Tag: Cat

Spell for Today – A Pet Blessing Spell

A Pet Blessing Spell

Spoken – As needed, perhaps even on a regular basis to bless and protect your fur-babies. No materials are required however you may want to anoint your pets forehead with some protection oil, this is optional.

Dog Blessing

Hecate, Dark Mother
In protecting this home
In your place as is right
Stands one of your own
In defending this house
And all creatures within
Your sacred beast
A true loyal friend.
Keep him from harm
As he guards all he loves
And watch over him
So below, as above.

-or-

Blessing For Dogs

Diana, Goddess of the Wind
Keeper of dogs both fierce and mild
Hold (name of pet) safely in your arms
And protect this creature from all harm
And should the day come that he/she roams
Guide him/her to the path back home
Bless (name of pet) with a joyful life
Free of hardship, stress and strife

Blessing For Cats

Bast of beauty and of grace,
Protectress of the feline race,
Shield (name of pet) from all hurt and harm
And keep him/her always safe and warm
Watch over (name of pet) from day to day
And guide him/her home, if he/she should stray
And grant him/her much happiness
and a good life free of strife and stress.

-or-

Cat Blessing

O great Goddess Bast, I ask
That you keep (name) at home
Safe from all mischief
And wanting to roam
Grant the contentment
Known to his/her race.
See that he’s/she’s happy
In this his/her rightful place

Your Ancient Symbol Card for May 13th is The Cat

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Cat



The Cat represents the need for stealth and the freedom to act without restrictions. Acting stealthily in no way implies the need for underhanded behavior. Instead the suggestion here is to move quietly towards your goals and reach out for them when they are within range. It also denotes a need to free yourself from restrictions imposed by others.

As a daily card, The Cat suggests that the opportunity to attain your goals is very strong at the moment. However, you need to keep your intentions to yourself and shed whatever limitations have been put on you by others.

Your Ancient Symbol Card for February 21 is The Cat

Your Ancient Symbol Card for Today

The Cat

The Cat represents the need for stealth and the freedom to act without restrictions. Acting stealthily in no way implies the need for underhanded behavior. Instead the suggestion here is to move quietly towards your goals and reach out for them when they are within range. It also denotes a need to free yourself from restrictions imposed by others.

As a daily card, The Cat suggests that the opportunity to attain your goals is very strong at the moment. However, you need to keep your intentions to yourself and shed whatever limitations have been put on you by others.

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Herbal Healing for Pets

Herbal Healing for Pets

I will begin by stating that you should not attempt herbal healing for your pet unless you have a good understanding of what is ailing your pet. And a good understanding of the healing herbs. Don’t guess…..check with a veterinarian first! There are now a lot of holistic/natural vets out there – call around and see who you can find. This advice is not meant to replace the diagnosis and advice of a licensed veterinarian. That said, I will share with you the herbal treatments that we use on my ranch. Most are simple, safe, and effective.

Remember first and always that cats and dogs and other small creatures have much shorter digestive systems than us human caretakers. Fresh herbs are not digested as they are in humans. Therefore, the tincture form of an herb will work better for them. An acceptable alternative would be a stronger herbal tea than you would use for yourself. Doses need to be compatible with your pet’s weight – small amounts for small animals, larger amounts for large animals. When in doubt, consult a holistic or natural healing veterinarian. Administering several doses throughout the day, rather than one big dose once a day will speed the herbs into your pet’s system and boost the immune system much faster. And as with ourselves, no herb should be given to any animal on a continuous basis. Like us, their bodies will begin to build an immunity, and once that happens, that herb becomes useless medicinally.

A good rule of thumb for any herbal remedy for your pet is two weeks on, one week off. That gives the body time to work on its own, and gives you time to determine if the herbal treatment needs to be continued. There are exceptions to this rule, as with all rules, as in herbs that take a while to build up in the body to be effective. Don’t give herbs you wouldn’t take yourself, internally or externally. Just about any herbal remedy that you use for yourself can be adapted for use for your pet – just remember to use tinctures whenever possible, stronger teas when necessary.

For overall general good health, as with ourselves, you should of course look to diet. There are many natural diets being recommended today for all sorts of pets. Do a little research, or preferably a lot, into the natural dietary needs of your pet. Raw meat added to the diet of a cat or dog, natural carnivores, can often clear up a lot of mysterious ailments, as can the addition of fruits and vegetables. If you feed a commercial diet, feed the best you can afford, and add to it when you can. Years of healthy life can be added to your pet when diet is properly looked after!

When you are changing your pet’s diet, do so gradually. Add one new item at a time, and space out those additions. That way if there is a negative reaction, you can quickly pinpoint the culprit. Not every food agrees with every animal.

Sunlight is also necessary for the health of your pet. Sunlight helps the body convert the nutrients in the foods you feed into the necessities for their systems. In place of sunlight, use full-spectrum lighting, like Vita-Lites, or an equivalent. These are ideal for your indoor pets, such as birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Here are some herbal remedies for those common problems:

Eyes:

A strong tea of eyebright, used as a wash, is perfect for irritated eyes on all pets. Also administer orally to boost the internal mechanisms to fight infection from the inside. Alternatively, you can make a saline solution. Dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt in 1/2 cup boiling water. Add 1 drop of goldenseal extract to 1 tablespoon of the saline solution, once cooled, when you are going to use it….it shrinks swollen tissues and disinfects.

