Karen Anderson

There are a lot of myths floating around out there about the cats and dogs we share our life with.

Here are a few common myths:

Dogs and cats should have a litter before they are spayed.

False.  In fact cats and dogs do not need to have a litter before being spayed. Both will live happier, healthier lives without possible uterine infections and in some cases a lower risk of mammary cancer.

Happy dogs wag their tails.

This may be true but aggressive dogs often wag their tails too.  A wagging tail can mean either agitation or excitement. A dog that wags his tail slowly and moves his entire rear end or crouches down in the classic “play bow” position is usually demonstrating a friendly wag. Tails that are wagged when held higher, tails that “twitch” or a wagging tail held over the back may be associated with aggression.

Dogs and cats will let you know when they are sick.

False, false false! The animal kingdom sees injury and illness as a sign of weakness and instinctual habits will cause most of them to hide and cover up their medical problems.  By the time we notice something is wrong an illness can be quite advanced.

Dogs and cats like tasty food.

Both dogs and cats have poor taste buds and rely mainly on their sense of smell to eat. This explains why if they are congested and can’t breathe properly that they may refuse to eat.

Indoor cats don’t need heart-worm medicine.

False again.  Indoor cats can get heart-worm disease as it is spread by mosquitoes which can easily go inside.

Recently a client named Sandra contacted me after she inadvertently poisoned her cat, Slinky by giving her Tylenol which contains Acetaminophen.  Acetaminophen is highly toxic to cats and should never be administered.

Needless to say, Sandra was riddled with guilt over Slinky’s death.

Please don’t make the same mistake Sandra made.

A quick call to the veterinarian’s office could have prevented this tragedy from occurring…

Never give your animals any over the counter medication without consulting with your veterinarian.  Below are some medications that have been known to be safe for either cats or dogs but read carefully. Some are not safe for cats.

Tylenol- NOT SAFE FOR CATS                   

SAFE FOR DOGS - Under veterinarian care only

This seemingly safe drug used in humans for headaches and fever, can actually be deadly to your cat. Cats have an unusual metabolism in their liver. When Tylenol is eaten, it is taken by the bloodstream to the liver.  In the cat, the liver metabolizes or breaks down Tylenol into separate components which are actually toxic to the cat.  In other species these components are further broken down by the liver into non toxic substances.

But the cat lacks the necessary enzymes to continue this breakdown process.  These end products of Tylenol breakdown are so toxic to the cat that death is the typical outcome.

NEVER give Tylenol in any dose to your cat.

Tylenol can however, be used for pain with dogs.

Check with your veterinarian whether you can safely use this drug for your dog.
Tylenol contains Acetaminophen which is toxic to cats and in high doses toxic to dogs.

Source: ASPCA,  Dr. Jon

Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).  Ibuprofen goes by several brand names, such as Advil and Motrin.  Ibuprofen should be used only as directed by your veterinarian for dogs. Avoid administering to cats. Source: VMA, Dr Jon

Aspirin - CAN BE SAFE FOR CATS AND DOGS

Check with your vet first!

These are the most commonly used drugs today classified as NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and are used for pain relief, and sometimes relief of inflammation in both dogs and cats.  Once again, cats tend to metabolize (or break down) the aspirin products more slowly than dogs or humans, so dosage is usually done on an every other day basis in the cat.  As with any NSAID, stomach upset can be a commonly seen side effect, so discontinuing the drug if vomiting occurs is recommended.

Typically, your veterinarian may recommend buffered aspirin, or more effective, Ascriptin.  This form of aspirin contains Maalox, which helps to coat the stomach lining, and prevent irritation associated with aspirin products.  Long term usage of aspirin, may also result in complications with the normal clotting of blood.  Therefore, discontinuation of all aspirin products prior to any surgery is highly recommended.

Pepto Bismol - NOT SAFE FOR CATS                                     

SAFE FOR DOGS

Commonly recommended for our pets for stomach upset or diarrhea, Pepto-Bismol should only be used in the dog, as it can not be given daily to the cat.  Perhaps the one benefit of Pepto-Bismol, is that of coating the stomach, and perhaps alleviating some symptoms of nausea.  As for diarrhea, there seems to be little Pepto-Bismol can do.

