Cat enclosures - they save lives

Not only do they keep your cats safe from predators -like coyotes -they keep many small creatures alive who could easily become kitty hors d'oeuvres.

While chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits are often victims, it's the wild bird population that is especially hurt by free roaming cats.

I always said it was a great cosmic joke.

My yard had been landscaped to be a safe haven for birds...and then the kitties arrived. It was clear that something needed to be done.

As we built the outside enclosure my cats watched intently from behind the screen door. I will never forget the day we opened that door and they walked outside. The four of them began chattering non-stop. They chirped and squeaked with delight. It was easy to imagine them saying “What IS this?” and “Is this really for US?”

We hung a birdhouse on a tree branch within the enclosure, and Pippen would sit there all day…just hoping.

Over the years the kitties have enjoyed many happy hours in their outside playground. However, I often wonder if I have had the better part of the bargain, for watching them playing outside…safely…brings me great joy.

The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and the Audubon Society of Portland have partnered on an awareness campaign to encourage people to keep their cats inside homes or enclosures. Oregon Public Broadcasting aired an excellent program on this subject. You can watch that video here:

http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/videos/view/286-Cats-Birds

There are some things in life we may not be able to impact, but keeping wildlife safe from our dear kitties IS something we can control.

By the way - dogs like cat enclosures, too!

Chris

Lighthearted Press

Tia's Cat Enclosure

My cat enclosure – it brings me almost as much joy as it brings my kitties! Seeing the four of them romping around out there really does my heart good!

When people send me pictures of their enclosures I get so excited!I know their felines are well loved and are having as much fun outside as my cats do.

Linda Taylor, from Tacoma WA, sent me these pictures of the enclosure they built for their cat, Tia. Talk about beautiful!

Linda said they chose a fencing that was plastic, and not firm, because critters are afraid it might be a net and they don’t even try to get through it.

Here’s Tia on the inside perch that looks out into her enclosure:

If your kitties are longing to go outside, I hope you'll consider building them a screened-in enclosure. That way, the cats can be safely out in the fresh air, and all the little critters who visit your yard (birds, chipmunks, squirrels, etc.) will be safe, too.

Chris

Lighthearted Press

Earth Angels

Every time I see this picture I can feel my heart smiling!

Here in Portland, Oregon iron workers building an addition to the Shriners Hospital for kids have found a way to celebrate the children who are patients at the hospital. Using fluorescent spray paint, the workers have been writing messages of love to the kids on the steel framework!

Talk about earth angels!

Chris

One bunny - ADOPTED!

I have wonderful news!

The bunny I found on my road the week before Easter has been adopted! On Easter Sunday she was featured on a news segment that was telecast from the Oregon Humane Society. The next day she was adopted.

It is interesting that my favorite book of all time is Watership Down by Richard Adams. This is the story of a group of rabbits who embark on a difficult journey to find a safe place to live and raise their families.

Under the guidance of Hazel, their wise and humble leader, they find exactly what they are looking for.

May this sweet bunny live a long and happy life, safely tucked in the arms of her loving family.

That's what Hazel would want!

Chris

Beautiful MA – who saw the world with her heart

It started with a phone call. Deborah Stevenson, who lives in California, called to ask about sending copies of my book For Every Cat An Angel to some friends.

Deborah told me about the loss of MA, her beautiful blind kitty, who had left this life on March 11, 2009. Her story touched my heart deeply.

These are Deborah’s own words:

“MA, named after the Divine Mother, was born in 1997 and left at the local pound 4 years later. She was born blind and was unwanted. I was moved to go to the pound in 2001 and found MA.

MA was my angel until 11 March 09. I was her seeing-eye person. She kissed everyone, sat in my lap during my meditations, and brought joy and light into my life until her death during anesthesia for a cat scan.”

Deborah told me in the evening she would walk MA on a leash through the neighborhood, and how much everyone adored her beloved kitty. All you have to do is look at these pictures of MA to see how special she was.

As it says in The Little Prince, “What is important can only be seen with the heart.” MA understood this.

We will miss you, MA.

