More Raena Drama

Published on September 7, 2016 by Service Cats U.S.48 Comments

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me RaenaBelle. Are ya’ there? Well, mommy and sis Dezi both said I’s could blog today. Mommy has a doctor’s ‘pointment this afternoon and I was ‘posed to go with her. But now she’s thinkin’ ‘bout leavin’ me at home. And all cuz I’s been favorin’ mines right eye.

Mines eye be fine here

Somethin’ happened yesfurday and I’s not tellin’ what; but cuz of it, mines right eye has been hurtin’. Mommy had some antibiotic drops left from when I’s had dat infection dat she put in there last night. OMC Dat stuffs hurted. Then she must’ve purrayed over me like elebenty billion times. I’s doin’ a bit better today, but it does still hurt some. I’s been keepin’ it closed a lot, but every once in a while a girly’s just gotta open her eyes ya’ know?. Anyways, ifin ya’ll wouldn’t mind, I’s sure could use your purrayers. Mommy says ifin it gets worse or isn’t any better by Furiday, she’s gonna find a way to take me to da (whispers) VET. Purrlease, I’s not wanna go back there and mommy doesn’t really have any money fur it. So just send those purrayers, okay?

Me knows she doesn’t feel well mommy, but does

me have to take this?

Well since mommy has to go to da doctor today fur her regular monthly ‘pointment, I’s gonna cut it short. Da manager’s done been down here this meownin’. Sissy says we’ll tell ya’ ’bout dat in another posty. She also said to tell ya’ll we’ll be by to visit as soon as we can. BearCat and hims momma asked to see fotos where I’s was layin’ on da tippy top of da cat tree and sis Dezi was on da lower ledge. So mommy took some fotos last night of sis Dezi and me on da cat tree. We hope you’s enjoy today’s fotos; isn’t mines sissy sweet? Truth be told, I’s spend a lot of time at da tippy top, but sis Dezi be da Queen of da house and da cat tree, so ifin she wants up there, I’s have to relinquish. Mommy says dat’s da rule of sharin’. Seems to me this rule of sharin’ always works out in sis Dezi’s favor. Mommy says dat’s da rule of bein’ da Queen. So many rules fur this little Princess to learn. Anyways, I’s gotta go. Fank you in advance fur your purrayers, and have a pawsum day.

(turns to Dezi) How’d I’s do sis Dezi?

You did fine Raena. Now let’s go finish brekky.

Till da next time………………………………………Be Blest!!!

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

RaenaBelle and Deztinee

Service Cats What’s The Easiest Task To Train

Published on September 5, 2016 by Service Cats U.S.27 Comments

Meowllo and welcome to another Miserable Monday. Dat means it’s time fur another educational Service Cats posty. It’s also Labor day here in da U.S., and we gotta tell ya’ we seriously thought ‘bout lettin’ mommy have da day off. You know, no laborin’ on labor day?. But we got some great questions from our last Service Cats posty, so we thought we’d give ya’ some answers. Let me say dat some of da training questions we’re bein’ asked apply or can/should apply to all cats, not just Service Cats. We are covering them under the Service Cats posts, because Service Cats must be well behaved in general. Training a Service Cat isn’t just training the specific duties they will perform, but also good behavior. As with all our educational posts the following will be written in human English. Ifin you’ve missed any of da posts in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ da links below.

Part 1: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/service-cat-what-to-look-for/

Part 2: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/service-cat-training-foundation/

Part 3: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/07/06/service-cats-how-to-train-kitty-to-massage-without-claws/

Part 4: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/service-cats-smelling-disease/

Part 5: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/07/18/service-cats-do-you-need-one/

Part 6: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/service-cats-who-bears-the-cost/

Part 7: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/08/01/service-cats-housing-laws-and-exceptions/

Part 8: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/08/08/service-cats-accommodations-and-common-sense/

Part 9: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/service-cats-what-happens-when-the-handler-dies/

Part 10: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/08/22/service-cats-proper-training-methods/

Part 11: https://dezizworld.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/service-cats-proper-training-methods-part-2/

Now that you’re all caught up, let’s see what today’s question is. Awnty Jean, Shoko and Kali from the Canadian Cats asked, “How long does it take to train the average kitty to perform an “action” properly? And “Is there something they learn quicker than others, and why?” Well now those are great questions. Initially the first thing you want to train any cat/kitten is to know and respond to their name. We’re not trying to be “smart” with this answer. But before any training can commence, it’s important that kitty, doggy, whatever animal you’re dealing with knows their name and will respond to it. This can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days. Mommy doesn’t allow anyone to call us kitty kitty. The reason for that is because kitty is not our names and it’s very important that we respond to our names every time. As a result of this we do not respond to anyone who says “here kitty kitty”. And yes, any cat/kitten can be trained to respond when called by their name.

