TGIF

Bujang resting in his now favourite place. I bought this for Popps but she does not even look at it. I had also bought the grey sofa for Bujang two years ago and he did not even sit on it until I decided to place the red bed on it.

We are glad that its finally TGIF. Actually san is glad as it signalled the end of many long meetings. She only has 2 more meetings next week to get through and then it would be school vacation for a whole week. We katses as used to having holidays and such but we will be glad to see more of her in the house.

On another note we are sad that our good friend Stormy, who is a friend to many went to the bridge yesterday. He was the constant and very wise companion for Laura with whom we had spoken twice. She helped all of us a lot and gave san a lot of good advice. Stormy had a column of his own as well where he gave good advice to his fans. Fly high Stormy!

Easy Peasy Sunday

This week we had easy days where we just lazed about in the afternoons. Our routines had changed a little because it's the Month of the Hungry Ghost and there is always the smell of smoke in the air from the burning of hell money. Bujang did not like walking along the corridors much as there was a lot of noise and smoke. Almost always he would just walk for about 5 minutes before he decides to go home. This quite surprised me as he would make it a point to walk 30 minutes or so along the corridor before and he had told Craig to ask me if he could go for longer walks as well. He told Fern last week however that the smoke and noise made him uncomfortable and he was quite ok with just shorter walks. 

Akira and I spend a lot more time together after that one day when she told Fern that she was scared to be in her room. We sit together in the computer room at night. This is usually the last thing we do before I put her to bed - 30 minutes sitting on my lap for quiet time where we would read, look at picture books, grade papers or chat. Sometimes we just listen to her cat CD. 

Tanaka's routines have not changed much at all but I notice he does not take long walks as well. He has also changed his route when walking along the corridor preferring the side where there is less smoke and of course he likes just sitting outside, right in front of the house:). 

The reason our rainbow kitty Totoro is on the weekly collage was because I dreamt last Friday night that he came back to be with us. It was a strange dream as I knew that he had gone away (in the dream) and was surprised that he came to play with the rest of the kitties. All the four of them had a good time playing chase. I was thinking about it and of course I had been thinking about him quite a lot seeing that it would be September quite soon. I also heard from Laura Stinchfield, the animal communicator, who had spoken with them that sometimes when we dream about our rainbow kitties, it is because the kitties know that we miss them and therefore come back. They don't always come back in a dream as it takes a lot of energy to make a dream sequence reasonable (unlike the usual jumbled sequences of dreams). Of course it could also be my memories of them together when he was alive. Whatever it is I want to thank Totoro, Tunabelly, for visiting :) I didn't see Megat in the dream though but will end the post with a little picture just the same. 

Monday Mood

Appreciation

Today, I give thanks for my family even the orange fuzzball. He has learnt not to disturb me (most of the time) as he knows that I am no pushover. I am thankful that he thinks I am cute and he likes watching me do cute things. I give thanks for my brother Bujang as he allows me to run all over the house like a sandstorm at night and he understands that I am a little complicated and like to think a lot. I give thanks for san who loves me with her whole heart and helps us all to learn how to live as a family. I thank grandma as she keeps calling me "Akira" in a soft voice so I am not afraid. I also thank Fern who gives me Reiki and makes me feel warm and comfortable.

ps. this is all taken from her conversations with Laura and Fern :)

Monday Mood

Gratitude

This is just the way I had envisioned the amigos to be together 3 years ago - sitting peacefully in the same space and time. It has taken us almost 3 years to come to this situation and it happened last night after dinner. Ms Akira was in the kitchen so I allowed Tanaka out into the living room where he played and sniffed about and later sat on top of the night cage. I thought everything would be as per normal with all kitties in their safe places until I turned around and saw THIS! My heart nearly leapt out of my mouth! That was how surprised I was. But good sense stopped me from scooping her up. Instead I let her just sit there relaxing (of cos with her eyes staring at Tanaka and Tanaka intently looking down at her). I was also surprised that Tanaka did not immediately leap down to chase her as well. However, after some minutes Akira got up slowly. I knew from her twitching ears and tail that she was not sure and so I got up and sat on the sofa, close enough for her to walk towards me if she wanted...and she did. Only then did I scoop her up and put her in her calm room as it was already 8 pm and Tanaka will have to get down to go to bed. All in all, it was the best Easter we have ever had in our house.

