Baby and Dog Invent Their Own Game

Watch this little boy and his bff play their version of tag...let the giggles begin!

http://purinaanimalallstars.yahoo.com/?v=7652402&l=100000085

For all you dog lovers....from Dave Stewart's Rainbow Forever Trust's newsletter

Animals and Oils Part 1

Dogs with Pain and Arthritis

Linda writes:

Buddy, my blind Shih-Tzu, walked under my desk to sit at my feet. Suddenly he screamed, ran out of the room, and dropped to the floor in the hallway. He had poked his eye into a flash drive that was sticking out of my usb port. He was blinking his right eye and shaking in pain. The right side of his head was extremely sore and his eye was dosed.

At home I covered his head in Lavender oil and he rested. I diffused Idaho Balsam Fir, alternating with Lavender and Helichrysum. I woke up during the night, alternating oils and diffusing Helichrysum. Buddy woke up the next morning with his eye wide open and in no apparent pain. I continued the oils and two days later he was back to normal. How wonderful to be able to help!

Linda


Maria writes:

My 14 year old dog ( shepherd / lab mix) was having a hard time walking down the stairs and just getting around (due to arthritis). She was not as lively and even her bark was diminishing. She is arthritic in her hind legs but she is not on any medicine. I had a holistic vet give her acupuncture treatments as well as herbs and vitamins for dogs. It made a small difference but not enough to see her energetic spirit come back.

I started to use the Young Living essential oils only and she now has a very strong" life force" and much more energy as well as no problem walking down the stairs! She is the spunky dog she always was and although she is 14 she is happy and has a spring to her step!!

The oils I use on her are: PanAway, Spruce, Balsam Fir, Lavender, and Lemongrass. I apply them on her hind legs, upper back and the pads of her back feet. She loves them and looks forward to me applying them!!! Generally I apply them 2X a day.

Maria

To Order the oils for your pet, go to Passion 4 Oils and click on the Product Catalog.

Use my ID #661244, if you haven't registered previously, click on Enroll Now. Preferred Customers get 12% off Retail!

This is one of the messages I get from Dave Stewart, published by Rainbow Forever Trust on the use and effectiveness of essential oils.  For all you cat and animal lovers...

CAN ESSENTIAL OILS BE USED ON CATS?

Yes, Young Living oils CAN be used on cats. 

The reason that rumors about essential oils were started (about them being toxic to cats) is because normally essential oils are not completely pure in their final state. Either the company has grown it with chemicals, not in virgin soil, has harvested them wrong, or heat distilled. Even carrier oils that they use tohelp created more quantity and get a way from the quality of the oils is another reason for toxicity in cats. It is not the oil itself that is toxic but the chemicals that were in the soil, plant, or carrier oil that makes the final product to be toxic. Remember, if it is toxic to a cat, it is toxic to every living creature. It only shows up in the cat first due to their delicate systems.

I have 2 degrees in Veterinary Medicine as well as my license for a Veterinary Technician. I have studied cats my entire life and have used ONLY Young Living oils on cats for the past 3 years now. I am a rescuer of feral cats and kittens and I use Young Living oils on all of my cats (23 of them at this current time) on a daily basis.

I am in the process of finishing a reference guide for using YLEO on animals and I have written a pamphlet on using essential oils on animals, especially cats; I hold seminars and lectures all over Michigan about this topic and I even produced a video on the subject as well (which is available on my web site

http://www.fosters-forum.com  

So I am not just a person off the streets saying that it is ok to use essential oils on cats. I also own a group on yahoo that focuses on using YLEO on cats (open to all animals, but specifically for cats). You can visit my website above for the address to that group, or see my signature. I also own, author, host and produce a show called The Pawz Cauze

http://www.thepawzcauze.net

to help educate people on using YLEO on catsas well as other animal issues. In addition to all of this,

I have been a guest on Animal

http://www.animaltalknaturally.com

Talk Naturally 5 times to discuss this very issue. (CD copies of the 5 shows I did are available for purchase; please visit Animal Talk Naturally for more information).

