Yesterday's News

For those people with cats, what kind of litter do you use? I've tried every brand imaginable. But the one I have found that works best is Yesterday's News made from recycled newspaper. 

Here are a few reasons it works best for me.

1. The air stays fresh when scooping (dust free)
2. The air isn't poisoned with nasty smelling perfumes
3. The area around the litter box stays free of tracking and dust left from cat's feet.
4. Easy to scoop with special scooper.
5. Most of the litter is saved when scooping because the peices don't stick like clay and fall back off into the litter box. 

There are all kinds of litters out there and some are pretty cleverly produced according to customer wants. I've tried just about every one of them but only one brand satisfies all of my cat litter concerns. 

Formulas using silicon, special odor eating compounds, clumping, perfumed and dozens of others are popular right now. But I prefer Yesterday's News and my cats don't seem to mind it one bit. 

So Thankful

Every year I find more and more to be thankful for. At the top of the list is my fantastic health. Seriously, I believe I am healthier than I was 10 years ago. I seem to have more energy and my hair doesn't fall out nearly as much as it did when I was in high school, not to mention just 5 years ago.

Sure my diet is pretty good, as I have trained myself to eat healthy since I discovered my own food/mood connection at the young age of 18. But I really don't think that is why my health is so much better. I know others who have terrible diets and they don't seem to be at the effects of what they put into their bodies. Still, I'm pretty careful since I've learned how to provide myself with tasty, pleasing foods that are good for me.

I believe that my good health has more to do with my gumption for life than my diet or the amount of water that I drink. I'm finally surrounding myself with positive, encouraging people who build up rather than tear down. And it is not because they are building ME up that has this magical effect. It is that they are teaching me to be a builder and encourager which is more in sync with the way a body is supposed to be. Positive thoughts and belief in my fellow man is the most nutritious food.

Snugglefest

It is hard to imagine what life would be like without Sparky and Miso. These wonderful cats not only keep me company but they teach me so much and have helped me become a better person in the following ways:

• I'm less self absorbed because they are an enjoyable way to connect with the world outside of myself and my problems.  
• They remind me to ask for help by example when meowing for food or attention.
• Also by example, they remind me to wash myself so I'm clean and neat when I interact with other people. 
• They forgive and forget quickly after fighting and hissing with each other. I still need to work on that one...
• They walk around confidently and don't judge me. This helps me with my own confidence and projecting acceptance onto others, as well. I get practice at feeling loved and accepted.
• They remind me when its time to play. This keeps me from getting too melancholy and reminds me that it is important to have fun, too. 
• They can have a good time batting around a wadded up piece of paper. They remind me that the simple pleasures are sometimes the most gratifying.  
• When purring, cats remind me that it is important to relax once in awhile.
• When they sprint after birds in my backyard, Sparky and Miso remind me that I must exercise and focus on my goals like they do. Just do it :)
• Sometimes Sparky will run up a tree and have trouble getting down. I get practice being his hero as he trusts me to bring him to the ground. He shows me that there is always someone who will help out in a pickle for those who trust and believe. 
• They know that one doesn't have to be especially smart or elaborate to make their way in the world. 

 I am so grateful to have these two little angels on my side. They are very much a comfort when things don't necessarily go my way :)
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Not so funny

I grew up watching The Three Stooges on television with my Dad. He was a quiet man that kept to himself most of the time, so it was fun to spend time with him on those rare occasions that he laughed. This is, in part, how I developed my silly sense of humor. I learned to act silly and laugh at others who were acting silly.

Unfortunately, not everyone who is silly, is trying to be that way! As a  youngster, I didn't think anything of "making fun" of others as long as they were not around to have their feelings hurt. So during my youth I found friends who also enjoyed joking around in this way.

I've only recently learned that this is not a good way to have fun. It really isn't much different than gossiping about someone who isn't around to defend themselves. The conclusion by those who witness this subtle ridicule, have a valid concern that they will likely be the target at a later time.

This kind of immaturity is just one example of my people skills needing a make over. So I've been delving into books like How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Have Power and Confidence in Dealing with People to help me relate to others in a more positive fashion.

