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Dear Matt:
It is a wonderful thing that you have served as as channel of supply for the cats in your neighborhood while you were in college, and congratulations, by the way, on your recent graduation.
For the most part, human beings are very caring about the animals with whom they share their planet, and therefore they miss the signals sometimes, that some animals, just like some humans, choose lives that are less sheltered and more adventurous.
The cats in your neighborhood are little cat souls that have chosen to be wanderers and it is not their choice to be caught, or even to be regularly supplied. Finding new resources is part of the fun of their chosen experience while they are here.
They each have their angels, of course, who help them to forage for what they need, or lead them to another like you sometimes. When they are tired of their life, they simply choose to leave this plane of existence and shed their bodies for a time of rest.
You have done your part Matt, and you have done it well. Send them your blessing when you leave, tell them that you have enjoyed their company and wish them well on their journey, even as you embark on yours.
And don't be surprised, if when you arrive at your new destination, others something like them find you. The word is out in the Universe that you are a kind "friend to animals", and that is perhaps the nicest "name" that anyone on this planet can earn.
God Speed Matt - Tabby
Dear Tabby -
I have an approx. 12 week old female kitten who I adopted from a shelter when she was approx. 6 weeks old. She is quite feisty and lively. I just adopted an approx. 5-6 week old male. I have kept the male in a separate room and taken him out for short sessions with my female. I understand that some hissing and aggression is normal, but this is the first time I have had more than one cat and I am terrified the older one will hurt the younger one. Is there something I should be doing to help them get along better? The older one still gets plenty of attention, if anything more than the new kitten! How long does this aggression towards each other last? I know I'm a nervous mom, any help would be extremely appreciated!
Jeanette
Dear Jeanette -
You are truly blessed to have two young cats in your household at the same time. Believe it or not, when this time of "getting to know you" passes, they will bring you thousands of hours of joy and amusement as they grow up - and at times, they will even give you tender loving care. It is difficult to predict how long it will take for them to settle in with each other but I have known of very few cases where, left to their own devices, two cats in a household did not become at least compatible strangers and much more often, devoted friends. I would encourage you to keep introducing them to each other a little at a time. The little one is probably charmingly curious and the older one more stand-offish. As you slowly increase their together time, they will first explore and then accept each other with more and more grace. Make sure that each cat his his or her own food and water bowl and if possible litter box. That way you eliminate any territorial issues from cropping up. One factor that can delay the process, however, is your level of anxiety. Cats are both intelligent (you wouldn't expect me not to say that, would you?) and intuitive. If you are anxious, they will assume that they too should be anxious and that will prolong the time it takes for them to feel safe with each other. Relax, Jeannette, and look at this whole process as a happy adventure. If instead of cats, they were unrelated children who came to live with you, you would expect them to take some time to become comfortable with their new home and everyone in it - so expect your little cats to learn to trust you and love you, and each other, in their own time as well.
You are loved Jeannette - Tabby
Dear Tabby -
I work for patients in their homes during the last days or weeks of their lives here. They often have an animal companion, a dog or cat, and usually prefer that the pet stay in the home until their dying is complete. I understand the pets are very attached to their human guardians and that the pets are a source of healing to the patients. However, my concern
is also for the animals, who usually seem to enter a deep depression during their human's last two days. How can I help ease those days for the pets, whether they plant themselves on the patient's bed or ball up and retreat to a hidden away spot?
Dear Mary -
You are a very sensitive caregiver indeed, because you have picked up on the sadness in the pets of the people you serve. Most humans, enfolded as they are in their own grief, don't realize that animals go through the same kind of grieving process that humans do - both at the loss of their people and also at the loss of other animals in the household. They even grieve when a young person leaves the household to go out on his or her own. Pets don't grasp, quite as quickly as humans do, why the changes are occurring.
What the pets you are working with are feeling, at least at the conscious level, is confusion about why their "best friend" is acting differently than he or she has in the past. Like children, they may even be taking on some guilt, thinking that they must have done something wrong if their human doesn't want to play with them any more or take them for a walk. When their human dies, that feeling of guilt and loss may become even greater and that kind of grief is very painful to observe.
