Cats vs Dogs

There was a time where I would have said cats and dogs couldnt be compared because they were so different. But that was before I met and adopted Faith. And now that Ive had both species in my life, there are several major differences. And although I dont have to make any kind of decision now, I have been thinking a lot about the choice I would make in my future: cats, dogs, or both?

The reason Ive been thinking about it, is because of my future~it is fraught with complications and unknowns; more so than the average person. With the possibility of major surgery coming up in the next 6 mos to 3 years, its something I have to think about. What kind of pet will I be able to share my life with, and that I can handle easily? Right now Im thinking about it more than ever because of the situation I find myself in at this time. My oxygen saturation is so poor, that my cardiologist pulled me out of cardiac rehab, ran a CT scan to find out what was going on, and scheduled me with a surgeon and EP (electrophysics dr.?-the type of Dr. who deals with the electrical currents and impulses on the heart). I really cant do much of anything; I was also told no more vacuuming, no more walking the dogs (which is made easier to cope with in this frigid weather) and to be careful lifting things...as in "dont unless you have to".

So this is where the actual question comes in. I am finding myself unable to care for a dog properly; luckily my girls are old enough now that playing some fetch inside is enough exercise for them for the day. The one thing that is especially causing me guilt, is not being able to groom my dogs, which I have done for them since they were babies. It worries me to have someone else groom them; because of Heidi's severe arthritis and Shelby' heart (she has a murmur and needs to be watched for signs of stress or fatigue). This is really bothering me, but its not cheap getting 2 shelties groomed either.

Money is also a factor. Grooming, which was just mentioned, but also more expensive vet bills and more food~all because of their larger size than Faith. But it goes deeper than these trivial "problems". It is a deep, dark, FEAR of mine that I will never bond with another dog the way I have bonded with my girls. They fit into my life so comfortably and having them is as easy as breathing. If I got another sheltie, I worry I would constantly be comparing her to my girls now because, as my old trainer friend used to say "every year older a pet gets, the closer they get to saint-hood". My girls can do no wrong. And at their age, if they do do something wrong, it is easily brushed off, forgiven and forgotten. I thought about getting another breed, but that too raises the same issues. I had a Shiloh Shepherd named Norah for 3 months in 2013. I found out she had severe hip dysplasia and because I couldnt afford thee surgery, I had to relinquish her to her sisters family in NJ because they COULD afford it. So Ive thought about getting another Shiloh, but I worry about another dog having HD, and also the other things~cost of food (Norah was eating 5 cups a day at 5 months old), cost of vet care (puppy shots, spaying and stomach tacking after 2 years of age, etc.) I also worry about the size. I LIKE how big Norah was, even at a young age, but what happens when she gets older? If one of my girls now becomes immobile, I can easily lift them in and out, off and on places, and we can use a stroller to continue our walks.

FAITH, on the other hand, is so so much easier in so many ways. For starters, I have a different bond completely with her. While most of my memories with my girls are our many adventures camping or traveling doing dog shows, etc., my relationship with Faith is more intimate; she is always by my side, in my lap or in my face. She also has an uncanny ability to know when Im in pain and am upset. Her costs are less, where she eats so little, and her litter is just as easy as picking up poo from the park. She is easy in the exercise department, because I can sit and play "chase the red dot" with her and not get tired or out of breath.It is also easier getting an apartment with one cat, than one cat and a very large dog (which I may have to do when my mom moves up north; she bought a piece of land in northern NH and plans on building a log home up there within the next few years...when I would probably be making this decision...cat, or both?)

So here I sit, wondering what life would be without a dog for the first time since I was 7 years old. The first time without a sheltie in 19 years. What do I do? And why am I obsessing over this decision now? My therapist says its healthy and normal to be thinking about and planning for my future...and remembering my girls wont always be around. But for me, its just sad and depressing...knowing one day I WILL need to make this decision; which means my girls would have passed on.

Are these valid concerns? Am I crazy for thinking about this now? One thing I know for sure, is that everything happens for a reason, and when its supposed to. Now that I am going "down hill" in my heart department, its easy having sweet old lady dogs. They dont require much except love, food, and a bit of exercise every now and then and I think this will be vitally important when I have my big surgery. The only thing I worry about is being hospitalized if they get sick. THAT is my biggest fear of them all...


