed down a little, and I've been back to looking after some of my regulars. I've taken care of Oscar and Felix for a couple of years, going to see them whenever their person, Kath, was working away or on holiday. Lovely, gentle boys who were rather shy at first, but became incredibly warm and soppy. I'd grown to love them very much.

Oscar had some tummy problems from time to time, with little episodes of sickness, which had always been checked out by the vet but nothing serious found. We'd had a pretty clear couple of weeks, and things looked good, so when I went back in last Monday I wasn't surprised to see that no little presents had been left for me. However, just after he'd had his food, up it all came, and then even more.

He went back into the bedroom and sat under the bed - so clearly wasn't feeling his best. I went and sat on a little stool in the corner, and started to send him some Reiki to try and help him with whatever it was he needed. He then crawled out and lay on his scratchpad by my feet, continuing to soak up the Reiki. Felix would come up and sniff him from time to time - he could also tell that Oscar wasn't feeling well. I stayed with him for as long as I could, to ensure that he was comfortable.

I texted Kath to update her as I always do, and said that if he wasn't feeling better by the next day I could stay a while longer (and I thought, if necessary, I'd take him to the vet). However, he'd suffered with similar symptoms before, more than once, and got over it a few days later. It was really nothing unusual for him.

As I walked towards Kath's front door the next day something told me that Oscar wasn't going to be there to greet me. Don't know how I knew, I just knew. So when I opened the door, and only Felix was there I wasn't surprised. Sometimes Oscar is a bit lazier, and is still dozing on the bed, so I thought that's where he'd be. Well, he was in the bedroom lying down by the tall window that goes down to the floor - looking like he was watching the world go by. But as I approached I could tell that he was no longer with us.

I stroked him for a while, and talked to his spirit, and told Felix what had happened. He looked very peaceful, lying in his favourite place. And he had had his brother with him, taking care of him until the very end. They had been brothers since the start, litter mates, and together for 15 years. I know that that was the way he wanted to go.

Of course, I had to tell Kath, and that has to be the hardest phone call I've had to make. Obviously completely distraught, she jumped on a train and headed back home. I waited with Oscar and Felix until she got there, making sure that Felix was ok as I didn't want him to be on his own, and then taking Kath and Oscar to the vet, where we left him for cremation. Felix and Kath are both grieving, but helping each other to heal. And I'm there for them whenever they need me, and sending them Reiki to help each day. Miss you Oscar, you lovely, gentle boy.......

I looked after Bentley and Tiger for the first time at Christmas, and was also booked to take care of them from tomorrow while Ana goes on holiday. On Wednesday evening I had a call from a very distressed Ana. Bentley was the older cat, at about 15, and had had some toilet problems while I'd been there at Christmas, and apparently this hadn't got better. From what Ana was describing it sounded like kidney problems (very typical in cats), but of course it could be a number of other things.

I asked if she'd taken him to the vet. She had done about 6 months previously, and was planning to again after her holiday. I took a deep breath and said I didn't want to upset her, but told her about Oscar. And Bentley's condition did seem a lot more acute. So she did the right, and very brave thing, and took him to the vet on Friday. I had a call from her mum yesterday to say that Bentley had been put to sleep. I hope that Ana can enjoy her holiday, and I know there will be lots of tears for Bentley while she's away. Imagine if she'd been worrying every day she was away whether he was ok, and worse, if I needed to call her to let her know he'd passed away?

Bentley was ready to go, but like most animals had kept going on for longer because he cared for Ana. I was a little confused about Oscar at first, as he and Felix also have (had) a very strong bond with Kath. But he's told me since that he has been hanging on for a long time too. His signs weren't as obvious and he was very good at masking any problems - as many cats are. He felt that the right time to go was when Kath was away; that she could cope with that better. He knew he had bis brother with him always, and they were very close at the end.

I'm off to see Tiger in a bit, and will see how he is coping without his friend. Of course, he'll get plenty of Reiki to help him, and lots of cuddles from me.

So, this very sad post is dedicated to the memory of all those lovely cats - Oscar, Bentley, and the Animals in Distress cats too numerous to mention. Peace and blessings with you all, always, and with those you've left behind. xx

Keeping cats happy

I'd love to think that all of us who have animals living with us do so for two reasons: firstly because we enjoy their company, and secondly because we want to be able to give them happy lives. That's balanced I think - something for us and something for them, and the basis of a good relationship.

