Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year!

I've been playing catch-up all week!

I filled in as receptionist at the church this week, bored out of my gourd! And, the computer I had available didn't have the stuff I needed to work the website, and it took off again this week. Some folks decided to send an article I wrote through the email, and everyone who gets the email is checking out the site. This is great news! However, I get a proportionally larger number of emails because of that. I've been playing catch-up all week! I get to where there are only a couple left from early that morning and all the stuff from the day before is done - then a few hours later, there are more messages in the inbox than before I started... To top it off, the email box is getting full. I'll have to do some file-clearing as soon as I have a moment...

The newsletter is ready, and there will NOT be a specials page this month. All the specials are included in the newsletter. The SEs are picking up the specials pages and while it might be good for sales, it's not what I wanted to happen. Anyway, the newsletter will be in your email Tuesday morning.

Happy New Year!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Bugsy Finally Got Her Stitches Out!

Missy Bugs finally got her stitches out yesterday. Because I only worked a half-day for the holiday, I got to go with. She didn't care for someone touching her tummy that wasn't me, but she did very well.

She's filling out nicely, and is very cuddly. Unfortunately, when I got out of bed this morning, her face was in the way of my foot (still on the bed), but I've apologized to her and all is well. She definitely got a good tap on the nose, though.

I found some cool toys at K-Mart last night when I got more cat litter. They are called "Crazy Spinners" by Petmate. These come 4-to a pack and cost $1.99 USD. I put out 2, and the cats love them. The cats weren't sure what to do with the toys, and put a paw to them. The toys spin and can scoot across the room. The cats love it!

With so many cats, giving them each enough play is difficult - one or 2 hang back to watch the others all the time. I don't think Princess has had any play with me for months! She gets lots of cuddles, but she needs some play, too. They do play tag a lot, though, and she joins in on that.

Well, that's the news for today. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas if I don't post again till after that.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Christmas Busy-ness

I've been so busy lately, that it's been almost impossible to keep up to date with anything at all!

Poor Missy Bugs STILL has her stitches in - I just can't get her to the vet to get them out. It's been almost 3 weeks since she was spayed. She's lovey, cuddly and very affectionate! However, those stitches really need to come out. Her skin is beginning to grow around them. If I had the right kind of scissors (round tips so I won't poke her), I'd remove them myself.

Beasley is very sweet, but obviously depressed. He needs mommy time and he isn't getting it. He's always having to compete with Queenie and Bugs. If he gets on my lap, Bugs will make herself comfortable in another part of my lap! I've never seen anything like it...

Meanwhile, Pretty Girl is just loving being picked up and hugged. Princess is very affectionate, too. I've been giving Princess cuddles when I come in at night and she's "hiding" behind the curtains. I move the curtains and give her snuggles and scratches. She loves it. She purrs that rumbly purr of hers and acts out her love by leaning into my hands. Pretty Girl is snuggling on my hands and biting again. These are love bites, but because of her history of biting, I have to push in and give her the gag reflex. Otherwise, she is really snuggly. She comes to me in bed and tickles my nose with her whiskers.

On a positive note, I only have one more social function till Christmas, and that's on the 23rd. It's optional, but will be good for me. I hate going out at night, but I guess sometimes it's just best for me to do that.

Well, at least I've posted a message to you. Have a wonderful Christmas, and remember the reason for the season...

Monday, December 11, 2006

Finally Approved!

My article was finally approved!

You can read it or copy it into your ezine.



Sunday, December 10, 2006

Review of "Stuff"

I LOVE the Ecos-Pet Laundry Detergent! It is so concentrated that a little goes a long way. It cleaned up my knitting bag in no time and I'm using the bag again. I'm so pleased!

The Microbe-Clean does what it says! I heartily recommend it to everyone! It actually removes all the odor with no pre-cleaning on most surfaces. Amazing!

I'm not as pleased by the Vet-Kem Breakaway Collars. They seem to be for repelling fleas instead of killing them during an infestation. All the cats are wearing the collars, and I can run a fingernail under the collar and catch a flea. Not what I want in a collar, but maybe they will work better after using the Advantage Drops. We know those work in the case of an infestation.

The Siphotrol Premise Spray, as I've said before, is truly effective. I haven't tried the All-on-One Flea powder with diatomaceous earth yet, so when I do, I'll post a review.

Calling all Knoxvillians!

If you live in or around Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, I need your input! Please click on the title above and fill in the questionairre.

Thanks!

Article Finally Up!

The Peppermint Article is finally up! I had to go to another submission service because it had been over a week and still not reviewed. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the article. It's a little longer than the page on the same topic on my website. I needed to add a few words to qualify the article. So, if you just want the info, go to the page, but if you want to see the article, click on the link above.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Got My Stuff

I got my stuff in! I got a gallon of Microbe-Clean, a 20-ounce bottle of Ecos-Pet Laundry detergent and my ONP All Natural Flea Control. The deodorizer, Microbe-Clean, is for my landlady, and the rest is for me. I'll be using the flea control powder all over the building, but also on the cats. I can use it every place that fleas go! Totally non-toxic.

I need the Ecos-Pet because Missy Bugs got one of my knitting bags when she was telling me they needed another litter box. I don't want to toss it because a dear friend made it for me, and I like it.

I will be using some of the Microbe-Clean on my briefcase, so I can keep that. Just spray on and let it dry. I'll be spraying down my whole apartment, really. I need to make the place smell fresh for the holidays, and Microbe-Clean gets rid of ALL odors, not just pet odors. I won't need more than a cup or so, and I'll get more next week.

Meanwhile, my doctor changed some of my medicine, and I've been really dragging ever since. I know that when you mess with the heart, this can happen, but it's really messing with me on a lot of levels. I don't have the energy I used to have. Any exertion at all and I'm totally wiped out. I hope I get used to the medicine pretty soon, or I'll have to do something else. It's been about 4 days so far, and everything is getting away from me again.

Well, more next time. I've submitted an article, but I'll wait till it's up to tell you how to find it.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Bugs was Spayed

Well, Bugs got spayed & she's just as lovey as ever. My girlfriend took her in Tuesday evening and I got her back last night.

It's funny, I really missed her & was worried about her. The other cats, meanwhile, were really angry that she was gone. I think they thought I'd given her away. I kept telling them that she would be back & hoped it was true. I was really worried - Oh, I said that already, didn't I? The cats were so angry with me, that they hardly cuddled at all.

So, when I got home from work last night & the carrier was in the living room, I called to her. Even before I greeted Beasley! I said "Missy Bugs is Back!" and the cats all knew I was happy about that. They were much happier, too. They cuddled freely last night.

I guess we are a family and that I might as well resign myself to living with 5 cats.

Meanwhile, plans are moving forward to open a pet store in downtown Knoxville. I'm doing the market research right now, and it looks promising. Next comes the estimate of operating expenses and overhead for startup through 18 months. If it's feasible, I'll give the project the green light and find a location that meets my needs. I have 2 neighborhoods in mind, and those are the expenses for overhead that I'm considering.

Taking the online world into the brick and mortar world! What a concept! Don't most people do it the other way around? Well, the website needs to do better before anything can happen, anyway.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Vacation and Petsitters

I went out of town for the holiday and came home to some unexpected things. My petsitter had fed the cats wet food as well as dry - meaning I need to go to the store, and filled up my trash can with empty cans. I'm kind of fastidious about the kitchen when I go away - I like to come home to a clean kitchen and empty trash can. My cats were happy, though!

Of course, they are all very cuddly and telling me how much they missed me. Beasley has been on my lap almost non-stop since I got back.

Well, a full day ahead at work. Gotta go!