As a general rule, you NEVER want to use essential oils on cats unless they are from Young Living. I NEVER recommend using any other brand nor do I support the use of any other brand of essential oils because ONLY Young Living oils are pure and properly distilled enough to use on cats. Due to their sensitive olfactory, one must always dilute the oils prior to use on a cat. The only oil I do not dilute is Lavender unless the cat is extra sensitive to smell. I watch their eyes and if they squint when I am near them with the oil, then I know it is still too strong.

I use YLEO for injuries, diseases, internal parasites, ear mites, fleas, ringworm, and all forms of mange. I use the supplements to help build up their organ systems when they are rescued and help to build their immune systems. I have also successfully eliminated FIV, FIP, and FeLV from cats and kittens that were tested positive with my version of a Kitty Raindrop Therapy as well as helped to rebuild damaged nerves and nerve endings. Plus I have helped cats suffering from Hyperthyroidism to level out their thyroid levels and help to rebuild their thyroid so that it functions properly-all without the use of manmade drugs!

The kittens I take to South Shore Animal Hospital to be adopted have been proclaimed as "in excellent health with extremely shiny coats and no indications that they were once wild". So in answer to the question proposed: YES Young Living Oils and ONLY Young Living Oils can be used on cats as long as you dilute them properly with V6 oil to keep from overpowering the cats Olfactory sensory nerves.

For more info on essential oils and order for your pet, checkout my website:

Passion 4 Oils: Natural Solutions for body, mind, and spirit 

Sweet but Deadly

It's safe for people, but this increasingly common sweetener can kill your dog
By ChristieKeith, Special to SF Gate

Thursday, September 16, 2008

Xylitol

You may not know what it is, or even how to pronounce it, but it's in a growing number of products from toothpaste to Jell-O. And while it's perfectly safe for you, even a tiny amount can kill your dog, and it may be dangerous to other pets, too. I spoke with veterinary toxicologist Dr. Steven Hansen of the ASPCAAnimal Poison Control Center, who told me reports of xylitol poisoning in dogs are on the rise. He says that's partly due to increased awareness among veterinarians and dog owners, but mostly because it's being used in more products than ever before.

This increased popularity is due to many factors. A type of natural sweetener known as a 'sugar alcohol,' xylitol not only doesn't cause tooth decay, it prevents it. It's widely used in all kinds of dental products including sugar-free gum, breath mints, toothpaste and mouthwash; even some veterinary dental products intended for canine use contain trace amounts of xylitol (which is safe).

Xylitol has fewer calories than sugar and doesn't impact human blood sugar levels, so it's also become a favorite of diabetics, dieters and anyone trying to cut down on his or her sugar consumption. That means you'll find it in muffin, brownie and cookie mixes, as well as candy, energy bars, Jell-O, pudding and ice cream. It's even sold in bulk for use in baking and beverages. In fact, just about anything sweet maycontain xylitol.

While this sweetener may be safe and beneficial for people, when it comes to dogs it's another story. They metabolize xylitol very differently than we do, and it can send canine blood sugar plummeting to life-threatening lows in just minutes, followed within 12 to 24 hours by liver failure, which is often fatal. In fact, it's so deadly that as few as three pieces of xylitol-sweetened sugar-free gum can kill a 20-pound dog.

Because dogs love sweets and can sniff out food better than almostany other mammal, dogs owners need to be extremely careful to keep xylitol out of dogs' reach. Start by reading the labels on everything you buy. If a product contains the sweetener, treat it like a prescription medication and keep it where your dog can't possibly get to it. If you buy or make anything that contains xylitol, make sure family members are aware of it and don't feed their leftover sweets to the family dog.

If despite your vigilance your dog gets into something sweetened with xylitol, at least hope you're lucky enough to have witnessed it. Time is critical; the first thirty minutes can tell the tale of whether your dog will live or die.

If the only clue that your dog was exposed to xylitol is an empty muffin tin you'd left cooling on the counter, or scattered gum wrappers next to your purse, assume the worst. Ditto even if you don't think your dog ate anything that could contain the sweetener, but he's showing signs of lethargy, staggering, tremors or seizures, or is unconscious. Some, but not all, dogs also vomit and have diarrhea.

