On Conflict

Conflict is a topic close to home for me.  During the years of living on the streets, I had to watch my own back and defend myself against many predators and other cats.  It was simply about survival.  After I was rescued and taken to the shelter, I was put in quarantine for a week.  Where most kitties would be frightened and feeling along, I felt safe for the first time in memory.

The workers at the shelter tried to release me into the common room with other kitties but it was not successful.  I immediately put my defenses up and fought any cat that came within a few feet of me.  I could trust none of them.  So, I was placed into a cage where I sat for months.  Most folks didn't show any interest in me.  My ears were torn.  My face was broken out.  I was missing fur and I was already 11 years old.  Everyone wanted kittens and younger cats.  That made me even angrier.  I was barely adoptable.

Then along came my first purr-son who was taken to me immediately.  She said I reminded her of her first cat named Muffy.  When she opened the cage door and reached for me, something inside of me told me to trust this one.  She hugged me and kissed me and told me she loved me.  I simply melted in her arms and rediscovered my purr.  I had a new home.  I hoped I would be the only kitty.

I lived with my purr-son for a few months happily before I noticed boxes being packed.  The home I had become accustomed to was changing.  Next thing I know, I'm being put into a carrier and was in the vehicle I rode in months before.  I got scared!  Was I going back to the shelter? No! no!  Meow! Please don't sent me back! I was in a panic. It's not fair!  I didn't do anything wrong.

Exhausted, I heard my purr-son telling me I was safe and that I was just going to be staying with her mom for a while.  Her mom?  I didn't know her mom!  No... But then she added she would be there too.  Whew!  Ok.  I'm ok.

Ha! ok?  Her mom had three other kitties!  Errr I don't think so.  So I spent the next several weeks in my own room away from the others.  Ok, this could work I thought.  But before long, I was released into the open jungle and once again was confronted with feeling vulnerable and needing to defend myself.  Needless-to-say, some fights ensued.  We all seemed to settle in after a while and found a way to get along.  That's what we need to do sometimes.  We need to figure out ways to communicate better to have peace in life.  I liked staying there.  It ended up I was told I was going to live there indefinitely.  My purr-son's mom loved me as much as anyone could and I was ok.  She promised me I was in my forever home.

to be continued.... 

On Nutrition

Nutrition has become a hot topic in both the animal food and human food world.  Few people produce their own food supply, even with the rise in home and organic gardening.  When you live in the northeastern region of the United States, it’s virtually impossible to grow your own food year round.  We have a short growing season for vegetable and fruits that typically runs from late April through late September.  The rest of the year could be frosty and snowy.  As far as meat, hunting seasons limit our ability to stock pile on meat unless we purchase it from a meat distributor.  Anyway, the majority of us get as much for our dollar as we can.

To be cost effective, often times folks skimp on quality and focus on quantity, especially in our tough economy.  If we were to read every label, we’d be scared off by wording we don’t understand and sometimes don’t want to.  Take the following for example:

Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Corn Meal, Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Sodium Bisulfate, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Brewer's Dried Yeast, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Choline Chloride, Salt, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Calcium Carbonate, L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract.

How long did it take you to read that label?  How much of it do you understand?  What do you think of the ingredients?  Would you feed this to your pet?   What would you say if I told you that it’s been part of my diet for the past 10 years?  Personally I have enjoyed it because my purr-son’s nutritional plan has been working for me.  

When I first came to live with here, my diet consisted of whatever was fed to me or whatever I could find.  My coat was rough and I had skin problems.  My eyes bothered me sometimes and I felt tired a lot.  Well, anyone who has met me can attest to me having a very beautiful soft and thick coat.  My skin problems are long gone and I have lots of energy, especially during full moons! So I eat a variety of ®Purina Fancy Feast Gormet cat food in the mornings (I would share these food labels but there are so many different varieties, they would become a chapter in itself) and Iams® ProActive Health™ Adult Weight Control throughout the day (food label listed on facing page).  It’s my vet-supported nutritional plan.

I have observed many conversations about nutrition at the office because many of the clients who come in don’t eat right.  There are various reasons for this which include:  denial of a medical condition that warrants the need to change; low income that makes buying high fat and high carbohydrate foods more cost effective; it’s how one was raised and therefore they don’t have the experience or palate for a lot of foods; as a matter of convenience, a lot of folks eat fast foods, etc. 

Because we need food to survive and because we are bombarded with commercials and advertising, it’s also one of the most difficult things to work on.  

My purr-son really enjoys food. She creates a lot of her own meals from scratch and has increased the use of whole foods over the past two years.  She has also decreased the use of medications while introducing a plan of suppliments including Tumeric, L-Glutamine, Primrose Oil, Omega 3-6-9, Hemp Protein, Vitamin B12, Magnesium with Calcium, and flax seed.  She has a autoimmune disorder that causes chronic pain and inflammation. She seems to have vastly improved since changing her nutritional plan and she has a lot more stamina. It takes a lot of motivation to change and to maintain the change but through time it becomes automatic and more natural.

On Adoption

First I’d like to discuss pet adoption, specifically for kittens and cats.  Then I’d like to share what I have learned about adoption of children and teens.  There are several common threads between the two that I think you will find intriguing.

Many people who decide to adopt a new cat from a shelter believe they should get a kitten because of their cuteness and perceived outlook that they will make a better pet in the long run. Many people like the idea of watching their little one grow from kitten hood. But raising a kitten is a lot like caring for a child, requiring lots supervision and needing to kitten-proof your home from obvious and hidden dangers.  You also need to be aware that having a kitten around young children could pose a risk for the kitty because they could get squeezed too hard or have their little ears and tails pulled.  Kittens may also not be well suited for the elderly or disabled as their energy may be too much for someone who has problems getting around or could even be a tripping hazard getting underfoot.  Through their play, kitten can also be destructive such as climbing drapes and scratching furniture.