So although I dont have to answer the question now, its driving me nuts. Im making the "resolutions" of spending more time with my girls and making sure each one of their golden days is even better than the day before. And I know no matter what my decision, Faith will be by our sides and making everything life throws at us, a little bit better.

The Heart-Healer

So I had a cardiac CT scan yesterday to see if there were collateral vessels forming, that are shunting my blood around my heart and lungs, and reconnecting them elsewhere...which basically means that my blue oxygen deprived blood is being pushed out into my body, making it feel like I am not taking in enough oxygen (even though my lungs are fine). So the CT scan is pretty standard. The only thing was, that I needed to pre-medicate myself with benadryl and prednisone because I have had an allergic reaction to the contrast dye they use in the scan to detect the blood flow. This is the first time I had to be pre-medded, so I wasnt sure what to expect, apart from being sleepy from the benadryl.

So the scan went fine, and I didnt have any reaction (again, aside from sleepiness!) and went and ran some errands with mom afterwards, including getting our Christmas tree. So we get home, set the tree up and BAM. My heart feels like its going to beat right out of my chest. It is racing, and skipping beats along the way. Im scared. I mean, scared enough to be close to calling 911. Luckily, I have my cardiologist paged through MGH and she calls me back within about 10 mins. She said it was the prednisone, and to take my heart meds early to stop the racing and skipping.

Now, I should say, that when this started, I reclined in my living room chair to try and stop the racing. Shelby my dog jumped into my lap, and Faith jumped onto my feet. As soon as I spoke with my Dr. and was told to take my meds and relax, Faith immediately moved to my chest. Now, I had my pulse-oxometer on my left had to keep an eye on my HR. Within 5 minutes of Faith on my chest (and Shelby on my lap) my HR had dropped over 12 BPM. I hadnt even gotten up to take the medication yet. For anyone who doesnt believe in the healing power of pets, you come talk to ME, and I will give you not only this story, but other cases not only involving my own animals, but those of friends, families and strangers who have told their stories in various books I have read.

Thank you for reading this; the moral of the story is intended to be "ask, and you shall receive". I asked to have my HR go down, and to not have to go to the ER by ambulance. Not only did I get my wish, but I got comfort and reassurance as well. Some may say its the meds, some may say it was the Dr.s advice. I say it was the power of animal healing and positive thought =0)

Intergrating

I decided that after I met with the animal communicator at a pet show a month or so ago, I would integrate Faith into the lower half of the house. The first communicator I met with was SPOT ON. I sat down with a picture of Faith and her doggie siblings and the first thing she said while holding Faiths picture was "she wants to know why shes alone so much." That cut me to the core. While she was just living upstairs, she would yeowl and howl with misery at being left alone in the upstairs dungeon...where she had a warm bed to sleep on (mine), her scratching post AND her cat tower. But she wanted me. So I decided that while mom was away at work, I would secretly let her down stairs and integrate her into the rest of the family.

Things went very well! Of course she was ok with my dogs, but mom has two big rescue dogs and I didn't know how theyd react. LOL, turns out I had NOTHING to be afraid of. Faith ruled those dogs with just a few swipes of her paw. The dogs were curious, but she let them know where the line was drawn. It went great. So we exposed and exposed and I finally let her down when my mom was due to come home. Her first words were "what is that CAT doing down here????" (she is not only a non-cat person, she is anti-cat altogether. But Faith kept coming down, and sneaking and squeezing through the bars of my upstairs gate, now letting HERSELF out when she wanted.

So, here she sits, warming my lap and healing me, a little kitty angel, and, although I can only speak for myself, it seems that we are BOTH very happy with the relationship. Now, a fair warning. My moms dogs are big, but have very little prey drive...and Faith is not the running type, and those were both big players in the success of this experiment. If youre looking to introduce your four legged friends, please consult a professional (which I was) and do it slowly and safely. No one wants a disaster!!!!

So now we have a happy cat, slightly timid dogs, and no more crying from being lonely upstairs.

The Healer

Today I learned something very interesting: my cat Faith, is a healer. Now, I know a lot of you must be thinking :duh, most cats are in some way or another...in fact, most ANIMALS are in some way (dogs, including mine, going into rehab centers or nursing homes, horses used as therapy animals for riding etc. etc.)