With love,
Chris

The Winner at Doggie Obedience School

Luna's Memory Lives On

Last November I was honored to write about Luna, the beloved furry companion of Sandra Thomas. Sandra had sent me a picture of Luna shortly before her beautiful German Shepherd Dog left this earthly life.

As you can see, it certainly looked as if Luna had caught a glimpse of the Rainbow Bridge she would soon be crossing.

Luna lost her battle with hemangiosarcoma on September 16, 2008, but her memory now lives on with the establishment of The Luna Award for Advances in Canine Cancer Research.

Read more about Luna's inspiring story, and the presentation of the first Luna Award, at Tripawds.com - the website for three-legged dogs and the two-legged companions who love them.

Chris
Lighthearted Press

Bunny needs a loving home

A few days ago I blogged about the beautiful white bunny that showed up on my road. With all the predators in our woods I knew the little thing wouldn’t last long, so I took it in for the night and then brought it to the Oregon Humane Society.

Turns out my overnight houseguest was a girl – and OHS has named her Shirley. I found her to be very sweet, trusting and completely at ease around me.

If there are any Oregonians out there looking to bring a rabbit into their home I hope you will go and visit Shirley – she’s a real sweetheart.

To learn more about Shirley click here.

Happy Easter!

Chris

What Makes a Mother?

Last week was the third anniversary of losing my Mom to Alzheimer’s Disease. It feels like it was just yesterday – the memories of those final days are still so clear in my mind.

What makes a mother? Take a peek at this video to see what true mothering is all about.

Aren't animals amazing?

Chris

Really, Mom, the bunny ate my salad!

Even after living here for 18 years I never get over how wonderful it is to interact with the wildlife. We have deer, raccoons, coyotes, possums, squirrels, hawks, owls, many kinds of birds…and rabbits. The rabbits are brown, with white tails.

At least that was true until this week. Then a little white bunny showed up on my road, moving in and out of the blackberry bushes. I brought the little thing some lettuce and carrots, and it took the food from my hand, then walked around and nuzzled up next to me.

It’s possible someone dumped the bunny in the woods where I live. Maybe they thought it would move in with the resident wild bunnies. But this little one was so sweet, so tame and so trusting it didn’t seem to have strong survival skills. Not to mention it was bright white – hard to hide that coat from predators.

It was clear the bunny needed some help. I bought some rabbit bedding for my cat carrier and lifted the bunny into its temporary home. I had to laugh – it was easier picking up the bunny then catching some of my cats.

My furry houseguest spent the night in my safe, warm home and then I took it to the Oregon Humane Society this morning. It was with me for less than 18 hours, but I cried as I filled out the paperwork. I think it was the rabbit's effortless ability to trust me that touched my heart so deeply. Maybe “trust” is something I need to explore.

I thought I was meant to help this sweet rabbit…now I think maybe we were meant to help each other.

Chris

Yesterday I saw my heart

If you’ve ever been to a therapist, or read a personal growth book, the chances are good you’ve heard the following words: “You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.”

I don’t think I ever really understood the meaning of those words until yesterday…because yesterday I saw my heart.

I was at the doctor’s office, having a stress/echo test. This is where they hook you up to a monitor and ultrasound your heart, followed by walking on a treadmill, followed by looking at your heart again. I’m on my left side, staring at the monitor only a few inches away.

“Is that my heart?” I asked the technician as she ran the device over my chest.

“Yes,” she said, and then proceeded to tell me about the different anatomical parts of my heart.

I don’t think I heard her, because something very profound was happening to me. I looked at this organ, beating its…well…heart out for me, and without any warning I fell head over heels in love…with me.

I’d never seen my heart before. I’ve heard of pregnant couples going in for an ultrasound, and experiencing the joy of seeing their baby for the first time. I’ve never had children, but I’m fairly sure that had I ever been pregnant an ultrasound would have detected four paws and a tail.

As I watched my heart beating I could feel myself becoming very calm. I can’t find the words to tell you how deeply I connected to what I was seeing. It was like finding your soul mate…or falling in love at first sight.