So how can we ensure that this happens? Well, the key is understanding about them. Neither cats nor dogs are human beings, and nor are all the other animals who live with us. They're all different, from species to species, and different to us. We musn't assume that what we'd be happy with, they would be too.

I am very tuned in to cats, so I'm going to be sharing my thoughts on how to ensure that your cats have happy lives with you.


Species Traits and Characteristics

The first thing to consider is how cats are. Individually they will be different, but there are some species traits they will all have in common. All our domestic cats have descended from the wild, and still carry with them the need to maintain and protect their territory, as well as having somewhere safe to be where they can keep a watch on what goes on. Ensuring their own safety means that they have a tendency to lash out and defend themselves often before considering a situation's threat. Defence for a cat is a means of self-protection. They also need to eat, and instinctively will want to hunt.


Becoming Domesticated

Most of our pet cats have learnt to adapt. They're very bright and intelligent, and learn new skills and ways of being very quickly. They've also also learnt to enjoy our company. And this is how we can sometimes get caught out. We should never forget that a cat is a cat, and when it behaves in a way we don't like or understand, it's important to think about how cats are as a species.


Making our Homes Cat Friendly

Think about what being territorial means. If you have more than one cat (even if from the same litter), make sure that your home is large enough. Don't be tempted to have too many cats, just because you like them, or feel a need to home them. A cat with insufficient space to call its own will be very stressed and unhappy - and this may manifest itself in difficult or challenging behaviour.

It's important that our cats have places of their own they can go. You might find they like to tuck themselves away in nooks and crannies, high or low, and have beds or chairs they consider their own.

I've known many people who'll turf a cat off a comfy sofa "because chairs are for people", but why? If we're serious about bringing a cat into our family, shouldn't we afford them all the comforts we'd want for ourselves? And if a cat has developed a soft spot for a particular place, and is allowed to remain there, that will be a happy cat. (This wouldn't apply to dogs, though, as they have a need to know who's in charge - see, different species, different needs).

Now, if there are good reasons you'd like to change this - ie there aren't otherwise enough chairs for the human family members, it can be done, but very carefully and gradually. Bella has a favourite place on one of my sofas, and if someone else sits there she'll sit on the floor in front of them and shout at them - even if she doesn't want to sit there herself at the time!! But generally I've got no need for her to sit or lie anywhere else, so she's welcome to it - and I know she's a happy cat.

Cats that take up positions high up on top of cupboards, or on high cat trees are doing what they'd do in the wild. They can see all that's going on, and are generally out of reach. This makes them feel very safe. This tends to happen more with cats who sometimes feel anxious, as it calms and comforts them. Even the happiest cat may have times they feel a little unsettled, so it's important to provide high places for them to go.

On a practical note, remember that cats like to climb, and are usually very adept at walking on high ledges. To save them from hurting themselves, and your valuables too, it's worth taking time to do a little safety audit. Scan all your shelves and high places and if there are items that could be knocked down and broken it might be better to move them or put them away. On more than one occasion I've gone into a home for a pet sitting visit to find a broken glass on the kitchen floor, or a smashed glass lamp. Luckily there were no injuries those times, but you never know.........

It's a two-way relationship, a bit of give and a bit of take. And ultimately we should allow our cats to be cats.

What Else Can We Do?

There are some other less obvious things that we can do to help our cats to be happy living with us. And this is all to do with vibrations and feelings. Our pets are very tuned into to thoughts and feelings on a vibrational level, and we really should bear this in mind at all times. We are too, but we often don't realise this!!

Say you're having a bad day and have had an argument with your partner. If you stop and think for a moment, you'll realise that you can feel this negative energy just hanging in the air. Well, your cat will pick this up too. If your relationship is not going well, again your cat will pick this up. You've come home from work after a really stressful drive, or had a disagreement with your boss. Again, your cat will pick this up. You may then notice a change in your cat's behaviour, but not realise what's caused it.

