Toys for the Craziest of Cats

Just a quick note before I forget.

If you have an active, somewhat psychotic cat -just like my darling. I have found that Petstages toys are great.

They are developmental toys that stimulate the brain, and keep little kitty's happy. They also keep cats busy therefore keeping their claws out of the furniture and you. (I don't know if anyone else's cat is like that, or if I just raised a spoilt monster)

Her Royal Highness has been playing with petstages toys since she was a kitten and she never tires of them.

They have different stages of toys for different stages of your cats life, and I think we have about every single one.

They are really great so check them out. (There is a link in the useful links section of this blog)

And who ever said pets were cheaper than children.

Tell Them What is Going On!

Separation anxiety, it's a problem most pet owner's have faced at some point.

The symptoms vary from animal to animal, but no matter how subtle their anxiety seems, it is always there - even for cats.

Now, with my cat - she pretends she doesn't care (she doesn't need me you see), but, she will always lurk at the front door, or on the verandah, staring into the distance until I return. I have even caught her trying to sneakily follow me down the street.

If you think about it, all anxiety symptoms in animals make sense. They don't know where you're going, they don't know why, and they are not certain if or when you will be back. In the animal world, when loved ones go away, sometimes they never come back, or are injured when they do. Even after centuries of domestication this frame of mind still remains with them.

The solution to anxiety is simpler than you may think. This is what works for me and Her Royal Highness anyway.

Just tell them when you are going, tell them why, and for the love of the cat (or dog) tell them that you will be back no matter what. Crazily enough something this simple works a treat.

If I forget to tell Her Royal Highness that I am leaving and will be back, or if I sneak out of the house like I used to, to try and prevent her anxiety then she will worry, and worry some more.

On the other hand, if I tell her I am leaving, she will look at me as if to say, "You may leave if you absolutely must, AS LONG as you are home by dinner." Then she will simply carry on ripping up the furniture, or terrorizing lizards - simple day-to-day business.

Animals are smarter than most people think, and every pet owner will tell you that their pet understands every word they say - even if they pretend not to at times. Even the proudest and most independent of cats DOES worry.

After all, imagine the inconvenience if you die.

Her Royal Highness

My partnership with my darling cat started on the 20th of November 2007.

A friend of mine had a cat who ended up having a litter of kittens. One day he contacted me at about 3 in the morning, he had found himself in a predicament.

All the kittens had found homes, except one. No one wanted the little black girl, apparently it is a common perception that black cats are bad luck - even now (can you believe that?). So, since they couldn't find her a home she was going to go to the RSPCA (animal shelter).

This is when my fury started, imagine people tossing away a cat because of superstitions. Was she doomed for life, because she was black? Is she any less of a cat? Would she not still provide love and companionship? In th midst of my fury I contacted the RSPCA, just to find out what the chances for a black cat truly were. Apparently even there, with people coming from far and wide to adopt - black cats were the last to find homes.

That was it, I was furious with the world, worrying my heart out for this poor little cat.

The solution was obvious, I was getting a cat. So I called my friend and told him I was coming over to meet her.

Beautiful and black, with big golden eyes. She pounced on my feet, and it was love at first sight. I brought her home and we both have never been happier.

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I call our situation a partnership, not an ownership.

Truthfully I do not know many people who 'own' their cats. (It's normally the other way around). She loves me and stays with me because she chooses to, not because she has to.

I give a lot, I get alot.

I am not the type of person that believes pet's are just pet's. She is my baby, and therefore treated accordingly. I would not be surprised at all if she was the most spoilt cat, she is certainly the most spoilt cat I know.

The best things in life happen suddenly, and sometimes the split-second decisions you make change your life forever. I adopted a tiny little kitten who was unwanted, now she is two.

Look at her now, it is love.