My company’s name is Lighthearted Press. I’ve always described my books for animal lovers as “heartfelt.” Over the years people have blessed me with comments such as “You have a beautiful heart” or “I could feel your heart touching mine when I read about your heartbreak after you lost your dog, Jake.”

My favorite line from all my books is “Something awakens in the heart of a dog when he knows that he is needed.” (From Old Dog and the Christmas Wish by Christine Davis.)

All those thoughts came rushing back to me as I watched my heart beating on the monitor. All too soon I was detached from the wires and back in my car. When I got home I looked out the window, and all the evergreens in the yard just seemed so much greener. My four kitties, whom I love with all my HEART, seemed even more magical to me.

I thought of Jake. Over and over I had talked about his magnificent heart, but for the first time I was able to appreciate just how special he was, for inside him was a beating heart that probably looked a lot like mine.

I’ve been wondering about all the crazy experiences that led to my being at the doctor's office yesterday. A wise friend suggested that maybe the purpose of all the events of the past month was for me to have that stress test.

I think perhaps she is right. Everything seems so much clearer to me now. Everything feels more precious to me today because yesterday, for the first time in my life, I saw my heart...and it's beautiful.

Chris

An Angel Bulldog Helping Earthly Cats

It was not the way things were supposed to go last Christmas Eve. When my dear friend, Judy Ditfurth, took her Bulldog, Jeremy, to the vet, she had no idea he would not be coming home.

There are no words to express how heartbreaking this unexpected loss has been for Judy. But the loss has also been felt by Jeremy’s other friend in the Ditfurth household – their cat, Cinnamin. Cin and Jer were best friends, and in the weeks that followed Jeremy’s passing Judy often wrote about how lost Cinnamin was.

Judy has been an animal lover all her life. Over the years she made many donations to the Morris Animal Foundation in remembrance of her beloved critters. When she learned that the foundation had begun a Happy Healthy Cat Campaign, it seemed only fitting that a donation be made to that effort in Jeremy's name, in honor of the special relationship he had shared with Cinnamin.

Today is Judy’s birthday. I am sending heartfelt good wishes your way, my friend, and Jeremy and all the other angel critters who shared your life send barks and purrs…just to thank you for being such a good Mom.

With love,

Chris

Who's on your personal Board of Directors?

The other day I attended a great book group meeting. We discussed The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. If you haven’t read this short, inspiring book, you really should add it to your reading list.

Toward the end of the meeting a woman mentioned something that really touched me. She talked about her Board of Directors, mentioning she was the CEO. For a brief moment I wondered how she made her living. Then she began naming the people on her board, beginning with Mary Poppins!

Turned out this was her personal Board of Directors - the group she went to for advice and counsel. I was fascinated by this! I loved the idea of having Mary Poppins on my personal board, but I wondered who else I’d invite.

It goes without saying that my beloved dog, Jake, would be there…someone would have to remind me it was time to play!

I knew Fred Astaire would have to be there, too, for at those moments when I’m befuddled by some confusing problem I suspect a few spins around the dance floor in Fred’s arms will be just what I need.

I want the Dalai Lama there, too, for wisdom and perspective. When I look at his beautiful face a calm peace settles over me.

Perhaps my Mom could be on the Board. I lost Mom to Alzheimer’s three years ago, and I believe she might have some valuable advice for me, now that she can see things with both her earthly eyes AND her angel eyes.

Finally, I think I’d like Wall-E to be part of the group. If you didn’t see this animated movie last year, PLEASE add it to your video list. Wall-E looks at everything with the innocent eyes of a child. On those days when Mary, Fred, Jake, Mom and the Dalai Lama can’t get through to me, I suspect Wall-E might have just the medicine I would need…taken with a spoonful of sugar, of course!

Here’s something to remember about your personal Board of Directors – you can fire a member any time you want! Whether that member was invited by you, or showed up all on their own, if they aren’t serving you well, they’re gone!

So, who would be on your Board of Directors?

Chris

Dangerous Dog Breeds (hint - this will bring a smile!)

This came to me in an email. I have no way to track the picture back to its owner, so if anyone knows who took this picture please let me know.