Now, we know this isn’t the answer awnty Jean was truly wondering tho’. She wants to know about those specific tasks we’re trained for like calling 911, massaging mommy or driving her wheelchair. So, we’ll address that now. First, every kitty is different, even within the same breed. Knowing that, you can’t expect each kitty to learn at the same pace. For instance, me was 3 weeks old when me came to live with mommy and sis Lexi, and me started alerting mommy that she was going to pass out within a couple of days. Sis Lexi had always known mommy was going to pass out, but she never alerted to it until watching me do it for about a year. And then suddenly one day, sis Lexi started alerting mommy too. So you could say it took sis Lexi 11 years to learn that task and me, 2 days. But in all fairness, mommy had never thought about training that particular task so she never asked that of Lexi, nor trained her for it.

Dat’z da spot mommy. How ’bout you, am I’z gettin

da right spot on your leg here?

Mommy says probably the easiest task to train a kitty to perform is massage. How long does it take to train a kitty to do this? Because it’s an instinctive behavior, it usually only takes a few training sessions before kitty performs perfectly. Remember, Raena was doing this her first night with mommy. It took me a couple of days to learn, and about 2 weeks to learn the specific areas me was to focus on. Now this brings us to another question and a few replies we’ve received. Let’s address the replies first. Several of you said that you had kitties that started out without their claws but eventually those claws came out and of course the massage is no longer enjoyable. Remember we told you that any massages should be performed in a place that was secure for kitty in the event they lost their sense of balance, etc.. The reason kitty loses balance or those claws come back out is because kitty has entered a state of “Euphoria”. That means kitty has entered a state of extreme pleasure and is no longer thinking; they are lost in the moment. A light tap on the paw will rouse kitty and cause the claws to retract again. You can also try speaking to kitty. If you choose to speak, do so in a quiet and calming voice. Mommy will say things like, “Claws in”, “That hurt a bit”, “Thank you”, “That’s enough”. Remember, Training is all about Repetition.

While we’re on the subject of massage, we need to address another question we got about this. We were asked how to train a kitty to massage in the first place. Meaning, they believe their kitty doesn’t know how to knead at all. Altho’ the possibility for this is exists, especially for bottle fed hand raised kittens, it’s not likely. Kitty is kneading, you just aren’t seeing it. Let’s explain this action and the reason for it. When a kitten is born, ideally they will have a mother cat to raise them. When kitty gets ready to eat, they will latch onto the mothers teat and begin to suckle. This action is then followed by gently kneading around that teat to make more milk come out. If you’ve ever milked a cow, you know that after pulling the teat and dispensing milk, you push up and into the udder of the cow before pulling it back down. This motion allows the teat to fill up with the maximum amount of milk to dispense. Even a kitty who has never fed from a teat will still knead instinctively just like purring. They just may not do it as much or in the open.

Is this right mommy?

So, you believe your kitty doesn’t know how to knead; can you train kitty to do so? The answer is Yes. Remember, this action is instinctual. You just need to get kitty to perform the action around you and for you. This is the point at which an outsider will think you’re crazy, because you’re going to have to get kitty to that Euphoric state before they knead. Think about the things that cause your kittys’ motor boat (purr) to rev up. Mommy used to be able to just look at sis Lexi even from across the room, and she would turn on her purr box so loudly that things around her shook. She would get so excited she would knead the air if she couldn’t get to mommy. I prefer for mommy to rub my chin and coo at me. Mommy will say things like, “I love you Dezi, You’re my sweet angel girl, You’re my beautiful blue eyed angel, Mommy loves her baby, Sweet Dezi,” or she’ll sing the made up songs she sings to me. Let me tell ya’, nothing gets me going faster than mommy singing sweet songs to me. So, once you’ve found kittys’ trigger, keep them going, they will eventually start kneading. Again, they’ve reached that Euphoric state and all actions they perform now are totally instinctual. It’s not uncommon for any kitty in this state to drool as well.

Another option to train kitty is to give them a blanket, bed, throw, etc. made of plush fabric or faux fur. Most kitties love the feel of these materials and automatically knead them. Me has torn up at least one blanket a year, a throw and 2 cat beds. Me can knead those with me’s claws much to mommy’s chagrin. But she allows it because me doesn’t use me’s claws on her.