If you know or suspect your dog consumed xylitol, or observe any of those symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately and tell them you suspect xylitol poisoning. You can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline.

Depending on your dog's size, how long it's been since he wa sexposed, and how much of a dose he got, your dog's veterinarian or the APCC toxicologist may recommend inducing vomiting. However, warned Dr.Hansen, if there is any chance the dog also ate something else such as medication that might have been in your purse along with the xylitol, vomiting could be harmful. Some poisons can interfere with the dog's gag reflex, causing him to inhale the toxins instead of throwingup. Make sure you talk with a vet before deciding to make your dog vomit.

The timing here is crucial. 'If the ingestion was virtually immediate, inducing vomiting is a reasonable concept,' he said. 'If it's more than 30 minutes, it's probably of no value whatsoever.'

Your vet will tell you to bring your dog to the hospital, and that's a necessity, not just a good idea. 'We certainly don't want anybody getting into an accident getting to the veterinary hospital,' Dr.Hansen said. 'But it is something that we need to act on fairly soon. I would sure like to have them be seen within the first hour or two.'

Once your pet gets to the clinic, the vet will likely check his blood sugar level and administer glucose intravenously. Cases caught early have the best prognosis. 'If it's within the first few hours we have a high degree of success,' said Dr. Hansen. 'It gets more cloudy when we get at the 12- to 24-hour range.'

Even if you have a fairly large dog, such as Labrador retriever, who consumed only two or three pieces of gum, having your veterinarian check her out is probably a good idea. 'If it was my Gracie, who is a 45-pound wire haired pointing griffon,' Dr. Hansen told me, 'I'd probably monitor her blood glucose just to make sure.'

What about pets other than dogs? Cat owners can probably relax. TheASPCA has received thousands of reports of xylitol toxicity in dogs, but none in cats. Because cats aren't the indiscriminate gobblers dogs are and don't have much of a sweet tooth, it's hard to be certain, but Dr. Hansen doesn't think dietary discretion is the reason they're not seeing feline cases. More likely, they simply don't react to xylitollike dogs do. 'We're really rather confident that this is not an issuein cats,' he said.

Ferret and rabbit owners, however, need to be more cautious. There are a handful of recorded cases of toxicity in those species, so keep products containing xylitol away from your small pets -- challenging as that can be with ferrets, infamous for getting into things their owners would rather they didn't. Still, this is primarily a concern for dogowners; the ASPCA has only a few reported cases in ferrets and rabbits,and more than 2,000 in dogs.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available for any animal poison-related emergency 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you thinkthat your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call(888) 426-4435. The consultation fee is $60.

Christie Keith's interview with Dr. Stephen Hansen is at www.petconnection.com/blog/hansen-xylitol/.

Christie Keith is a contributing editor for Universal PressS yndicate's Pet Connection and past director of the Pet Care Forum on America Online. She lives in San Francisco.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2008/09/16/petscol.DTL

forwarded by www.myspace.com/hkurland

Loma Linda University Drayson Center Tai Chi Ch'uan classes start Sept 18th.
University of Caifornia Riverside Student Recreation Center starts Sept 29th www.recreation.ucr.edu
Redlands Aikikai starts Oct 7th

Let's Move!
by Eileen Bennett


I was sitting at my desk yesterday and I was stuck. Nothing was flowing or moving the way it should and I was getting more and more frustrated. As usual, the dog was sleeping at my feet, oblivious to everything.

As the thought, 'maybe I'll go for a walk' formed in my mind, she got up, stretched and then shook herself vigorously before doing her usual 'we're going for a walk' dance.

That shake seemed to move her from semi-conscious to bubbling with energy in seconds, so I decided to give it a go! By moving my shoulders and arms in one direction and my hips and knees in the opposite direction and letting my head do its own thing I was able to do a pretty good impression of a doggy shake.

The effect was instantaneous and amazing.

First, it made me laugh at the thought of how ridiculous I must look. Then I realized that I was having fun. And then, I became aware that the energy within and around me had changed dramatically.

Try it yourself (at your own risk!) and see what a difference it makes to your energy level. (If you have a bad back or any other ailment or injury it’s best to find another way to boost your energy.)

