I have a very special treat for you today: Dezi of has kindly agreed to tell you about her experience/life as a service cat. Take it away, Dezi! Hello, my name is Deztinee Izabella, but mommy jus…
Source: Service Cats Help The Disabled
Service Cats: Smelling Disease
Meowllo and welvome to another Service Cat posty. As with all our educational posts, the followin’ will be in human English so everypawdy can read or translate it. Me does wanna thank ya’ fur your purrayers, mommy’s feelin’ a little better today. Purrayer changes things fur the better. Alrighty then, let’s get on with our posty. Ifin ya’ missed any of the posts in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links below.
Picking A Service Cat: Pt.1
Foundations of Training: Pt. 2
Service Cats: Massage Training: Pt. 3
Now that you’re all caught up, we have some great questions to answer today. As you read in a previous post, we alert mommy to a Syncope incident (passing out) before it happens. That alert allows her to get to safety before it happens. Otherwise, she would fall and could seriously hurt herself. We received a couple of questions about this. The first was, what actions do we take to alert mommy. Well when me was a teeny tiny kitten, me could barely reach mommy’s ankles. So, me would “dance” around in a circle and pat her ankles. As me’s gotten older, me’s method has changed a bit. Nowadays, me meows and taps on whatever part of mommy is closest. When we’re out in public and me is in the stroller, me sits up, meows and pats the stroller side that is closest to mommy, since me can’t actually touch her.
Raena has started learning to alert as well. She isn’t nearly as cute as me was, dancing around mommy and patting her ankle, but so long as mommy and her know what’s up, it doesn’t really matter. Raena generally meows and touches mommy with her paw. She’s a little small for the stroller yet, so we’ll have to wait and see how she alerts from the stroller. We’ll get back to you on that one. (FYI: Our stroller zips closed and there are 2 kitten sized escape openings on either side. We don’t have a small enough harness to attach her inside. At this time she would need a ferret harness.)
Now, we told you that we know this because we can smell a change in mommy’s body chemistry. Sick/Disease has a smell. We were asked if dogs could smell this too. The answer is Yes. Most all animals can smell sick, disease and death. There are many Service Dogs that alert to seizures, heart attacks and other illnesses; and more cats and other animal species than the general public is aware of. We don’t have permission to divulge names, but one of our facebook friends has a kitty that has alerted her to seizures for years. And of course you can read in the news at least once a month, about a heroic animal that saved his/her owner from _______(fill in the blank).
Animals are very smart and intuitive. With a little training most of us can serve a purpose and help the disabled. Because of the stereotypes about cats, we often get overlooked when it comes to training and socialization in general and especially being Service animals, Therapy animals and even Companion animals. Contrary to belief, cats can be trained. And for a lot of people we would make the perfect Service Animal. We can and do groom ourselves, use a litterbox, don’t need to go outside or be walked and are extremely affectionate. We are not loners by choice. We love our humans and love to be with them and please them.
Remember when wee told you that Raena is already learning massage? Well, this morning when we woke up, she immediately took her place and started massaging mommy’s arms. ‘Course she is still a very young kitten so after a few minutes, she started jumping around and playing. First off, that’s okay. Remember, fun training is often more successful than yelling at and being stern all the time. There is a time for stern, but it doesn’t have to be all the time. Mommy says that most disabled people have some form or level of depression; so anything that can make you laugh or smile, is a good thing. Not always with a full bladder, but… Anyways, mommy gently spoke to Raena and got her to focus again, and get the blood circulating and the nerves and muscles to wake up in mommy’s arms so we could get up and get our day started.
We would like to put a call out to you all. Do you have or know a Service Cat, Certified Therapy Cat or Certified Companion Cat? As we’ve told you, these are three different categories and shouldn’t be used interchangeably or mistaken for the term pet. Fur the full definitions of each term, purrlease check out our Service Animal tab in the menu bar. We would love to share guest posts about them with everybody. Me’s gonna wrap it up now. The lawn crew’s here, and that means it’s time fur me to nap UTB/C (under the bed/chair). Seems Raena couldn’t care less, but me’s not convinced all that noise is okay. Ifin you have any questions purrlease let us know.