So to sum up our answer to today’s question, the easiest task to train a kitty is massage because it’s taking advantage of an instinctual action. Because it’s instinctual, kitty is eager to learn. Training kitty to massage (knead) a specific area can take as little as a few hours to a few months. It takes less time to train a kitten than an adult, but both can be trained.

Well now, me’s gonna wrap it up and see ifin me can’t get mommy to take me fur a stroll later. Purrlease feel free to ask your training questions or any other questions you might have in da comment section, or you can email us via our contact page. And by da way, those emails are private. We’re da only ones dat can see them. We hope you all have a relaxing Labor Day. And by da way, mommy said da foto above was one of her favorites cuz Raena and me were sleeping peacefully together on da cat tree.

Do you (does your kitty) knead anything in particular besides your human?

Do you (your kitty) have a favorite blanket or bed?

Have you had to replace anything because kitty kneaded it to death?

Till da next time…………………………..Be Blest!!!

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Blest Sunday’s This and That

Published on September 4, 2016 by Service Cats U.S.38 Comments

Meowllo and welcome to a new Blest Sunday. As always, we’ve been extremely blest this week. Yes we told you dat it has been stormin’ and mommy’s been in a lot of extra pain, but ‘stead of hidin’ out durin’ those storms, me’s been hangin’ with mommy. Dat’s somethin’ dat always makes mommy happy. Every day mommy says dat nuffin’ makes her happier than bein’ with her girls. And even tho’ mommy had to abruptly leave da bathroom to find da toilet paper cuz it wasn’t on da shelves dat are no more, she said she was just glad dat Raena and me were okay and dat nopawdy had gotten hurt. Me’s not so sure she was all dat happy at dat moment tho’. Anyways…

Tomorrow is Labor Day here in da United States. A day dat celebrates da “labor movement” by not laborin’. A little oxy-moronic ifin ya’ ask me, but nopawdy did, so we’ll just be hangin’ out as usual. Oh yeah, me furgot to tell you, Raena furinally got her furst taste of cat grass. Mommy thinks it’s funny dat just like da changin’ of da bed sheets, Raena’s been here fur a while and never noticed any of this till this past week. You know mommy changes da bed sheets regularly, but not till this past week did Raena pay attention, much less insert her playful self into da mix. Mommy also tries to keep some grass growin’ fur us kitties to chew on. This past week da light went on in Raena’s head and she discovered da not at all hidden cat grass. At furst she didn’t know what to do with it, but after watchin’ me a time or two, she planted herself up there and had a nibble. Mommy’s fotography skills ain’t all dat great, but we think you’ll get da idea. Raena must have gorged her little self on da grass, cuz ‘bout 30 minutes later she was horkin’ it up all over da place. MOL

Dat wasn’t funny sis Dezi. I’s not ever horked befur and it kinda scared me.

Me knows Raena. Mommy says you make da same horrified face me does befur throwin’ up. She doesn’t know ifin this is a Ragdoll thing or a just us thing, but she says she wishes it didn’t scare us so much. ‘Course me also knows she would rather we didn’t hork at all. Me knows dat cuz she says it da whole time she’s cleanin’ it up and purrays ever night dat God would help us not to throw up or have hairballs.

Well I’s all fur God answerin’ dat purrayer sissy. I’s not like dat horkin’. Fankfully mommy cleans it up befur ‘memberin’ to take fotos.

Oh Raena, nopawdy wants to see your throw up. Dat’s not somethin’ mommy would ever take a foto of ‘lessen it be strange or pawssibly medical related, and then only to show da VET.

Phht Phht (Raena spits and acts as if she’s going to hork) Dezi, Don’t ever talk ‘bout da mean place. I’s not wanna go back there ever again.

Me’s with ya’ on dat kiddo, me doesn’t like goin’ there either.

So let’s just get back to those blessings. We are so blest to have so many pawsum furiends and furmily. You all are very special to us. Mommy had to go up town last night and on her journey she saw stray cats every where. A few months ago she couldn’t find a stray kitty to save her life, but last night it seemed they were unending. Y Right here in our very own pawrkin’ lot mommy spied one hunched down unnder a car tremblin in fear. We felt so bad fur him, dat when we got back home mommy hollered and hollered fur him to come eat. She was gonna share our noms with da scaredy kitty. But alas, no amount of hollerin’ worked. We never saw kitty again last night. But we’s keepin’ our eyes open.