Itching:

The common cause of itching is due to fleas and flea bites – some animals are actually allergic to the flea bites, compounding the problem. Brewer’s yeast is often recommended, 1 teaspoon or tablet per day, as a deterrent. A word of caution here – some animals are allergic to the brewer’s yeast, or react to it with dry patches of skin that itch just as bad as the fleas do. If you use brewer’s yeast, keep an eye out for these sorts of skin problems to develop, and discontinue the brewer’s yeast if necessary as soon as one of these symptoms appear. A good remedy for those dry itchy skin patches is tea tree oil, rubbed over the patch. The bitter taste will discourage the animal from digging at his skin, and the oil works well to heal the dryness. Do not use it near the eyes or genitals, however. Aloe is also good for those dry patches. Another method is to put a slice of raw cucumber over the “hot” spot, holding it there for a few minutes, and then rub aloe or tea tree oil over the area.

The shampoo you use, or the flea collar you use, may actually be causing the itching. Bathe the animal in an all natural shampoo, preferably something that has aloe in it, and find an alternative to that flea collar!! Would you wear chemicals around your neck? Neither should they!

You can make an herbal dip for your pet as follows: 2 cups packed fresh peppermint, pennyroyal, or rosemary; 1 quart boiling water; 4 quarts warm water – – Prepare an infusion by pouring the boiling water over the herbs and allow it to steep for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and dilute it with the warm water. Saturate the animal’s coat thoroughly with the solution, allowing it to air dry. Use at the first sign of flea activity. This remedy will need to be repeated everthree to four days, but it is totally safe.

If the itching persists, and fleas or poor diet are not the culprit, use a mixture of Licorice Root, Dandelion Root, and Cat’s Claw in equal drops of each tincture for two weeks. The licorice is a natural cortisone, and will help to jumpstart the immune system.

To get rid of fleas in your carpet, after removing pets from the room, sprinkle Borax over the carpet and rub it in. Wait a while, then vacuum as usual. This is a safe, non-chemical method of flea control. Reapply the Borax once a week until the problem is gone.

Cuts:

Fresh aloe is an excellent application for those strange cuts and scrapes we can never figure out how our pet got. It is a natural antiseptic, and will keep the area moist until the cut can heal. Alternatively, you can clean the wound with a wash of goldenseal, and apply aloe or other herbal treatments that are your favorites.

Abscesses:

First you must lance the abscess. I mix a betadine solution with water until it looks like tea, and then fill an eyedropper with the solution and squirt it into the hole. Do this several times per day, at least three. The important thing is to clip the fur away from the abscess and don’t cover it with any bandage, or it can’t drain properly. It has to heal from the inside out. If it is extremely deep, you may need a vet to put a drain in it. I also begin to administer antibiotic herbs orally, to help fight any infection that may occur. Another course of action is to use chamomile in the wound to prevent infection. I have had a lot of success with these methods, which my vet recommends. However, I also know that if it doesn’t begin to clear up within a week, I need professional help to combat the infection.

Carsickness:

Does your pet get carsick when you take him for trips? Try giving a few drops of ginger root extract prior to the trip to settle his tummy. If it is a long trip, you may want to administer the ginger again halfway through the trip.

Infections:

Give a tincture of equal drops of echinacea and goldenseal. If the illness persists after two weeks, try a combination of different herbal antibiotics after careful diagnosis by your vet. If the animal recovers quickly, continue giving the herbs for a few days after, to aid in healing completely.

I generally give a capsule of garlic oil in the food once per week. It helps keep the biting insect critters away, and helps keep the immune system healthy.

Dehydration:

When a pet is dehydrated, due to illness or injury, you can give them Pedialyte, available in the baby food section of any grocery store. Alternatively, you can substitute Gatorade. However, the sugar content in Gatorade is rather high, which is not good for long term use with our pets. If using it, cut it in half with plain water. There are also powdered electrolyte solutions available in most feed stores that work just as well, and are less expensive. Electrolyte solutions given in place of water for the first 24 hours will also help new pets that were shipped to deal with the stress of shipping. This is especially important with reptiles, amphibians, and birds of all types.

Ulcers:

If your pet is suffering from ulcers, give him two drops each of Calendula, Comfrey, Knotgrass, and Nettle twice per day. Couple this with a bland, easy to digest diet until the ulcer has healed.

Anxiety, Stress:

When your pet suffers from stress or anxiety, try a combination of the extracts of Oats, Valerian, and Chamomile. Rub a little lavendar oil near the animal’s muzzle, or place some on a cotton pad in the pet’s bed or in his sleeping area. And remember that if you are stressed, the animal will be too, so sniff a little of that calming lavendar for yourself as well.