These books are invaluable. I'm realizing that the obvious art of listening to others is a much deeper and profound skill than simply hearing what is being said. And not to be terribly hard on myself, I'm also learning that many people I come into contact with are not much better at it than I am.

On my self-improvement journey, I'm enjoying a gem of a book entitled Personality Plus. The author spells out 4 very different personalities and most of us can relate to one type more than the others. It lists both helpful and not so helpful aspects of each personality.

Learning about my own predominant way of being in the world, as well as the 3 other personalities is helpful.  I now work on relating toothers and develop strengths I did not realize were available to me. It is easy to rationalize my own tendencies and I normally limit my friendships to those of my own "type". But my life has become more rich now that I am learning through these fabulous writings that I can relate to very different people by noticing their strengths above their challenges.

I'll always enjoy a good episode of The Three Stooges, but I'll fore go emulating them. Which is what I do when I don't relate to the real people I come into contact with each day and instead pay more attention to their silliness. We are all silly, but it is nice to be noticed for our positive attributes. At least, that is what I'm learning by reading this wonderful material.     

Through a Child's Eyes

Someone sent this to me via email, explaining that it was written by an 8 year old but gave no other details. I don't care who wrote it. I think it is the bee's knees :)


EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.'

'God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.'

'God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'



Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'


'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

"Turning a Negative into a Positive"

Cesar Speaks

Cesar nails it again. I've linked to his latest article above "Cesar Speaks"
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How Cats Drink

Who Knew?  How cats drink

Great Article by Cesar Milan

Animal, Species, Breed, Name


As usual, Cesar's ideas very much resonate with the way I think of those wonderful creatures we call animal. Click on the link above for a short, readable article on how he understands canine psyche. 

National Hairball Awareness Day

National Hairball Awareness Day

This is a nice article about hairballs. I have two long hairs, and learned a lot by reading this. The most important information is that hairballs are not a natural occurance and there is a lot I can do to keep them from  occurring.

Easily Entertained

I recently changed my newest cat's name from Charlie to "Sparky". It suits him much better now that I have gotten to know him.

Sparky has been entertaining himself with a "toy" for the last hour as I've been catching up on computer work. What is interesting is that, although I have lots of little mice & bird like toys lying around, Sparky decided that an old left over, green stubbed carrot top is the best invention since sliced turkey.

He has been batting it around and anticipating its fight or flight as Miso watches the drama unfold. I sometimes wonder if he isn't imagining small, voluntary movements coming from it.

Miso is a creative warrior, as well. All it takes is the sound of a crumpling sticky note to illicit her killer instict. She is often seen abrubtly flying across the room in the middle of a good snooze as soon as the paper crumpling concludes in an escaping wad, springing overhead.

Once the crumpled transgressor is caught,  I've seen Miso staring over it daring it to move. If I didn't know better, I'd testify that it moves on its own for her pure pleasure. After staring at it for a few seconds, she bats at it, seemingly to keep it in line and force it to do something, anything, so she can respond in that cute cat way.

My cats are spending me out of house and home with their feeding habits of prepared raw food. So far this year, I've spent more on their care than on my own groceries. I guess that is fair since there are two of them. I'm thankful that, they are at least low maintenance in regard to "toys".

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Dogs & Emotions - Cesar Millan

Puppy Love: Do Dogs Have Emotions?


There's no doubt in my mind that dogs have emotions. They feel joy after a job well done. They feel sad when a pack member passes away. And they feel love for their family members – their pack.

However, it's important to remember that those emotions are different from our own. The feelings that dogs experience aren't connected to complex thoughts. They don't have ulterior motives or doubt. Their emotions are pure and honest. Your dog isn't lying to you when he communicates that he loves you.

The more you fulfill your dog's needs, the more this connection will develop between you. There's nothing better than coming home from a bad day and having your dog there to support you. No judgment. No questions. Just love!

But remember, how we feel affects our dogs. If you are upset after a long day of work, your dog won't understand why, but he will pick up on your energy and body language. He will interpret this as unbalanced energy, and if you don't have your leadership down pat, it can lead to behavior issues. Make sure you are fulfilling your dog's needs first.

Our dogs give us so much and ask so little. If we provide them with exercise, discipline, then affection, we can really appreciate man (or woman's) best friend and the love they have to offer.