Thats what most people think of as animal healers; other people are touched by their own animals in a much deeper way. A majority of the books that I own and read are about the human-animal bond; animals saving their owners from true danger like a house fire, or from drowning. Some other people have animals that have healed them in more spiritual ways; mending broken hearts and lives. That is where my animals fit. Ive tried to make my mental and physical illnesses no secret. There is no difference between the chemical imbalance in my brain sending my body fight or flight panic signals, and the electrical impulses that control the rhythm of my heart. I have come to terms with those facts, and those illnesses. However, although I am COMFORTABLE with what I have to live with, I am always trying to learn. I try to get something new out of every session with either my cardiologist or my therapist.

Today, I happened to learn something new from my therapist....that my cat is healing me. Again, going beyond helping me get up every morning, and get her food ready; taking her for a walk in the stroller, snuggling with me when Im down, etc. (My dogs do all of this too, by the way; I definitely dont want to minimize what THEY do for me everyday!) But it turns out that Faith is doing two things that my dogs are not...

The first thing Faith does, is that she sits or lies on me. Now, this may seem like no big deal since billions of cats all over the world do the same thing for their pet parents. But this is something that can actually help me in my panic. After having a pretty bad panic attack a few days ago at my aunts, my therapist suggested that I have a talk with my family about what they can do to help me should it happen again (not a question of if, but when...). She suggested that because my brain goes into "primal" mode (meaning it is going through fight/flight pattern because of the panic and the adrenaline surging increasing those feelings), I am often unable to speak, or if I can, make much since~because my brain is not working right. So the best thing they can do, instead of asking me questions or trying to "talk some sense into me", would be to tightly hug me, or to swaddle me in a blanket because that primal tactile sensation will calm me down; like it can do with people with brain injuries, Alzheimer's, or other emotional disorders.

So I asked if there was anything I could do about a panic attack either when Im alone, or in a situation when I cant get this feeling from someone else. She suggested that I might want to get a weighted blanket or shawl to "fake" the hug pressure. Then I thought about Faith...I always feel better when she is sitting on me: me chest, my stomach, my lap, wherever. And now I know its the pressure her little body is exerting thats making me feel better.

The other thing that she can do that the dogs cat is purr. Purring has been scientifically shown to heal; its frequency is like using ultrasound. Here is a great article about the healing benefits of purring: http://consciouscat.net/2009/09/14/the-cats-purr-a-biomechanical-healing-mechanism/

As you can see, cats are the ultimate healers! Im going to go hug my little Faith right now and let her know how much I appreciate her help. Id love to hear how your kitties are healing you!

Chit Chat Cat

Ive never met a more vocal cat than Faith. Now, I know breeds of the Oriental variety are supposed to be very talkative, but Im not just talking about meowing here. Faith makes all KINDS of noises that I just think enhance her cuteness to the max. It started when she was at the vet when I first met her and she chose me as her human. The vet actually said that she might be in heat because she was so vocal in her cage to ANYONE who walked by. She was spayed soon after we had that conversation, and it was determined that not only was she not in heat, but she was younger than previously thought.

Then, she decided to show her talkative self when we went home; and then back to the vet for various appointments. She was always very clear on letting me know how she felt about being in her travel bag (and now plastic carrier). She has loud meows. She has soft meows. She has plaintive meows. She has questioning meows. All kinds of meows come from that little princess inside the carrier.

At home, she was always pretty quiet; again she was living in close quarters with two male cats and two other dogs besides my own. But now, she has REALLY come into her own. She chats with me every time I touch her pretty much. She talks to me when ever we greet each other; when I wake up in the morning, and when I come upstairs where she lives. It always seems to be chastising, like my oldest sheltie Heidi sounds like: "where have you been?" "do you know how long you've been gone?" "you're doing it wrong" and the clearest message: "wheres my FOOD?" She carries on her conversation with my prompting, and we chat all the way down the hall into either my bedroom, or the bathroom where her cat tower is (where she eats). And she makes ALL KINDS of noises along the way: she meows, chirps, purrs and yowls. Again, all the same basic message.