Dezi and Raena sleep on the lLiberty cat tree — Before Photo shop

Anyways, we’s gonna wrap it up fur now. We’s joinin’ da Kitties Blue fur Selfie Sunday. A lot of you use this Photo Shop fur editin’ and creatin’ works of art with your fotos, so mommy thought she’d give it a look see again. She looked it up once, but it cost real money, so she’s never given it another thought. Well, it turns out there’s a free 30 day trial dat doesn’t require a credit card so she downloaded it to try to beautify some of our fotos. Needless to say, it ain’t all dat easy, but dat’s where we edited da fotos we’re postin’ today and even made a textured foto to play ’round with da filters. ‘Member to take a moment today and every day to give thanks fur da blessings in your life. By da way, mommy says dat foto surroundin’ this pawagraph is one of her favorites. Me doesn’t know why she said dat tho’. Maybe ya’ll can tell me.

Dezi and Raena sleep on the lLiberty cat tree texturized with photoshop — After Photoshop

Till da next time…………………………………..Be Blest!!!

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Raena hiding in the sheets

Mommy Calls It Work, But I Call It Fun

Published on September 2, 2016 by Service Cats U.S.35 Comments

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. I’s gotta tell ya’, I’s been livin’ da high life. I’s know, I’s may scare da livin’ daylights outta mommy, but I’s havin’ soooooo much fun. Now I’s not sayin’ dat fall I’s took was any fun, cuz it fur sure wasn’t da highlight of mines life. I’s not ever wanna do dat again. So I’s not spent much time in dat corner again. But there’s so many other pawsum things to get in to. Uh, I’s mean to play with. Fur some reason, mommy keeps yellin’ at me, “Raena, did you not learn anything?” What’s up with dat? I’s not even knows what she’s talkin’ ‘bout.

Take last night fur example. Mommy spent most of da day doin’ things she calls, “work”. You know, laundry and cleanin da house. I’s not know why anypawdy would call these things work, they’re sooooooo much fun. Anyways, back to last night. Mommy usually has a lot of stuffs on top of da washin’ machine. Somethin’ ‘bout keepin’ us away from danger. I’s think dat’s just a story she tells cuz there’s not any storage places in da bathroom. ‘Specially now, since I’s broke da shelves she had up. Yeah turns out I’s broke ’em and they can’t be put back up. Mommy’s gotta find somethin’ else to do fur storage now. Anyways, since she was runnin’ dat big machine, da top was bare. Bare I’s tell ya’. Not a thing on it. It was callin’ mines name. I could hear it plain as day. Raena, oh Raena, climb on up here. teeheehee So I’s found me a way to climb up there and check it all out. OMC You’da thought I’s just jumped in da middle of shark filled waters. Da look on mommy’s face was one dat said she was not amused at all. And she said “NO RAENA!!”, and snatched me up so fast mines head spun. She was chatterin’ da whole time ‘bout Lexi, God rest her, getting’ stuck behind da washer fur a whole day on more than one occasion, and somethin’ ‘bout how she only says no, cuz she doesn’t want me to get hurt. Yeah, yeah sure. I’s thinks she just likes da way No sounds. She sure says it a lot. Well it doesn’t matter cuz she quickly blocked mines access, so there was no more explorin’ da top of da washer, let alone what was behind it. And befur dat snatchin’ I’s did see a lot of great vines fur swingin’ on back there (vines = hoses and cords).

Mommy’s next feat was to strip da bed. Oh what fun. I’s ran up and down da bed and played jump attack da squares on da mattress pad. WooHoo Then things got even more fun. Mommy started whoopin’ sheets in da air and onto da bed. Lookit those pawsumly purrple sheets. Sis Dezi said a Christmas angel got those fur mommy, her and her sis Lexi, God rest her, fur Christmas last year. I’s not know what Christmas is , but I’s sure hope I’s have a Christmas angel dat gets me somethin’.

RaenaBelle!!! You’re not suppose to say things like dat.

But why sissy? I’s do want a Christmas angel, cuz I’s want somethin’ fur me.

You get purrlenty Raena. You have a full belly, a place to live, a comfy bed to sleep in and a furmily who luvs you. It’s not pawlite to ask fur a Christmas angel.

Well sissy it may not be pawlite, but I’s still hope I’s have one.