First, I would suggest that you honor the pet where it is at the time and not try to jolly it out of its misery. The animal will adjust, just as humans do, and in many cases learn to love their next human just as loyally. Gentle kindness and reassurance are very important, and it is also important that the animal's physical needs are met on time so that hunger or inattention to their bathroom requirements don't make the situation worse.
Beyond that Mary, just like with your patient, the animal's internal adjustment is in God's hands. I would guide you to another part of this Web site where you will find the Emergency Prayer Treatment - click here http://ez-websites.net/tp40/page.asp?ID=33519 and make the animal and its human the subject of your prayer. It is a very powerful prayer treatment and animals respond to it very well. As you turn the animal and its human over to God each hour, knowing that the only answer lies in Spirit, you will be relieved and you will find everyone in your care settling down as well.
You have been chosen for a mighty work Mary. God Bless
Dear Tabby -
We have been given a miniature pot-bellied pig that we have named Piglet. We have taken him to the vet and made sure he has all the medical care that he needs, but we are wondering how to treat Piglet generally and how to make him feel like a member of our family.
Any clues?
Love - Alex
Dear Alex -
Piglet can become part of your family really easily if you treat him very much like you would a dog of about the same size. He needs his own feeding and sleeping area. Because he will be curious, it is wise to confine him to a particular place in your home, as much for his protection as for yours. You will need a special harness for him so that you can take him for daily walks - a collar is not enough because it will be easy for him to slip out of, but a harness that goes behind his front legs, if properly fitted, will feel fine to him and also keep him safe. Once he is housebroken, he needs an outside. grassy space for privacy. It's ok to pick him up if he really is a piglet, but once he is grown, it is better to get on the floor to play with him. Check with your Veterinarian for proper diet and of course make sure that he has plenty of water. You might be interested to learn, Alex, that miniature Pot Bellied Pigs were first domesticated 6,000 years ago in Indochina to be used as a source of food - but today they are strictly enjoyed as pets because of their intelligence, train-ability, friendliness, and small "family" size. Give Piglet lots of love and he will make a great, family pet. And learn from him Alex. He will show you how to be open to new experiences and that friendliness to others, also opens many exciting doors for you.
Dear Tabby
Our family has recently switched to eating organically grown meats and vegetables and we are are all feeling much better. Would a similar diet be good for our dog and cat?
~ Angela
Dear Angela,
An organic diet would be fine for your animals but it will take some time and effort on your part for the food preparation. In preparing their new diets, these formulas may help. For cats - 50 to 60% raw meat, 20 to 30% grains, such as rice or millet, filled in with cooked vegetables. For dogs - 35% protein from meat, 30% grains and the rest vegetables. (If you are concerned about using raw meat - you can lightly steam the meat before combining it with the grains and vegetables. ) Your Veterinarian may also recommend adding some nutritional supplements to the mix. Be aware that your animals may resist the change in diet - so you might want to start adding your prepared food to their preferred food a little at a time until you successfully make the switch. If your pets are a little overweight, this is a good time to cut down on their portion of regular food. Supplement the portion with additional vegetables (all except onions) so that they feel full when their bowls are empty. It is important however, that you monitor their eating carefully to be sure that they are getting enough food. Don't ever let them go more than a day without adequate nourishment. For cats especially, 48 hours without food can cause serious liver problems. I bless you as you and your pets work your way together through this healthy diet exchange. Patience Angela - patience. A little extra attention to your animals will go a long way toward smoothing the process.
Dear Tabby -
My orange tabby cat Jack suffered from an ear infection several months ago and I am grateful to God, Bless the Animals for your loving prayers. Since then, however, Jack doesn't want to use his litter box. He prefers to use our furniture and this is not acceptable for my family. Can you tell me why Jack is not willing to use his box any more and how we can encourage him to do so?