Our lives are full of stressors, but our cats can help us to manage how these affect us. If we can learn to be aware that our emotions can have a direct effect on our cats, we have a great early warning system. So, the minute we feel stress or anxiety building, or we're feeling angry or upset, recognise this, then sit quietly and allow these feelings to drift away, to be replaced by softer, gentler ones. Learning to meditate is wonderful, and if you just spend 10 minutes each day doing this, you will be on the way to mastering your emotions - and if you meditate with your cat nearby, watch what happens!!

I find that keeping music (generally classical, or at least nothing too loud or jarring) on in the background also helps. Because sound is vibrational energy (too), the right sorts of sounds can be very reassuring for your cat. It can also have the effect of soaking up other more discordant vibrations. Think of a home with no soft furnishings - when you speak it sounds harsh and bounces off the walls. A home with soft furnishings will soften sounds, and music can have the same effect.

Respect your pet's place in your household by telling them what's going on. For example, if you have a workman due to come in think about this from your cat's perspective. Suddenly they will be confronted by a stranger who smells different, and might start banging about making loud noises, and even dismantling something or a part of the house. This can be very disturbing for a cat, so in a calm and even voice tell them in advance what will be happening. Also, arrange a couple of little boltholes they can go to feel safe in. You might be pregnant and have a baby on the way - again tell your cat what to expect, and explain that although you might have to devote more care and attention on this little individual, it doesn't mean that your cat is less loved. And make sure you still give this attention you've promised.

Give your cat plenty of attention; but watch out for when they want to be on their own. Cats have adapted to lives with humans, and mostly enjoy interacting with us. They've learnt to communicate with us, they want to join in with what we're doing. So, if your cat wants some attention or wants to play, that's great - think of it as a huge honour to be asked. There are times when we're tired or can't be bothered; try to manage those thoughts as they'll be picked up. If there are genuinely times you can't give your cat attention, then tell them, but see if there's something else that can divert them until you can. And if you've promised to play in half an hour, then make sure you do - they'll remember!! That is, unless, they've decided they want to go to sleep or do something else. So be aware of those times that you want to play but your cat doesn't - the chances are that you'll just annoy him. Again, remember what it means to be a cat, and you'll probably get it right.

If your cat has misbehaved in some way, again try to put yourself in the cat's place and understand what might have caused this. What you might see as misbehaving is more likely to be a reaction to something that has changed or that has unsettled your cat. It's essential that "bad behaviour" isn't punished for so many reasons - but mostly because it won't resolve the problem, and may just make it worse. Talk to your cat, allow your intuition to pick up what the problem might be, and tell your cat how you're going to improve things. Sometimes our animals misread our signals and messages, and do what they think we want them to do - they are actually very keen and eager to please us. So be alert to giving out any mixed messages, where what you say and do or want aren't congruent, and take steps to correct it quickly. If you think your cat has misunderstood, sit quietly with them and explain what you would like them to do.

And one final thing - tell them you love them frequently, and mean it when you say it......

Interesting article on BBC website

As many of you know, I'm often called in to help as animals approach the end of their lives. It's always a very sad time, but one that I feel honoured to be able to help with. To be able to help both people and their animal companions to say their goodbyes, share their gratitude for each other, and ultimately give permission to go is very precious.

One of the difficulties that people face after their pets have left them is the grieving process. It's almost as though society in general doesn't appreciate the value of this lifelong companionship, and the way that our animals are as much family as our human relatives. How many people have claimed compassionate leave at work after the passing of a loved and cherished pet? Not many, I'll be willing to bet, but when you think about it, why not?

Our animals bring us so much, and our bond is so strong. This deserves to be acknowledged. Think about all the wisdom your animals have, how they've helped you in tough times, how they're always there for you, and are ever constant and unconditional. To be honest, this is more than you get from most people!! So, being able to grieve fully for an animal is no different to a partner, family member or close friend.

I read a lovely book recently - Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul. It was recommended to me by a lady I helped when her elderly cat passed on. There's also a dog version, along similar lines. Full of heart warming, amazing, fun and sometimes very sad stories about our animal companions and the amazing relationship we have with each other.

Anyway, I was prompted to return to this subject again (and will doubtless return to from time to time) by an article I saw today on the BBC Magazine website. Do have a read, and if you feel inclined, leave a comment on the website. It's an important issue....... Here's the link.