Now she has really let her guard down, and has started making "comfort" noises. Now, Ive never heard another cat make these noises, nor have I heard OF other cats making these sounds. Theyre "sighs". Theyre "moans". Theyre purrs of pleasure. Its so sweet to hear her curl up next to me at night and let a quiet "hhhmmmmmm" go; like shes had a rough day being a cat and is glad the work is finally over. The most precious sound is the quiet "aaahhhhhhh" sigh that she does in my ear when she lays on my shoulder. It sounds like the quiet "coo" a baby makes.

All this factored into my new registered name for her, through TICA where I plan to show her in the House Hold Pet division. She is known as Faith to her fans, but to the show world, she will now be known as "Jenns Little Gossip Girl" =0)

I just love all the sounds my baby makes...do your cats have any unique habits or sounds they make?

Dwellers

Have you ever seen the show on Animal Planet called "My Cat From Hell"? Its hosted by a great feline behaviorist, Jackson Galaxy. He goes around and tries to help different families who are having issues with their kitty companions. A lot of the issues have to do with either aggression (towards human or other cat family members) or destructive behavior (mostly having to do with litter box issues and scratching). Ive learned A TON about cats from the show, as he explains everything hes doing, and the cats doing, very well. Its not just entertaining to watch the transformations of the cats with his help, but its also a great show to explain "why does my cat do that?"

One of Jackson's theories, is that a cat is either a "bush dweller" or a "tree dweller", and you can figure this out on your own about your own cat. Does your cat enjoy being up high, climbing on furniture and enjoying their cat tree or shelves? Or would your cat be more comfortable on the floor, either under the furniture or on low pieces?

I have figured out that my little darling, Faith, is a "bush dweller". She used to enjoy her cat tower immensely and could always be found in it, but this was when we were living in the other house with the other 2-3 cats and 4 dogs. Usually she would be up there after being chased by one of the boy cats (the dogs never chased the cats) or it would be time to eat. I think a lot of the time she spent up there was merely just to stay out of trouble. But now that she is on her own, and only has my 2 elderly shelties to worry about (who could care less about her, to be frank), she is mostly floor bound. She of course sleeps in my bed, and on me IN the bed; and she sits in my window sill, but sometimes she hides under the bed or under the furniture. She still eats in her cat tree and RUNS up it when its that time, but she doesn't spend hardly any time in it any more.

So, Ive come to the conclusion that buying her the AWESOME cat furniture from hauspanther.com would be a waste of money =0( But, I do like my "bush dweller" because shes always by my side. I feel like if she had more of an explorative nature, maybe we wouldn't be so close. We're very bonded and I like the fact that she waits for me at the top of the stairs or see her beautiful silhouette in the pre-dawn light while she is perched in my window when I wake up.

So knowing all of this, and maybe doing some research on your own, (this is a great article: http://consciouscat.net/2013/07/24/is-your-cat-a-tree-dweller-or-a-bush-dweller/) what do you think your furry friend is?

One is the loneliest number?

Ive been thinking a lot about our future, Faiths and mine. Im going to be applying for housing in an apartment soon, and Ive been told by several people that the list is several (at least 2) years long. By that time, much to my sadness and heartache, I dont believe I will have my two elderly shelties, Heidi and Shelby, that live with me and Faith now ='0(  So I think its just going to be me and her....but should it?

Many many people have multiple cats; Im guessing that more people have more than one cat, than do people who have just one, like myself. There are so many benefits of having multiples that I cant ignore the question: would Faith be happier with a kitty buddy? Now, Im not saying to get Faith a "pet". Im talking about another cat that I can love an cherish just as much as I do her. But would Faith see it that way? Or would she feel slighted and unhappy about this new addition?

My leaning, is toward the latter. You see, since we have moved to my moms house, and Faith has become an only cat (she lived permanently with 2 males that belonged to my roommate, and for a short time with another female that I had to give up for the following reasons), she has truly blossomed. She has become more free, more entertaining, and more entertainable since just being the one and only. She plays without worry now, that someone is going to steal her toys (especially in the ACT of playing, she has really let her guard down) and she doesnt worry about her food or attention supply. But its more than that. Faith has proven herself to be a bully, and thats what I worry about most.