I was not a kitten when I was adopted but nearly 11 years old!  At first, I lived in a home with small children.  Adult cats are generally more tolerant of children and less likely to be injured. Senior citizens actually get more enjoyment from the company of a calm adult or senior cat as they often times are happy to sit on your lap or lay at the foot of your bed at night.. An adult cat, however, is generally much calmer and less likely to get into trouble. And, because an adult cat is fully developed, you know what you're getting in terms of size, appearance and personality. If you have a quiet lifestyle, work outside the home, or have children under the age of six, give serious thought to adopting an adult cat or two.  Adoption fees tend to be much less for adult cats and often times cats 10 years and older may even be free.  I was.

The best part of my story is that my life was saved.  Although I was rescued from a no-kill shelter, that is not always the case for others.  My life was also saved because I’m no longer roaming the streets hungry, scared, cold and lonely as I recall being before.  Adopting a pet from a shelter is a good thing, whether it be a cat, dog, rabbit, bird or rodent.  I’d like to see all of them get the chance to live the best lives they can.

Several people have come into my person’s office over the past two years, some who have been adopted and some who have adopted.  For the most part I enjoy these stories as most have a happy ending.

Often times couples are looking for babies to adopt believing it will create a better bond for them and the child.  Babies are also very cute and lovable.  If there are other children in the home, it’s assumed they may respond better if a baby is introduced rather than another child.  A baby can grow up feeling they are truly a part of the family and never have recollection of their real birth parents.  A baby may grow up never knowing they were adopted if the parents conceal this fact.  They also may never know what medical condition they are predisposed for or that they may have other siblings, other grandparents, other family that may hope to know them.  Adopting a baby can be very expensive both with the adoption fees and the costs of all the necessities little ones require.

Adopting an older child or teen comes with a set of rewards and benefits not found when adopting an infant.  A child can grow up knowing they were chosen to be loved and have advantages in life that they can recall not having before.  They may come from unfortunate circumstances that have put their wellbeing at risk.  Imagine giving a child a second chance at life with not only their basic needs being met but opportunities for education, travel, recreation, etc. they may not otherwise have been afforded.  Even if they come with a set of problems, knowing they are loved just as they are is a real gift.  They often times are still able to remain connected to their family of origin which is good for all. 

Alas, adoption of a child versus a baby can also have its drawbacks.  Many times a child may come with mental health issues or physical disabilities that the adopting family may not be prepared for.  Unfortunately, some children end of not being any better off if their new home cannot accommodate their needs.  There have been cases where information was withheld from the adopting family and later on discovered, thus creating a change of heart for the adopting parents.  Have you ever heard of what they call adoption failure?  It’s where someone adopted a child and after  time goes by the family sends them back into the foster  care system. It happens unfortunately.

As I stated earlier, most stories about adoption that I have heard at the office have been very heartwarming and successful.  I feel so honored to be a part of these conversations.  I also have learned so much by observing my person helping folks who’s stories aren’t as positive. Most of the time by the end of their therapies, lives are improved. 

Introduction

I developed the idea for writing this blog when I first started bringing Sophie to the office with me in the spring of 2010.  It was surprising to see how quickly she settled in and made herself at home.  I wasn’t sure how she would respond to different people coming and going throughout the day, people she hadn’t met or didn’t know at all.  I was delighted to discover she had settled into that idea even more.

It was as if she was meant to be an office cat. From the onset, she greeted people as they entered the room and let them decide if she wanted her in their company.  Equally as impressive was her ability to ease the jitters of folks who were coming in for the first time.  Time and time again I witnessed folks relaxing swiftly after admitting they were nervous and didn’t know what to expect.  Sophie had a way with calming folks as she purrs and smiles for them.  Yes, cats can and do smile!  Especially Sophie.  

The blog is written as if it were Sophie putting her thoughts, feelings and perceptions into words.  I hope you enjoy this whimsical way of telling the most poignant stories and moments at the office.  Now retired from her duties as a therapy cat, the time has come to write Sophie’s Perspectives.  It begins as a blog.

Laurie LaViolette

The first ten years of my life are unknown to the people who rescued me from an indefinite life at the Bangor Humane Society.   Don’t get me wrong, they took really good care of me but I did spend more time in my cage than I would have liked considering I roamed free a good part of my life.  It’s all a bit of a fog to me now but I remember spending some nights outside in the cold and even survived a bout of frost bite. I also was told I had cancer but I don’t remember it myself.  I also had a lot of problems with what they call kitty acne but that disappeared after I got adopted.

Settling in  didn’t happen immediately as I spent the first few months after leaving the shelter with the daughter of the person who cares for me today.  Because she needed to move and couldn’t keep me, her mother took me in.  I remember her saying to me, “You won’t have to worry about moving again.  You are in your forever home.”

I spent nearly ten years at the chalet on the mountain with her and the other kitties that lived there.  As I got older, I became more intolerant of the other kitties who came into the dwelling and started feeling unsettled.  I had the feeling of needing more alone time but didn’t know how to convey this to my purr-son.  

One day, my person took me to her office where I spent a few days with her and the clients that came to see her. I really enjoyed all the conversations that took place there and having the freedom of coming and going from the room as I pleased.  I liked this office space with its two aquariums and window sills to hang out in.  There were also lots of birds outside and I loved watching the people coming and going.  I also prided myself on being a master mouser.  The building hadn’t had any mice move in since I started living there.  Now in my retirement, I feel the need to write my stories.  Enjoy.

Sophie LaViolette  >^..^<