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan
Dogs & Emotions - Cesar Millan

Raising the Bar

I've reprinted PSI's pet sitting standards below. I'm happy to be associated with other local animal services who also adhere to these principles.

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The mission of Pet Sitters International is to serve as the educational and support organization for professional pet sitters. That is what our Recommended Quality Standards for Excellence in Pet Sitting are all about. This inventory of values and principles sets the benchmark for professional pet sitters and serves as a set of guidelines for every PSI member to use in making decisions that will lead to improved business practices, increased professionalism, a high standard of ethics and, ultimately, to loyal clients who will contribute to a successful pet-sitting business.

* The sitter exhibits courtesy and professionalism in all dealings with customers, staff and industry colleagues to positively represent the pet sitter and the pet-sitting industry.

* The sitter is bonded and insured.

* The sitter provides references.

* The sitter visits the client’s home before the first pet-sitting assignment to meet the pets and get detailed information about their care.

* The sitter displays a positive attitude during the initial meeting and is comfortable and competent in dealing with the animals.

* The sitter is courteous, interested and well informed.

* The sitter provides literature to describe services and communicate fees.

* The sitter provides a service contract that specifies services, fees and time allocated per visit.

* The sitter wants to learn as much as possible about the animals in his or her care.

* The sitter has adequate knowledge and experience in caring for pets and is clearly mindful of their safety and well-being.

* The sitter takes precautions to make sure a client’s absence from home is not detectable because of any careless actions or disclosures by the sitter.

* The sitter phones to confirm or has the client phone to confirm that the client has returned home.

* The sitter provides a service rating form for clients.

* The sitter conducts business with honesty and integrity and observes all federal, state and local laws pertaining to business operations and animal care.

* The sitter keeps regular office hours and responds to client inquiries and complaints promptly.

* The sitter has a veterinarian on call for emergency service.

* The sitter has a contingency plan for pet care in case of inclement weather or personal illness.

* The sitter refrains from criticizing competitors.

* The sitting service screens applicants for employment carefully.

* The sitting service provides initial and ongoing training for its sitters.
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How Fortunate Am I

Back in 1993, an acquaintance of mine invited me to her home to discuss a Community Television Network project we were working on as a community service, getting the word out about our Toastmasters meetings. I was more interested in playing with her animals than the business at hand but we did manage to eventually get a nice peice to CTN which was called "Community Cable Access" at the time.

Nancy was impressed with how well her 3 cats and little dog took to me. She later asked if I would be willing to stay at her home while she travelled to care for Bandit and friends until she returned.

At the time I shared housing with 5 other vegans and I was happy about the prospect of having a little privacy for a change.  Nancy wouldn't have needed to, but she compensated me financially for my work.

At the time I did not know this but my calling had found me. It took awhile to sink in, and it would be over 10 years later that I was to start my own full time service.

There has been and continues to be a large demand for dependable, skilled pet sitters in the Ann Arbor area. I naturally bumped into pet owners along the way as I went about my life. Many needed  my service and were more than willing to pay me for it. I continually built up clients without ever having to advertise.

It wasn't until 2003 that I placed my 1st advertisement in the Ann Arbor Observer. I only placed one ad for one month, but that yeilded me 2 repeat customers. By the time I started my full time service in 2008, I already had about 15 clients who called me regularly when they left for vacations.

In  2005, one of my overnight clients talked me into walking her dogs 3 times a week.  I reluctantly took this on but committing to this work was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The regular income made it possible for me to eventually leave my part time administrative job and work soley for myself.

Having and depending on my own business is a lot of work (another subject for a good blog entry). But I wouldn't trade my work with animals for anything. It is amazing to be appreciated for what I love to do.
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Kitty Kat Update

Here is a photo of Charlie who is almost as big as Miso. He is not yet 5 months old but is as big as many small breed full grown cats. It is the Maine Coone mix, I think. He is also very mellow which is typical of the breed.

They both have full run of the house now, even at night when I am away on overnights. I do think they enjoy each others' company, although Miso does hiss and whack now and again as Charlie wants to play with  her. Miso hasn't learned to play with him yet. I get them playing with the feather flyer frequently to facilitate this in hopes that it will lead to more organically induced play.