I thought it would be wise to list down the steps that might have contributed to this so I know what I had done and not done or can still explore. It had taken Akira a long time to have such courage to tell Tanaka off as well and by actually making a choice of sitting with everyone, she is making one of her wishes come true- that is to sit peacefully with everyone in the living room. I had to put her on clomicalm (on her vet's recommendation for over grooming). This only added to her stress as she knew when this would happen and he whole body would tense up. So I had given her Ovarid that I can put in her food as it is tasteless and odourless. This was only for a short time as it could give her diabetes in the long run.For the period that was taking Ovarid, her fur grew but after the vet stopped it, she began to overgroom again. She also had bloodwork before the clomicalm and after the Ovarid.

Then I had  skyped Laura Stinchfield, thepetpsychic or animal communicator to ask her what was wrong. This was when I discovered the following:

1. That the boys think her eyes were frightening

2. That they think she walked queerly for a cat

3. That they think she was going to hurt them as she her eyes were too big and she walked strangely.

Akira also said:

1. Her neck hurt when she walked

2. her legs hurt as well as she needed to walk low and stalk about as she was frightened of being chased by the boys (they did chase her all the time if they could)

3. She frequently could not see very well and that was why she had to open her eyes wide.

4. That she felt afraid all the time and she said she would prefer to 'die' than have Megat (my rainbow kitten) hurt her again.

Laura recommended a chiropractor to correct her spine. Dr Ly our vet, recommended an osteopath Adrian to help her as she was a timid cat and all that chiropractic manipulations may do her more harm than good. So we got Adrian and indeed he told me that as she had been walking very low for many years, she indeed an a curved spine and this would have been extremely painful for her and she had legs that were bent as she had to stalk low so the boys would not see her (eventhough she was in her room). She had undergone about 2 months of weekly visits to Adrian and now as her spine is straight, she goes once every 3 months.

I had also gotten her Reiki help (which all 3 now have) on a weekly basis with Fern. Fern helps them with Reiki and also talks to them weekly like a psychiatrist :)). Everyone gets Spirit Essence (from Jackson Galaxy) for their own special condition every day, Akira and Tanaka share both spaces (in the computer room) and the rooms in the house daily so that they recognise each others scent and now Tanaka shares the living room without the harness when Akira is in the kitchen. Tanaka knows not to go into the kitchen when she is there (of cos sometimes he forgets or the curiosity is just too much for him). 

Akira has grown much in self-confidence and Tanaka has grown to accept that they both must share the living spaces as well as the significant spaces.

So you can see why we were so excited to see all of them sitting quietly last night. We hope to see more of this.  

Akira out walking yesterday. Walking outside in the harness sis also good for her self-esteem and she likes walking at night when it is quiet. Yesterday she walked out in the late afternoon.

We thank our friends Whipple and Pepper for their generosity in giving us the award. We have listed many things that we are thankful for instead of just three. We are giving this award to our good friends The Chans , the great kitties at Animal Shelter Volunteer Life , those nood kitties at Katnip Lounge and supper sassy Katie at Katie Isabella.

Here are the rules for accepting to YOO-HOO award:
- Firstly, post the award on your blog and thank the blogger who gave it to you.
- Secondly, visit at least three of the blogs that are receiving the award along with you and leave a comment.
- Thirdly, tell us all three things you have to celebrate. You know, three things for which you are thankful.
- Lastly, pass along the award to seven other bloggers and let them know you have done so. (sorry Whipple and Pepper.)

Akira and the osteopath

        

This morning Akira went to the osteopath. She now sees Adrian only once very 3 months as she is better and he needs only to do some minor adjustments, if she needs them. She was suspicious from yesterday as she saw her red soft carrier among the cat toys. This morning after her breakfast, she went resolutely inside her cubby hole. Usually she would make a request to be let out into the family room on Saturdays. 

                       

This is Adrian, her osteopath. She likes him a lot and would sit even through the most painful massage. When I asked her if the treatments were working she said (to Laura, the animal communicator):

My body feels much better. I stretch better and when he massages me I feel a release of everything. My doctor said iam a nice cat. 