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Thanksgiving is Over

Well, Thanksgiving is over & I'm back home. It was strange. I didn't feel as welcomed as usual, but there were a lot of people there, and that might be part of it. The other part was my transportation stuff. Oh, well, another year, another turkey-day done and gone. Getting ready for the holiday hustle and bustle. I have a bunch of goodies to put out in a newsletter issue in the next few hours. I'll be pretty busy.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Computer Troubles

Wow! I had a really nasty virus on the computer! It kept telling me my hard drive was full, and the poor thing was working really hard. I couldn't run a virus check or any diagnostics. I deleted a bunch of stuff that should have freed up a lot of space, and it still read 100% full. So, I formatted the hard drive!

I've spent the greater part of 3 days doing this. It's really hard to find time, especially when I work, too. I haven't been able to do anything on the website. Thank goodness I'd just posted 2 new pages before this.

I've lost all my cookies and other data. I don't know most of my user names or passwords for places I go on the internet. My browser kept all that information for me and automatically signed me in whenever I went to any of my usual sites. This is going to be a real experience! I can recover, but it's time consuming. Of course, I did a backup as soon as I had the computer working again.

Well, I need to go to bed. I'll be gone for a couple of days for Thanksgiving, but I really wanted to check in.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

2 New Pages up!

Ipve put up 2 new pages. One was inspired by my email, and has to do with getting some peppermint extract to help with your cat. The other one is about my technique for talking to your cat. I hope you like the new content! I haven't put any photos on the pages yet, but they will come.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Cars, computers and cat urine smells

Well! Lots going on. The car is down, stopped yesterday morning. It seems that the fuel can't get to the engine. It has almost a full tank. I can't even get it to the mechanic right now. I talked it over with a friend & I'll get it fixed enough to run & trade it in. The poor thing is a 1981 Volvo station wagon. It just turned 200K miles, and needs a lot of work. I could fix it up, but the cost would be the same as a new car. Might as well just get a new car, right? At least I'll have something to drive. The insurance would be more, but if the new car needed repairs, I could get a rental while it's in the shop on the insurance. I totalled this car just after I got it. It was insured but not yet registered, so the car has seen better days. The only damage was some plastic around a headlight - but the age of the car was against it. So, I'll go ahead and get a new car.

The computer was making a lot of noise in the fan, so I took it apart and cleaned it. It's quieter now, and I'm not so afraid it won't work - but I called a fellow to come help me with it. I'm putting in a CD-R/W so I can take some stuff off the hard drive - it's getting pretty full, adding RAM and another hard drive. I just need more space for the pictures and website files. I hadn't planned on building a website when I got the computer, so it's at near capacity. So, instead of getting a new computer, I'm going to spend a little bit on this one to upgrade a bit. And the thing seems so slow and overburdened. My choices were to upgrade or get new - in this case, I'll upgrade for now.

My cats are fine, but there are 2 vacant apartments in the building. My landlady came by today to check things out & asked me to get something for the cat urine odor in the back hall & one of the vacant apartments. Now, that was a Godsend! I need the stuff myself because of some things that got marked before I added the 4th litter box, and I've been dealing with it - but not too effectively. I got inundated with fleas first, you remember. We have to wait another week to get the drops, but now I can get the Microbe-Clean on her dime. Not a bad trade off, all in all.

I guess there's a plan in all this, but it just seems overwhelming right now. I've been feeling kind of disconnected this past week. I've barely been able to function, and I'm not sure why. I've been sleeping and eating well, and work hasn't been that draining, but I've just been unable to cope. In my old life, I would have blamed it on Mercury retrograde, and maybe that's it. It just feels like everything has piled up on my at once.

At least my house is kind of clean! When the computer guy comes over tomorrow, I won't be totally embarassed by the place. Just by the smell of the urine that I've still got around here. It's my briefcase, OK? I just can't bring myself to get rid of it, but I really need to. All the rest is gone, but I just can't get rid of that because I need a briefcase. I guess I'll jave to take the stuff out of it that I can keep and toss the unit, use one of my totebags instead. Not as professional, but neither is a smelly briefcase! And, by tossing it, I won't have that smell in the house anymore.

So, yes, I deal with this stuff, too!!!! I'm not some guru who sits on the top of a mountain and tells you what to do. I live it. Cats are my life, even when I (sometimes) hate them. Beasley and Princess are fine, lets not get into "rescuing" cats, OK? I just can't take 5 cats & yet, I have that many right now. I sure hope that one or more of my visitors gets a home. I'm almost resigned to having 5 cats!

Well, all for now. Best to you and "Purr" to your furpeople.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Total Flea Wars-Being busy

I've been so busy, I haven't even been able to do the email for the website in a timely manner! It's been really crazy. I'm hearing noises from the computer, too. I'm afraid it will quit working pretty soon.

The collars I got, "Breakaway" from Vet-Kem, don't seem to be killing the fleas as well as I'd like. I got the Siphotrol & that works well. The Ovitrol is for use on the cats, but it also doesn't work as well as I'd like. I'm having to comb the cats to remove the fleas. Since I can't get a comb on many of them, this isn't working.

I'm going back to the flea drops. I'll be using Advantage. I have 3 cats over 9# and 2 cats under 9#, so that's the split I'll be getting.

I had hoped to get the odor control stuff instead, and finances being what they are, I can only do one thing at a time. BUT, fleas are something I can't put off.

I received an email asking me to speak in New York about Cat Whispering. We'll see where it goes, but I'm certainly flattered.

Well, at least I've caught you up... Gotta run!

Saturday, October 28, 2006

connection reset

Sorry about that, the connection reset during publishing, so the entry got published twice.

Connection reset

Sorry about that, the connection reset during publishing, so the post got done twice. No link to the title above, either.

Wow! It's been a while- flea treatments

I got the flea collars and Ovitrol from Entirely Pets on Tuesday or Wednesday. I put the collars on the cats. They are supposed to last 8 months! Boy, that was a nice surprise! I also sprayed the building as much as I could.

The fleas are now biting ME! So, I've been dealing with flea bites and getting rid of them as best I can. I comb the cats as much as they will allow it. The alcohol on the comb really works, and I can get the fleas dead before they jump off and go someplace to hide and bite me again later. It's the ones that get away that end up biting me.

Princess has been very skittish - not surprising considering the flea treatments going on around here, but she's slowly warming up again. She spent some time snuggling this morning.

Everybody else is doing well. Even missy Bugs is doing well! She slept on the bed last night and didn't squirm around at all - now it's Queenie doing the squirm dance. The black cohosh is still working.

Bugs has come up with a new behavior - when you flush the toilet she comes running to see if the lid was left up and she can get water without the tea in it. I tell her that the chlorine isn't good for her and to drink the water in her bowl. She looks very disappointed, but does what she's told. It's cute, but I've been so tired at night after work that it feels annoying.

Work is very difficult during the last 10 days of the month. And, since the holidays are coming up and I work in a church, it will only get more busy and hectic in the next 2 months.

All I can do is pray, breathe in and out and tackle the next item on my list. I'm working on the effect of stress in my life, and office work always touches that nerve.

On the bright side, the website is doing gangbusters! I'm very pleases. Google is doing their every-other-month dance and traffic is dropping (in my case holding steady) and every one is complaining about it. My site seems to be holding it's own, and the financial end is excellent with the new structure. I got the books split into several pages so that things are easier to find, and now I'm finally moving on with other product pages. I have the collars, tags and leads in process.

I started the next newsletter issue, and I have subscriber-only specials in the newsletter itself instead of on the specials page, so that's a change. I'm also publishing more often. I need to write my article on black cats and hallowe'en, but it feels like I let time get away from me and it won't ever get done.

That's it for now.

Wow! It's been a while- flea treatments

I got the flea collars and Ovitrol from Entirely Pets on Tuesday or Wednesday. I put the collars on the cats. They are supposed to last 8 months! Boy, that was a nice surprise! I also sprayed the building as much as I could.