There are so many warnings out there about dogs that are considered a “dangerous breed.” I don’t subscribe to that thinking, but when I saw this picture I thought it should be shared immediately.

If you are an owner of a dog that belongs to a 'dangerous breed' category and you also have a small child, please take this as a warning. Don't leave your dog with the child unattended under any circumstances. It only took a moment for this to happen!

Told you it would bring a smile!

One thought though - oh please let these markers be water soluble!

Chris

Cat in a box

Over the years I’ve bought many wonderful beds for my critters. If a kitty bed felt soft and warm, or a dog bed seemed supportive and comfortable, I’d bring it home and give it a try.

Keep in mind my critters have always been allowed to sleep wherever they wanted to – on my bed, on the furniture, in the drawer – it was entirely up to them.

Every kitty bed I’ve bought has turned out to be a failure. The kitties might try it for a day, but then they would lose interest and go back to their usual sleeping places around my home.

This past winter Portland, OR was hit with a terrible snow storm in December. The weather turned very cold before the holidays, and even though I tried to plug up all the cracks around the doors and windows it STILL felt chilly in my home. I was worried about the kitties staying warm.

One day I grabbed a large cardboard box, put a cushy pillow inside it and draped several layers of polar fleece on top. I placed the hastily created “bed” on the kitchen rug and waited to see if there were any takers.

Oh my…it was like the kitties had discovered catnip growing in the carpet! The box was an instant hit with two of my four cats, so I made a second box. For several weeks Dickens and Star slept in the boxes, then Star went back to her usual haunts and I went back to just one box.

It’s been over three months, and Dickens STILL sleeps in that box every day. From an aesthetic standpoint it’s certainly not pretty to look at. But seeing my big boy curled up so contentedly in the folds of the fleecy fabric makes my heart smile.

Sweet dreams,
Chris

Finding joy in the middle of chaos

The other day I was in line at the grocery store. This is the same store I’ve been going to for 18 years. There was a customer ahead of me, having a conversation with the cashier. The woman at the register was young, tall, and absolutely glowing! In fact, there was so much light emanating from her face it was almost like stumbling into an episode of Touched by an Angel.

I heard the young woman telling the customer how incredibly happy she was. One look at her face told me she was speaking the truth. With our country struggling, and people doing whatever they can to make it through these tough times, I was curious to know the secret behind this person’s joy.

When I got to the head of the line, I told the cashier I had heard her talking about how happy she was, and asked if there was something special that had brought this about.

There are no words to adequately express the radiant look she gave me, as she leaned across the produce and the laundry detergent. "I've had the most wonderful week," she whispered. " I think…I’ve met my soulmate.”

“Well, then," I replied, "I suspect it’s going to be another wonderful week for you.”

“It’s going to be a wonderful life,” she answered simply.

I haven’t stopped thinking about this person. She was the perfect expression of true happiness. She was living in the moment, completely vulnerable and trusting. I don’t think she cared about the stock market crisis or her retirement account. In her world there was love...and peace...and a safe place to rest. In her world, all was well.

I have seen that same wondrous, excited, “the-world-is-such-a-wonderful-place” look on all the doggies who have shared my life. But it’s been awhile since I’ve seen this much joy on another human being's face. It occurred to me that this stranger showed me something I needed very much to see that day…hope.

I am thinking that on a cold day in Portland, in a checkout line at the grocery store, with the newspaper headlines talking endlessly about fear and desperation, perhaps I had met an angel.

Chris

Can we love again?

Like so many other animal lovers, I’ve spent my entire life in the company of critters. A home without fur would not be home to me - something essential would be missing.

So we people of the fur tribe invite animals into our lives, knowing that eventually the time will come when we have to say goodbye to them. Critters can live a long time…just not long enough.

Over the years I’ve spoken with many grieving people who’ve called to order my pet loss books. We've shared stories, precious memories, and more than a few tears as we talked about the animals we’ve loved and lost.

Some people have told me they were so devastated by the loss of a beloved companion they would never be able to bring another animal home. Others have said they would continue bringing home furballs until they drew their last breath.

