Kitten playing with a toy, filmed using a new Verizon Droid phone, uploaded directly from the phone to YouTube! Cool huh?
From the category archives:
Cool Cat Says...
Tortoiseshell cats are not a breed, but a color named for their distinctive coloring – a combination of patches of black, brown, amber, red, cinnamon and chocolate. The size of the patches varies from a fine speckled pattern to large areas of color. The term “tortoiseshell” is used for cats with brindled coats that have few or no white marking. Cats of this coloring with larger areas of white fur are called calicos. Sometimes, these colors present in lighter versions such as lilac or cream. Torties with this lighter coloring are called dilute torties. Occasionally, the typical tortoiseshell colors are also seen in a tabby (striped) pattern, and these cats are sometimes referred to as “torbies.”
Tortoiseshell cats are almost exclusively female. Tortoiseshell and calico coats are the result of the interaction between genetic and developmental factors. The occasional and very rare male tortoiseshell cat is the result of a genetic mutation.
In addition to their distinctive coloring, torties also have a reputation for unique personalities, sometimes referred to as “tortitude.” They tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr. These traits are stronger in tortoiseshell cats than in calicos – it seems as though these traits are somewhat diluted with the addition of more white to the color scheme.
I’m currently owned by a tortie named Amber. Her coloring is very dark, with an amber colored spot on top of her head, which became the reason for her name. She’s very independent and strong-willed, but she’s also very sweet and a bit on the shy side. We recently lost our little Buckley, a high-energy, joyful little tortie, to heart disease. Buckley is the subject of my upcoming book Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher.
Ingrid King is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. She publishes the E-zine “News for You and Your Pet,” covering topics ranging from conscious living to holistic and alternative health. She shares her experiences with consciously creating a joyful, happy and healthy life for pets and people on her popular blog, “The Conscious Cat.” Ingrid lives in Northern Virginia with her tortoiseshell cat Amber. Visit http://consciouscat.net/ for more information.
“What do you do?”
I reply, “I’m an animal communicator.”
Today’s reactions to my answer are much more accepting than when I first admitted that I communicated with animals telepathically. I wouldn’t always tell people that I could talk to animals. I’d hesitate trying to get an intuitive feeling as to how I should answer. Often I just said, “I have a horse farm.” That was the safe, acceptable answer.
It took me a long time to tell my parents, which made me uncomfortable. I didn’t want to see the disappointment and questions in their eyes. When I was included in a book about animal communicators, I felt it was time. I handed them the book and quickly left the room. My dad was skeptical but tried to accept it. My mother couldn’t, which was no big surprise. Several friends had trouble accepting the new skill I shared with them. It changed our relationship for years. Recently, I was able to help one with the transition of her family cat.
Letting another’s judgment prevent me from admitting that I could talk to animals was an issue that took me years to resolve. I am proud of what I can do and how I’ve helped many people and animals. Changing times have opened the minds of many people to new possibilities. Now when I admit what I do, I feel openness and curiosity rather than skepticism and fear. Most people want to know how, why, when.
All my life I’ve had a deep love for animals. It’s just who I am. My parents were dog lovers, so we always had a dog in the family. I was born with an innate love for horses. No other family members suffered from my affliction. I began riding lessons at age 8. My dream of having my own horse was realized by age 13. I’ve had dogs, horses and cats in my life ever since.
Following in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, I became a pharmacist. I practiced in our family’s drug store until leaving to marry my horse vet. For the next 27 years, I managed our veterinary office, equine hospital and breeding farm. I belonged on a horse farm and not in a pharmacy, so the Universe worked that out for me. Had I not followed my heart, I might never have uncovered my true purpose in this life.
One of my husband’s patients taught me that communicating with animals wasn’t limited to someone with a “special gift.” She was a Quarter Horse foal born with scoliosis. She couldn’t get up or stand on her own. Her name was Because of Love. Many people were drawn to her and all donated their services.
My husband and I attended a workshop given by the veterinary chiropractor and animal communicator that were part of Love’s entourage. Until that weekend, I was merely involved with offering love and moral support. Little did I know the epiphany awaiting that would change the course of my life – all “because of love.”
I watched the workshop participants discuss what the animals were saying. These ladies weren’t any different than me. They weren’t special or gifted. I thought to myself, “I can learn this?” The cosmic 2 X 4 hit me square in the consciousness. I had to learn how to talk to animals. I’d do whatever it took to finally remove the wall that separates humans and animals. Learning to fully know what animals were thinking and feeling inspired me. Then, I could really help Love.
Trying to find time in my already hectic day was no easy task. My intense desire to talk with the animals gave me the motivation to pursue my goal. My quest to learn to telepathically communicate with animals began in the early 90s and changed my life forever.
Probably the greatest challenge for me was learning to quiet my mind, which is crucial to telepathic communication of any kind. Being a left-brained, type-A personality, I practiced meditation to reawaken my right brain, which was not easy. It is with the combined usage of both hemispheres of the brain that we truly realize our full potential as human beings.
Many people ask how I accomplished my goal. I don’t share specifics with them, because I never want to discourage anyone. I was blessed with incredible experiences with fabulous animal teachers that guided me along my learning path quite rapidly.
I advise people that we all have the same capacity to communicate telepathically because our brains are physiologically identical. However, when something is involved in our soul’s purpose, things are facilitated as they were for me. Once I made the commitment to this goal, opportunities flew to me. The more I learned, the more there was to learn.
What began as a passion to talk to animals led to the discovery of other healing talents. Whenever I uncovered hidden abilities, animals that needed those skills found me. It was the Universe saying that I was on the right track.
I was my biggest skeptic and needed physical proof that what I was doing was actually bringing about change. I trust animals. They’re always honest, so I believed what I saw. They showed me that I was affecting positive behavioral changes. Not only was I able to communicate with them, but also offer healing modalities that allowed them to live happier lives among humans. I don’t need any kind of proof anymore.
Years ago during one of my consultations, I was told that companion animals came into existence to answer our souls’ cries for help. The earth plane is difficult to navigate. Our animals are here to help us succeed. I’d always felt like my animals were taking more care of me than I was of them. This insight was my confirmation.
There is so much being missed in our relationships with animals that I encourage anyone who feels the desire to talk with their animals to pursue it. It requires dedication, but the rewards are far-reaching. You don’t have to make it your life’s work unless you feel drawn to. Simply being able to communicate with your own animal family will enrich your life a thousand-fold.
My own animals have chosen to share their lives and lessons with me. I am humbled to have had each of them come to me. They’ve supported me in the worst of times. They’ve filled my heart with joy. They’ve kept a smile on my face. They’ve given me a reason to live. I am forever indebted to them.
Animals are the most patient and selfless teachers. I am who I am today because of all the animals that have trusted me and allowed me into their lives. They have taught me more about life and how to live it than anything I learned in 18 years of school. Working with them every day is gratifying and fulfilling. I am truly blessed to love what I do. I am honored to say, “I talk to animals!”
Nancy A. Kaiser lives in the healing Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina surrounded by her family of dogs, cats and a horse. She is the author of Letting Go: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing & Transformation