The fleas are now biting ME! So, I've been dealing with flea bites and getting rid of them as best I can. I comb the cats as much as they will allow it. The alcohol on the comb really works, and I can get the fleas dead before they jump off and go someplace to hide and bite me again later. It's the ones that get away that end up biting me.

Princess has been very skittish - not surprising considering the flea treatments going on around here, but she's slowly warming up again. She spent some time snuggling this morning.

Everybody else is doing well. Even missy Bugs is doing well! She slept on the bed last night and didn't squirm around at all - now it's Queenie doing the squirm dance. The black cohosh is still working.

Bugs has come up with a new behavior - when you flush the toilet she comes running to see if the lid was left up and she can get water without the tea in it. I tell her that the chlorine isn't good for her and to drink the water in her bowl. She looks very disappointed, but does what she's told. It's cute, but I've been so tired at night after work that it feels annoying.

Work is very difficult during the last 10 days of the month. And, since the holidays are coming up and I work in a church, it will only get more busy and hectic in the next 2 months.

All I can do is pray, breathe in and out and tackle the next item on my list. I'm working on the effect of stress in my life, and office work always touches that nerve.

On the bright side, the website is doing gangbusters! I'm very pleases. Google is doing their every-other-month dance and traffic is dropping (in my case holding steady) and every one is complaining about it. My site seems to be holding it's own, and the financial end is excellent with the new structure. I got the books split into several pages so that things are easier to find, and now I'm finally moving on with other product pages. I have the collars, tags and leads in process.

I started the next newsletter issue, and I have subscriber-only specials in the newsletter itself instead of on the specials page, so that's a change. I'm also publishing more often. I need to write my article on black cats and hallowe'en, but it feels like I let time get away from me and it won't ever get done.

That's it for now.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

General Conditions of my cats

The cats now have 4 litter boxes, as I got another one last weekend. When I cleaned the bathroom, I removed the food and water bowls from there, so they only eat in the kitchen now.

They got fleas from my walking through the building where Muffy was running loose, but they have a much worse infestation at this point.

Bugs is doing very well. She's cuddly and loving. Queenie is now sitting in my lap when Beasley is not there, and Beasley is no longer running away from her all the time. Whe had a spat the other night, and it was Princess on Queenie.

Pretty Girl is very snuggly. She has an opportunity to go to a pet rescue event tomorrow, but I'm waiting to hear if they have a large cage to show her off in.

Beasley is allowing me to use the flea comb on him. I found an article that said using alcohol on the comb will stun the fleas, making it easier to get rid of them. I filled a little jar with alcohol and put it next to the comb so I can dip the comb and have better luck getting rid of them - instead of combing them off onto ME! So, we'll see how that works.

I rearranged the bedroom last weekend, and the cats are having fun with the new arrangement. I put the bed against a different wall and completely re-made it. The frame fell apart when I tried to move it (not unexpected) so I had to get bolts and nuts to put it back together. Then I could put new sheets and stuff on it. But I really re-made the bed. It should hold together for another 3 months, at which time I need to get or make a new frame. I won't be able to fix it again. It's made from particle board, so it falls apart easily. Without tools, it's hard to repair things made of wood!

Fleas!

I ordered the flea control measures. I got 5 breakaway collars and some Ovitrol. I'll be de-fleaing the entire building, and I have to do it twice, 10-days apart. Next week, I get the de-wormer. I'll put some in the wet food and give it straight to the others.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Muffy

I feel totally whipped by this cat! I hate to admit that, but I do.

She will only use the litter box once a day - to poop. She squatted over the tub drain and looked straight at me and let loose. I've tried everything I recommend. I wiped the inside rim with feces and urine, I changed the litter type to clumping after 3 days, I put her in the box when she wants to use the tub. The only time she'll use the box is during my shower when she can't get to the tub.

I have too many cats to allow one free run who won't use the box. The others would be drawn into the bad behavior and that's going backwards. I hate to do it, but she needs to be an outside barn cat or something where her habits won't be an issue. She can't come back.

When I placed her after the initial rescue, she had impeccable litter habits. The people I gave her to let her box get really bad and didn't deal with it. Then, there were changes in the household - the daughter showed up and left, her son went to live with his dad and finally a new boyfriend showed up. That was the end of her good behavior. She pooped in an inappropriate place and he threw her outdoors. She never had a chance! When they moved out and left her, taking her in seemed like the right thing to do.

She's so eaten up with fleas that she's miserable, and the worms have her tummy very distended. She needs serious attention. The bathroom is covered in little blood drops from the flea bites. I'll need to use bleach when I clean it.

I feel really bad about this, and I hate to admit I'm whipped, but I need to clean my bathroom from the flea dirt. It's been over a week, and she's not using the box. She goes to the humane society today. Maybe someone needs a barn cat. Let's pray for her.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Muffy's Progress

Miss Muffy is quite a challenge! She got to where she would poop in the litter box using regular clay litter and then I changed the litter type on her to the clumping stuff. She's totally off the box again.

She put up with such a bad litter box for a while where she was living, that she started going wherever she was - so they started making her an outdoor cat but intended to leave her because they couldn't take her to the new place.

Now, she won't even use the box - and I have to either remove her from the home or let her run loose Wednesday morning. That's the deal - 3 days, and I need my bathroom back. It's really bad in there!

She's still a little afraid of the box, but she's purring and wants attention. I wish she would use the box, I hate the alternative....

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Muffy's Litter Habits/Litter boxes

Well, Muffy seems to have completey forgotten how to use a litterbox!
I cleaned the box, washed it out and put new litter in it. She's still using the tub. She stopped hissing and growling, however.

I'll be getting a different litter type this weekend, so I'll let her remain in isolation and put the new litter in her box then and see what happens. The tub is easy to clean out in the meanwhile. Hey! It's better than carpet or my bed!!! Besides, until I know for sure that she's litter trained, she stays in isolation.

I'm just like any other cat owner - I hate the smell of cat urine and I don't like cats to be going where ever they feel like it.

It's hard on the others, though, because this cut them from 3 boxes to 2. I'll need to get another litter box so that I have enough for the 6 cats. With one cat dominating a litter box, it makes it very important to clean the litter boxes regularly - not a problem in my case, but just a general observation.

In any case, 2 boxes for 5 cats (the cats with free run of the house), that's not enough boxes. I try to keep at least 1 box for 2 cats, so I had 3 in use - now Muffy is dominating the 3rd box. Bugs will use the furniture if she can't get to a box whenever she needs to. That stinks! So, I need another litter box.

I don't know if this is making any sense, but it does to me.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Bugs and Queenie

Bugs is behaving in the middle of the night. She's still miserable, but won't take any more of the herbal concoction. I've got it in the water, so she gets some whether she likes it or not. The other cats are also getting some.

Queenie needs it at this point. She's gotten so bad that poor Mr Beasley can't even come onto my lap while I knit - she comes looking for him. She's so attached to him! He can be in any part of the house and she will begin crying and looking for him. He's so unhappy, he won't even help me type anymore!

Soon, soon. The vet visit is set for November, so we just have to get through till then. Did I mention that we need more vets???? We really do!

More stuff added to Newsletter subscriber specials

I found some more deals and steals so I posted them to the newsletter specials page. If you aren't subscribed, you are missing some great deals!

Poor Little Muffy

Little Muffy is so malnourished! I had no idea...

She is so skinny that she looks skeletal. She's going to need lots of quality food and love to get better.

She's kind of funny. She hisses and growls at me while seeking cuddles and love. Her breath is bad, too.

She is tub/box trained at the moment. She won't pee in the box. I didn't have time to change the litter so the box smells like the rest of the cats and she's peeing in the tub. She uses the box for poo. I'll change out the litter and wash the box and that should help.