When we lived with my roommate and her 2 cats and 2 small dogs, Faith seemed..."uncomfortable". Im sure if she could speak, she would say none of this, but now seeing her as an only cat, only living with my two elderly shelties, does the change become apparent. She would walk up to the other cats and just swat them. Repeatedly. You could really call it a smack-fest. Usually for no apparent reason~they got to close to her was usually the culprit. However she was bullied back. The boys, certainly in a manner of play, would chase her either up the couch, or up her cat tower where she was queen of all under her (literally and figuratively). I had to feed her separate because with the boys appetite, she would hardly get anything; we called her the "closet eater" because no, she did not go without food, but would eat at late hours of the night to make sure she wouldnt be bothered.

She also was probably the reason I had to give up a kitten I took from a rescue. "Hope" was clearly intimidated an stressed by everything in the house, and she took to hiding under the bed for most of the day. As if that werent bad enough, she stopped using the litter box and would freely urinate on inappropriate items such as the dogs beds, car-seats, and the futon. Ultimately, for her own sake, we had to give her back to the rescue. We tested her for UTI's, added more litter boxes, everything. But our home was just too stressful...and I think Faith, bullying her by swatting when ever she got near was a part of that.

So I guess I answered my own question. Faiths doing well as an only cat...why compromise it and take the risk that might make everyone (me, Faith and the new kitty) unhappy and stressed? I just feel bad when I see my roommates and other pictures of cats all  snuggled up together, or cleaning each other, or wrestling together. But Faith and I have become EXTREMELY bonded...Im hoping that what I can provide for her can take the place of what another cat maybe could...

What do you all think??

Side Sleeper

You know how people have a favorite position that they sleep in? Well, it turns out, so do cats. Faith is a side sleeper. No, that doesn't mean that she sleeps on her side (although she does, as well as on her back/upside down, on her belly when she "loafs", and sometimes, Im convinced, even when shes sitting up!) It means that she sleeps on MY SIDE. No, not BY my side (although she does at night~ she snuggles right into me and I kiss her fur and mush with her...) but she actually sleeps ON MY SIDE. Meaning, when Im sleeping on my right side, the left side that is "exposed", is a free for all. She starts by climbing up my legs, sits on my hip bones and needs my shoulder (which feels exceedingly good, btw...theres just something about a poly kneading you with those extra toes!) When shes finally done "softening me up", she lays down on my side, stretching from my hips, onto my belly and ribs, up to my shoulder.

Does anyone elses cat do this? She is sometimes a lap cat, but only in bed. She'll lay more on my stomach (after more kneading of course) when Im laying in bed, then actually get on my lap like a "normal" cat-like when Im sitting in a chair, or working on the computer.

I love my little weirdo =0) Its extremely pleasant, waking up and feeling her soft, warm weight on my side. Its like a security blanket. The only bad part is, when I have to roll over. She gets a little affronted when I ask her to please move and then RETURN to me, on my other side.

She is one unique cat, and I love every little thing she does; from side sleeping, to licking herself clean after I touch her, to letting me rub and scratch her belly. She is truly special, and I thank the heavens above that thy allowed ME to have this lovely little guardian in my life.

The Bling Ring

Faith is a part of the high-rollers now. We traded in her flat, worn, tattered purple collar that we've had since I got her for some new bling. And when I say bling, I mean BLING. I decided that the Princess needed a collar that fit her personality more, so I went shopping. I found a few collars that I liked, but just couldnt decide which one I wanted; which one fit Faith's personality the best. The first was a collar very much like she had, a flat purple collar with a band of silver glitter in the middle. It had a very soft, small bell, so I decided against it. The second was a purple collar that was all glitter. Even the bell, which was much larger, was glitter. I liked it, but wanted to keep looking. Those were on the "cheap" end~less that 10 bucks.

I decided to look at the higher priced section. There was a rhinestone collar that was a buckle, butt the rhinestones were connected with elastics so it was still escapable. This one had alternating clear and purple stones. I loved it. I just wasnt sure if it would fit. I decided to try it, as I could always return it if it wasnt right. Then I went to find the tags. Now, the chance of Faith actually escaping is slim to none, but I know not everyone knows about microchips, so tags are still the best was to ID your pet. I chose a deep purple heart, with a silver lining with little hearts etched in. It was small, but a little heavy, so I knew that, along with the bell, would take some getting used to on Faiths part. I went to the new, state-of-the-art tag making machine and put "Faith" on the front, an my phone number on the back. There really wasnt room for anything else.

