Check Your Energy

I have talked before about how our energy affects our cats. And even though I know and understand just how much my energy really affects them, I still have moments when I question why my cats are acting out. Sometimes, I am quick to realize that they are only responding to my energy. Other times, it may take me a couple of days to make the connection. This month has brought about some changes. Changes in our cat hierarchy and dynamics, changes in our daily routines, as well as some personal loss. All which has brought up some emotions in both me and my cats. Through it all, I have had to remember that what I am feeling is absorbed and amplified for my cats.

Top Cat

We have been dealing with some Cat Drama since October, when we had to move Zazzles up to Resident Cat status due to him having severe anemia. At first, things were not too bad amongst the cats. Of course, we had some hissing and growling. But things were fairly calm. Then, Zazzles started feeling better and things escalated. In a bad way. Zazzles was trying to find his place in our hierarchy of cats. He instantly set his sights on Bodie and Hemingway, which made sense because they are the biggest of my cats. Pick a fight with the biggest and baddest in prison to make a name for yourself.

Unfortunately, having this mindset brought about quite a few violently brutal fights. Things were so bad that Zazzles could not be trusted to be in “Gen Pop” without me being home. It was very stressful for all involved. I was constantly on guard whenever Zazzles was out and about. Keeping a check on where he was at all times. It was difficult to be at ease and calm. Ryan told me that they don’t fight when I am not home. Then it clicked. I was stressed when I was home. Watching and waiting for a fight to happen that was going to need my intervention. My stress about a fight that hasn’t happened yet was being felt by my cats. And the stress they were feeling was being released in aggression. A vicious cycle.

Once I made that connection, things started to get better. Instead of being anxious and cautious, I started to just be. Go about my business like I use to. We still have some issues to work out. But things definitely better now. Instead of watching Zazzles every move, I am now just letting him roam. If I hear or see some growling or hissing, I just say “It’s ok. Easy now” in a calm voice. And it has been working. The 2 parties involved will walk away from each other and go about their business. By staying calm, myself, they are able to stay calm. We have only had a few times when Zazzles has had to go into solitary confinement. A big improvement from the beginning of this month.

Back to Reality

This school year, we had 2 1/2 weeks off for Winter Break, and it was glorious. For me and my cats. However, that time off had it pros and cons. An extended break did afford me the luxury of being home and spending time with my cats. But it also threw their routines off slightly. And cats are creatures of habit. They thrive on routine. It took a couple of days for them to get used to me being home during the day. Things were great. We were all living in bliss.

Then, reality came knocking and I had to go back to school. And, once again, we had a period of adjustment. But this time it took longer and brought drama with it. They had gotten use to me being home with them and now, once again, I was gone longer than I was home. Life became chaotic and rushed once again. Naturally, my stress level increases during school. So, when I was home, they were picking up on my stress. And that was when I started noticing an increase in the cat drama I mentioned earlier. Just reaffirming that my energy greatly affects my cats.

Feeling My Sadness

In case I needed more proof on just how much my cats can react to my emotions, it was demonstrated again a couple of weeks ago. Sadly, I had received the news of the sudden passing of one of my students. I was devastated. It was a very emotional day for me. And my cats knew it. Throughout the day, anytime that I was upset, at least one of my cats would climb on my lap and purr. They were comforting me and taking away my sadness.

Later that week, as I was getting ready for the memorial service, I was dealing with a mix of emotions. During that time, my cats were also dealing with emotions. They were picking up on my sadness, anxiety and stress. Once again, we were having hissing, growling and mini cat fights. Keeping my emotions in check was important. I could still have my emotions, but I needed to remember how these emotions were going to affect my cats.

Lessons Learned

I am a firm believer that our cats come into our lives to teach us things. They have lessons that we need to learn. Things that we need to experience in order to grow. Some of these lessons are hard. They require us to look within ourselves. To admit things about ourselves that we would rather keep buried. We are all made of energy. What we are dealing with or going through affects our energy. Our energy affects our cat’s energy. They are here to guide us, love us, teach and help us. We can help them help us by remembering that our energies intwine. To listen to what they are trying to tell us. Looking within when they are demonstrating “behavior issues” will go a long way to alleviating unwanted stress in the house.

“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.”
― Hippolyte A. Taine