Kaopectate - NOT SAFE FOR CATS

SAFE FOR DOGS

This too has been used in our pets for stomach upset or diarrhea.  Some veterinarians swear by its effect, yet to date, little has been shown to its effectiveness in clinical studies.  Recommended only for use in the dog.

Imodium AD - SAFE FOR CATS & SAFE FOR DOGS

This anti-diarrhea medication is useful in both dogs and cats.  It seems to work better with small intestinal diarrhea and is available in both tablet and liquid form.  Check with your veterinarian if your pet could take this drug, and at what dosage.

Pepcid AC- NOT SAFE FOR CATS

SAFE FOR DOGS

Is a useful drug for vomiting in the dog.  Designed as an antacid, Pepcid AC decreases the acid secretion in the stomach, thereby alleviating associated discomfort and nausea.  Check with your veterinarian if you pet could take this drug and at what dosage.
If you suspect your animal has ingested something it shouldn’t contact your veterinarian immediately and/or the Animal Poison Control Center

Fireworks and thunderstorms are responsible for countless reports of lost animals.  Even if fireworks are prohibited in your neighborhood many people disregard the law and set off illegal fireworks.  Many people are left with few choices such as medicating and sedating their panicked animals.

Are there other options?    We think so!

Here are a few tips to help ease your anxious dog:

Before we go any further I have to ask…

Does your pet have proper ID tags or a microchip with current information?

It’s also a good idea to have a current color photo of your animal just in case they get out.  Always check with your vet first before administering any new remedies or treatments.

1.  Try a natural stress reliever such as Rescue Remedy for at least a few days before a stressful event.  This can be a move to a new home, visitors arriving, going to the veterinarian’s office, anything that sparks anxiety with your animal.

A few drops massaged onto inside of ear flap is a good way to administer…

Although the directions may say to put a few drops in their water I prefer to place a few drops on my fingertip and massage gently onto the inside of the ear flap.  Be careful not to allow any to drip down the ear canal.  Speak in a low, soothing voice with calm energy.  You can also try a massaging a few drops onto the pads of their feet.

A natural stress reliever for animals

2. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise before a stressful event.  Taking your dog out for a long and vigorous walk will help drain them of excess energy and restlessness.

Did you know that coddling your dog when they are exhibiting fearful behavior can actually accelerate their fear?

Never reward your dog when they are in a panicked state of mind.  Try not to let them get into that raised level of anxiousness in the first place.

3. Teach your dog a ‘calm down’ command such as ‘easy’ or ‘leave it’.  Over time they will begin to figure out that when you give that command they need to stay calm and relaxed.

Dogs need guidance and instruction…they can’t learn how to stay calm on their own

4.  Play a CD or DVD of thunderstorm noises or firework celebrations on the lowest volume level possible  with your animals nearby.  Reward them with praise, treats and calm energy as they begin to hear the sounds.  Gradually increase the volume over time.   

Praise and reward them for calm behavior…

Proceed slowly, some animals may require more time to adjust. Be patient and consistent with your training.

Try playing something like this:

5. Bring your dog inside if possible.  Close all doors, windows and curtains and consider turning on the TV or radio to help drown out some of the outside noise.

If you can’t be with them try to arrange for a friend or neighbor to be with them…

6.  If possible, stay with your dog during fireworks or thunderstorms.  You become their calm and relaxed role model.  If you can’t be with them consider placing them in a safe and trusted boarding facility or with a trusted friend.  Set up a networking plan with your neighbors in case you can’t be home.

How To Help Your Cat During Stressful Events

Cats may need a quiet place to hide in during thunderstorms or other noisy events.  Consider putting your cat in a guest room with a litter box, food and water during these times.

Cats also benefit from Rescue Remedy during stressful times…

If you close the door, put a note on the outside of the door warning anyone who enters that a very scared cat is in the room and keep the door closed.  Playing soft, low music in that room can help ease your cat’s fears.  Place a towel or article of clothing that has your scent on it near them to give them an extra feeling of security.

Don’t become one of the statistics for lost animals.  Prepare now and avoid heartbreak later.

These are the animals for the teleclass today which is SOLD OUT!