So I bought both, and went home eagerly to try and get her collar on. Faith, being a cat, wasnt as eager, although she was very patient with me as I buckled her in (I had already put the tag on). The tag bothered her for the first few minutes, as she couldnt figure out what was banging against her chest, but she soon got used to it. She may be a Princess, but she is one easy-going cat =0)

Shes been so good wearing the new "get up", Ive been really surprised. I bought both the collar and tag at Petsmart. Here is the link to the collar (because  cant get a real good picture of her wearing it with her fur): http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=15399776&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo

And here is the picture of her tag: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12572250&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo

And here is the picture of the beautiful girl herself:

Faith Speaks

So I went to the New England Pet Expo last weekend, and was a bit surprised at how much money I spent...I thought maybe Id find a trinket or some treats to bring back to my girls (dogs) and Faith, but I ended up finding more. A lot more. 

First, I found a necklace with a cartoon drawing that looked very similar to Faith. How, I wondered, could I ever find something as cute as this that resembled her, since she is a "mixed breed"? So I bought it. $15 well spent in my opinion. Then I waled to what seemed like the very next booth, and found "A Breed Apart cat statues that benefited one of the rescues that was represented. I cute tabby playing with a mouse caught my eye and I had to have it. I have NO cat paraphernalia in my room...just lots (and LOTS) of Sheltie stuff. So I bought that. Another $20 gone.

Then as I was walking around the seemingly hundreds of booths, I cam across an Animal Communicator. Now, I have a friend that does this, and she is VERY good, but also very expensive. And since this was a show, the woman was charging $25 for a 15 minute reading and could do multiple pets. So, having my pocket book with all my girls pictures in little windows, I thought, why not? So I signed up and came back when it was my turn.

Needless to say this woman was very good. She said a lot about my dogs that was right on, and about Faith, The first thing she said was "she wants to know why she is left alone so long. That just broke my heart. She has to stay upstairs because my mom has large dogs who are NOT cat-savvy. So although she seems comfortable in her designated space (consisting of two rooms, a long hallway and several windows), she wants to be with ME. She also said that her "claws" hurt. Well, that was true as she was declawed on her front feet. She also said that there was a window in her space in particular with an A/C unit in it. She wanted THAT window to see and look out of. At first, this didnt make sense. The window that she sat in was in the hallway with no A/C. Shee said she likes that window enough, but she gets sleepy in it and would like a perch...but she REALLY wanted the window that was blocked off. I didnt realize what she was talking about until I got home. DUH! The window in MY ROOM had the A/C unit in it. It just so happened that the next day my mom wanted to take all the units out, and started with mine. We put the screen back in, and I attached a little bed for Faith. 

I have never seen this cat so happy. She is in that window almost ALL THE TIME. When I get home from work, she always runs and greets me with her series of meows, chirps and "cat speak" to tell me how her day way (and no undoubtedly scolding me for being away so long) but I can tell shes been in the window...

Now, like I said, she was right on about a lot of things about my dogs too, but I really did almost fall out of my chair when she said Faith was lonely. It just broke my heart. Since, Ive been trying to spend a lot more time upstairs with her, and reassuring her that I'll be back when I do have to leave.

Now, I was so impressed, that although I went in the morning when it first opened, I decided to go back with my best friend Ginny, who was going at the end of the show when her work shift ended. I surprised her at work (our vet clinic where I used to work) and we went together. I knew she wanted to hear from her recently departed Heart-Dog Molly, and was eager to hear her reading. 

However when we got there, she had about an hour wait, so we decided to walk around...where we found ANOTHER communicator I had missed the first time. I decided, what the heck? Lets see what this lady had to say. She said a lot about the dogs, but didnt say much of Faith except for that "we were meant to be". That was enough for me. I knew that Faith was my soul-cat the moment I saw her. Now, Ive never experienced love at first sight before; not with a human or animal. But HER...I immediately fell in love with her and had to have her. So she was right on about that. Ginny liked THIS lady so much, she decided to have a reading by her and was very pleased. We have actually referred her to a few friends already. She does phone consultations, so if anyone is interested in having their pet read, please ask and I'll get you her information.