Orphans:

To raise an orphan, first find some goat milk – the fresher the better – to use as the replacement for mother’s milk. Goat milk is high in butterfat content, and is infinitely better to use than those powdered replacements found in stores, and miles ahead of cow’s milk. This applies for human babies, as well. Many a colicky baby has had their stomach soothed with goat milk…..and goat milk is usually easily used by those considered lactose-intolerant. Goat milk can be found in your health food store, and often in your grocery store, but the very best source is of course directly from the goat. Find a dairy goat farmer in your area. The prices will be better, too! We have raised everything from puppies and kittens to colts and calves on goat’s milk, and have observed or experienced none of the weight-gain problems or vitamin deficiency or immune deficiencies that occur often when using substitutes. Remember to feed the milk warmed. For puppies and kittens, it is often helpful to rub the face and anal area with a warm swab, to stimulate their system, much as the mother does after the baby feeds from her. Once per day, add a little spirulina (powdered) to the milk. It boosts the immune system, so needed in orphaned babies, and provides many necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Pregnancy:

Raspberry leaf administered daily throughout a pet’s pregnancy (mammals) will help tone the uterus and aid in the healing of the uterus after birth, as well as help to stimulate milk production in the mammaries.

Diarrhea, vomiting:

Powdered slippery elm bark is useful for treating diarrhea, vomiting, and sensitive stomachs for pets.

Shiny Coats:

One teaspoon (less for very small animals, such as ferrets) of cod liver oil dribbled over the pet’s food once or twice per week will give a thick, shiny coat, as well as provide many nutrients needed by your pet’s body.

Bee Pollen:

1/4 teaspoon for every 15 pounds of animal, given two to three times weekly, helps to slow the aging process. It will also restore hormone balances, regulate the digestive tract, and calm the symptoms of common allergies. Give bee pollen daily during times of stress, illness, or disease to give a boost to the body.

Vitamin C:

Giving 1000 mg to 2000 mg per day for three months to puppies from large breeds can help prevent hip dysplacia. Give 500 mg to 1000 mg daily to ease arthritis in dogs and cats. 500 mg each day can prevent urinary tract symptoms and problems for cats.

A WORD OF CAUTION:

Do not give white willow to cats or kittens. Many felines are allergic to salycin, the active ingredient in both white willow and the drug that is derived from it, aspirin. Substitute meadowsweet as a pain reliever instead.

 

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FACING BIRTH SPELL

FACING BIRTH SPELL        Materials needed:

–Cast off Fur from a Female Cat–A Small cloth bag Statue or picture of Kitten
–Also one of Bast Incense of Jasmine or Wisteria

        Timing: Whenever necessary preferably before birth pains start.
Set up a little altar or sacred space in a place where it can be left until the birth is completed.
Arrange the statues in the center at the rear of this space.
Light the Incense and say:
Gentle Bast hold me in your loving hands
        Let the birth of the coming child be easy
        Keep all fear and negativity far from me
        Be at my side as the child enters the world
        Place my trust in you Bast
Gently brush the cast off fur against your cheeks, thinking of Bast’s love and goodness.
Put the fur into the bag and leave it by the statue on the altar. Leave it there until the birth is over.
Whenever you feel or dread of the coming birth, open the little bag and breathe you fears gently into it.

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Let’s Talk Witch – Even Witches Need To Know How to Meditate

Witchy Comments & Graphics
Let’s Talk Witch – How To Meditate

To begin, sit in a darkened room (not pitch dark, but dim lights). Sit still, sit quiet, for 10 minutes. No music, no talking, no tapping your fingers, no jiggling your foot, no moving your head or cracking your neck or looking around. It’s harder than you think. If you don’t make it through the first time, try again the next day (don’t rush it or you’ll just get really mad at yourself – this isn’t a speed competition!) and keep trying until you can sit still and quiet for 10 minutes. You can think about anything you want, the point is to be physically still, and not have any external stimuli (no TV, no music, no whatever). This teaches you to have a quiet body. This also teaches you about time, because it’s hard to know how long 10 minutes is. Your eyes can be opened or closed, it doesn’t matter (and blinking isn’t counted as moving, so you can blink all you want).

Once you are able to sit still for 10 minutes, then try sitting for 10 minutes and think only about white things. If you start to think about something that isn’t white, stop yourself, and start thinking about white things again. Here’s a list of words to help you get started:

Snow, polar bears, cotton, vanilla pudding, paper, light bulbs, chicken, arctic hare, white wolf, beluga whale, dove, cream, soap, flower, milk, flour, rice, refrigerator, tooth, swan, snowy owl, sand, stones, clouds

Once you have done it, do it twice more, on different days. Ten minutes thinking about things that are white. It will teach you how to concentrate and how to have a quiet mind. If you think about white things and you start to move, try again. If you are still, but you think about what that jerk on the bus said to you today, try again. Each time you try, take at least a one day break in between your tries. You will learn concentration and discipline, both very important for meditation. Don’t rush it, this isn’t a contest!

When you are comfortable with spending 10 quiet, still, minutes thinking about things that are white, try 10 minutes thinking about things that are natural, like animals, grass, trees, sky, and so on. Anything in the natural world, made naturally and not altered by human hands. Remember to keep still, and keep quiet. Don’t say the things out loud, just think them in your head.