Thanks Tabby,
~ Betty
Dear Betty,
It is good news to learn that Jack has recovered from his ear infection. Not only are ear infections painful, they make us feel unsteady on our usually very steady four feet. That experience alone may have caused Jack to feel insecure about things he usually was just fine about before. It could simply be that there is something about Jack's old box or the area in which it is placed that is no longer working for Jack. First, as I tell all of my readers, Jack's box really needs to be kept very clean. If it has been filled with litter for a while, it may be time to empty it completely and start fresh. Wash it with plain, unscented soap and water and rinse it well to remove all soap residue. Then you would be wise to use just a plain, clay litter for a while. A scented litter could remind him of some smell that he associates with a bad experience. If Jack shares his litter box with another cat - try getting him one of his own to see if that makes him feel better. Privacy is another factor you may want to consider. Is his litter box in a place where Jack feels secure when he is using it - or is he likely to be startled or interrupted in his process. Even if he never minded before, he may need more privacy now and he may be a little more skittish about loud, sudden noises than he used to be. Finally, clean the areas of furniture that he has used with extra care. Be sure all of the urine smell is removed - otherwise he may be attracted back to those same spots. Products to remove the smell of cat urine are available through your Vet or in Pet stores - and even after you use one of those, lightly wash the area with a lemon scented dish washing soap. Cats generally do not care for the scent of lemon and he will be discouraged from using that spot again. If none of these suggestions work Betty, or if you notice any odd behavior when Jack is urinating, please return to your Doctor for additional help. In the meantime, I will pray for Jack to relax and return to using his box as he always has. It will be a sign that Jack is then fully recovered and feeling cat-happy once again.
Dear Tabby,
My elderly cat, Sadie, is waking up in the middle of the night and howling. It is keeping me awake and I cannot figure out what is disturbing her. She has always been very quiet at night. Do you have any ideas that can help us all get a better night's sleep?
~ Ellie
Dear Ellie
If Sadie is only yowling at night, it is possible that she is either losing her sight or her hearing or both. If she wakes in the night and can't see or hear the way she used to, she may be feeling afraid and literally be calling for help. It may help to arrange for her to sleep in a more confined space, where she feels comfortable and secure, give her a warm snack right at bedtime to help her sleep better and leave a night light on in her sleeping area. Also, be sure that she has an uncluttered path to her litter box. It's also possible, since this is an on-going problem in your household, that there is some anxiety that has developed in you because of your interrupted sleep pattern and Sadie is picking up on your anxiety each night. You might try the Healing Prayer Treatment found on our menu. It is very helpful in allowing you to release your anxiety and, in the process, you help Sadie to release hers also. If the problem continues, Sadie may need to see her veterinarian. We will hold Sadie - and you - in prayer for many peaceful nights sleep to come.
Dear Tabby
I just know you can help find a gentle way to discourage my cat, Butterscotch, from digging in my plants. He seems to prefer them, sometimes, to his litter box and it makes my husband crazy - plus I have a huge mess to clean up and I can't believe it is good for the plants either. HELP!
~ Rose
Dear Rose -
Since Butterscotch doesn't dig in your plants all of the time, I can tell you absolutely that he gets bored and is looking for fun. He may need some new toys to take up his time and energy. Visit your nearest pet shop to see what is available because the variety of interactive toys that I have to play with is simply wonderful. (My favorite is called a Tunnel of Fun.) Or you can make toys from ordinary household items - a sheet of newspaper rolled into a ball and wrapped with string is fun. So is the plastic insert from a used roll of scotch tape. To discourage the use of your plant as a diversion, wrap the pot completely - all the way to the stems of the plant - in aluminum foil. To give your plant some relief also, you might want to add a quarter cup of diluted vinegar to the soil to counteract the effects of the urine. And remember how important it is to keep Butterscotch's litter box very clean and inviting. You would not enjoy being forced to use an unclean bathroom and neither does your cat. Finding room for some more play time with your sweet feline friend will help too. Blessings to you and Butterscotch as you work out these simple solutions together.