I also asked them both if Faith would like to be a show cat; they both said that she was willing to try but did NOT want to be left alone, and was pretty much only doing it for me. So, we're still going to try. Im waiting for TICA to get back to me about a registered name for her, and then we can find out about her first show.

Like I said in the beginning, this was not my first time having my animals read; I need to go back to the friend of mine who does them for other friends, as like I said, she is VERY good, and I want her to speak with Faith. If this is something youve been thinking about, even if its just been in the back of your head, I urge you to do it if you have the means. It is a great eye-opener in some cases, and at the very least confirms or denies your suspicions. 

Please let me know if there is any way I can help,

Take care everyone,
Jenn and Faith

Fun for Faith

Faith is usually a really laid back lady. She was, anyways! Since we've moved, and she has become an only cat, she has really blossomed and shown a lot more of her personality. She mostly relaxes during the day, either sleeping on my bed, in a sunny spot in her "speedway" (the hall-way) or sitting in her window enjoying the fresh air and sights. When we were living in my home in NH with the two other cats, Faith routinely tried (and succeeded) in getting outside. She was actually gone for a day in a half and I FREAKED. OUT. When she got out, she would usually be gone for a few hours during the day, but shes always been a cat who would come when called. Not this time. I had missing posters ready to go, but wanted to try calling her one more time. She came out from under our neighbors shed and RAN all the way home and into my arms. She was covered in ticks, but I was just grateful she was back. I was terrified I had lost her forever =0(

But as we went through the packing process, she got out less and less frequently, and when she did, she either came when called back, or would allow herself to be caught. Its like she knew we werent going to be there forever. Now that we moved, and she lives upstairs, she has no chance of getting out, but she does enjoy her window time. She will sometimes greet me from it when I get home, mewing the whole time telling me to hurry up and get in the house to pet her!

She has become QUITE the chatter box...its one thing saying hello from the window, but its quite another to be constantly meowing, chirping, mewing and yeowling! She gets especially vocal when I first get home, and when its feeding time. Her vocalizations range from quiet trills to loud, prolonged meows. I love it. I love talking back to her, because she always has to get the last word in!

She has also decided she likes to play. Ive been attending cat shows lately to learn more about them, and support our good friend who shows Himilayans and Persians. Ive picked up a few toys for her, with little to no luck. The best Ive found is "Da Bird", with the mouse attachment. She has to be in the mood, but she will play with it and likes the way it moves. But yesterday, I hit the jackpot. I was at another show, and said you know, its about time I tried a laser. I bought one and brought it home, wondering if she would pass this one up too...

She was in full ATTACK mode! She ran up and down and up the hallway (now known as her speedway) over and over. She would stalk, attack and try to catch that red dot any way she could. I was thrilled. She was tired. Now, after only having it a day, she knows the sound it makes (it has an attached key ring that jingles) and immediately vocalizes and comes running. Its really great seeing her having so much fun. Its just one more thing I really enjoy about her; she just keeps surprising me!

Our newest fun thing is going to be...showing! Ive decided to join TICA and show Faith in the "house hold pet" (HHP) division. I am joining TICA because they allow HHP's to gain championship points and titles (which CFA does not) and they will allow cats who have been declawed (which Faith has been) or having other "parts" missing; they truly enjoy having all cats compete because ALL cats are beautiful =0)

So stay tuned, because our show adventures should start soon. Expect full show reports and photos too. Oh, and what will be Faiths registered name be? Well, since shes recently found her very opinionated voice, her name will be "Little Gossip Girl" =0) What do you think??

The toughest times...

So, I had "my Faith"...literally, and figuratively. My kitty cat was an amazing new addition to my little family I was building, and she and the girls (dogs) were getting along fine. I was also pleased that my mom didnt seem to mind her. She was very vocal-always chatty and eager to share her stories when I would get home from work or doing other things. I was noticing other little nuances with her too. For a very athletic looking cat, she was very clumsy. She would jump on the windowsill and fall off after a few steps. I didnt know if I should account it to her extra toes or what, but she also never jumped the gate that kept her in my room. She was a very good girl.