I had asked her to tell Bujang about Adrian as I thought he would benefit from some realignment of his bones since he is already 10 this year and he does not like his back touched a lot. She told Bujang that: He is a human friend with a big heart and his heart is wild about cats. His heart stretches outward and inside of you so fear becomes nothing and love becomes everything. 

I think that must be the best endorsement for anyone who works with animals. 

                              

In this picture we were at the 'garden' which is behind the osteopath clinic. It's a quiet and breezy space where you can sit and take a breather. We were here this morning an d not at our usual space as workers were digging the roads to build a foundation for a new building across the street. 

  

Usually we would be seated here for the treatments. Tanaka's treatments are here as well as one of the other osteopaths is allergic to animals. I told Adrian about Bujang and he said he would be willing to see him. So in March Bujang would see this doctor since both Akira and Tanaka had only good things to say to him about Adrian. I hope he allows Adrian to treat him without incident. 

                         

                                   When we came home she took a short nap.

Saturday Easy

                      

This morning I went for my morning walk. It was quiet and I was very happy outside just sitting along the corridor. Then I heard some strange sounds upstairs but san said I should not go up as it sounds like a birdie in a cage. I asked san how she would know something like that. san said the sound sounded the same and the loudness is the same as well. san's cousin used to keep song birds so she would know about something like that. san said the people who have the caved birdies might be upset to see a cat on their floor. Anyway we spent about an hour outside, me walking and sitting and san reading her book until its time to go home. 

                         

When I got home, I saw something from across our flat. They were pigeons sitting on the parapet of the flats. I wonder how they got so high. 

                        

But I know they must have had lessons from their moms like we have from san. Maybe I should ask san for lessons like those birds. By the way, san's clicker book and clicker came in the mail yesterday. So perhaps she would start clicker treat training. We will have to see as san's break ends next week and she has to go back to work on the 2nd of January 2014. 

   

San said she would let me have the whole post today as I have Ben behaving very well indeed for the whole week. I have played nicely with Tanaka. Well I had to discipline him only once and yes, his fur certainly flew all over the bedroom but we made up after that. I had been quiet for 4 nights in a row and did not meow at all at night. I had waited my turn to play with the neko fly and played with Akira as well. I think my talk with Laura has helped me a lot to be more steady. 

  

 Ok san. You can show my newly trimmed nails in close-up. I am waiting for them to grow and until then, enjoy them:) 

The Amigos on Family and Friends

Today being Christmas, we thought we should post about our bestest Christmas present ever. Our Rainbow Bridge brothers Totoro and Megat spoke to Laura, who just happens to be the bestest animal communicator we know, and told us some things that we needed to know. 

    

This is an older picture of me but san said since I looked so well here, she would put it up again. All the pictures here may be ones that you have seen already but san said it would be ok since it would be the same for our bridge brothers as well. Of course san will post about us and what we think as we are five  cats, three here and two at the bridge. 

Today's post is all about family and how family is important to think about and how to make relationships better as well. We hope that when you read our thoughts about family, you would smile kindly on us and wish us well. We hope that today, more than any other, that every one has kind thoughts about their own family and for people and animals who have yet to find a family. Merry Christmas everybody. 

We begin with our bridge brother Totoro who went to the bridge 2 years ago but is with us everyday. 

                 

I want to tell my mom she did a beautiful job of helping me to heaven and helping me when I was alive. I want her to know that I was comforted by her. I knew that my life was coming to an end because I kept feeling pulled out of my body. Even way before I died I kept feeling this pulling sensation. 

There is a granny up here in heaven that needed me. She has beautiful skin and beaded necklaces. She has necklaces that are long. She takes care of me and I help her with her processing. Cause sometimes she has to look at her life and it is scary so I keep her company. I let her pet me all over and I lie on her lap and knead her knees. 

       

I want to tell my family that it is beautiful up here and that there are outsides with big red flowers that drape over beautiful green stems. And there is always gravy for cats. Big bowls of gravy for cats and there are also love blankets and cushions that smell like my family on earth. So whenever I want to be with them I go and lie on the love blankets and cushions. 

(We do have red flowers that drape over green stems in our own corridor garden. I had them because I thought it would attract birds for kitty TV. Toro went to the bridge one week after his kidney operation. He had to be resuscitated once the day before he passed.)

