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News for You and Your Pet
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July 1, 2013
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Dear ,  I hope your summer is off to a good start. I just returned from a weekend visiting some friends, and lots of cats and kittens, in Connecticut. I had a wonderful time, and the weekend reminded me of how important it is to make time to get away. A change of scenery is good for mind, body and spirit. In this issue:I think it's safe to say that Independence Day is Allegra's least favorite holiday. Inevitably, someone in my neighborhood will shoot off fireworks, and Alllegra will hide in her safe spot behind the shower curtain in the downstairs bathroom. Ruby, on the other hand, will probably sit by the window trying to watch! For the pets in your family who follow Allegra's example, I'm providing tips on keeping your pets safe on the 4th of July. Humans often have a hard time getting over life's disappointments. Animals don't do this - they live in the moment. I recently met a senior cat who taught me how important it is to just " get over it" and move on with your life.
Wishing you purrs and wags,
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Keep Your Pets Safe on the 4th of July
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By Ingrid King
Independence Day is one of America's favorite holidays. As we mark the day with parades, picnics and fireworks, remember that noisy celebrations can be a scary time for our pets.
An animal's sense of hearing is much more acute than ours, and so the noises are much more intent for them. Add to that the lack of understanding of what is going on and you can have a very scared pet on your hands. But celebrations like the 4th of July don't have to cause such anxiety for your pets. Here are some tips for helping your pet cope with fireworks, thunderstorms, and other loud noises:
- Don't take your pets to outdoor celebrations. The loud noises and colorful skies may be fun for you but they are not enjoyable for your pet. In fact, they can be quite dangerous. A scared dog, running through crowds and/or traffic in the dark is a recipe for disaster.
- Ideally, leave them at home with a human companion. If you must leave them alone, place them in a secure room or crate. Cover the crate with a blanket to help reduce the noise. Shut the curtains and drapes and turn on lights to lessen the flash of the fireworks.
- Leave on a TV or music to drown out the noise from the fireworks. (This works during thunderstorm season as well.)
- Make sure that they are wearing their identification tags and that the information is current.
- Exercise them before the festivities begin -- tire them out with a rigorous game of fetch or a long walk. Be sure to do this an hour or two before you leave them to give them time to calm down and enter a restful state.
By keeping these tips in mind, both you and your pets can enjoy a safe and happy holiday. ©Ingrid King 2013. All Rights Reserved. 
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Get Over It
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By Ingrid King
Life's disappointments can knock the wind out of the best of us, and sometimes, it seems like we'll never get over some of the bad things that happen. As humans, our tendency can be to continue to bring up our painful past, rather than working on healing the pain and moving on with our lives.
Cats don't do this. They live in the moment. They don't dwell in the past and constantly revisit it, nor do they use the past as an excuse for not being happy in the present. This is particularly evident with cats who were rescued from marginal or abusive circumstances. It is humbling to be loved unconditionally by an animal coming from a rough beginning. While some of these cats may initially be cautious around humans, most of them adjust quickly once they find their forever home and a person who is willing to be patient and allow the bond between cat and human to develop slowly so that it can turn into trust and eventually love.
Cats do not allow their early life experiences to define them the way so many humans do. So why is it so hard for humans to just "get over it?"
Back in 1994, the Eagles released their first single after a 14-year breakup, and it was titled "Get Over It." I always liked the lyrics, delivered with Don Henley's trademark sarcasm:
You drag it around like a ball and chain You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down Complain about the present and blame it on the past I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ass Get over it! Get over it! All this bitchin' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit Get over it! Get over it! This concept was brought home to me even more dramatically the other day when I was doing Reiki on Fifi, a 17-year-old cat in renal failure. Fifi is my veterinarian's cat. Dr. Tasi shared some of her background with me: she was 7 yeras old when she was brought to the veterinary clinic where Dr. Tasi worked at the time. She had a spinal tumor, and her hindlegs were paralyzed. Her owner never returned for Fifi, and Dr. Tasi ended up adopting her. Fifi went through several rounds of chemotherapy, and regained function in her legs again. She adjusted beautifully to Dr. Tasi's multiple cat household. One day, Dr. Tasi decided to consult with an animal communicator for all her cats. As one of her other cats shared his story of a rough background (all of her cats are rescues), Fifi interrupted. The animal communicator relayed that what she was "saying" was clearly "We all have our stories - just get over it!" I think Fifi may be on to something. While there is certainly value in looking back and understanding how our past impacts our present in terms of preferences, behavior, and emotional challenges, there is a tipping point where prolonged analysis of past wrongs can result in bringing more of the same into our lives.
By living in the moment, appreciating the gifts we have in our lives, and letting go of the past, we free ourselves for a better and happier tomorrow. Each moment offers us a choice-to look back at what did not work for us in the past or to look forward and invite the chance for a new beginning and for change toward a happier life.
I think we might do well to take Fifi's advice.
Photo of Fifi by Andrea Tasi, VMD, used with permission.
© Ingrid King, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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Highlights from The Conscious Cat
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August 5, 2013
One More Page Books
Arlington, VA
September 7 and 8, 2013
National Capital Cat Show
Chantilly, VA
October 6, 2013
Purcellville Public Library
Purcellville, VA
Please visit the Events Page on my website
for more information and directions.
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Marketplace
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