Back to School Time

It’s that time of year again. End of summer break. Back to waking up to alarms. Packing lunches. Putting effort into my daily outfits. Back to a lot more responsibilities. As difficult as it can be for my cats to get adjusted to the beginning of summer break, it is even more difficult for them to get back on the school schedule and routine. And to be honest, I am not sure who more upset about back to school time. Me or the cats?

Slight Adjustments to Routine

The main thing that I do to make the transition from summer to back to school is to keep our same routine as much as possible during the summer. Breakfast may have been served a little bit later than on school mornings, but other than that, I haven’t altered my routine with them much during summer break. Routine is important is keeping your cats happy and healthy.

Cats are creatures of routine. It is how their big cat cousins stay alive and hunt. When we constantly alter our cat’s routine, it can stress them out. Which then can lead to a host of other problems, both emotionally and physically. I will have lots of herb gardens, hydrosol bowls and crystals around to help keep them stress free. That is my main goal in life. To keep my cats happy and healthy, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Less Cuddle Time

The biggest adjustment with going back to school will be less cuddle time. During summer break, there would be days before I needed to leave the house for anything. Many casual days were spent involving lots of cuddle time with my babies. It was glorious. That will be the biggest adjustment. Less time spent at more. The time that I am at home will be short and rushed to get everything done.

Being back at school will force me to be more cognizant of how I spend my time. Being more appreciative of when Hemingway decides he wants cuddles. Or of when Cactus wants to play with her favorite feather toy. Paying attention to these moments and providing my cats with what they are needing will help ease any stress they may be feeling with my gone most of the day again. So, back to school will be an adjustment for us all, but, hopefully, it won’t be a difficult transition.

“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud