My Valentine is My Pet and Here is Why #sundayselfie

Mum and I are close. Very close.

But you all know that.

So here is Mum to tell you that it doesn't matter if you are single and don't have a Valentine this year.

Why?

Well, love isn't just romantic love, is it?

You can love your parents, grandparents, children, friends and of course, your darling PETS!

In fact, the love between pets and humans can be very strong indeed. Some might say it's the strongest.


HERE IS MUM TO TELL YOU WHY.

"My darling Athena is my Valentine because I feel complete when I'm with her. And I can't say that I've ever truly felt like that with anyone else (human).

Ever since the day we rescued each other in July 2011 we have taken care of each other. 

When I'm down, she knows it and tries to make it all better. She sticks by me, purrs and makes biscuits on me. How soothing for the soul is that! I don't think anything else can compare.

We kiss and cuddle all the time throughout the day, and neither one of us feels smothered. If Athena doesn't like it I can sense it and back off for a while. But most of the time she loves her mummy's kisses and cuddles 💕

Cats are great for someone like me. A human with depression and anxiety. Athena really helps to reduce the stress I feel most days. When my mind is gripped by yet another beastly negative thought - usually that I am a loser and don't have a future - I've learned to bring my thoughts back to the present and focus on the moment. Just like a cat.

Yes, cats are experts in 'mindfulness' aren't they?

Athena has the loudest purr and I love to put my ear close to her so I can feel that magical vibration and hear the sweet music of the soul that seems to heal every bone in my body and every panicky thought in my unquiet mind.

She makes me feel loved and needed. For example, I know that I can't stay in bed in the morning because my little one needs feeding. And as every cat parent knows, you don't need an alarm when you have a cat! 

I trust her. I don't need her to tell me anything. Her thoughts and actions speak loudly to me. It's like we exist in our own little world, or on the same spiritual plane, so far removed from the insanity of human life, with its materialistic shallowness, greed and desire to destroy everything on this planet. All this stuff simply overwhelms me and I regularly need an escape. 

And what better way than to escape into the world of cat.

Where I find nothing but pure true love.

And I wouldn't have it any other way because you can never be lonely if you have a pet. 

So go on, adopt your furry soulmate today and experience the true meaning of love!" 

💓💕💖

Blog Hop Sponsored by THE CAT ON MY HEAD

Why I Love Animals More Than Humans #ThursdayThoughts

The above quote means so much to my mum so she wanted to share it and explain why. 

Of course, most animal lovers would agree so she doesn't need to explain. But as she is co-writer of this blog I decided to let her have her say instead of always being dictated to by me :)

Professor Noel Fitzpatrick

First, a little bit about Noel Fitzpatrick. He is The Supervet (also The Bionic Vet) - the world’s leading neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon. I know that I mentioned before that I often hide when Supervet is on TV, but that's because, being a cat, I don't like vets very much. They scare me (just like human doctors scare some humans.) Some vets are great, but some I've met haven't been that nice, and well, they make us furries hurt don't they? Mum says they do it to help us feel better. Well, let's just say I know that that's what they are meant to do!

So before I hand you over to Mum, let me just say that I do admire Supervet. And I know why humans admire him too. He does great things for animals and is pure genius at what he does. Having said that, all his team seem like incredible human beings too and also deserve a pat on the back (or some purry furry hugs) for the the amazing care and respect they have for all the animals that pass through Fitzpatrick Referrals.

Here's Mum

This quote just resonates deeply with me. It's what I've always believed myself. To me animal love is the purest love. It's that strong intense feeling I get whenever I look into my sweet Athena's eyes (those all-knowing eyes of kitty wisdom), and whenever I hug her - in that moment all that exists is just me and her. One powerful super spiritual bond. Just the two of us together against the whole world, existing for each other. Soulmates forever and ever.

Most people will say (and I've had it said to me many many times) that I feel the way I do about my pets because I have never had children.

Well, sorry to disappoint, but actually I have been a mother - to my beautiful Tuxie cat Suzy. And now I am a mother to my beautiful tabby girl Athena. This love I feel is simply too powerful to put into words, but I am sure many of you animal lovers will understand.

And my cats end up saving me. They are my reason for living. It may seem over dramatic to some, a bit too Wuthering Heights, but I don't care. It's my life and this is how I want to live it.

I just want to save animals

Someone asked me the other day what it is I want to do with my life and when I said "to save animals" the look on their face said it all. This person, who I like and admire very much for various other reasons, sadly does not share my love for animals. Maybe this person thinks I'm wasting my life and should be aspiring to other "great" things (like marriage & babies, or making lots of money). But then I think to myself how sad it is that they can't experience that beautiful human-animal bond.

To most people, I may be a failure. And many times I have felt one too. But to my cats, to my amazing beautiful girl Athena, I am her world. I am someone. I rescued her. I have given her the most amazing life and she has done the same back to me.

Who rescued who?

I was in the depths of despair when Athena and I met at the rescue shelter 5 years ago. I have battled depression for most of my life, and I had just lost my dad a few months earlier which depressed me even more. I decided it was time to adopt a cat and then found this precious tabby kitten who wanted me the moment I stepped into the cattery. She made a great fuss to get my attention, climbing up the wire mesh door of her pen. The other sweet kittens were very quiet and didn't seem that bothered. But Athena, oh how she fought for me to get her out of there! And when I touched her little paw through the door, that was it. Bonded forever.

Abandoned in someone's garden as a tiny kitten, Athena's first few weeks of life must have been horrific. But thanks to the work of the charity that rescued her, she came to me as the most affectionate little cat I have ever met. She gives so much love, her beautiful expressive green eyes always filled with emotion. And I love her SO much.