TRAINING TO CUDDLE
I am also hoping they will be cuddle buddies at some point. To this end I have been feeding them a small amount of daily "treats". I put the kibble in one dish so they have to get very close to one another while enjoying it. Hopefully, this will lead to them enjoying closeness at other times during the day. One day I intend to display a photo of them cuddling each other.

FOOD & WATER
I use "Before BG grain" brand Salmon kibble as reinforcements but not much of it.  It is good stuff. They go CRAZY over it but I prefer they eat a raw diet which I purchase exclusively from Mantis on Michigan Ave in Ypsi. Miso likes to drink from a glass so I keep it full for Charlie and her. 

WEIGHT
I have been struggling with Miso's weight since day one. She has now finally trimmed up to the perfect weight in my opinion.  When you pick her up she feels spungy, not hard, in the stomache. I've accomplished her weight loss by keeping her on a raw food diet. Mantis sells me frozen patties that her and Charlie share daily. They are able to self monitor, as the food has no addictive properties and they only eat when they are hungry. And, of course, when I  offer them a small amount of kibble to reinforce their closeness.

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Charlie & Miso in Harmony

Less than one month ago, I brought Charlie home to live with Miso and I. Miso is about 5  years old and  Charlie was born mid July of this year.

There were some concerns due to the reason I had Miso in the first place. Miso had come to live with me 2 years ago after having attacked the other cat in her household three times. These attacks were vicious enough to send him to the hospital for stitches to his back each time.

As their pet care giver, it was not nearly as pleasant visiting them due to the new arrangement that was called for. I had to split my time into two sessions; one with Miso in the basement and the other session with her "brother" upstairs.

Curiously, the attacks were brought on after several years of living together. The first attack occured just after they brought the other kitty back from the hospital with bandaged paws from having been declawed. Miso has always been declawed back and front, so this must have upset the balance of power between the two somehow.

I hadn't considered getting another kitty until now because of Miso's rough history. But for the past year, I've felt bad about leaving Miso at home so much of the time, especially when I am away for vacation  overnight stays. She has seemed to calm down quite a bit and I sometimes imagine a nurturing instict in her.

Since I've always wanted a Maine Coone cat, I went onto Petfinder.com and put in the information. I asked for a male kitten and it turned out that Charlie fit the description. He was also less than an hour away from my home.

I let a few friends know that I was going to be introducing a new kitten to my household and the best advice I received was to let the kitties get acquainted from under a door first. This way they aren't as overwhelmed. They can get accustommed to new smells before having to negotiate space and territory.

Of course there was lots of hissing at first, especially from my Miso. I tried to stay away from their encounters as much as possible and to let nature take its course, all the while watching for signs of true aggression on Miso's part. Gradually I opened my full home to both of them whenever I am at home.

It was also suggested by my Petfinder.com mom, that I keep Miso's routine intact as much as possible. That has proven to be the best advice I could have received.

The most drama that occurred was when Miso would hiss and growl and wack her paw very loudly in front of Charlie which created a startlingly loud popping noise. Very quickly and to my amazement, Miso seems to have taken a shine to little Charlie and I recently caught her butting her head up to him affectionately.

We are now to the point where Charlie and Miso can be on the bed together and co-exist contentedly. I am still careful not to leave them alone in the house for too long together but I am optimistic about the future. I look forward to the day when I can pack up for an overnight knowing that the two of them will keep each other company until I return the next day.

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Finding a New Home for Your Pet

I recently received an email containing a photo and plea for help from a woman who was moving to Europe and could not take her two beautiful, well behaved labs with her. These sweet babies were very attached to each other and it was awful to think they might have to be separated to find them good homes. She was desperate to find them a good home where they could continue to live together.

I received the message from a friend and assumed this friend knew the woman who sent the original plea for help and thereby forwarded the message to a couple of other freinds. Unfortunately, the person who sent it to me arrived at the same conclusion when he received the message, and no one checked snopes.com to determine the message's validity. The animals had already found a new home YEARS ago. 