Anyways,I’s rolled ‘round in da clean sheets and jumped on ‘em and hid under them. What a cool game mommy, I’s meowed. Mommy would pick me up and put me on da ground to spray da sheets with purrfume every time. I’s didn’t let dat deter me. I’s was back on da bed in no time. Now fur those of ya’ dat don’t know, we have a hospital bed with a memory foam mattress. So mommy has to pick up da mattress to tuck da sheets, cuz her hands don’t fit ‘tween da rails. Mommy learned really quick, and da hard way, ya’ gotta have da rails to keep da mattress on da bed. I’s only heard da story, it all happened long befur I’s was even born; and a story fur another time maybe. Anyways, when mommy lifted da mattress, I’s had to hold on or be thrown. Can you ‘magine bein’ thrown from a buckin’ mattress? Not me, I’s too smawrt fur dat.

Well after da sheets were on da bed and smellin’ good mommy grabbed da blanky and whooped it in da air over da bed and…OMC feathers went everywhere. Seems some kitty, who will remain nameless, actually put a whole in da down blanky. Have you ever tried to ketch those little downy duck feathers? It’s almost impawssible. But what a game. I’s really like this sheet changin’ day. I’s not know where I’s been fur da rest of them cuz sis Dezi says mommy does it at least once a week, but let me tell ya’, I’s not plan on missin’ another one. Sis Dezi says after a while it gets kinda borin’, I’s can’t ‘magine dat ever happenin’.

Me used to think dat too Raena, but trust me. It won’t always be so much fun.

Hey sissy, why don’t you tell everypawdy where you was durin’ da big thunder boomers and storm we’s been havin’?

Fanks Raena, me hasn’t been able to get a word in cuz you’ve been meowin’ 90 to nuffin’. We have been havin’ storms and even rumblin’ mumblin’ skies this week. There’s also been days when da sky complained without da rain. Don’t know ifin God let da angels win on those days or what, but me just hung out with mommy like you do Raena. And fur those of ya’ dat don’t have a clue ‘bout me’s God and angels refurence, it comes from da story dat mommy’s grammaw told her ‘bout storms and dat she tells us. In short, thunder bommers are God and da angels bowlin’. And when it rains, dat’s da angels tears, they be cryin’ cuz they lost. Da purrtant thing here is dat me’s not been runnin’ under da chair or bed to hide. ‘Stead me’s been hangin’ out and chillin’ just like mommy wants me too.

Now dat me got me’s bloggy back from Raena da usurpurr, we’s gonna wrap it up fur today. As we do on all Furidays, we’s joinin’ Rascal and Rocco and their pawsum co-hosts fur da weekly Pet Parade. It’s ‘posed to be stormin’ again today, so we’ll be by to visit as we can. You all know mommy’s paranoid and makes us turn off da catputer durin’ storms; so we’ll be visitin’ as much as pawssible. We hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Hey sissy don’t furget our Daily Mews article. Sis Dezi and her sis Lexi, God rest her, used to write fur da Daily Mews, which is actually a monthly publication, and now I’s joined Dezi writin’ fur this distinguished publication. I’s purromiss, none of those run on sentences like dat one. MOL Check out our latest article here, and you can read da purrevious articles by clickin’ here and choosin’ da article ya’ wanna read. Da Daily Mews has lots of talented writers and great stories. It doesn’t have those harassing daily emails, so be sure and subscribe while your there.

Great job Raena. Now we’re gonna say see ya’ later and go and take a nap.

(Raena looks at Dezi and nods. But behind her back are crossed paws. She looks away and grins coyly and quietly snickers to herself)

Till da next time………………………………………..Be Blest!!!

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Service Cats U.S.

I Audra, am the human behind Service Cats U.S. aka DezizWorld. I am disabled and use cats as service animals instead of dogs. They are just as capable and can perform duties other animals cannot. We started our online journey to bring awareness to the ability of cats and to help others understand the relationship between a service animal and their handler/person. We offer training tips and tricks that I have learned through the years along with other information on all things feline. We began this journey in 2014 with Lexi and Dezi. They have since gone on to heaven, but our journey continues. This blog is about our daily life from the kitty's point of view. I want this blog to be interactive and get to know all of you, so comment and visit often. I will also offer advice, training tips and education when possible. Copyright © 2014 - 2021 {Audra High via Deztinee High and RaenaBelle High} All Rights Reserved All personal content (story's, poetry, etc., videos and music) are the property of the human behind Deziz World, and may not be used, copied or otherwise re-published without prior written permission/consent from the author (A. High-the human behind Deziz World). We have an amazon.com wish list and a PayPal account if you would like to help/donate to us.

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