If your mind wanders, just pull it back. So if you are thinking about animals, and you think about your cat, and your cat’s fur, and your cat’s meow, and the neighbourhood dog that chases your cat, that is fine. If you then think about the neighbourhood dog that barks, and your stupid neighbour who lets the dog bark at night and it wakes you up and then you get a bad sleep and you have an important meeting tomorrow and… now you have let your mind wander. Immediately think of another natural thing, and refocus yourself.

Then, practice and practice and practice until thinking about natural things is really really easy, and being still is really really easy. Think about different things each time – maybe think about animals one time, and then flowers the next time.

I recommend thinking about natural things because it is a great way to connect to the Goddess. So that when you want to meditate on the goddess Diana, for example, you can concentrate on things that are important to Her: trees, a cool stream, a deer, a dog and so on, without getting off track.

Give it a try, it will take some time to get good, but it will be worth every minute you spend trying. It will let you connect better with the Goddess, and that will increase the power of your spells and magick.

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Daily Feng Shui News for Jan. 22 – ‘Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day’

It’s ‘Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day’ and if one of those kitty questions asks why their ears itch so much, then your pet might have ear mites. Take a flashlight and look inside the cat’s ears. If you see something that resembles coffee grounds, then your pet has ear mites. Puncture two vitamin E capsules and squeeze out the oil from one each into the cat’s ears. Gently rub the oil in and carefully clean out both the oil and the mites with a cotton swab. Repeat this process for three days in a row and the mites should disappear. The oil not only suffocates the mites, but will help Kitty heal from all that itching. Next question.

By Ellen Whitehurst for Astrology.com

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Let’s Talk Witch – How To Meditate

Let’s Talk Witch – How To Meditate

 

To begin, sit in a darkened room (not pitch dark, but dim lights). Sit still, sit quiet, for 10 minutes. No music, no talking, no tapping your fingers, no jiggling your foot, no moving your head or cracking your neck or looking around. It’s harder than you think. If you don’t make it through the first time, try again the next day (don’t rush it or you’ll just get really mad at yourself – this isn’t a speed competition!) and keep trying until you can sit still and quiet for 10 minutes. You can think about anything you want, the point is to be physically still, and not have any external stimuli (no TV, no music, no whatever). This teaches you to have a quiet body. This also teaches you about time, because it’s hard to know how long 10 minutes is. Your eyes can be opened or closed, it doesn’t matter (and blinking isn’t counted as moving, so you can blink all you want).

Once you are able to sit still for 10 minutes, then try sitting for 10 minutes and think only about white things. If you start to think about something that isn’t white, stop yourself, and start thinking about white things again. Here’s a list of words to help you get started:

Snow, polar bears, cotton, vanilla pudding, paper, light bulbs, chicken, arctic hare, white wolf, beluga whale, dove, cream, soap, flower, milk, flour, rice, refrigerator, tooth, swan, snowy owl, sand, stones, clouds

Once you have done it, do it twice more, on different days. Ten minutes thinking about things that are white. It will teach you how to concentrate and how to have a quiet mind. If you think about white things and you start to move, try again. If you are still, but you think about what that jerk on the bus said to you today, try again. Each time you try, take at least a one day break in between your tries. You will learn concentration and discipline, both very important for meditation. Don’t rush it, this isn’t a contest!

When you are comfortable with spending 10 quiet, still, minutes thinking about things that are white, try 10 minutes thinking about things that are natural, like animals, grass, trees, sky, and so on. Anything in the natural world, made naturally and not altered by human hands. Remember to keep still, and keep quiet. Don’t say the things out loud, just think them in your head.

If your mind wanders, just pull it back. So if you are thinking about animals, and you think about your cat, and your cat’s fur, and your cat’s meow, and the neighbourhood dog that chases your cat, that is fine. If you then think about the neighbourhood dog that barks, and your stupid neighbour who lets the dog bark at night and it wakes you up and then you get a bad sleep and you have an important meeting tomorrow and… now you have let your mind wander. Immediately think of another natural thing, and refocus yourself.

Then, practice and practice and practice until thinking about natural things is really really easy, and being still is really really easy. Think about different things each time – maybe think about animals one time, and then flowers the next time.

I recommend thinking about natural things because it is a great way to connect to the Goddess. So that when you want to meditate on the goddess Diana, for example, you can concentrate on things that are important to Her: trees, a cool stream, a deer, a dog and so on, without getting off track.

Give it a try, it will take some time to get good, but it will be worth every minute you spend trying. It will let you connect better with the Goddess, and that will increase the power of your spells and magick.

 

Author Unknown
Article Transferred Over from Old Yuku Site
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A Look At Today’s Totem/Power Animal, The Cat

A Look At Today’s Totem/Power Animal, The Cat

Perhaps no animal inspires such devotion and dedication-or such animosity and abhorrence-as the cat.

To the ancient Egyptians, the cat was accorded a place of reverence in both the home and the temple. A cemetery containing the mummies of thousands of black cats was unearthed in Egypt.