                    

Our bridge brother Megat went to the bridge in October this year. He would have been 18 on 13 December.  

I didn't think heaven would be anything special cause life at home is really special. It's like this beautiful mystery up here. Sometimes I just want to sleep and I sleep in the feeling and noises of home. I see my family walking around me and I sleep in the beauty of it and then I think of a mouse and go chase it. I can also become a shadow and chase my friends on earth or relax over them so they can feel me vibrating. 

       

Tell my family that their love helped me fly to heaven with the beauty of an upside down raindrop in the sun. 

It's true. I had such a great family on earth that I am able to be here and enjoy myself. I have seen Totoro and he tells me to live as free pulsating energy so that is what I do when I come to them. 

      

I want them to know that my life was healthy. It didn't always seem healthy but it was healthy and I want them to know that I love them a great deal. I love them more than anything. I love you family. 

(On the day that I had to help him to the bridge I remembered that he once asked Laura what would happen to his body when he went to meet Toro and whether a spirit would enter his body when he was no longer there. Laura then told him that nothing would enter his body and bodies sometimes get sick but the spirit is healthy and free. So on that day I told him that his body was too sick to carry him and he would have to leave it behind. When the doctor comes to help him I wanted him to run fast and fly high. When Dr Ly came to help him I kept whispering that he should run fast and fly high. I guess he heard me)

  

Tanaka: After I heard about heaven I think family should be pulsating love and cuddle time. It should be where everyone was smart and no one feels smarter than the other one cause everyone has a different mind and they use it differently and every member knows themselves and knows each other. (I am glad he remembered what Bujang told him about the way Akira's mind works and now they should give each other space) 

                    

Family should also be a good trip to safety, security and comfort. Yes, I realize Akira is part of my family. 

   

Akira: I feel like family should be proud. Proud of themselves and proud of each other and proud of the connections. I like to feel proud cause it makes me feel healthier. 

    

Family should be quiet and a sense of knowing that you are safe. Family should be good communicators  and a feeling of self worth. I feel good about myself. I hope that for everyone. 

                      

Bujang: I feel like family should be education and a place to learn and feel that learning is safe and fun. I feel family should help each other be better. I tell what I know and they tell what they know. We help each other. Family should be like mom. We should be mom. Thanks mom. 

(I think he is referring to what Tanaka and Akira had told him about the vet and what Akira had told him about Adrian, her osteopath. I would post about what she said of Adrian later that persuaded Bujang that going to see an osteopath may be a good thing. Bujang was also very wise and had tried to tell Tanaka about the difference between girl cats and boy cats or rather the difference between how Tanaka thinks and Akira thinks)

                    

One last word from Bujang: Can you ask my mom a question for me? When we sing together does she understand that I enjoy it? Well I have to say that sometimes I feel calm and my body is fine and other times I feel like walking and meowing and it comes on fast and leaves fast. When mom is playing the songs for me, it leaves faster. 

(I had asked Laura to ask him why he meows loudly at night and why he keeps walking around the bedroom meowing. I didn't tell Laura about the songs that I sing to him to calm him down though. It was a surprise to me that she spoke about them or Bujang spoke about them. I will post a out Bujang and his dislike for people touching him in a later post)

      

We leave you with a picture of our family. This was taken during leash training and when Megat was still with us. Notice that Bujang had put himself in between Akira and Tanaka. He is very protective of her and would try to be around for comfort. 

 Once again, we wish everyone a good Christmas with family and with friends.

 

Ms Akira's Two Cents

So we continue with Akira's and Tanaka's stories and why they think they are having such troubles.

Akira: I need to tell you that I am thinking a lot about what Bujang said and mom's calming signals (licking the lips, yawning, looking at and looking away, stretching when they feel stressed) would help me to be more calm. Is there a calming herb? Like something I can eat that makes my body less reactive. I feel like my body reacts before my mind does. I need to know if I am safe and sometimes I don't know for a while. Tell Tanaka , "If you try harder, I will try harder." My eyes and his will sometimes make it worse. I have noticed that.If my eye shift too much he gets worse. I shift because I am scared.

san: Its true that Akira's eyes take a large part of her face :) In our last conversation, my cat Megat (who is now at the bridge) told Laura that he can feel Akira's eyes in the dark and they scare him. That was also the reason why Megat used to chase her as well.