She's very pretty, by the way. That was one reason it was so easy to place her. Half her face is beige, the rest of it is black. Right down the middle. Her chin is tortie. She's a medium hair tortie. Her colors are pronounced. She has orange, beige and black, a little bit of tabby striping in one of the orange spots. A photo will really help. Her ears are big, indicating that she is attentive to people. She's very curious, but she always was. She needs a home where the owners will love her and take good care of her. She's been through so much!

She's about 22 months old, spayed and her shots are up to date. However, I no longer have any paperwork on her health, so she'll need to see the vet for more vaccinations and certs.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

OH NO! Another Cat!

OH NO!!! Another cat has come to live with us! Now there are 6!

Let's back up a little bit, shall we? When I took on the 3 fosters I currently have, I picked up a 4th cat, Muffy. I found her a home right away. She was "lucky" and ready to go. I placed her and now I've had to re-rescue her. The lady I placed her with is moving and intended to abandon the poor cat. So, since I couldn't get her into the humane society or any of the other shelters, I had to keep her.

She's currently in the bathroom to give everybody else a chance to get used to the idea. She hisses at me when she smells the others on me, but my pride is doing fine so far.

Mr Beasley is probably going to try to run away pretty soon - too many females!

At least this cat is spayed! As soon as I get her socialized and get a good photo, she'll get a spot on the website so that I can get her placed. Yes, she is up for adoption - like Pretty Girl, Bugs and Queenie.

I PROMISE I will NEVER foster again - EVER!!!!

Too many cats - too many cats - too many cats - too many cats - too many cats

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Newsletter Only Specials

They were late, but they got posted. If you are subscribed to the newsletter, you have the address for the specials page. I hope you like this month's selection.

I've noticed a few sales of flea items lately, and I will continue to search for these to help my visitors.

It's the first week of October, so I'm working on an article about Black Cats and Hallowe'en. Many of my articles deal with cat abuse and neglect - I've seen so much of it over the years. This one will be cautionary for those of you with black cats. I have one, Miss Queenie, and I certainly want her to be safe during this time of year.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Cat Urine Odor Is the MOST Common Problem with Cats

Cat urine odor is the biggest problem cat owners face. More cats lose their homes to urine odor than for any other reson.

I wrote a little booklet about this that you can get for FREE just by signing up for the newsletter, CatLover Magazine. However, the instructions are also on:
http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/UrineOdorControl.html
although the instructions are more generalized on the website.

Before you get rid of your cat and face the same problem with another cat because you haven't deodorized properly, please read this page. It will help a lot! Who knows, maybe your "incorrigible" cat can be redeemed, and your relationship with your cat will be stronger for it.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

We need more Veterinarians!

We need more vets!

Veterinary colleges only accept 40 students a year, so the colleges are highly competitive. If you think you want to be a doctor, try vet school first. If you can get in, go for it!

To get into vet school, you need to have excellent grades (top of your high school class, honors) and a demonstrated interest in animals. 4-H members have a good shot, but that doesn't mean you can get in. There are only so many vet colleges and only so many spot open in any year!

Petition your local university to offer veterinary degrees. Because these colleges are so exclusive, you can present it as prestigious to the university or college. To become a vet, it costs students an average $161,000 to complete their degrees. The courses are expensive to put on, and expensive to take.

Over the life of a veterinarian, the DVM will make an average of $80,000 a year or more. Out of that, they will pay their staffs, and cover the office costs.

A good vet-tech in the office can bring in other income as they can offer vaccinations without the veterinarian's actually having to be in the room. The Veterinarian is ultimately responsible for oversight of staff and treatment, but can delgate a lot of responsibility to less highly skilled staff.

A surgical nurse can be used to help with spay and neuter activities or a clinic can be put on that is subsidized by the Humane Society or rescue organizations once a month.

Please consider this career path. We really need more vets!

Herbs for Cats

Well! The Black Cohosh is amazing! I had to stop giving it to Bugs and Queenie after 3 days - they hated the process of dosing. But - it's still working for them!

Bugs is sleeping well at night and doesn't stiffen when I pick her up. She still wriggles a bit on the floor when she gets scratches, but when she's on my chair, she's snuggly and cuddly. Queenie wanted to sleep near my pillow last night, and actually purred for the first time.

So, I suggest that if you are like me, don't have enough vets in town to spay your girls or have to wait for some other reason, try this concoction. It really made a difference in my girls. My appointment is in November - we were unable to get anything earlier! We really need more vets in Knoxville, TN!!

Friday, September 29, 2006

Bonding Play

If you have more than one cat or a scaredy cat, bonding play may be the answer! Cats needs love and play to bond with you and other cats in the household.


What toys work well for bonding play?
You need a tickler wand or other interactive toy. These are widely available, but here are some you can try:




Cats Claws Cat Tail Jumbo Cat Teaser (29 inch Length Wand; Cat Tail)




Cats Claws Cat Tail Jumbo Cat Teaser (29" Length Wand; Cat Tail)







Mews Ments Feather Cat Teaser in Small (Small; 20 inch Length Rod)



Mews Ments Feather Cat Teaser in Small (Small; 20" Length Rod)






Cat Dancer Cat Charmer (16 inch Length Wand; 48 inch Length Fabric Ribbon)




Cat Dancer Cat Charmer (16" Length Wand; 48" Length Fabric Ribbon)









Pet Feather Teaser Cat Toy (30 inch Length Line; 36 inch Length Rod; Feather)




Pet Feather Teaser Cat Toy (30" Length Line; 36" Length Rod; Feather)









Cats Claws Interchangeable Cat Activity Toy System Pom Pom (29 inch Length Rod; 5 inch Length Pom Pom; Pom Pom)




Cats Claws Interchangeable Cat Activity Toy System Pom Pom (29 inch Length Rod; 5 inch Length Pom Pom; Pom Pom)








Mews Ments Multi-Color Ball with Fur Tails Cat Teaser Cat Toy (18 inch Length Rod; 2 inch Diameter Ball; Multi-Color Ball With Fur Tails)




Mews Ments Multi-Color Ball with Fur Tails Cat Teaser Cat Toy (18" Length Rod; 2" Diameter Ball; Multi-Color Ball With Fur Tails)






How is a bonding toy used?
The interactive, or bonding toys are used by you interacting with your cat. The cat isn't allowed the toy unless you offer it, so bonding is promoted. You will jiggle the toy so that the business end twitches. This will draw your cat to the toy. Allow your cat to attack the toy and capture it. Stop twitching the toy while the cat holds it, so that your cat can feel the success of it. Once your cat releases it's hold, jiggle the toy again and start over. Continue playing with your cat until your cat tires or gets bored with the toy. Give cuddles and a treat at this time. The more you play with your cat, the more your cat will bond with you. After each session, put the toy up and out of the cats reach. The cat will come to you and look at the storage location of the toy, asking for play. When this happens, you know your cat is bonded to you.

If you have more than one cat, do this for each cat. Once each cat is playing well and bonding with you, start to play with more than one cat at a time. Promote bonding between them by only playing with them until one cat drops out, then withdraw and put up the toy, give everyone a cuddle and a treat.

Continue to offer team play, but if any cat drops out, stop. It is very important to stop when a cat drops the team play. It gives the cats the opportunity to urge their play partner to keep going. You can always come back 15-30 minutes later and offer play to a different team or just one cat, but if it's team play, you need to stop when one drops out.

Treats are only used during bonding play while getting the behaviors started. Once the bonding has been achieved, treats are no longer needed, but some cats like them anyway. Follow your heart in this.

By doing the bonding play, you should see a marked difference in the behaviors of your cats. They will become more reliant on each other, and most of the scuffling between them will stop.