Best job in the world?

Mostly I think I have the best job in the world. Think about it...... I get to plan my own time, sit in peoples' houses and stroke cats. And that's work!!

Clearly there is more to it than that. Obviously there's litter to sort out (some of it really mucky!), washing up to do, and a variety of issues to deal with like medicating cats that don't want medicating.

And there's the traffic........... Oh boy, the traffic!! I do what I can to avoid the worst of it by trying not to travel during rush hours, but sometimes that's just not possible, if people have requested early and evening visits. I plan a logical route each day, so that I do minimum miles possible. Time is money for me, but I don't take it to extremes; I don't rush from place to place, breaking the speed limit. And I get really fed up with the increasingly bad and dangerous driving that I've noticed in Manchester over the last couple of years - I feel like I'm continually having to watch out for others' bad driving so that I don't have an accident. But I guess we're all like that these days.

So, I've got to the house and all I need to do is snuggle down with a cat or two, right? Well, apart from the little jobs I need to do, you'd be surprised how snuggling down is often not an option. Some houses are so cold, it's often a real struggle to remain on the premises for the allotted half hour.

These last few weeks have been particularly challenging, due to very difficult driving conditions and a few freezing houses. Both Boxing Day and last Tuesday were the worst on the roads.

Boxing Day was my busiest and also the most dangerous on roads and pavements. Christmas Day evening rained a little then re-froze overnight, so that the already icy conditions were even worse. After my first visit, when I struggled to remain upright just getting from the car to the front door I stopped at a little corner shop to pick up a pack of salt - which I then spread on the pavement in front of me as I walked from car to house and back again each time. Brilliant!!!

There were a couple of visits I nearly didn't get to, not helped by the fact that when I returned home after my afternoon visits my car just slid into the gutter opposite my house and wouldn't go anywhere!! However, a couple of hours later I tried again, and was successful - which meant I could go back to a house I couldn't get to previously, and also, more importantly, to Terry for his evening insulin.

Then just as everything seemed to be sorted in the New Year, there was all that snow on Monday night and Tuesday. I'd watched neighbours try and fail to get their cars out, so decided not to try. I only had one visit to do that day, and it was walkable (sort of). So that's what I did. A walk of 25 minutes normally stretched to 45 - trudging through deep snow and against a driving blizzard in both directions. I was exhausted when I got back. Lucky I didn't have any others as I wouldn't have had time, and couldn't have walked to them all!!

I'm very proud to say that through all this rather dreadful weather not one visit has been missed!!

And despite everything I still think I have the best job in the world!! I feel honoured that the cats not only let me into their homes, but welcome me too. They're pleased to see me, and show me with bags of affection, and lots of purrs. I know too that it can be stressful for them while their families are away, so I am glad to bring them Reiki to help them to be calm, relaxed and happy.

Feed the birds

I was reading an article on the BBC News website this morning, about a report from the RSPB that these harsh conditions will badly affect our bird and wildlife population.

I can spend ages sitting by the patio doors watching the birds in my garden. I always make sure there's a ready supply of a variety of food, both in trees and shrubs, and on the ground. And of course, Bella loves watching with me too - although for different reasons!

And this winter, I've been even more careful to ensure that there's plenty of food out there for them. It seems to have attracted even more birds than ever, and somehow they're all getting along with each other. There are birds I've not seen before in my garden, and not sure what they all are. There are always blackbirds, starlings, blue tits, thrushes, magpies, pigeons, robins, wrens, dunnocks and the very odd seagull - but now some others that I need to try to identify.

I'm pleased to say that some of them are looking very fat - that will help protect them against the very coldest weather, and doesn't appear to affect their flying skills at all! I can tell how busy my garden is by looking at the snow - it's all messed up by the birds rooting about for food; whereas if I look at my neighbours either side, their snow is still very pristine.

Bella seems to have acclimatised to the snow, and has worked out how to get around in it - she was very confused at first. It's taken some of the orienting smells away, but has given her something in return. There are now even more birds around for her to get excited about, and the glaring whiteness of the snow somehow makes them stand out even more. She's constantly mithering me to go out, and has become quite adept at sneaking up on them - but as far as I can see they get away fine, leaving one very frustrated kitty! And it doesn't stop them heading back for food as soon as the coast is clear again.