Do you know any Service Animals personally?
Do you have any additional questions about Service, Therapy or Companion animals? (please be specific)
What would you like to read about further here?
Till the next time……………………………….Be Blest!!!
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Deztinee and RaenaBelle
Blest Sunday Mish Mash
Meowllo and welcome to another Blest Sunday. We’re runnin’ really late today, but we didn’t wanna miss Blest Sunday cuz we’re blest. We are blest to have each and every one of you in our lives. And we’re blest to have each other. But mommy’s been real sick since Furiday, so me’s posty today isn’t gonna be too long. We wanted to show ya’ a video of Raena’s furst night here in her Furever home befur she got so big ya’ wouldn’t recognize her. MOL Mommy’s been so busy dat she hadn’t had da time to edit any of da videos, so dat’s why we’re late today. Me told mommy she had to get a video done. And voila’, here it is.
Ifin ya’ can’t see da video, click here.
Yeah me knows, she’s just too cute. Truth is, she’s not really dat bad. Me’s actually startin’ to really warm up to her. Y, just last night we was all chillin’ and layin’ together and watchin’ a little teevee. Kitties watchin’ teevee, ya’ say? Yep sure ‘nuff. Check out this foto of Raena ketchin’ out da action up close. MOL
Anyways, Mommy had her regular monthly doctor’s ‘pointment Furiday and da heat index was 112 degrees, so against her better judgement, she left both me and Raena at home and went by herself. She had been throwin’ up all meownin’ with a massive migraine, and passin’ out, but she said it was just too hot. As we’ve told ya’ da a/c in da car doesn’t work. Somethin’ ‘bout a motor bein’ out, and da lectric windows don’t roll down. So mommy says da car’s like an oven and she won’t take us anywhere lessen she absolutely has too; like Raena’s upcomin’ VET ‘pointment. Anyhow, mommy’s doctor told her she looked like death warmed over, and gave her more migraine medicine. It’s helpin’ some, but she still feels yucky, so we’ll be round to see ya’ as soon as we can. And, we had two innerviews scheduled fur humans to help mommy ‘round da house and errands and such, and both were no shows. So da search is still on.
Mommy says I’s not ‘posed to be inside da bowl, but I say it’s a purrfect fit.
Befur me goes, don’t furget to enter our pawsum Garfield Cat Litter Give Away. Me’s tellin’ ya’ this stuffs is great. Don’t know ifin any of da fotos we’s sharin’ actually was a selfie, but we’s joinin’ da Kitties Blue fur Selfie Sunday too. Try to stay cool and enjoy your day.
Till da next time……………………………….Be Blest!!!
Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses
Deztinee and RaenaBelle
Did You Say Garfield
Meowllo everypawdy, it’s finally Furiday. Today we’re gonna talk ‘bout our pawdee boxes. Yep dat’s right, me said our pawdee boxes. Your all wonderin’ why, cuz you know me likes me’s purrivacy, and we haven’t told ya’ anythin’ ‘bout Raena’s pawdee box habits. Well, let me ‘splain. We recently got to try a new litter, and well ya’ know litter goes in pawdee boxes. Most of ya’ know dat we’ve tried a few litters but we always go back to da same thing mommy’s been usin’ fur over 20 years. So, let me tell ya’ ‘bout this new litter we tried. And stay tuned, cuz 7 Pets is lettin’ me have a mega pawsum give away.
Furst, let me tell ya’ ‘bout little Raena’s pawdee box habits. Or should me say, lack of. You know we told ya’ dat when mommy picked her up she and da place reeked of urine. Mommy was told dat she was usin’ da cheapest nastiest litter on da market, altho’ mommy didn’t see any such pawdee box anywhere. Never fear, mommy’s never had a kitty turn their nose up at our regular litter. Well guess what? Raena used da piddle pad ‘stead of da pawdee box. Oh she got in da pawdee box alright, but stead of doin’ her business, she wanted to play. Yuck Can you ‘magine a kitty playin’ in da pawdee box? Disssssgustin’!!!