What about an aggressive cat?
This is an excellent training option for the aggressive cat! The aggressive cat will take out its aggressions on the toy instead of you. It will learn that you hold the toy and that the toy is unavailable unless you pull it out and offer it. This will lessen the aggressive behaviors toward you because the cat wants your attention in a positive way. It can use claws and teeth and you won't be angry with it. By withholding the toy, you may find the aggression returning, so other measures are needed, but this is a great way to start gentling your cat.

What about my scared cat?
Yes! Your scaredy cat will come out to play with you and the bonding can begin. Your cat will become less fearful and more integrated into the household. This is especailly true when there are more than one cat in the household and one hides all the time. Start by drawing your scaredy cat to the wand and promoting the bonding between you. Then, introduce the other cats, one at a time, to promote bonding between them. By introducing cats to each other using toys, pecking order scuffles are lessened, and even the most fearful cat will begin to bond with the pride in your home.

You can promote affection with your cat!
By using bonding play, your cat will bond with you, and will be more comfortable near you when not playing. You may find your cat sitting near you, sitting near your chair or even coming to your lap, by using bonding play. Your cat will ask for the toy, so it needs to learn to communicate that desire to you. Your cat will become more affectionate by learning to communicate.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Another Update on Bugs

Well! It seems to be working! 2 nights, no yeowling. She still wriggles a bit when I pet her near my feet, but she doesn't stiffen when I pick her up to cuddle her. I gave her about 1cc last night. She's not terribly cuddly, but she is quieter, and accepts cuddles & doesn't want down right away, either.

So, Black Cohosh for a cat that needs to be fixed & is in pain after a certain amount of time, seems to be a good thing.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Update on Bugs

Well, I'm trying the Black Cohosh. My friend got some 540mg capsules, and I emptied 6 into a cup of boiling water after I removed it from the heat. I let the infusion steep until cool and strained it through a coffee filter.

I rubbed a wet-finger full around her mouth three times, and she was quiet all night. She's still wriggly, and I don't know yet if it's working. I'm going to give a report in about 3 days, but I wanted to get down what I did and how I did it before I forgot.

If we can get her body responding better, she will be able to concentrate on cuddling, eating and playing with everyone else. Her life will be much fuller.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Work!

Work today is different, to say the least.

I expected to start a job at 11am today, got there & the job was cancelled. I'd turned down another assignment in the other direction because of the location, even though it was more money. Now, I have a solid 4 months in the area I wanted to work in, starting tomorrow, and it's for a church!

Talk about a "God Shot!" I applied at a church way west in the county about 6 weeks ago & didn't get the position. Now, I get to work for a different denomination and see if I really *do* want to work in a church. You know, my life is like that - AWESOME!

Life wasn't always like this, of course, as I was reminded today.

So, nights on the website, days at church, what could be better? I get to work God's Work in whatever way I turn, and this is just awesome!

Money will be tight for another month, then things should be about caught up, and I can get some new shoes. I'll be able to get the cats seen and taken care of & not have to depend on my friends and web visitors so much. I'll still depend on them, but not so much for money. That will help a lot. I hate to push, I hate to ask.

I was raised to be totally independent of the world. It's made for some interesting experiences. To be detached is healthy, to be independent can be a drag. Having to provide for all my needs, including emotional, all the time, was really draining. Now, I have friends and a life that I like. I'm detached from people, places and things, but I still become involved. I just don't care about the outcome of actions. I really do care, but I know today that I have no control over it, so it usually doesn't bother me too much. But to be independent of the world, if things don't work out right, everything can come crashing down around my ears. That's very uncomfortable. I like being detached a lot better.

Anyway, that's it for now. The kitties don't like Tuna, so I need to get to the store and get cat food.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Scoop and Smooch

When you come in, whether you've only been outside for a few minutes or all day, pick up your cat by scooping it onto it's back and hugging it close. Smooch the forehead and cheeks (some can take lip-kisses) and then gently put your cat down. After a few times of this, your cat will actually sulk if you go get the mail and don't give it some "kissy face"!

This is a great tactic for letting a senior cat know he or she is not being replaced by a new littermate.

Mr. Beasley expects this every day, even if I don't go out! He loves to get his kissy-face before his supper.

Blogging/kitty update

I'm still getting the hang of this blogging thing. I hope you don't mind if I ramble now and again.

The cats are doing pretty well. Queenie realizes she's been adopted, and is constantly coming over for cuddles. I finally got a good couple of photos of her! She glistens in certain lighting conditions, but because she is black, it's hard to get a photo of her. I still have to take the photos from my camera, reduce their size & upload them- takes about an hour each photo, so it will be a while before they are posted.

Princess came over several times last night, and at one point I thought she might actually jump into my chair! Oh! I wish she would! I can't even pick her up- getting her to the vet is a major production! She has a couple of mats I really want to cut out, but I can't get near her with the scissors. You should see putting flea drops on her!!!! What a comedy!

Pretty Girl slept with me last night.
One of Bug's favorite things to do for a while was pee all over the house. I put out another litter box, and deodorized, which seems to have fixed that problem - but one of the large throw pillows hasn't made it to the trash yet, and Pretty Girl has made it her perch. I hate to toss it, but the stink may make it go away! Meanwhile, she loves it.

Beasley and Queenie played games on my chair last night. He would be sleeping peacefully, she would come over to cuddle him & he'd get all indignant and end up leaving. She would then curl up with the most self-satisfied expression on her face! I think she did it on purpose - I really do!

Pretty Girl is now called "personality plus" and her face is just as expressive as ever. The ear mites are gone, but she still has itchy ears. I wonder if I should give her more medicine.

I already wrote about poor Bugs, but she is just as sweet as can be again today. She never holds it against me when I put her in the cage. It doesn't really shut her up, but it stops that yeowling and "calling" sound. It also keeps the sound in one place, instead of all over the house, depending on what room she's in. I gave her some calming drops last night, but they didn't work. I was hoping; but really, the black cohosh will work best for her.

That's about it for now. I've tried to update the blog titles and stuff for you. I fixed as much as I could. I think (hope) I've got this figured out - at least the technical side of it.

New Shopping Mall

Christmas is coming up! Birthdays happen year-round. For those looking to do their shopping online, I've added a page for shoppers - it doesn't tell you products, just stores, so your shopping can support cat rescue.

If you feel uncomfortable making a donation online through PayPal, this option supports the website and the cats. Please use these merchants. Many offer deals and free shipping.

You can click on the title of this post or find the link on the bottom of the featured items page. For those who don't want the bother: http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/ShoppingMall.html
click the link for the page.

Prayer Saved Bugs Again

Last night, I'd had enough of Bugs and her yeowling again. She's been at it since Thursday, at the top of her lungs. Maybe the eclipse had something to do with it. Anyway, I finally had enough. I was thinking of drowning her in the toilet or dropping her off the bridge into the river. I prayed about my thinking. I got an answer: give her some Black Cohosh Root.

Black Cohosh Root is good for women during childbirth and menses to relieve the cramps and bloating. Valerian Root is also used. Both were in my home herbal collection for many years. I used to be a fair to middling herbalist.

So, I'm going to get some and give it to her. I'll be making an infusion (tea). It will be fairly strong, probably 1 tablespoon of herb to 1 cup of boiling water. After it cools, I'll have to figure out the dosing for her, but I suspect she will need at least a tablespoon to start. With herbs, you *can* overdose, but they usually self-correct and don't cause permanent problems. I've learned this is true in other applications.

So, stay tuned because if this works as well as I suspect, this will be something I put on the website as an option for others in this situation.

Meanwhile, her vet appt is Nov 19th. Yes, that long in the future. Poor baby is just going to have to suffer until then. I guess we need more vets in Knoxville, TN.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

New Page

I put up a new page, linked to the Apparel page. Click on "new page" above to get there. This page is all tee-shirts. Also, more christmas ornaments are up on CatChristmasFestive.