So, if you've got a garden, help your local birds to survive the winter. Put fatballs, coco shells and hanging bags of seeds and nuts in trees and shrubs. Clear snow of bushes bearing berries, so that they can still get to them. And think before putting scraps in the bin. With such a wide variety of birds around, most will get eaten, and if not will just decompose organically (once they've stopped being frozen!).

My Fish...... and the algae...

When I moved house about 5 years ago, the fish tank was the last thing to come. We took great care with it, knowing that fish are very susceptible to changes in their environment. Sadly over the next few weeks, one by one, all the fish expired. The stress was clearly too much for them to bear. We'd mostly had neon and cardinal tetras, and guppies, all of whom get on really well together. The guppies had continually mated, and as they're live bearers, we frequently had lots of little babies. Before we moved we'd probably got on to 4 or 5 generations of guppies. I love guppies as they're so gregarious. They enjoy playing in the strong current from the outflow of the filter, they really know how to have fun. And they're very sociable, both with other fish, and with people. It's probably just because they always want feeding, but whenever we went near to the tank, they'd be there, clamouring for attention.

Anyway, this sad event provided a new opportunity. The room was bigger, and would take a larger tank, so that's what we did. We started from scratch again, and built up a lovely colony of fish. Among them we had some different tetras this time, and a couple of pairs of rainbow fish. There was one rainbow male who was clearly in charge of the tank – he was the head fish, undoubtedly.

The tank was sited in the darkest part of the room – essential so as not to encourage too much algae growth. A little algae is normal, but every now and again, when you have a tank you find you have to do a little extra cleaning. We had a number of fish known for their cleaning abilities, but we started to notice that more and more they weren't doing their job. In fact the algae was growing rampant. It would change in type, and strangely looked both messy and perfect at the same time. After all, in a sunny stream or lake, there would very naturally be algae, so trying to keep a tank completely clean of algae probably isn't that natural. But of course, when you keep fish, part of the attraction and the reason, is that it's a pleasing feature in the room – so people very naturally try to keep on top of algae development. We had the water tested, and there was no problem, and we tried various treatments, which really didn't work at all. But the fish were thriving, so was it really as bad as it looked?

We had a discussion, and it was clear that despite all our efforts, we just weren't winning the algae battle. Mark decided the best thing to do was to completely bleach the tank to kill off all the spores, once all the fish had finally gone. Then we'd start again. I have to admit I'm not happy with this solution. For a start, how can we be sure that every last molecule of bleach has been expunged from the tank before we start again? And how long do we soak it for? As it's one of Bella's favourite places to sleep on top of, I didn't want her becoming sick from breathing in the fumes. And on top of all that, it just didn't feel right. Surely there's got to be a more natural, kinder way to rid the tank of all the spores.

As they do, some of the fish started to die off, and this time we didn't replace any. But the strangest thing happened...... I was sitting by the tank one day, and I was aware of the head fish talking to me. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised at all, but it never occurred to me that the fish would want to talk. He said that he knew what was happening, and that it was his job to take care of all the fish in the tank. He was worried that we were just waiting for them all, impatiently, to die off, and this was upsetting him and all the other fish in the tank. I was mortified! I apologised immediately, and told him that wasn't the case at all – I was so sorry if we'd given him that impression. We were very happy for them to live in the tank (their home) for as long as they were able, but that when it was finally empty, we would start again. That's been my view all along, but Mark has been a little more impatient from time to time. He's suggested taking the fish to the fish shop, but I know that the stress of this move will kill them, so I'm not doing it. It's their home, and so what if it is all full of algae? It could look smarter, but I don't live in a museum – my home is a home for all the creatures that live in it.

Well, one day the big chief rainbow died, and in time we were down to just a few fish....... In fact, for quite a while now, the only inhabitants have been a 5 year old head and tail light tetra, a 4 year old penguin tetra, a plecostamus, a tiger loach, and a horse face loach, all of whom are at least 3 years old. So they're doing quite well. Showing their age though, not as active as they used to be, and their scales have seen better days. But they're happy. And I'm still in no hurry for them to swim off this mortal coil...