The popular folk belief that the cat possesses nine lives goes back to Egyptian worship of Bast, the Cat-Mother goddess, who had nine incarnations, including that of the benevolent aspect of Hathor, the Lioness. The Egyptian word for cat was Mau, which is at once an imitation of the cat’s call and the nearly universal human cry for Mama, mother. Cats came to be worshipped with such intensity in those ancient cities along the Nile that the wanton killing of a cat was punishable by death.

Bubastis, a city in Lower Egypt, dedicated itself to the worship of the cat. Each May some 700,000 pilgrims journeyed to the city to participate in a cat festival.

Because the old Egyptians has a great fear of the dark, they observed with awe that the cat, a nocturnal creature, walked the shadowed streets with the greatest of confidence. The ancient Egyptian sages made so much of the cat’s midnight forays they declared that the cat alone was responsible for preventing the world from falling into eternal darkness.

On the other hand, in the old European tradition, the cat was accused of plotting to bring the world into the dark clutches of Satan. The cat, especially a black one, was regarded as the favorite familiar of the practitioners of dark and evil witchcraft. The Grand Inquisitors condemned nearly as many cats to the stake as witches. It is because of this baseless, old ecclesiastical judgement that the sighting of a black cat is said to be and omen of fast-approaching misfortune.

Whether people in the Middle Ages truly believed that the unawavering stare of a cat could cause demonic torments and even their deaths, an unreasoning fearful response to cats is known today as ailurphobia. The very sight of a cat would set Adolf Hitler trembling. Napoleon Bonaparte conquered nearly all of Europe, but if he should sight a cat in his palace, he shouted for help. Henry III of England would faint at the very appearance of a cat.

In ancient India, the cat was held sacred. A number of Sanskrit texts make many favorable references to the influence of the cat on humankind.

In Scandinavian countries, brides used to try their best to be married on Friday, the day of the goddess Freya. If a young woman married on a sunny Friday, it was certain that Freya, the cat-goddess of the Nodic people, would bless the union.

The domestic cat was, of course, unknown to the Native Americans until the advent of the European settler. Because of the creature’s fondness for roaming at night, the Pueblos associated the cat with witchcraft, though this may also have been a result of the Spanish influence on their community.

It the cat is your totem animal, you have a spirit helper who is resourceful, strong, and fearless. You will experience a sense of confidence and a new feeling of courage will suffuse your being. You will find that you are no longer intimidated by any opposition that may be arrayed against you.

With the cat as your totem animal, you will be encouraged to express an agility in body and mind. You will be challanged to explore new vistas. Quite likely you were already a night person before you acquired the cat as your spirit helper, but if not, you will gain a new appreciation for the creative energy that can arrive after midnight.

Your spirit journeys will enable you to maintain a careful balance so that your emphasis on an independent lifestyle and quest for mystical truths do not cause you to develop a taste for the bizarre and occult, which can tempt you to detour from the true spiritual goal of you lifepath.

Dreams

Someone could be seeking your downfall or humiliation in the workplace. Ask the Great Mystery for increased awareness.

Totems

The Transformative Power Of Your Personal Animal Totem

Brad Steiger

ISBN 0-06-251425-3

 

Celebrating Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Festival of Epona

December 18th

Festival of Epona, Mesa de Gallo

This was another of the festivals dedicated to the Celtic horse Goddess, Epona. Her worship was most popular in eastern Gaul and on the German frontier. So popular was Epona that she was honored with festivals in Rome, which was unique for a Gaulish deity. Epona was sometimes associated with the Celtic Mother Goddesses, and in Germany she was portrayed as a triple Mother Goddess.

An annual festival in the Philippines, Mesa de Gallo begins at sunrise when the people take to the streets with every imaginable noisemaker in existence. The parades of people clanking, banging, and hooting are believed to frighten away the evil spirits that may linger and thus affect future crops and harvest

Magickal Activity for this day:

Change Your Luck Spell

Items needed:  One black-cat candle; patchouli oil; a mirror.

Anoint the black-cat candle with the oil. As you do this, visualize your luck changing and good things coming to you. Place the cat candle on the mirror (reflective side up). Light the candle and chant:

“Black cat power,
From this hour,
Reflect the light,
Make things right.”
 

Leave the candle to burn for one hour. Repeat this spell every night, at the same time, until the candle has been consumed. Discard any wax left and put the mirror away.

A Little Humor for Your Day – The Truth About Cats

The Truth About Cats

  • There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast.
  • Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this.
  • Cats are smarter than dogs. You can’t get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.
  • In a cat’s eye, all things belong to cats.
  • As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat.
  • “One cat just leads to another.” — Ernest Hemingway
  • Dogs come when they’re called; cats take a message and get back to you later.
  • Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia.
  • People who hate cats, will come back as mice in their next life.
  • Cats aren’t clean, they’re covered with cat spit.
  • A dog will jump on your lap because he likes you; a cat will jump on your lap because it’s warmer than the floor.

Turok’s Cabana

Feline Communication Spell

Feline Communication Spell

Spell is designed to help you better understand and communicate with your familiar.