Dear Tabby –
My dog, Daisy, cries when I leave the house every day, not only when I go to work but even if I just go to the yard or the garage and it breaks my heart. I have to leave her sometimes so how can I make her feel better about being left alone?
~ Sad for Daisy
Dear Sad for Daisy –
Many dogs never like to be left alone and if Daisy is one of those, there isn't anything that you can do to change Daisy's nature. You can leave everything that Daisy needs to keep her comfortable in your absence but you can't can't know what comforts her most if you are not there to observe her. It sounds to me as if she is an exceptionally social animal and simply craves companionship all the time. You can try some simple tricks like calling home every few hours and talking to her on your answering machine – or leaving a recorded CD or DVD playing for her. You can also give her extra attention when you are home but the best solution might be to enroll Daisy in Doggy Day Care center or have a dog sitter come in and spend some time with her during the day. Adopting a dog is just like adopting a child. You don't know what kind of dog you are going to get – you just know you are going to do everything in your power to make her life as wonderful as possible. Our blessings to you and Daisy. We will hold Daisy in prayer for peace and contentment – every day.
Dear Tabby –
Darth Vader, my pet rat, likes to run free in the house but he seems so small and the house seems so big that I sense that it isn't a very good idea to let him run free. Any suggestions?
~ Luke
Dear Luke –
It is important that you make Darth Vader's cage as comfortable and interesting for him as possible because the list of disasters awaiting either your house or Darth Vader is endless if you let him run free. Rats chew on many things including electrical cords, curtains, plastic containers and personal treasures. They also eat houseplants, which can be poisonous, and they may think they can climb higher than they really can, resulting in very bad falls. Darth Vader is not safe alone with other household pets either, no matter how well they may appear to get along when you are around. (Of course he would be safe with me, but I am an exceptional cat – or so my humans tell me.) For that matter, he is not safe from humans either, who may step on him when he is sleeping or leave medications around for Darth Vader to sample. You are right Luke, Darth Vader needs the protection of his home and you deserve the freedom that comes with not having to worry about him all of the time. But what about you, Luke? Is there any possibility that you are feeling a little confined too? Are you yearning to roam around and to experience more new things yourself? Think about it, Luke. Our pets sometimes convey interesting messages to us that go a long way toward gaining a greater personal understanding of ourselves.
PS - Here's a little hint to make Darth Vader's cage more luxurious.
Polar Fleece Hammocks, hung in his cage are highly recommended to keep him warm in the winter. Sometimes a warm water bottle spells contentment too.
Dear Tabby –
I have been giving my ferret, Nathaniel, ferret food from the pet store but I read that ferrets should have meat, too. Any ideas?
~ Billy
Dear Billy -
Nathaniel would seek his own live meat if left alone in nature, but if you are not up to feeding him live mice – little ones, of course for a little ferret, you may need to choose some beef and chicken as a substitute. The first person to ask about your friend's proper diet is your Veterinarian. The next source of information you might enjoy is the Ferret Newsletter at www.ferretnews.com. The publishers seem to have a love for Ferret’s themselves and they also receive a lot of practical input from other ferret owners. You will not only be Nathaniel’s teacher, Billy, you will be his student. There are many things you can learn from Nathaniel by observing him because ferrets are great, natural problem solvers.
Dear Tabby - .
My box turtle lives outdoors in a wire pen and he gets a regular diet of fresh vegetables and extra lettuce. He seems to be very healthy, but yesterday I caught him chewing on a huge beetle. I can’t keep all the bugs away from him outdoors. What shall I do?
~ Worried about “Pokey”
Dear Worried about Pokey –
Don't. Turtles are omnivores, which means they eat vegetables and animals including bugs and small rodents. Your turtle has excellent instincts and makes a wonderful pet for you. According to American Indian tradition, your turtle came here to teach you to slow down and enjoy the beauty of the earth in detail. Let Pokey eat whatever he pleases that is a natural food. It’s all good for him.
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