If you are interested in taking a class click here & scroll down to Teleclasses

Kinabalu, 14 yr old  mare, living

Mojo, male bulldog,  1.5 yrs, living

Tintin, Mare, with her head down eating, living, 14 yrs

Haddock, gelding, 4 yrs, living, cute gray very full mane and forelock

Terry, horse, gelding, 3 living (cute baby picture!)

Vizla, mare, brown horse head down eating dandelions deceased

Spot, gray & white female cat, about 2 yrs, unknown if living or deceased

Cody, orange and cream colored male cat, deceased

Bambi, chihuahua dog, deceased, female

Shmoo, living female cat, gray and white 19, close up of her pretty gray face

Casey, 14 female cat, living, sitting on a flowered blanket

Tabby, male cat sitting on a white towel, 6 or 7, living

A layer of mystery surrounds the idea of the reincarnation of humans but what about our animals?

Do they reincarnate?

Will they come back to us in this lifetime or in another lifetime?

How will we know it’s them?

The answer to these questions can often be found in sessions with the animals themselves.  In case after case, the animals show us that they are coming back to us.  Some even returning in this same lifetime.  I have selected a two recent examples of how our animals return to us. Some names have been changed for privacy but the situations and photos are unchanged.

Frank came to me when his beloved dog, Captain, also known as ‘Lil C’, died unexpectedly at the age of 4.  Frank and his other dog, Doobie were beside themselves with grief.

Frank felt that he could barely move through his pain when he arranged an appointment to connect with his deceased dog.  Doobie, Frank’s other dog was also feeling the loss and was lethargic and refused to eat after Captain died.

Captain

I connected with Captain and was able to describe the death experience to Frank from a third person perspective. Much to Frank’s relief, Captain’s transition (passing) had been quite a lovely experience and Captain was in very good spirits.  Among many loving messages that came through, Captain mentioned that he planned on returning to Frank one day and proceeded to give us several clues. Here they are in random order:

1.  Captain told Frank he would find him on a Wednesday

2.  Captain mentioned a beautiful human girl/female who would have something to do with him.

3.  Captain mentioned the letter “T” as having significance.

4.  Captain said there would be a ‘very obvious sign’ that it was him and kept mentioning the letter ‘C’ as in ‘Captain’.  Frank often called him Little C.

It was many months later that I received an excited email from Frank with a photo of this pup who had a very obvious sign right on his head.

Look closely….do you see the letter ‘C’ on his forehead?

Little Cash -Note 'C' on forehead

Here is Frank’s message to me:

Dear Karen,

As I was write this tears are in my eyes but they are tears of joy.

Everything Captain said happened.
I found him on a Wednesday.

A beautiful woman had the pups

As for the letter “T” having to do with finding him.. her name was Toni.

The real kick was the sign on his head that is in the shape of the letter C. Talk about “a sign”

I just want to let you know Captain’s ( Lil “C” ) passing and his return this has change my life for the better. I am very grateful for your help in bringing Captain back into our lives, especially mine. You truly have a gift. I’m so happy I’m on cloud nine, you truly are a Godsend.  Thank You so Much!

Lots of Love,
Frank, Doobie, & Cash

To my amazement there was the letter “C” right on the pup’s forehead!

What is even more surprising is now that Cash is almost a year old, the ‘C’ has completely vanished.  Even when you look beneath his fur there is no longer an indication of the letter “C” which is what led Frank to him when he first saw him.  It is apparently no longer needed.

Cash

The Return Of Meeper Do!

Kim scheduled a session with her deceased cat, Meeper Do!  Meep had recently transitioned (passed away) at the age of 19 and only one month shy of his 20th birthday.  Needless to say, Kim was devastated.  Nineteen years is a virtual lifetime and now he was gone.  The pain, sorrow and feelings of loss overwhelmed Kim.  The first session we had back in October of 2008 brought many wonderful and important messages.

Meeper Do! Age 19

Meeper Do! was just like Kim remembered him.  His loving, funny and articulate messages helped Kim realize he wasn’t really gone.

Meep was still around watching his mom go about her daily routine. In one session, Meep told me to tell his mom to ‘Watch the pots!‘.  I had no idea what this was and I almost didn’t mention it but Meep kept urging me to tell Kim about the pots.