Then one day recently the penny dropped!!!! Why did it take so long for me to realise? I started learning Reiki about 3 years ago, and it's about then that we started having the algae "problem". I'd actually thought about using Reiki then to try to resolve the problem in the tank, but even then resisted as I thought I might just help the algae to grow better. And of course, as I carry Reiki around with me all the time, that's what's happened. But more than that, Reiki is concerned with what's best for any situation or being. So actually even though we think the algae isn't good for the tank or the fish, the likelihood is that it's very good for it. It's not causing a problem for the water, the fish are living well (it's only the plants that have struggled), and the tank is pretty healthy.

So, do you know what? I'm going to abandon any plans to start again with the tank. If it means that from time to time we have to bring everything out and give it a good scrub, so be it. If the plants are being suffocated we won't have any real ones. They're there to both oxygenate the water, and to provide cover and interest for the fish. Well, we can get some plastic ones, more rocks and other bits and pieces, and the filter oxygenates the water any way. Decision made!!!

So, what new fish do I want?..............

Squidgy or sturdy?

Often, when people think cats, they think of them as soft, delicate creatures - albeit with claws and teeth. You wouldn't necessarily think about treating a cat as you would a dog, for instance, rolling around the floor with it. You can be a lot rougher with a dog, and know that mostly they'd love it.

Bella is one of those soft cats. She's all fluid, slinky, delicate, with no discernable hardness about her at all. She's short-haired, although it's long short hair, especially on her tummy, and incredibly silky - which just adds to the softness about her. I often feel that if I held her too tight her bones would crack.

The best word to describe her is squidgy. Although she doesn't really like it, Squidgy is my nickname for her. I tried to stop for a while, but it just came back. She'll have to learn to live with it.

Although lots of cats can be described as squidgy, they're not all like that at all. Among all the cats I look after, I've met many you probably would be able to rough around a little as though they were puppies.

There's Casper, a beautiful and very strong silver tabby who I first met at Animals in Distress, and who I now go and cat sit for. Not an ounce of squidge on him at all! All solid muscle and strength. But incredibly soft in attitude and behaviour.........

Then there's the two ginger boys in Chorlton. Very gentle boys, but strong and sturdy, without being particularly big. You'd probably say they were wiry. Their coats are quite short, so when stroking them, you can feel their solidity.

And how about the two Tonkinese brothers I met over Christmas for the first time? Very playful and full of fun, but again all muscle and strength. Tonkinese have very short, soft coats, so as with the ginger boys, there's a real hardness in their bodies.

What do you like best? Squidgy cats or sturdy cats?

Happy New (and freezing!) Year!!!

I was out before dawn this morning, as Terry needed his insulin injection, and then on to Jenny for her breakfast. The car said minus 5, and it certainly felt like it.

As I drove off I could see the sky starting to grow light at one edge, and the full moon still up on the other side. At Terry's I sat and watched as the sun rose on the first day of this new year, and it all felt very magical. I'd not sat up to see in the New Year (actually hardly ever do) as I had to get up at 6am, but somehow seeing the sun of the New Year rise, while the full moon was still up was very special.

It's now about half one as I write and the day has only warmed as far as minus 1. I've just come back from seeing two cats in Chorlton, and then back to Sally for her lunch cuddles. The two ginger boys in Chorlton are lovely and I look after them fairly frequently. But this is the third Christmas, and each time I know the house is going to be freezing!!! I had piled on the fleeces until I could hardly move, but this made little difference.

Most of the houses I go to are kept warm while the people are away, but there are one or two where the heating is turned off. Although I love looking after the cats, I have to say that I find it difficult to stay the required 30 minutes!!! (although I always do.) I realise that they have fur coats, and also that they don't feel the cold in the same way as we do, but I know many other people who insist the heating is left on so that their cats don't get cold and depressed.

At least when I got to Jenny's house it was very warm - and she was snuggled up by the radiator on the landing where she basked in the Reiki I was sending to her.

Back home now, but I know when I go out again later, when it's dark and well below freezing again, that both Terry's and Sally's houses will be warm.

Happy 2010 everyone!! Blessings to you all, and good wishes that it brings you all you wish for yourself. xx