It was clean sissy. What’s so disgustin’ ‘bout dat?
Oh Raena, clean or not, ya’ don’t play where ya’, well, you know.
But I didn’t, you know, so it was like a clean sand box.
Whatever Raena.
Anyways, mommy finally got Raena to use da pawdee box so when it came time to try da new litter, she got a bit nervous. You know, was she gonna turn back da clock to when Raena wouldn’t use da pawdee box? Would me refuse to use da pawdee box? Mommy shouldn’t have worried so much. After all, with a name like Garfield Cat Litter, what self respectin’ cat wouldn’t like it?. Since mommy was a bit nervous she decided to add da Garfield Cat litter to our regular litter and mix it up. So she opened a bag of da Ultra Clump Grand and poured it over the top of our regular litter. Befur mommy could get da scoop to mix it up, Raena stuck her nose in to check it out. Me was checkin’ out da bag. So mommy grabbed da camera and started snap, snap, snappin’ away. And did you know Raena didn’t even care dat mommy was takin’ fotos? Dat’s right, she jumped in da pawdee box and went wee with da flashy box just a flashin’. No shame, me tells ya’, no shame.
I needed to go sissy. And besides, I haves enuff furs to hide mines girly pawrts. And mommy says we Ragdolls squat till we touch da litter.
Yeah, whatever Raena.
Well, me waited till mommy put da camera away befur me went and took care of business. But me did go right after. Me likes da new litter. It’s not hard on da paws and it’s not so lightweight dat me sinks to da bottom of da box. It doesn’t have any smell and it clumps well and is flushable. It’s made from natural plant- based renewable ingredients and has natural odor control. Garfield Cat litter comes in 2 textures. Da furst is called Bio Ultra Clump Grand. Da litter granules are about da size of regular corn, wheat or clay litter. Da other size is called Bio Ultra Clump Tiny. Da tiny is almost da texture of sand. It also has no scent, can support da weight of a big kitty, is clumping and flushable. We didn’t notice any dust when mommy poured it in our boxes and there’s no sign of it on da floor. Da granules are a white to milky color. Because there’s no actual color to da litter, it can help monitor any changes in your cat’s urine. So me gives da Garfield Cat litter 4 paws up. Obviously Raena does too. So what about mommy?
I love it too girls. Of course I love anything that ya’ll like and will use. But even when I was pouring it into the litter boxes I was hoping ya’ll would like it, because there wasn’t any perfumey smells or dust smacking me in the face. And I really like that it’s not all over the floor. Altho’ it clumps really well it doesn’t seem to stick to ya’ll’s fur either. I really like that I can monitor any urine changes; and of course my favorite thing is that it’s flushable. So two thumbs up from me. We’ll be getting more Garfield Clumping Litter.
Thanks mommy. So now we get to da bestest pawrt. Da wonderful peeps over at 7 Pets are allowing me to give away 2 bags each to 5 U.S. residents. Dat’s right, 5 of you living in da U.S. will be trying out the Garfield Clumping Litter in your own pawdee boxes soon. You can choose between da Ultra Clump Grand or Ultra Clump Tiny. You’ll get 2 bags of your choice.
Enter Here
Me’s gonna wrap it up now and head on over to Rascal and Rocco’s fur da Pet Parade. Everypawdy enter da give away and enjoy your weekend.
Do you wish it were easier to monitor your cats urine?
Do you prefer scented or non scented litter?
Till da next time………………………………..Be Blest!!!
Disclaimer: We were compensated for writing this post. However, all opinions are our own. We only bring products we use or have tried ourselves and feel would be of interest to you our readers and friends.
Service Cats U.S. 