When I lost my dog, Martha, in 1995, I knew there would be more doggies one day, but I couldn’t imagine loving one like I had loved her. Then I found Jake…and I fell in love all over again. We connected in a way that I didn’t even know was possible.

Jake is gone now, and with him went a very large part of my heart. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever will be lucky enough to meet another Jake, or Martha. But then I remember that even though I may not be able to imagine loving that deeply again, the universe…as it always does…knows better.

It’s just a matter of time…

WOOF!

Chris

My Knight in Shining Armor...Purrs

Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower. I seem to completely zone out under the falling water, which leaves me relaxed and open to any pearls of wisdom that might be trying to find me.

This morning I was in the shower, thinking about how dear my cat, Dickens, has become to me. He is the only male in my home – his three siblings are females. For many years Dickens and my dog, Jake, provided strong male critter energy for me. Jake is gone now, and as a single woman I’ve come to think of Dickens as my knight in shining armor.

There are many funny little books about why dogs/cats are better than men/women – I won’t go there. But Dickens really is very grounding to me, in a way that is different from his sisters.

He is the biggest scaredy cat you could ever imagine – this cat used to be afraid of ears of corn and large, baking potatoes! But around me he is the perfect guy. He knows when I need him by my side, and when it’s ok to be off in the other part of the house. He eats anything I put in his bowl. He lets me know in a clear, concise way that something needs my attention, like a fallen bird or an empty food dish.

Occasionally he feels the need to whack one of his sisters on the side of her head, but he also seems to know when a sister needs comforting. And, he is a perfect role model for healthy living - together we have taken 5 ½ pounds off his large frame. Trust me…Dickens NEVER lets me forget that!

OK – he doesn’t cook, and he certainly doesn’t contribute to the financial coffers of the household. Maybe this four-legged guy IS lacking in some areas that only a two-legged male could fill.

I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. There was Dickens, sprawled out on the floor. He looked up at me, wagged his tail and purred like a panther. In his eyes I was a size four supermodel...and I was fabulous!

Like I said...a knight in shining armor.

Chris

Saying Goodbye to Timmy

It is impossible for me to believe that Timmy the Tiger is gone. He was the feline soul mate of my friend, Kathy Hanson. Kathy was always good about keeping me up-to-date on the many adventures this fabulous twosome shared over their 10 1/2 years together.

But it was their monthly column in a California newspaper that kept me connected to the heart and soul of this extraordinary kitty…and to his very special mom.

Timmy left this world at 10:00 p.m. on February 16, 2009. There was no warning. He was not sick, nothing had happened that day. He just left. Kathy says that is how Timmy would have wanted it – no pain, no suffering, no long goodbyes.

She is also sure he may be rather ticked off over there on the other side, having had his life ended so abruptly! If Cool, CA is hit with an unexpected thunder storm it may be Timmy’s “cattitude” letting everyone know how he feels about the situation.

A light has gone out for me with the loss of Timmy. However, the heavens have gained one VERY BRILLIANT STAR.

You were one of a kind, Timmy…and I will miss you terribly.

Love from your Auntie Chris

Magical Pet Portraits

Many years ago I was given a special Christmas gift – a pastel portrait of my dog, Jessie. The gift was even more meaningful because Jessie had just come home on Christmas Eve, having spent the prior week in intensive care. She was very ill, but her failing body was no match for her beautiful spirit.

Jessie and I had that Christmas…and three more wonderful months together. Her portrait hangs in my office, along with one of her daughter, my beloved forever dog, Martha.

If you are thinking about having a portrait done of one of your critters, I want to let you know about Connie Bowen.

Connie is an artist, writer and fellow Oregonian, whose work is simply breathtaking. I’ve had the chance to get to know Connie, and she is as magical as her work. It is no surprise that she describes her journey with pen and brush this way:

"The creative process for me involves meditation and connecting with my higher guidance. I can feel which direction my next project will take. I don't pursue a direction unless it feels fun and exciting to me to work on."

They say “A picture is worth a thousand words.” In Connie’s case, both her artwork…and words…are priceless!


Chris