My best friend and I had decided to move in together; my mom and I werent getting along for a while and she asked me to leave. Also, my friend (whom I knew from work at the animal hospital) was not happy in her living situation either (with family) so I went from looking for a small apartment/condo to looking for a home. We had finally found one in Fremont NH, about 45 mins away from where we were currently living, but it was a newly remodeled cottage right on the river. We jumped at it, and made the deal. And then the world turned upside-down.

I was supposed to work a second ER night shift when I didnt feel right. I was very depressed and suddenly found myself crying uncontrollably. I called Ginny (my soon to be rooom-mate) and asked her to come help me. I was feeling irrationally scared, and was getting close to the scary thoughts of hurting myself. Ginny took me to the emergency room and my mom met us there-I had a nervous breakdown. I dont know how many hours I cried for, but I wasnt making sense, and my thoughts were dark. They finally sedated me enough to get through the night. I was then transferred to a mental holding hospital where I stayed for a week.

I couldnt believe what my life had come to. All the stress of working with the animal hospital and dealing with sick pets and euthanasia, the stress of not getting along with my mom, the stress of moving and buying my first house...it was all too much. They placed me on several medications but they didnt seem to work. I didnt know then that thee medication game was one I would have to play for a while. It takes a long time to get the right "cocktail". When I finally got out, I stayed away from work for a few weeks. I focused on doing things at the new house, like painting, but never felt OK. I would need to have my meds adjusted again and again, go into day programs, and then would return to work only to leave in a mess again. Finally after being hospitalized two more times, I gave up. I knew I could no longer do the job I had done before...I could no longer ask owners to sign the form to end their pets lives. I could no longer listen to stories of "I dont know what happened, I went to work/I left and s/he was FINE...what do you mean s/he is dying now??" I couldnt do it.

I tried my hand at a few other jobs, but the results were the same. I finally decided to apply for disability and give into what would be my "new" life. Unfortunately, it was not much of a life at all. I worked it out in my head the only way that made sense to me: I used to be a dog, but now I was a cat. I used to crave the outdoors, the sunshine, the activity, the social life. Now I was happy to just curl up and sleep, have small bursts of energy from time to time, but for the most part I watched life pass me by...indifferent to almost everything. Now dont get me wrong, I dont mean to bee so harsh on the cat...they just seem to live such carefree lives...or so I thought.

I have had to deal with a lot medically besides the new mental illnesses, to do with my heart. I was also born with severe congenital heart disease leading to 2 open heart surgeries, many minor surgeries, and trouble with those meds too; mostly the blood thinners coumadin and plavix. One day, my nose started bleeding, and wouldnt stop. It bled and bled, finally forcing me to go to the ER. I had to have it packed and then follow up with an ENT. When I did, they removed the packing, but it started bleeding again. He re-packed it and sent me home, to keep it in for a week. I also got sent home with narcotics because of the pain. Those were the worst days I had gone through in a while. I felt all the meds did was make me sleepy and dull-witted. I was still extremely uncomfortable. By day 3, I had had enough. I demanded them see me and take the packing out. They finally squeezed me in and took it out; thankfully it seemed to have stopped bleeding. But one good thing did come out of it. When I was finally back to normal, I realized I had a new little shadow: Faith. She was my CONSTANT companion while I was bedridden and crying from the pain. Shee never left my side. Even my dogs were sick of me being sick, but Faith...she was amazing.

I always made dogs out to be "the heroes", but they couldnt deal with all the stress I was putting out. I couldnt even feed them because I couldnt bend over. And, even as older ladies, they were sick of being stuck in the house. But not my Faith. She stayed right with me, which is where she is now, curled up right by my side. Talking to her, and petting her really did help me through these tough times. My dogs are a good distraction because they DO get me out and about, in the sunshine and socializing...but Faith is my little snuggle bug. When ever I have had "enough" of being "out" and "on", I had my little Faith to look forward to coming home and snuggling with. 

Next time, I'll talk more about her and her personality and how that in itself helps me every day. Sorry this was more about me than her, but my challenges make her all the more special and important to me...thanks for reading!