You will need the following items for this spell:

  • Cat
  • Voice
  • Patience
  • Faith

First get your cat to sit in front of you, completely still. Next tap it three times between the ears to make extra sure the spell works. Then chant:

”Tail of Rat, Wing of Bat, Allow this Cat to Chit Chat.”

You might need to repeat this a couple of times if your cat does not remain completely still.

Is Your Cat a Bully?

Is Your Cat a Bully?

 

America’s schools are all abuzz with bully abatement, but did you know  that cats can be bullies too?  Here are the red flag warnings that your  sweet little kitty is really a big bully to the other cats in your household or  neighborhood.

1. Staring

2. Pouncing on another cat while that cat is sleeping or resting

3. Blocking thoroughfares such as in the middle of a hallway or in front of  the cat flap to deny exit or entry

4. Attacking, growling and hissing at another cat without apparent  provocation

5. Blocking access to indoor litter  box

6. Forcing another cat away from food bowl

7. Claiming resting areas and/or access to human by physically pushing other  cat away

Cats are territorial by nature and in territories where there is more than  one cat (indoors and out) a hierarchy is likely to develop. The biggest cat  often, but not always, will dominate the top rung of the ladder. If you do  observe the above listed behaviors in one or more of your cats, and it lasts for  more than a couple of weeks, then you likely need to intervene.

The first step is to assess whether your dominate cat (the one being the  bully) is getting the respect he/she deserves.  This situation happened in  our household. Sushi, our Maine Coon, who weighs about 24 pounds is the  undisputed top cat in the household. However, he is not the family favorite as  he doesn’t like to cuddle and he is quick to use his claws. The family favorite  is Mittens, our skinny little polydactyl cat that has an amazing personality,  loves to cuddle, and is light enough for the children to pick-up (which he  completely tolerates). Riki Tiki Tabby is also well-loved, but since he doesn’t  like to sit on laps or be held, he takes second place to Mittens. The result is  everyone in our household greets Mittens first, plays with him first, rubs his  belly first and gives him lots of treats. It got to the point where Sushi was  almost being ignored.  I guess Sushi said to himself, enough is enough,  because suddenly one day, he started  attacking Mittens quite aggressively.  I was actually shocked as it seemed to come out of nowhere.

This went on for a few weeks and it was causing our household significant  strife. Mittens was a nervous wreck and developed chin acne ( a sure sign of  stress). My husband was finally astute enough to suggest  that maybe Sushi  was jealous and that he (Sushi) felt he was not getting the respect he deserved  as top cat. So, we started greeting Sushi first when we came home, giving him  lots of chin rubs, and making sure he was the first to get a treat, the first to  get brushed and the first to be fed. Like magic, Sushi suddenly stopped  bothering Mittens!

Other issues that can stimulate bullying behavior in cats include having too  many cats in too small of a territory and/or having too few resources. Most cat  experts will say that you should have at least one bowl of food, one bowl of  water and one litter box for each cat. Some vets suggest even having one extra,  especially in the case of litter boxes. Cats that have not been spayed/neutered or  were fixed later in life, tend to be more naturally aggressive and  territorial.

 

 

5 Crazy Cat Anatomy Facts

5 Crazy Cat Anatomy Facts

  • a Care2 favorite by Samantha, selected from  Animal Planet

 

Curiosity about cats has followed humankind since the days before  Egyptian pharaohs treasured them  as signs of good fortune. Much more is  known today about what makes these  graceful critters tick, yet we’re  still mesmerized by a cat’s nighttime eyes  and find comfort in the  mysterious vibration of a gentle purr. Taken  individually, the bits and  pieces of cat anatomy and behavior are a crazy quilt  of Morse code, text  messaging and DIY survival tips. Together, they’re a medley  of fun  facts that add up to a fur-covered package of intrigue. Let’s look at   five unusual cat anatomy facts.

5. Eyes That Glow in the Dark

Green, gold, blue or yellow, cats’ eyes are  fascinating orbs that gleam in  darkness. Think of the famous Cheshire  cat, whose eyes and grin taunted  Alice in  Wonderland. Use a flashlight  beam to observe your cat in a darkened  room. That spooky shine is  visible even in dim light.

Cats’ eyes have pupils that are larger than humans’, and are  controlled by a  pair of shutter-like ciliary muscles, creating the cat’s  distinctive slit-like  pupil in bright light. In darkness, light hitting  feline eyes is reflected from  a mirror-like membrane behind the retina.  This structure is called the tapetum  lucidum, and is present in the  eyes of cats, dogs, some fish and birds, and  other nocturnal hunting  animals.

When light enters a cat’s eyes, it goes through the retina, where   light-sensor cells, called rods and cones, absorb it. Any unabsorbed  light  reaches the tapetum lucidum and bounces back to the retina,  enabling it to take  in more light.  Animals with the tapetum lucidum have greater night vision  because it  lets them absorb more light. This is a great help when looking for  prey  at night. Cats need only about one-sixth of the light humans need to   function in the dark.