Although these kinds of "hoaxes" are not malicious, they get started, in part, because the original author doesn't think to include an easy way for people to check back to see if a home had already been found for their beloved pets. It is very easy to send a message to friends who inadvertantly proliferate the message in an attempt to help.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way, via email, to let others' know when the search is no longer necessary, the message gathers momentum and continues on its merry way. Now, anytime I get an email and don't know the original sender, I check snopes.com to see if the email is still legitimate. If I had such a pressing need as finding a new home for Miso, I'd include a website or blog for people to check in and get updates before they pass on the email.

This strategy might keep me from having to change my email address as the message makes its way across the world, illiciting help from hundreds of animal lovers. Besides helping me keep my life simple, providing a check back link is just a considerate thing to do.

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Words to live by

It was this time of year in 2006 that I purchased my first DBA "Mrs. Doolittle's Pet Sitting Service". It has served me well for me for the last three years and many people have told me that they love the name.

I decided to start using Mrs. Doolittle because I wanted to convey my skills for animal communication to potiential clients. I wanted to connect with those animal companions who value a strong connection to their little friends.

A few months ago, it dawned on me that "Wag More" was an even better message to potential moms and dads. Although animals love to be talked with, just being with them and making sure they get enough exercize and attention is the far more important goal.

Since there are no other "Wag More" services in the Ann Arbor area, I purchased a new DBA that will allow me to do business as Wag More Pet Care Service. It is the same service, just a more mature name.

There is another service named Wagmore in Chicago. I discovered while researching possible new website addresses. From the website, it sounds like a fantastic service. They even provide pet photography which is something I try to do in an amateur fashion when I have time.

Although I do hope my new chosen business name is well received, the most important aspect of my service is quality care. That will never change as long as I am the owner.

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Automatic Feeders Cats/Dogs

Routine is important to animals. Since my schedule varies from day to day, and Miso cannot be free fed, I have purchased an automatic feeder to deposit food for her twice daily. She always knows when to expect her meals and she will usually greet her new issue with exuberance.

Even though this handy little gadget was quite pricey, early on I learned that there are problems with it. Although battery operated (and the batteries last a long time - 6 months or so!), once in awhile the little turn shaft that rotates the feedings will stick, leaving Miso wanting. I learned about the glitch when I walked in to my home one day from a busy overnight, and she was meowing for food (which she rarely does!).

Now I am careful to check the level after every feeding and smooth out the top of the food at the receptacle. That way, when the next deposit is made, a dent in the food will be observed. If the top of the food is still level after it was programmed to drop, I am aware of the malfunction and can feed Miso myself, albeit late.

To repair a stuck feeder, empty out the food and tip it upside down. Jiggle the turn shaft a bit to unloosen any particles that might be in the way of allowing it to function correctly.

I never rely on this handy instrument to feed Miso on those rare occasions that I am on vacation. I hire a pet sitter to look in on her once a day and have her check the feeder as described above.
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Appliance Tip for Pet Owners

It is important to take the time to clean our animals' water fountains. I've noticed that most of my clients who use these wonderful wells for their pets, aren't cleaning them. After about 6 months with no cleaning, the pets' fur begins to clog up the motor.

Even though it has a filter, the motor should be taken out and cleaned once a month to get all of the fur out. The hair slows the water from entering the chamber and forces the motor to work harder. After a while, the stream will start to become thin and the motor gets louder.

It is easy to clean and it only takes about 10 minutes. Make sure the plug is disconnected from the outlet and disassemble the unit. It is very intuitive and does not have many part at all.

The fountains that I have worked with (many different brands) all pop apart pretty easily. The most important part to clean, is the motor itself. It pops out and sometimes has a smaller plastic screen on it that is also removable. You may see a wad of fur on it so take a paper towel and clean it off. Then rinse it. Make sure you run the motor under the faucet and force water through both the intake and outlet to ensure any particles of bacteria are whisked away.

If this does not sound like fun for you (it really only takes about 10 minutes), hire my pet sitting service (Ann Arbor area readers) and I will do it for you. We often perform these sorts of small tasks when we are in client's homes because we want to make life easier for you and your pet.

Clouds

I witnessed the amazing sky as I was tooling around town the other day. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

They reminded me of hot cereal. That evening I mixed some cooked basmati rice in a blender and added soy milk, salt and maple syrup! Yum.

The darkness in the upper left is my phone jacket in the way of camera eye. I hate it when that happens.

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