Akira: I think he has the potential to be nice to me cause we have moments where he is kind and just sits near me and my fear drifts. yes my fear drifts. (I asked Laura to ask her when these moments are as I thought I could try to make sure that they both get more of these moments) 

Akira: We are separate.  It is either one - me outside 

or him outside

and even when mom does leash work I feel better. I like leash work cause I feel like he is enjoying my presence and that makes me feel good.

(At this point, Laura decided to tell Tanaka to just try to let it go and stop chasing her. Just release everything.)

Tanaka: The idea is good and I think maybe I won't chase her. maybe I won't chase her anymore and I have to say "Bujang, I get it that you are calmer than her. I understand." So I should follow him. I should follow him.

(I also told Laura at this time that I had been thinking of just taking him off his leash and harness and allow them both outside just to see what he would do as he has been doing very well with the leash training. Akira started to meow very loudly and Laura asked who it was that was meowing so much. She decided to ask Akira why she was meowing) 

Akira: This is too much about him and too little about me. I want to say that no way! Do not let him off the leash and also I want to say I am not skittish and really scaredy. I am smart and my body knows how to move. I stretch too. I need to tell you that I need love time.

The time where my body and soul have this refreshing breath of fresh air. I need to do this with my mom everyday.

I like to sleep with my mom and have love refreshing time. I love that time.

(She will only sit on my lap if when I am at the computer and it could be like this for quite some time. So now I am smarter and I have put both chairs closer so there is no gap under my knees. Its much better that way. I have not done this for some time as I try to play with her so she could do more stretching but after this I will do this a lot more and see how she could get some play time as well. I asked her how her body feels and whether she enjoys going to see Adrian, our osteopath)

Akira: My body does feel better. I stretch better and when he massages me I feel a release of everything. I am much happier and more confident and I want to say something mom. Mommy you are the best mommy ever :)). I feel like you do a lot for us and I understand it when you talk to me and it helps me. My doctor (Adrian Lalani) said I am a nice cat. (which he does every time he sees her).

Akira: Can I have treat training? I want treat training for the calming signals and also for jumping on things. Tell me to jump and then I jump. My paws are sometimes sensitive. And my food sometimes make s me more anxious after I eat. I hate that. I like to have treats. My wish for our family is that we all get along and mom feels good about our relationships and she feels that harmony is something she created.

Akira: Tanaka is not all that bad. He just has a problem that he needs to work out.

san: I think it was a good session for both Tanaka and Akira to talk and for me to know what is happening with them  Apart from their troubles, I was also wondering how the osteopath treatments are going for them and indeed Akira is more confident and more assertive. She behaves very differently from 2 years ago and she has made great strides in this. She sees Adrian, our osteopath now 4 times a year only. She had also given Bujang advice about Adrian and I would post that later on.

I had discussed with Laura how I needed to go on with the leash training and she advised me that just like Akira said, I should not release Tanaka from his harness and leash outside with Akira before doing more exercises. We discussed the exercises, like walking around the house with her outside or walking up and down. Now I also have to train Ms Akira :)) Thank goodness Bujang did not ask for any training. he just wanted me to sing more:)) They are very funny kitties! 

But tomorrow being Christmas, I would post about our precious Rainbow bridge brothers and what the cats say about family :)) 

Tanaka and Bujang on friendship and girls

For visitors who are here by accident: I had asked Laura Stinchfield, the animal communicator, to talk to my cats as we are having some trouble with 2 of them, Tanaka and Akira. Tanaka has been chasing her non-stop for many years and this had unsettled her and contributed to her over- grooming and stress. Laura had spoken to them 2 years ago and since then I had found osteopath help for Akira as part of the trouble was physical as well.

This time (19 Dec 2013), I had asked Laura to get all of them to speak together so everyone knows what the other one feels about the issues of friendship, family, behaviour, calming signals and training. There are many other things as well and I thought this being the last week of 2013, I would write about our conversations. 

(Laura and I) asked Tanaka why he makes Akira upset and why he chases her all the time. 