Enjoy!

My Pet Care Philosophy

My philosophy for pet care is: the more natural the products, the better. The more we can assist nature without adding chemicals or manipulating the natural order of things, the better. I use play, herbal remedies and training to achieve the results we are all looking for. Often, pets are given "cheap" food in the mistaken belief that it must be OK or it wouldn't be on the shelf. Just because "Twinkies" are on the shelf, doesn't mean they are good for you! High quality food will overcome deficiencies to a degree, but sometimes supplements need to be added, tonics and herbal preparations used, to overcome malnourishment and nerve damage. Proper balance is when the pet is healthy, has a good coat, listens to it's owner, responds in the desired way, and training is easy.

Updated L&F to the Blog!

Wow! I just got a new look and feel, and it looks great! Let me know if anything needs help, or if anything is hard to read. I'll be glad to make the changes things need, but this looks a lot better than the plain white I was working with before!

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Bugs/special offer on meds

Diary of a Cat Whisperer

It's been a couple of days. Bugs has been a real good girl! I put her in the carrier for 2 nights running and then let her loose after that. No yowling! My friend will get her done this week - I hope!

Meanwhile, everybody is doing really well. Bealsey is getting enough cuddles, Queenie and Pretty Girl are coming for cuddles every night. The only one not getting cuddles is Princess. She comes around and asks for them, but she doesn't get much time at night right now.

I've been learning to knit, and bound off my sample piece last night and gave it to the cats. They lay on it and move it around the floor. Meanwhile, I started a cardigan. I'm still using the book and will try some techniques on the back with other colors and stripes. On the front, I want to do a cable on one side and spots of color on the other. I'm only in the bottom ribbing so far, and it's slow going using the smaller needles for the ribbing. I'll need a larger needle set on the plastic cable for the body of the sweater. I guess I can use the straight needles, but I'm always afraid of dropping a stitch! And there are a lot of stitches for the back, too. It's a large panel.

Anyway, not much else to report. Regular readers may be interested in this, however:
PetCare RX has given us an exclusive coupon for the month. It expires on Octover 14th, so when you order from them in the next 30 days, you want to use it. Pet Care RX already guarantees 50% savings on pet supplies, so this is a really good deal!

http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/PetCareRX

You get $25 off any order over $100, use coupon code:
SEPTAFF

My best!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Bugs and Work

Diary of a Cat Whisperer

Bugs was at it again Sunday night. I only got about 4 hours of good sleep and the rest was broken. I was SO tired yesterday! She spent the night in the carrier & I'm in a much better mood this morning.

Everybody else came for cuddles last night. Poor Beasley didn't get any because everybody else was all over me.

A friend has offered to get Bugs to the vet for me in exchange for some of my hairdressing skills. Sounds good to me! Barter is always a good thing...

The job is OK. Not very stimulating, but comfortable. The people seem to have a great working relationship, tease each other and play practical jokes on each other. There is one opening, and as long as my input is accurate, my speed may interest them in me for it. I'm not really concerned at the moment. The other person from the agency wants to go permanent, but I'm not all that sure. This is what I used to call my "dream job" because there isn't any stress, just a lot of work to be done.

However, I would rather work for myself at this point in my life. I don't like company scheduling requirements, the distance I have to travel to get there or the cost to my online life. It just isn't interesting anymore. The money is nice while it lasts, but there is no security in working for others. It's a false hope. I guess I've just changed my viewpoint too far.

Well, gotta get ready for the job, so I'll be off.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

Kitty Update

Bugs didn't have to be put in the carrier last night. She behaved herself, or I was too tired, don't know which. Anyway, I slept a good 10 hours. I sure needed it!

Pretty Girl hasn't been cuddling much lately, so I pulled her into my lap last night and gave her all she wanted. It was a good 45 minutes. I'd treated the ear mites the night before - the 7th, and she wasn't sure she wanted to be handled. However, the cuddles were just what she needed. She's a happy cat again.

Beasley, I'm sorry to say, is very unhappy. He got treated too, and he didn't like it a bit! He only got one ear treated, though, while Pretty Girl had both ears done. Queenie also had one ear done. Those were the only places I saw anything.

Princess is attacking Bugs at least twice a day right now. She's so fed up with Bugs coming up to me while Princess is getting cuddles. Princess doesn't ask often, so I always try to give her cuddles. I even flinched once when Beasley wanted on my lap because of Bugs' constant neediness. He took the hint & skedaddled, but I felt bad. He only wanted snuggles, after all.

I got Beasley up on the chair last night, too. I let him play a little bit with the teaser wand and when he was over that, I let him settle down & then pulled him to my lap. He didn't know what to think at first, but it was all good - lots of cuddles and snuggles.

Princess woke me up this morning with snuggles, so I know those 3 are doing well. Queenie is even getting snuggles and cuddles pretty well.

If Bugs would quit yowling, everybody would be happier, and she would get a lot more cuddles, too. Ah, well, once I get a couple of paychecks in, I can get her done & the household will be much happier all around.

Makeup is hiding the rings and circles around my eyes, so I don't look too bad. My eyes are so dark, I don't need any eyeshadow, just a little mascara and the coverup stick. It actually looks pretty good!

Now, what to do about my hair? I really need it cut and I found a hairdresser I'm willing to trust with it. I told her "No conditioners or any treatments - allergies and very fine hair" and I think she understood. It will be nice to have it done. I'll have to tell her again when I get the cut, but at least she understood that I don't want any conditioners. I told her no blow dry, too. Nothing! Just wash and cut.

Theres' a movement afoot to put on classes about building successful websites - of course I'm getting involved with it. Community service classes at the local Jr. College. Not bad, hunh? More on that another time. It's still in development - at least I don't have develop it!

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Pray for Bugs

I've about had it with Bugs. She keeps waking me up. I look like a raccoon! Big brown circles around my eyes, upper and lower.

At least I got a temp job! I start on Monday, and it's only scheduled for 3 weeks, but I understand they have a habit of hiring folks permanent. We'll see. If I like it and they like me, maybe I'll stay for a while.

Nothing will work, though, unless I can get Bugs to let me sleep. I've been putting her in the carrier at night, so even if she yowls, she's not in my bedroom. With the fan on, I don't hear her. Don't worry, I let her out first thing in the morning, and I make sure she has a direct line to the litter box.

I just can't handle this lack of sleep! I'm absolutely wiped all the time. I want to take her to the humane society. I can't even get her in to be fixed until mid/late october! Nobody has any openings. I'm truly about over this. I don't think I'll ever foster again. I can't take this.

Too many cats! Now, Mr. Beasley has even picked up ear mites from them. I'm totally over this.

They need homes. I can't handle it any more. I keep asking for help, but I'm at the end of my rope. Nobody will come forward and take them.

Well, enough. I'm just ranting at this point. I probably will sleep on it and give them another day. I know me too well...

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Lost Post? and TOBI

I thought I'd posted on 8/28. Oh, well. The lady who wanted my girls decided she didn't want to deal with claws, so she's not getting the girls. When you think about it, all cats have claws, so I'm glad she's not getting them. Sorry for my girls and Beasley and Princess, but glad that Pretty Girl and Bugs aren't going someplace where they can't be themselves.

Anyway, it's a new month and things are still pretty grim around here. I haven't done much but work on the website for the last 3 days. The house is a mess and I just can't deal with anything but the computer. My cats are coming over about every 2 hours to get attention, but other than that, I guess I'm just really focused. I've been getting and checking links for the products, fixing little things all over the place and putting up articles. I think I've added about 10 pages in the last 4-5 days.