Kim laughed out loud when I told her to ‘watch the pots’and explained that right before that very session she had put a pot on the stove to hard boil some eggs.

In her haste, Kim forgot about the pot of boiling water and it almost turned into a kitchen disaster. So again, our animals show us they see what is going on in our lives even when it comes to something like hard boiled eggs.

When I asked Meep if he would return to Kim he provided a very long laundry list of clues.  Kim was a bit overwhelmed but determined to find her beloved boy Meep again.

Here are some of the clues he gave in random order:

1. Meep kept showing me rain or some kind of showers.  We think this was to signify a springtime return

2. Meep mentioned an alternative form of transportation was involved, like metro rail or train

3. Meep said, ‘The miracle will happen on a Wednesday.”

4. A “K” or “C” name had something to do with this

5. Meep said he would return looking much the same as he was before, a little orange and white male tabby, his face would be similar

6. Meep showed me how small he would be when Kim found him again, he looked like a kidney bean 

7. Meep kept talking about an open space or park-like area that was near where he would be

Many months later, in the spring, Kim sent me a very excited email:

Dear Karen

I found Meep!

I had to take my car in to the shop and wasn’t looking forward to taking the bus. So instead I took the underground rail system.  The rail stops about 1 block from my veterinarian’s office and a park.  I decided to stop in and let them know I was looking for a new kitten and then walk home through the park.

When I walked in the gal in the office told me they had been trying to call me for weeks but I had recently changed my home phone number and the old one was disconnected.  They had a two kittens being fostered because the mom wasn’t taking care of them.  The kittens would be brought in at noon.  It was 11 AM.

There was a male and a female kitten. The male was a little orange and white tabby and the female was a brown striped tabby.  They were 4 weeks old (and looked like little kidney beans) born on April 1st, which was a Wednesday!

The kitten even makes the same ‘meep meep’ sounds that Meeper Do! made when I found him. The woman who is fostering the kittens has a last name starting with a “C”.

The deal was sealed when I picked up the little kitten and he gave me an eskimo kiss right on the nose. Just like Meeper Do! used to do!

Thank you so much Karen!

With love,

Kim and baby Meep!

Baby Meep returns

There are so many negative stories about Pit bulls so I had to share this good news with you.

Cat lovers scroll down…kitty saves a family too!

Here is one Pit bull who is a hero to her family

More good Pit bull news….armed intruders stopped by dog who takes a bullet and loses a leg

** No graphic images **

Move over dog lovers….Cat saves family from carbon monoxide poisoning

What do you believe?

Have you ever felt drawn to a place you’ve never been to before?

Have you had feelings of deja’ vu?

My personal past life regression with Dr. Brian Weiss is below the videos.

Watch and decide for yourself.

Another past life experience by police captain and skeptic, Bob Snow

I recently took a workshop from Dr. Brian Weiss, best selling author of Many Lives, Many Masters and found myself as another person, in another lifetime.  

I have always been intrigued by past life phenomenon and was extremely excited to attend the workshop. Unfortunately, I was just getting over a bad sinus infection and horrible cough in the weeks before the event.  I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity so off I went with a handful of tissues and cough drops. Dr. Weiss has been one of my favorite authors for years and it was his books that helped me realize many years ago that the information I was getting during my sessions was indeed real. 

For those of you who are not familiar with Dr. Weiss, he is a psychotherapist who many years ago had a client, Catherine come into his office with extreme paranoia.  During a hypnosis session he asked her to go back to when the fears first began thinking she would go to her early childhood. To his shock and surprise, she took him back to a past life and described her life in vivid and accurate detail.  He has written many books about this experience and about how skeptical he was until the day Catherine, under hypnosis, revealed private and personal information about a child of his who died just after birth. There was no way Catherine would have known that information. 

Several hundred people attended the all day workshop in downtown Seattle at the convention center.  I sat in the back of the room in the last seat. I wanted to be respectful of others and have a quick way to exit if I started to cough uncontrollably during the workshop.

I was not sure what to expect but Dr. Weiss stressed in his opening presentation that not every person would be able to have a past life experience by the end of the day.  I thought to myself, “Oh great, watch me be one of the only ones here to not have a past life experience…” 

Silly me.  Boy, was I in for a surprise.