4. The Rough Side of the Tongue

If you’ve received a loving lick from your cat,  you know that sweet pink  tongue feels like rough-grade sandpaper or  Velcro caressing your skin. And a  jungle cat’s tongue is even harsher.  All feline tongues, from tabby house pets  to 600-pound (272 kilogram)  Bengal tigers, are covered with tiny barbs or  hooks, giving the tongue a  rough texture. These microscopic projections face  toward the cat’s  throat, and are the tools that help to groom his coat. The  barbs work  like a comb, catching and cleaning the cat’s fur. In the wild, these  rasps tear the flesh off the bones of the big cat’s prey.

Cats’ tongues may be the busiest part of their anatomy. They lick  their  coats not only to  keep clean, but to regulate their body  temperatures, fluffing up the fur in  winter and wetting it down with  saliva to stay cool in summer.

As cats’ tongues work, they collect flakes of skin, loose fur, fleas  and  dirt. Cats swallow this debris — which is usually dissolved by  stomach acid. Some cats, especially  long-haired or older ones, may  ingest too much hair to dissolve, and upchuck  hairballs. Giving your cat  hairball ointment will help him digest the hair he or she  swallows.

3. Tale of the Tail

A cat’s tail, which contains almost 10 percent  of his bones, acts as a  counterweight in helping him keep his balance  while walking along a narrow  space or making sudden turns. But besides  working as a rudder, a cat’s tail  communicates his mood and messages.  Decoding tail talk is one of the easiest  ways to read feline body  language.

A relaxed cat’s tail moves gently, occasionally, side to side,  signaling  that he’s up for a little attention. With his tail held high  and straight, a  cat says he’s in charge and happy. If the tip quivers  slightly, the cat is  irritated.  A quick lashing motion, sometimes  accompanied by flattened ears, is  a sign that your cat wants to be left  alone, and may attack if you continue petting him. When  a cat is at play  or watching birds out a window, his crouched posture, with the  tail  flicking back and forth, mimics the behavior of a big cat stalking its   prey.  If a cat’s tail is straight up and bristled, he’s alert and ready  to  attack. A fluffed out, lowered tail signals fear. And a tail lightly  brushing  or wrapping around your legs spells affection and approval.

2. Purr-fection

The thrumming, rumbling sound coming from a cat  as she inhales and exhales  is one of life’s great delights — and  mysteries. Theories about purring are as  varied as the markings on a  calico. Domestic cats purr when they’re content,  often when we’re  stroking their chins or heads, or opening a can of food.  Mother cats  purr so their helpless newborn kittens can find them (and the  source of  dinner), and often purr while nursing. But cats also purr in times of  stress — when  they’re recovering from an injury, or at the vet’s  office. Some cats purr so loudly during a checkup, the vet can’t clearly  hear  the cat’s heartbeat through his stethoscope.

Scientists say that a cat’s purr results from intermittent signaling  by the  diaphragmatic (diaphragm) and laryngeal (larynx or voice box)  muscles, at a  frequency of 25 to 150 Hertz (a Hertz being one cycle per  second).  Research  suggests that sound frequency of this range can promote healing and bone growth. There’s no definitive  answer yet, and the power of the  purr is still a puzzle. Clinically, we may  know how cats purr, but why?  They may purr simply because…they can.

1. Whisker Communication

A cat’s whiskers are like a radar guidance  system, with a bundle of nerve  endings telegraphing details about  everything the cat touches, as well as  shifts in air pressure. His  whiskers are the same width as his body, letting  him know whether he’ll  be able to get through a narrow opening or fit behind  the TV set.

But whiskers are also navigators. These bristly hairs, found above  his  eyelids, around his muzzle and on the lower, inside part of his  forelegs, help  cats move smoothly in darkness. Sensitive to changes in  the air current around an unknown object,  whiskers enable the cat to  avoid the obstacle.

A hunting cat uses its whiskers to zero in on the outline of its  prey,  letting it know where to strike.  Damaged whiskers hamper its aim.  A cat’s  facial whiskers are also mood indicators. Stiff,  forward-pointing whiskers mean  the cat is aggressive.  An angry cat’s  whiskers are tightly pulled back against  its face. And a contented cat’s  whiskers are picture-perfect, forward, with a  slightly downward angle.

Good Wednesday Morning dear friends! Look what the cat drug in

babyvultures

 

This is the baby vultures that Lady A and company went after yesterday. There are 4 of the little birdies but two of them are camera shy. When they are this age, their fuzzy makes them cute. Till you look at their face and you think you poor little creature, lol. No telling what they think we look like.  Lady A said they run like the devil, hopping and trying to fly. Then you catch one and they want to peck you to death. But the report is good, no humans injured, no birds injured, so no harm, no foul. I tell rotten jokes I know.