At least I'm still eating on a schedule, if not much else. The weather has been sticky beyond belief and I just can't sleep.

One really good thing happened - I found the FURminator at one of my favorite suppliers, so now I can really sell it. I also found a favorable review of it in Consumer Reports for October 2006 (the newest issue) so I feel real confident that they ARE the best! I already knew it, but until what I thought was stated by somebody else that people respect, it was only me out in the wilderness telling folks. Now, with CR behind my words, I feel a lot better about selling the heck out of it!

My next eBook should be up this coming week. That one will be $7.99, and be on building a bond with your cat. I have enough material for about 6 eBooks, and I hope to get them all up in the next couple of months.

My web hosting company, SiteSell! is participating in a 10-week college course in Canada. I loved the idea, and I've contacted another webmaster using them in Knoxville TN to see if we can go in together and teach such a course here. It sounds like a lot of fun, and I've learned so much in the last few weeks working with my partner, Liza Schmitt in South Afrika, that I feel I can really give something to the participants. I hope we can get it together! What an opportunity to help others make money and find freedom!

Well, I guess that's all for now. I need to pay attention to my house and cats sometime today, and I guess now is better than later. I really love them, but I've been so busy in the last few days! Looking back at how many pages I've put up, I can see how busy I've really been!

Saturday, September 02, 2006

eBook Up!!!

WooHoo! I got my first eBook up! It's on Cat Urine Odor Solutions, and is for folks who sign up for the eZine, CatLover Magazine. I'm offering it free to them, and current subscribers will also be able to get a copy.

I have a couple of other eBook ideas, and they will be sold somewhere on the site. I don't know where, yet.

My poor Beasley is so depressed that he won't even play! I pulled the toys out last night and got him in the bedroom with me - the girls were easy to keep out, and he played for a few minutes and then wanted out. I played with the girls, too. After Mr. Beasley had his fill.

A cat I've had the pleasure of featuring before on my site is still in need of a home. Cordelia is a tortie maine coon in East TN. At least she isn't in my home with the others! So, I'll be featuring her and Pretty Girl pretty soon.

Not much else to talk about at the moment.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Possible home for Bugs and Pretty Girl

The lady who contacted me about the girls is still interested, so I hope to move them on next week. Missy Bugs kept me up for 2 nights with her catterwalling. I finally confined her last night because I was losing patience with her. That was better than yelling and getting my blood pressure up. She got out first thing this morning and was cuddly right away, so I think she understood that I don't hate her, but that I was very tired.

She finally gets a vet visit this week, so she will be much happier.

I'm finding that some of my advice to readers is getting pretty terse. That's tired and busy combined. I need to take more time on these things, but I don't always have that luxury. I hope to be better in future. At least I see the trend and can stop it.

Put up some articles yesterday. Mine and other folks, both. Content is king, and articles are free content, as long as credit is given to the author. It's a new button on the navbar so they are easy to find.

Not much else to report at the moment. Maybe later

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Pretty Girl & Bugs found a home!

Yahoo!!!

The article was approved at LadyPens.com, but ezinearticles.com got stuck. I don't know if there were a lot of articles submitted or what, but mine still hasn't been reviews and published. The other 2 article houses I use, I'm going to be giving a different article in the next few weeks.

The problem I've been having with the C-Dox links is still in process of being resolved. I expect some more information next week. I really like that stuff, but I guess it's not available any more through my supplier. I'm trying to find the maufacturer so that I can continue to offer it.

There are other problems with the links to that supplier, so those are also being addressed.

Beasley is now so depressed that he's not even coming over to my recliner while I watch my evening TV shows. I think he'll be a lot happier when Pretty Girl and Bugs leave. I've never seen him this unhappy.

I went to a women's business expo today. Most of the people there are doing affiliate marketing of some kind. The usual - tupperware, prepaid legal services, mary kay, avon, pampered chef, and many smaller ones. There were a few people there with something they actually made or designed, but mostly it was the affiliates. I did what networking I could. I felt like an outsider. More than ever, I want to open my own store!

Yeah, I've been thinking about opening a store. A cats-only petstore. We don't have one here, and I found the perfect name for it. I would carry inventory of what I sell on the website and refer folks to the website for cat whispering services. I would only feature cats from the rescue organizations, instead of the pound, like all the other pet stores use. I think that cats in rescue need as much exposure, although I understand why the cats in the pound are usually featured - our pound is a kill-shelter. I'd probably take 5-8 cats from there, and then 3-4 from rescue over a weekend as well.

I'm still working up the numbers, so it won't be in the next 6 months. Stay tuned, there may be an Angel out there who wants to see this happen, too.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Article Finsihed

I got the article finished and submitted. When it's approved for publication (usually within the day) I'll post the location.

It's at ezinearticles.com, look under authors, using my full name: morgen marshall

catwhisperer domain in UK, kitty update

Well! I got a letter today from the "catwhisperer.com" domain in UK. He said I've been referring folks to him! Actually, his domain name is his problem. But, I offered to exchange a link with him to see if that might help. He offered to let his domain name expire - I'm all over that, lemme tell you! I'll lock it up and all variations so that I'm the one you see when you go looking.

Speaking of which, I have another domain name to register, and I'm not sure if I should put another extension on my current one or go in another direction entirely. I've been thinking I could split my site and put the rescue/adoption stuff on the new site. Since only the extension would be different, it wouldn't be hard to cross-link them and the marketing wouldn't be any worse of an expense.

Pretty Girl REALLY needs a home! She took over the bed last night and poor Mr. Beasley hardly even got a snuggle. He's getting pretty distant because of her. He's so bad, he hardly even comes to my chair while I'm on the computer. She did very well, however. She wanted to nip at my fingers but I kept pushing them into her mouth and she gave up. She snuggled very nicely! Purrs and snurfs and lots of kneading. She's learned her lessons very well, and would make someone a fabulous pet. I'm just waiting for that person to come for her.

Princess is being kind of distant this morning, but she got good cuddles last night before PG came over. She's taken to sleeping on the bathroom scale (can't read it because she's over the window) and draping herself any old place she feels like. She looks at me when I enter the room and her eyes get big, but she's very accepting of cuddles.

Work search is still nonexistant. I just can't seem to call the agencies and see about work. Maybe I'll just give it up and go back to the job I left in February. They don't pay as much as I'd like, but at least it's a job. The worst part of them is the hours! I just don't want to work for anyone, and certainly not 2nd shift. I'd rather find a way to make my online life pay for itself.

Well, I've got an article to finish up so I can submit it. More later.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Website linking, work, general update.

Things are getting better day by day. I lost my job Friday, just before the computer went down. It's been rough for a few months, since February, actually.

So, with lots of time on my hands, I'm working on the website. I finally got a link for one of my favorite products that I've been having to give directions to get to! It's called "Relaxi-Herb" and it actually helps in so many ways! It's the only thing I've ever found for male cat sexual aggression, and I'm so glad it's out there! It's good as a general relaxant, too, but this one use puts it far above all the rest.

Then, PetSmart and PetCo are playing games again. Lots of items are gone or removed - some of them are products I promote heavily because of their uses. Other items get the links changed almost weekly. I wish I could find the stuff elsewhere and drop them both! Just because they are big and I'm little, doesn't give them the right to mess with me so bad. I can't even get a reply email!

I swear, the little guys are so much better at customer service! When you are smaller, you take the time to cultivate relationships with your publishers so that you can get big. It's called customer service.

When they're big, if somebody doesn't sell $5000 or more a month for you, you totally ignore them instead of helping them to do better.

For the same reason, I don't like big banks, big hospitals, big doctor groups, big car dealers or mechanic shops (no franchises for me!), and I won't go to Wal-Mart. I prefer the small mom-n-pop shops and stores in town. I get better service, even if they dont' have the wide selection and I have to pay a few cents more. They will get me what I want, I just have to wait a little bit. It makes me think before I buy. Do I really need it or do I just want it? Wants are fine, but a need is more important. Too many wants being satisfied and your needs don't get met.