The first exercise began and they darkened the room.  Sitting comfortably, I listened to his soft and comforting voice with my eyes closed as the guided meditation began.  I can’t be sure of the time it took but I would say within the first 30 seconds I felt myself being transported to another place and time.  Dr. Weiss guided us back to a favorite childhood memory first.  

I felt a warmth surround me and had visions and images appear of my family and loved ones around me. I felt safe, warm, comfortable and so incredibly happy.  After that he took us through another guided meditation through the birth process.  I got to experience the joy and love my parents felt for me when I was born.  Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face as I felt the depth of their love.  It was a very moving and powerful experience. Luckily I had a handful of tissues or I would have been a mess when the lights came back on.

Next, he took us back farther.  I closed my eyes and in an instant I was in another place.  Montana perhaps or maybe even Colorado.  I saw wide open pastures and mountains in the background. I was a man named Thomas Elijah Kincaid and I was a rancher.  I had many horses that I raised and trained. 

I saw the horses, the barn and even my home.  I saw my wife, children and the surrounding terrain.  So vivid were the images that I could feel the warm breeze come across my face.  In a display of mini-movie type of scenes, I watched in amazement and awe as I was on a rock outcropping on some kind of hunt.  There was a mountain lion that was attacking my horses and I had to put an end to it.  I was devastated at having to do it but these horses were my life and my family’s life.  Their survival meant my family’s survival. 

Somehow during the hunt I fell from the rock and landed on my back.  The impact on my right shoulder blade was excruciating.  Dr. Weiss continued his guided meditation asking us to let go of any past illness or injury that we endured during that lifetime. In that moment, my body shook on it’s own and I felt something leave …the pain went with it. 

He brought us back to the room, back to current time and I awoke from my hypnotized state relaxed, refreshed and dumbfounded.  Did I really see that? Had I been a rancher in my past life? A man by the name of Kincaid?  The images were so vivid, so real..so…..familiar. Many similarities rang true with that life to my current life.  My love for horses, for all animals.  Living in a place like Colorado. 

There were more details that came through but far too much to write about here. I’ll save that part for my next book.

What was interesting about the shoulder injury is that I currently see a chiropractor to help put my right shoulder blade and the underlying ribs back into alignment.  I have never been injured in my right shoulder area in this lifetime and my chiropractor has no explanation for this. Since the workshop I have less pain and that area seems to have stabilized.  It’s not completely gone but it is significantly better.

Dr. Weiss has thousands of documented cases of past life regressions he has done where present day injuries are lessened and in some cases completely gone after a therapy session. 

The last exercise of the day was a progression into the future.  I’ll write more about that in an upcoming blog.

Overall my experience was truly incredible.  I went in not expecting to have any kind of experience and came out realizing all of the possibilities that are out there.  I can see how one might think it’s their imagination or some kind of a daydream because that’s how it feels.  I can only tell you I wasn’t thinking about any of those images yet they still came through. I also had a bit of healthy skepticism throughout the process and was not trying to make a square peg fit into a round hole.  I am so glad I had this opportunity. 

If you are interested in a past life therapy session look in your area for certified and trained professionals. 

The APHMA has listings for American professionals

To find a licensed professional here is a free referral service HELP

For international professionals try this

Spraying or territorial marking is a common and frustrating problem for many households with cats.  It is also the number one reason cats are abandoned in shelters which often results in their demise by euthanasia.

Even though there may be many causes for spraying it is a problem that can be managed and in some cases resolved completely.

Never punish your cat for spraying…

Cats usually spray to mark territory or advertise for a mate

With a few exceptions, getting your cat to stop spraying or marking is very difficult and requires considerable effort on your part.  The good news is it can be done.

If you are looking for a quick fix or a magic pill then stop reading right now. There is no such thing.

I will provide some tried and true tools to help you improve your situation and perhaps resolve it for good. Punishing your cat or rubbing his nose in it is completely unacceptable.  It will only make the situation worse and create deeper problems causing your cat to fear or mistrust you.

Spraying is different than a litter box issue…

Spraying is not a litter box problem.  Here is how to tell the difference.

Spraying or territorial marking is when a male or female cat backs up to a vertical surface and releases anywhere from a few drops to an entire stream of urine.