                           

Tanaka: I have been upset also. I have been thinking about Akira and how we have lessons (leash training) and I wonder if Akira thinks it is fun. I have been upset that she is in our house cause I feel she is mom's favorite. Sometimes I feel she makes my mom happy and I make my mom mad. 

You don't think I know how to be friends. If I don't know how to be friends then how do I become friends or know that?

(Laura asked me what she should tell Tanaka and we decided that we should tell him that he should behave like he bahaves with Bujang - sitting calmly together, eating together, leaving each other alone, calming signals and giving each other space)

Bujang is different cause he doesn't get upset and feisty in his body. He doesn't get anxious with his body. I have to say that if I ask her a question she usually doesn't answer. If I say take your time, what do I do then?

(At this point in the conversation Bujang decided to interrupt and to give Tanaka advice)

                            

Bujang: I have to say something. What would help him is to realize that she is female and we are male. He doesn't understand that females think differently. Females are more like ....they have more energy to them and complexity. She thinks a lot. She is always thinking and we don't think that much and so the thinking makes Tanaka nervous but he should just wait and let her think things out and then deal with it. I am really calm and when he puts pressure on me I don't move a lot and she moves a lot and that causes problems with him cause that makes him nervous. I think he just needs to realize he is him and she is her and they just need to let that be without getting wrapped up in each other. 

(At this point Laura told him that Akira is just a little scared of him and as family they should take care of one another. She also told him that Akira is family)

Tanaka: She is not a bad cat? She doesn't hate me?

Bujang Annual Vet Check-Up

Bujang went for his annual checkup yesterday. He goes to the vet once a year only. Usually this time would be very stressful for him and for me. It was fortunate that Laura had spoken with him on Thursday morning and explained the whole process. 

His first question was "If I do not like it there, can I come home?" We had to assure him that it would only take at most 30 minutes and he would be home after that. I guess he had seen what went on when he had to give blood 2 years ago to Toro and of course Megat had to go to the hospital quite a lot. 

I bought him a new carrier that has rollers as I did not think I would be able to carry him to the vet's and back using his old carrier.  He is now 7.8 kg!! The vet said that I have a "fat" cat. Well it is true that he is fat but he has lost some weight from last year and maybe we can put in a more exercise next year as well. 

     

     

I was afraid it was too small (it was the biggest they had) and allowed him to sit in it whenever he wanted. I was thinking that if it was uncomfortable, then I would really have to use his old carrier but he spent a some time sitting in it so I decided it was ok. I was glad I bought this as it was a breeze to pull him behind me. It was a little wobbly at first but it got better in the end.

                    

                       It was not so bad. I came home and had a whole can of chicken!

It was a great success. Bujang growled once or twice and even let the vet examine his body, his ears and teeth. He has some tartar but the vet said it was not bad at all and we could still way for another year to clean his teeth as he would have to be sedated for this. Then he had all his nails trimmed. YAAY!! I told the vet that he had not had his nails trimmed for 2 years but it seemed his nails were ok. I guess it was all that scratching on the scratch posts that helped him. But now, for a few weeks at least, I do not have to worry about him using his nails to stop Tanaka from bothering him or accidentally scratching grandma. 

We had done 3 different blood tests as he is already 11 years old and its good to know what's going on with him. We had the comprehensive profile and the Haematology test as well. They found that his phosphorus was a little low and so he had a Thyroid profile as well. His results were all very good. His PVC is 47%. Another YAAY!! for Bujang. He did tell Laura that he does not  feel more thirsty than normal, only a little bit. His TP is 9.0. So he is a little dehydrated.

Bujang told Laura about his body when we asked him about going to the vet. 

"My teeth feel fine. I am meowing a lot because I feel a rush through my body. I get rushes through my body. My body is strong and my back does not hurt. My shoulders are strong. I don't know if I can go to the vet because it frightens me so much to feel trapped. I want to tell my mom that if I try to go to the vet's and I don't like it, can I come home. I don't need to stay".

So we told him he is going to come home and that both Akira and Tanaka had gone to the vet and Laura asked them to talk to him about it. Bujang said, "We'll, if they can go, I can go cause it is my job to be good for people. I can do that."

And he did and I am glad everything is good in his body. Good job Bujang. 

Now all I need to do is to take him to the osteopath for the rushes in his body and the fact that he has pins and needles on his feet sometimes.