Have a blessed day,

Annie

A Giggle for Your Day – How To Give Your Cat A Pill

HOW TO GIVE YOUR CAT A PILL

* Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook  of your left arm as if holding a baby.  Position right forefinger and thumb on  either side of cat’s mouth and gently  apply pressure to cheeks while holding  pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth,  pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close  mouth and swallow.
* Retrieve pill from floor and cat from  behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and  repeat process.
* Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw  soggy pill away.
* Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle  cat in left arm holding rear paws  tightly with left hand. Force jaws open  and push pill to back of mouth with  right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a  count of 10.
* Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and  cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse  from garden.
* Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly  between knees, holding front and rear  paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat.  Get spouse to hold cat’s head firmly  with one hand while forcing wooden ruler  into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub  cat’s throat vigorously.
* Retrieve cat from curtain rail. Get  another pill from foil wrap. Make note  to buy new ruler and repair curtains.  Carefully sweep shattered figurines from  hearth and set to one side for gluing  later.
* Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse  to lie on cat with its head just visible  from below spouse’s armpit. Put pill in  drinking straw, force cat’s mouth open  with pencil and blow down drinking  straw.
* Check label to make sure pill not  harmful to humans, drink glass of water  to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to  spouse’s forearm and remove blood from  carpet with cold water and soap.
* Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get  another pill. Place cat in cupboard and  close door onto neck to leave head  showing.  Force mouth open with dessert spoon.  Flick pill down throat with elastic  band.
* Fetch screwdriver from garage and put  door back on hinges. Apply cold compress  to cheek and check records for date of  last tetanus shot. Throw T-shirt away  and fetch new one from bedroom.
* Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from  tree across the road. Apologize to  neighbor who crashed into fence while  swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill  from foil wrap.
* Tie cat’s front paws to rear paws with  garden twine and bind tightly to leg of  dining table. Find heavy duty pruning  gloves from shed. Force cat’s mouth open  with small spanner. Push pill into mouth  followed by large piece of fillet steak.  Hold head vertically and pour 1/2 pint  of water down throat to wash pill  down.
* Get spouse to drive you to emergency  room; sit quietly while doctor stitches  fingers and forearm and removes pill  remnants from right eye. Stop by  furniture shop on way home to order new  table.
* Arrange for vet to make a house call 

A Little Humor for Your Day – Cat To English Dictionary

Cat To English Dictionary
Cat Phrase — Meaning
** miaow — Feed me.
** meeow — Pet me.
** mrooww — I love you.
** miioo-oo-oo — I am in love and must meet my betrothed outside beneath the  hedge. Don’t wait up.
** mrow — I feel like making noise.
** rrrow-mawww — Please, the time is come to tidy the cat box.
** rrrow-miawww — I have remedied the cat box untidiness by shoveling the  contents as far out of the box as was practical.
** miaowmiaow — Play with me.
** miaowmioaw — Have you noticed the shortage of available cat toys in this  room?
** mioawmioaw — Since I can find nothing better to play with, I shall see what  happens when I sharpen my claws on this handy piece of furniture.
** raowwwww — I think I shall now spend time licking the most private parts of  my anatomy.
** mrowwwww — I am now recalling, with sorrow, that some of my private parts  did not return with me from that visit to the vet.
** roww-maww-roww — I am so glad to see that you have returned home with both  arms full of groceries. I will now rub myself against your legs and attempt to  trip you as you walk towards the kitchen.
** mmeww — I believe I have heard a burglar. If you would like to go and beat  him senseless, I shall be happy to keep your spot in the bed warm.
** gakk-ak-ak — My digestive passages seem to have formed a hairball. Wherever  could this have come from? I shall leave it here upon the carpeting.
** mow — Snuggling is a good idea.
** moww — Shedding is pretty good, too.
** mowww! — I was enjoying snuggling and shedding in the warm clean laundry  until you removed me so unkindly.
** miaow! miaow! — I have discovered that, although one may be able to wedge  his body through the gap behind the stove and into that little drawer filled  with pots and pans, the reverse path is slightly more difficult to navigate.
** mraakk! — Oh, small bird! Please come over here.
** ssssroww! — I believe that I have found a woodchuck. I shall now act  terribly brave.
** mmmmmmm — If I sit in the sunshine for another week or so, I think I shall  be satisfied.

New Year’s Resolutions for Cats

New Year’s Resolutions for Cats

 

If you think New Year’s resolutions are for people only, think again. My  three cats, Rikki Tikki Tabby, Mr. Mittens, and Sushi have been thinking good  and hard about how they can be better, happier cats. Here are their individual  lists:

 

Rikki Tikki Tabby

1. Take more naps.

2. Stop chasing birds.

3. Take more naps.

4. Be nice to mice.

5. Spend more quality time with Mr. Mittens — especially in the form of  naps.

 

Mr. Mittens

1. Ease off the catnip.

2. Drink less cream.

3. Refrain from walking across my human’s keyboard while she is blogging.

4. Stop shredding the newspaper before 8 am.

5. Make a viral video of me and Rikki doing something fiendishly feline.

 

 

Sushi

1. No scratching my human’s favorite leather chair.

2. No scratching the humans, especially the little noisy ones.

3. Leave the goldfish in his bowl.

4. Amass a huge following on Facebook.

5. No hair balls on expensive Persian rugs.

 

So you see, the cats indeed take the coming of the new year very seriously —  that is in between their cat naps, catnip and bowls of cream!