Cats will spray furniture, speakers, heat registers, draperies, doorways and other areas….

There are usually multiple sites that are sprayed and it follows in a type of pattern. Some urine spraying can be done in a squat position on a horizontal surface but usually it is done standing up. Horizontal marking can be found on the bedspread, stove top, counter top or other unusual places but this is much less common.

This urine stream is a message your cat wants other cats to know, a type of pee mail if you will.  They are actually depositing pheromones as a form of communication with other cats.  This pee mail usually contains messages such as ‘This is MY territory!’ or even, ‘I’m looking for a mate.”. Intact females, those who have not been spayed, can spray as they advertise for a mate.

Each cat can produce different pheromones that mean different things from claiming an object as their own to a pheromone that produces calm and relaxed feeling. It’s a bit like their own personalized, scented business card.

Simply spaying or neutering your cat can stop this behavior…

There are other types of marking other than this spraying behavior such as when a cat rubs up against items and in some cases leaving their feces uncovered. Unneutered males have the highest tendency to spray due to the testosterone in their body.  Sometimes simply neutering your cat can stop this behavior completely.

Any cat, male or female, intact or sterilized can spray but you can greatly reduce the tendency to spray by spaying or neutering your cat.

Litter Box problems are when your cat urinates or defecates, usually in a squat position on a flat surface such as the carpet, counter top or bathtub.   This type of behavior is rarely done backed up to a vertical surface.  For litter box problem solving click here:

What Can You Do?

Your cat has now ruined another pair of speakers.  The house smells like a giant litter box.  Your spouse or significant other is threatening to get rid of your cat.  What can you do?

1. First, take your cat to the vet to rule out any kind of medical issue.  Most people skip this very important step and they want me to just magically talk to their cat and tell them to stop spraying.  If this were possible, I’d be famous and on Oprah.  It’s just not that easy.  This crucial step and should not be overlooked.

2.  Spay or neuter your cat.  Seriously.  It will not change their personality or make them love you any less.  Click here to read more about this.

Low cost or sometimes free spay/neuters can be available if you qualify. Click here for more info.

If you cannot find anything local on the above link do an Internet search in your area.  You may be surprised at the resources you can find.

Spraying is a natural behavior in all cats including lions and tigers…

I’ve had some clients tell me their cat is spraying to spite them or that their cat is mad at them for leaving on a business trip or vacation.  While portions of those statements may be true spraying is a natural behavior for cats.  Even lions, tigers and other big cats spray to mark territory. I was visiting Cat Tales, a wildlife refuge here in Spokane and almost got nailed by a very large spray from one of the white tigers.  He was not mad at me or trying to tell me anything, he was marking that part of the enclosure as his own. I just happened to be in the line of fire.  Fortunately, I was able to jump out of the way and avoid a rather unpleasant bath.

My cat is mad at me that’s why he is spraying…

Your recent business trip may have caused a change in your cat’s routine and that may spark spraying but your cat is not really mad at you.  That is more of a human concept or trait.  Cats have a different motivation than humans. Mother nature and instincts runs very deep in our feline friends.  Their motivation is usually driven by some kind of natural instinct, not revenge like a human’s thought process.

3.  Use an ammonia-free enzymatic cleaner to thoroughly treat all affected areas.  The smell of ammonia can actually draw the cat back to that spot to spray again.  I have tried so many products and as of right now I like one called SCOE. I have tested this brand and it worked on some pretty tough stains and odors.  Several applications may be necessary.

Keep kitty away from the treated spot…

Block the treated area with a big box over the top so the air can still move around but kitty can’t get to it.  Another way is to take a piece of cardboard and put double-backed sticky tape in strips along the cardboard.  Place the cardboard over the treated area.  Kitty won’t like getting on the tape and will leave the area alone. Use a black light to find other areas in your home that may be affected. Scat matts, spray kits and other products are available but it may get a bit costly if your cat is spraying in several areas. Personally, I am not a big fan of scat matts which release a static pulse to deter your cat.