Love has always been a scary feeling for me. Maybe it's because I'm overly sensitive.

All I know is that pure unconditional love is what really makes the world go round. It is the best thing. The greatest love in the world.

That's why this quote really touched me. It's great to know others feel the same about animals. Noel Fitzpatrick totally gets how people feel about their pets. And I love how he calls them mum and dad on the show. Never refers to the humans as owners. How wonderful is that?

We are not owners. We are pet parents or guardians, or their humans. But never owners. No one should own anyone.

So yes, I admire Noel Fitzpatrick and have total respect for him. Of course I have never met him, but I do know that he is so passionate about his work and also extremely intelligent. He gives so much of his life in order to improve the lives of animals, to make a difference in this world for the sake of both animals and humans. An extraordinary human being. How many of those are currently in the world? Yes, I'm sure there are many but I'm just tired of all the evil that exists out there, and the shallowness of most people.

Hope

It's been a tough few months for me. But my love for my beautiful tabby girl keeps me going. And the hope and love I see in other animal lovers' eyes, and knowing that others feel the same way about animals, makes me realize that humans aren't that bad after all. At least some aren't.

And I love all you guys who read and comment on my blogs. I really believe that animal lovers are the nicest people around. I am so glad I have you all in my life too. Makes me realize I am not the only one who feels so passionately about animals and it's so wonderful to be able to share the love for our animal family across the pet blogosphere.

Truly blessed

If you have an animal in your life then you are truly blessed. When you're going through hard times, your beloved pet will always be there to help you through. Like days when you can't face getting out of bed. I've been there. And still end up back there sometimes. But Athena helps me through those awful days and stops me reaching for the bottle like I did in the past.

All animals matter

One last word: My love for animals isn't just for pets though. I believe all animals deserve love and respect and to be treated fairly and with compassion. They each have souls and their own lives to live. They have as much right as anyone to be free and happy and not exist merely to be used by humans. I won't go into animal rights in this post. I'll leave that for my other blog. But people must remember that all animals are sentient beings and should be respected as such. Animals give us so much, often much more than any human could. 

The quote above comes from the video Supervet:The Ethos Behind Fitzpatrick Referrals. You can click on the link to see it or view it below. 

P.S. Keep watching until the end to see Noel's adorable dog Kiera. What an amazing strong bond they share! Melts my heart :)

 

10 Ways a Cat and Her Human Mum Show Their Love For One Another

We know everyone is feeling the love this Valentine Week, but it's important to note (as we know many of you animal lovers do), that Valentine's Day is not only about romantic love. Why should it be? As a wise kitty goddess I am here to tell you that love, and certainly 'purrfect' love can be found with your adorable and adoring pets. So let us celebrate this beautiful love!

A kiss from Mum #cats catlove #catmum #catlady #tabbycat #tabbiesofinstagram #instapet #instacat #catsofinstagram

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Feb 8, 2015 at 11:11am PST

As you can see, Mum and I are totally in love with each other. Here are some of the ways we show our love for one another.

1 Cuddles
We love to cuddle. Mum is always cuddling me. And because I love her I let her hug me tight. If I'm not in the mood I soon let her know though! Cuddles and Snuggles under the duvet on a cold day (and night) are just the best.

Goodnight #cats #tabbycat

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Mar 3, 2014 at 3:38pm PST

2 Purrs I purr all the time to show Mum how much she means to me and how happy she makes me. I also purr to calm her when she's stressed. This calms me too.

Sleepy kitty #cats #tabbycat #tabbysofinstagram #cutecat #cuteanimals #sweet #lovecats #ilovecats #catlovers #adorable #pets #catsofinstagram

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Apr 2, 2014 at 10:19am PDT

3 Eye gaze/slow blink We gaze at each other. A lot. And then I slow blink at her. Mum has learned to do this too back to me.

Goodnight! #cats #tabbycats #cutecat

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Feb 8, 2014 at 3:24pm PST

4 We listen to each other I let Mum talk to me when she needs to. Sometimes she needs to complain and she has a lot on her mind. She feels misunderstood a lot of the time by humans so she finds me far more understanding.

Athena #cat #cats #pets #animals

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Mar 15, 2014 at 2:21am PDT

5 Take care of each other We always look out for each other and there is never a moment when we are not thinking of each other.

Love my mum xx #cats #cat #catmum #catmom #catlovers #tabbycat #tabbysofinstagram #catsofinstagram #instacat #instapet #pets #sweet #sleepykitty #catlady

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Apr 30, 2014 at 6:26am PDT

6 Play together We have lots of fun playing games, as you can see from this video below, and this one

A video posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Jan 1, 2015 at 2:23pm PST

7 Sleep together We share a big bed and I love to snuggle up against her at night, especially when it's very cold. Sometimes I crawl under the duvet for a nice cuddle.

Goodnight! #athenacatgoddess #athena #tabbycat #adoptedpets #rescuecat #tabby #tabbycat #tabbycats #cats #cat #catmom #catmum #catlady #catlover

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Apr 15, 2014 at 3:21pm PDT

8 Heal each other My purrs heal my mum, but she also gives me Reiki healing which is great for me too.

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Nov 26, 2014 at 3:04am PST

9 Take lots of selfies together

A photo posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Sep 14, 2014 at 9:18am PDT

10 I like to lick my mum's hand and arm, as you can see from this video.

I love my mum's arm #cats #catlovers #tabbiesofinstagram #tabbykitty #tabbykitty #cute #sweet #love #instacats #ilovemycat #instagramcats #catplanet #catworld

A video posted by Athena (@athenawisekitty) on Jun 25, 2014 at 7:56am PDT