Cat care is Self care
Let’s talk about Self Care and Cat Care, and how beautifully they are connected!
If you prefer listening vs reading, check out my YouTube video on this topic.
Do you remember those days when you come back home super tired, exhausted, overwhelmed, sad, and then your furbaby jumps on your lap and makes all the troubles in the world disappear? I’m sure you felt that care, that unconditional love, that deep connection with your animal friend. The way they take care of us is exceptional, sometimes subtle, but we feel it with our hearts.
When we pet and give love to our animal companions (Animal care), it makes us feel better and happier (Self care).
It’s incredible, isn’t it?
Did you ever think that it comes all the way around, as well? That how WE feel affects how our furbaby feels? When we feel emotional or physical pain, when we’re angry or sad, when we start throwing energetic sharp arrows around us and scrambling in our own negative energy field, we hurt our animals without even knowing it. When we don’t take care of ourselves, we hurt them. Animals are generally more connected to the energy field, and they may literally feel our emotions themselves.
They pick up your anger, anxiety, stress, without you even knowing it.
Do you know how your dog would know you’re coming home when you’ve just parked your car outside? Or when your cat knows you’re about to pick him up and put in a carrier without you saying a word? They KNOW. Or better to say, they FEEL what’s coming.
When we take good care of ourselves with healthy foods, positive emotions, fun, exercise, and when we do those little things that make us happy (hello, bubble bath! 🛁), we have good energy around us and animals feel it, too.
So again, Self care is Animal Care, and vice versa. We’re connected to our animal friends more than we might think, and I think we should try to remember this wisdom every day 💛
My personal story is that I used to have burnout after burnout, especially considering my deep connection with all animals and working with animal rescues for over 10 years. I never really cared about myself, all I was thinking about is that I have to do more, for the animals. And the funny thing? I understood that if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t really help them. I’m tired, angry, sleepy, exhausted. I send all those big sharp arrows of negative energy and hurt animals and everyone around me. Is this the way? Definitely, nope. When I learned Animal Reiki, one of the precepts was:
“Be compassionate to yourself and others”
This blew my mind. It opened my eyes, and for the first time I understood this Universal truth. I can’t make the world better if I’m tired and angry. I just can’t, nobody can. It starts with YOU. So again and again, animals inspired me to be a better person. I started taking care of myself because of THEM. Because I know I can help them better when I help myself and give myself time to recharge and fill my inner well. And you know what I learned? It’s actually fun! It’s fun and fulfilling when you do the things you love! How did we all forget about it?
Same way, when we take care of our animals, we take care of ourselves. When, let’s say, we pet our kitty while she’s on your lap, it’s a mental and spiritual retreat if you’re fully present in this activity! When we brush our cat, or play with our cat, or cuddle together, or just watch her being silly, or better yet, being silly together, we are usually having a good time, too. When we brush our cat, given that your kitty is enjoying it, you both are having a very relaxing bonding time. Or when you engage in a play with your kitty, she’s having a blast, and chances are that you’re having a great time too.
When I play with our kitties, so often they make me laugh, it’s very sweet! Sure, some parts of taking care can be stressful, like clipping nails or cleaning the litter boxes, but honestly, it doesn’t have to be! The point here is that when we’re fully present with our cats, instead of being stuck on our phone or laptop, when we’re away from the screens and virtual life, when we’re not focusing on past or future, when we are right here and right now with our beloved kitty - this is our little paradise! It is so important and amazing for our mental space, and for theirs! If you look closely at cats, they’re just there, being present in the moment, enjoying their life and chilling or playing, being curious and relaxed. Isn’t it the best way to live your life? So much wisdom and life lessons there waiting for us, if we’re only open to it.
It’s incredible how animals change our lives, inspire us to be better versions of ourselves, teach us how to be kind to ourselves, and show us how to enjoy simple things and every little moment of our lives.
And since we don’t want this valuable thought to fall into abyss of information, let’s do this little exercise to make it stick.
Little exercise to make you happy: 1. Write 5 things that fill you with joy and make you happy (eating a box of chocolate doesn’t count, let’s think of something that affects us in a healthy way, like sipping tea/ coffee, watching clouds, yoga, walk in a park, reading a book, dancing, sketching, bubble bath, etc.)
2. Choose 1 thing out of this list that you can do today!
3. Do it!
4. Optional: go hug your kitty, your doggo, your hamster, mouse, bird (virtually), or just hug your beautiful, one-of-a-kind, self 💛
This is all for today my friends! If you found this article interesting, please share it with your friends!
~ Vani 🐚