Stress can be a contributing factor to spraying…

4.  Multiple cat households often set the stage for spraying.  Simply too many cats in too small of a space can create stress.  Sometimes it can be another cat in the neighborhood that comes by and leaves his/her scent at your door.  Your cat sees or smells this scent and suddenly begins to spray.  Other stress factors include losing a job, changes in your schedule, a new baby, a new boyfriend/girlfriend, guests and any kind turmoil in the household.  Identify the stress factors in your home and do your best to eliminate them.

There have been many occasions where the client denies that there is any stress in the house but the cat tells a different story…

It certainly can’t hurt to schedule a session and see what is bugging your cat.

One solution in this case is to give your cats the illusion of more space in a very inexpensive way.  Empty boxes on the floor create the illusion of space to cats.  Cat shelves, or cat furniture that goes high up to the ceiling can also create more space.  Think of providing more places for your cat to climb up or into as a solution to more space.  Outdoor playpens or enclosures are also a great idea if you can afford them.

Opening the doors in springtime can sometimes trigger spraying…

5. Pheromones can sometimes help.  There are some plug in type of pheromones you can try that release a ‘feel good’ hormone that only your cat can smell.  Give it a try and see if it works for you. ‘Feliway’ is a product that is available in pet stores. I am not a fan of giving medications like Prozac to cats to control this behavior.  But if it means keeping kitty versus taking him to the shelter I guess then I’d have to cave on that one. I prefer more natural approaches such as Rescue Remedy and other flower essences.

Replace their feelings of satisfaction with a negative response…

6. Some cats tell me they get a sense of satisfaction from spraying and describe this experience as ‘euphoric’.  If you have ever watched a cat spray they get this goofy, glazed look in their eyes.  I believe this is that satisfying feeling they get from releasing their scent.  By simply disrupting their routine and stopping your cat before he sprays can break the habit.

For instance, try following your cat around and just before he/she initiates the spraying stomp your feet or clap your hands causing a loud distraction.  Never direct this toward the cat but stay close enough that the sound disrupts their brain from completing the spray.

An empty soda can filled with pebbles or pennies can make a loud and distracting noise….

If a cat begins to receive more negative responses before he begins to spray this can defeat a habit in a few weeks.  An empty soda can filled with pebbles or pennies can be used too.  Just shake it vigorously right as you see your cat preparing to spray.  Cats will often have a ritual or routine they follow as they prepare to spray.  This will provide you with a few moments to prepare.  Once you see them going to that spot initiate the negative response.

Behavior problems start at home with you and end at home with you.  Make sure you are taking the proper steps to achieve the best results in your household.  Don’t expect me or any other Animal Communicator to resolve your problems for you.

It is my job to deliver your animal’s messages to you but it’s up to you to make the necessary changes for a happy, balanced and peaceful household.

Boxes provide the illusion of more space

In these troubling times it’s hard to remember all of the blessings we have in our lives.

I hope after watching this video you hug your mom, your children, your spouse and all your other loved ones and tell them how much you love them.

The video is about a woman named Lis’ Kristof who fought breast cancer for 8 years. Lis’ was given three weeks to live on this earth, so she decided to leave the hospital to run her Chinese Crested, Diva just one more time.

Against impossible odds, not only did she stay on her feet for the whole run, but also she got the last qualification necessary to win Diva’s Agility Dog Championship title!

When you watch it keep in mind that Lis’ had been given 3 weeks to live. It will move you.

Update: on the evening of May 6, 2008, Lis’ Kristof left this “wonderful earth” surrounded by her mother, dearest friends, and beloved Chinese Crested dogs.

Breast cancer can be treated and lives can be saved if it is caught early enough.

My own mother, Ursula,  is now a 13 year breast cancer survivor.

We celebrated that victory on March 13th, 2009.  My husband and I are flying to Los Angeles in May to spend Mother’s Day with my mom.

Please remind the loved ones in your life to check regularly for breast cancer and get regular mammograms.

For more info on how to prevent this preventable disease to go the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer website

This Mother’s Day I pay tribute to my mom, Ursula and all the others who have suffered from or conquered this disease.  Mary A… you are in my heart always.  May God bless you and your family.

Mom you are an inspiration to me.

I also want to send love to both my grandmothers who have passed on, Henny and Jean.  I love you and miss you both very much. Thank you for being a constant supporting, loving presence in my life.