Rich Dad calls this the "doodads" that speak to us. Is it a doodad or will it help me to survive? Spending on doodads takes all my savings and puts me in the hole. Publishers Clearing House is a perfect example. You buy magazines that you don't want so you'll win their sweepstakes, then they start sending you ads for stuff you don't need and never knew existed. Before you know it you're up to your eyeballs in the "4-easy payment plan" billings and you can't buy groceries! No thanks! Been there, done that. No more. I just toss 'em.

Every time I get myself out of the hole, it just gets bigger. Being unemployed doesn't help. So, I'll have to hit the bricks tomorrow and find work. Meanwhile, I'm here - talking to whoever is reading, keeping my pain and fear in check.

About the cats - well, Pretty Girl is ousting Beasley from the bed. He snuggles a lot in my chair to make up for it, but PG really needs to find a home of her own.

Morgen

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Testimonial, kitty update

I had some computer problems, but I'm back. Just before that, I got a fabulous letter from a reader that I published as a testimonial that I wanted to share. It was such a wonderful letter, that I almost cried.

Pretty Girl is learning how to train people, now. She and I had a talk the other night. She wanted to snuggle in be (usually reserved fro Princess and Beasley) and kept trying to "love bite" me. I told her that people were happy just with purrs and snuggles and that she didn't have to be quite so exuberent in her gratitude and love. She seemed to understand, and started cuddling and accepting love and strokes. I told her that we were easy to please and she liked that. Her purring grew louder and she snuggled more. She still can't stay still for very long when she's getting cuddles, but she's getting better.

Beasley loved the computer being down yesterday. He was constantly in my lap while I ran diagnostic after diagnostic. If I was in my chair waiting for one of the programs to finish, he was there. He purred a lot and even tried to get under my chin at one point. I think he misses our time together in my chair. The computer chair is fine, but he prefers being in my lap in the recliner.

Bugs came to cuddle a bit yesterday, too.

All for now!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Current Projects, kitty update

I'm writing an article on how to identify abused cats.
On the website, I'm working on the product pages and just added an RSS feed page.

Cat Report
My cats are doing well. Pretty Girl really needs a home. I've been wondering if she would be good in a senior center as one of the resident cats. She is so gentle, loving and attention greedy, that she would love it. I worry about her biting though. She still wants to use her mouth to get more cuddles. On older people who bruise easily, that might not be something they want.

Beasley is really loving and wants a lot of cuddles. His tummy trouble has returned. He's having a lot of trouble keeping food down right now. I know he's not getting skinny, so he's getting some nutrition. I think he will be going to a raw diet when the girls leave. I can't keep Pretty Girl from his bowl, and that may also be contributing to his tummy upset. He needs to eat slower, and fighting for food is not conducive to taking your time.

Queenie, the black foster, is very snuggly right now. She is going into heat. That will mean that both she and Bugs will be getting spayed while in season. Not something I wanted to do, but I need to have them done. Bugs is so miserable, and she doesn't seem to be getting back to normal. I'm afraid she has a cyst and that by waiting, she will only get worse. She made a friend yesterday, though.

I had a friend over yesterday, and Bugs was being her miserable self. My friend pet her and was very understanding, and Bugs responded in ways I hadn't seen before. She was snuggling, kneading the couch and very happy. Not just the responses I've grown accustomed to when she is being petted or stroked. I think she really liked the attention and cuddles she got from my friend.

Princes, as usual, is above it all. She is so serene that she is an anchor of stability. She still only wants deep cuddles at bedtime, but she accepts light cuddles any time. She is accepting of Queenie, but the other two can leave any time and she wouldn't mind a bit.

Beasley is responsive to Queenie but not Bugs. He's neutered, and I think it's because Princess, his litter mate, is accepting Queenie. He thinks she is OK, and will follow her around. He doesn't try to swat her like he does Pretty Girl, when Queenie cuts him off. He just puts his nose in her hiney and then ignores or follows her, depending on what he smells. I caught him trying to mount Queenie once, and told him to stop, which he did. I'm pretty sure he'll try again when I'm not watching. I'm really glad he's neutered! I sure don't want any kittens.

I really hope someone adopts Pretty Girl. Her hair is growing in nicely, and she is really sweet. She slipped into the toilet yesterday, and was wet from the ribs back. She looked disgusted, but wasn't hurt. Her ears give her thoughts away. She twitches them and is very expressive through them. You can tell when she's thinking: disapproving, expectant, interested and so on. She has no poker face at all!

Well, more later. I want to finish the article and get it published.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Weather, daily routine

Today, the cats are happy to be sleeping. It's so hot, even with the AC on, that they just want to laze around.

It got me to thinking about what I can do to cool them off. An ice cube in their water helps, and keeping the water bowls clean and the water fresh helps. They've been completely emptying one of the water bowls. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. It seems to go right through them!

Item: add litter to the shopping list

I wonder if shaving them into a Lion cut would help any. I read somewhere that all that hair serves as insulation, and they are cooler with it than without it. If they don't "come alive" after dark, I'll get out the clippers and at least shorten the long bits and bellies. I'll have tickle space then, too!

Not much else to report. Today was quiet. Only a couple of emails on the site. One was a long-standing problem that is getting addressed with me instead of a vet. Vet says there's nothing wrong, so it must be behavioral, and the poor cat is about to lose his home because of it.

Litter box problems and spraying are the 2 biggest reasons people get rid of their cats. It's a shame, really. Cats are telling us something when they won't use the litter box. They are such fastidious critters, that they really like a clean place to live.

I fixed a page on the website to make it more user-friendly. You can check it out if you'd like:
Cat Odor Control Products. It ties right in with this topic, so thought I'd mention it.

When you visit, please be sure to sign up for the Free eZine. There's a new issue every month with training tips and techniques, stories from the emails and lots of goodies that are just for subscribers.

Well, more tomorrow.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Kitties

Good Morning!
Beasley is being my typing buddy this morning. He didn't get his nighttime cuddles last night. I fell asleep on him. Princess got lots of cuddles, though. She hadn't had any for a couple of days. She's pretty put-out by all the extra kitties.

Pretty Girl is now insisting on being held twice a day. She likes to be held like a baby, and never wants down. I wonder if a senior home might be a good place for her. She really likes to be center of attention!

Queenie's sinuses seemed better last night. She has allergies. She's not sick, but she wheezes sometimes. It really does seem to be allergies, and it's worse at night.

Bugs is just as stupid as a cat in heat can be! She's always rubbing my feet, impossible to train and just generally a miserable, silly kitty. She really needs to get spayed.

I'm reminded of "Penny" who wasn't worth 2 cents. It turned out she was in heat from the time we got her until she was spayed. No wonder she was useless! When a cat is in heat, that's their whole world. Nothing gets through the raging hormones. Bugs will be better as soon as she's done.

That's it for this morning. TTYL

Monday, August 07, 2006

Hello

Hi There!
My name is Morgen and I am an Online Cat Whisperer. I give advice to people who have and love cats when their cats are misbehaving, when they are bringing a new cat into their homes or when the household changes structure or members.

I am happy to share my experiences with you. There are times when I may ask for your help. There are times when you may know something that I don't - like the new advice about spaying or neutering animals at 12 weeks. That was pointed out to me in a google forum. I'm glad that the person posted that information. I would not have known about the study, otherwise.

I am NOT a vet. I am only a cat lover, like you. However, I know cats and how to get into their heads. I can figure out their thinking processes. I hope you will visit my website, write to me and that we will have a lot of fun together.

Morgen