I suppose the message here is, when you’re stuck, you don't have to stay stuck. Move the energy surrounding you by doing something completely different to the task at hand.

The fact that my dog knew I was going to take a walk almost before I did is for another day!

Hi Lydia

A nursing home director told me this about children:

In the early 1990s I used to go into nursing homes and senior living facilities and test the hearing of the residents.   I'd often be in one place for two, three, even four days at a time.  

I was in my 20s at the time... The ages of the residents usually ranged from early to mid 70s to as high as 100 years old and more.

In one particular facility, everywhere you looked were dogs and cats roaming the halls... and you can even hear birds singing in some of the rooms.

It was something...

I asked the director about it and she said that in every long-term nursing facility where pets were allowed the residents flourished... many symptoms of old age were reduced or
eliminated altogether, and less medication was needed over all.

... because everyone was happier...

And this particular facility was located next door to an elementary school.  So one day a week, the kindergartners and first-graders would visit all the residents, going right into
their rooms and talking and drawing and singing for the old folks...

... and on those days, even LESS medication was needed for all purposes especially pain!

This and many other formal studies prove beyond a shadow of a doubt is that it's not just our bodies that control and guide how we feel emotionally, but our emotions control and direct our bodies and how well or how poorly they function and feel.

Keep this in mind today and always.

Keep your mind focused (minute by minute) on something positive and happy.

Give yourself little and big goals to achieve every day and notice what you did right... take pride and joy in your achievements, and your body will reward you with feeling better,
staying healthier and living a longer, more productive life.

Love,

Mike Brescia

GREAT ADVICE!


If a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.


Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.


On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.


No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

OF THE AWEFULL BATTLE OF
THE PEKES AND THE POLLICLES
Together With Some Account
Of the Participation
Of the Pugs and the Poms, and the
Intervention of the Great Rumpuscat

The Pekes and the Pollicles, everyone knows,
Are proud and implacable passionate foes;
It is always the same, wherever one goes.
And the Pus and the Poms, although most people say
That they do not like fighting, will often display
Every symptom of wanting to join in the fray.
And they

Bark bark bark bark
Bark bark BARK BARK
Until you can hear them all over the Park.

Now on the occasion of which I shall speak
Almost nothing had happened for nearly a week
(And that's a long time for a Pol or a Peke).
The big Police Dog was away from his beat --
I don't know the reason, but most people think
He'd slipped into the Bricklayer's Arms for a drink --
And no one at all was about on the street
When a Peke and a Pollicle happened to meet.

They did not advance, or exactly retreat.
But they glared at each other, and scraped their hind feet,
And started to

Bark bark bark bark
Bark bark BARK BARK
Until you can hear them all over the Park.

Now the Peke, although people may say what they please,
Is no British Dog, but a Heathen Chinese.
And so all the Pekes, when they heard the uproar,
Some came to the window, some came to the door;
There were surely a dozen, more likely a score.
And together they started to grumble and wheeze
In their huffery-snuffery Heathen Chinese.
But a terrible din is what Pollicles like,
For your Pollicle dog is a dour Yorkshire tyke,
And every dog-jack of them notable fighters;
And so they stepped out, with their pipers in order,
Playing When the Blue Bonnets Came Over the Border.
Then the Pugs and the Poms held no longer aloof,
but some from the balcony, some from the roof,
Joined in
To the din
With a

Bark bark bark bark
Bark bark BARK BARK

Until you can hear them all over the Park.

Now when these bold heroes together assembled,
The traffic all stopped, and the Underground trembled,
And some of the neighbours were so much agraid
That they started to ring up the Fire Brigade.
When suddenly, up from a small basement flat,
Why who should stalk out but the GREAT RUMPUSCAT.


His eyes were like fireballs fearfully blazing,
He gave a great yawn, and his jaws were amazing;
And when he looked out through the bars of the area,
You never saw anything fiercer or hairier.
And what with the glare of his eyes and his yawning,
The Pekes and the Pollicles quickly took warning.
He looked at the sky and he gave a great leap --
And they every last one of them scattered like sheep.

And when the Police Dog returned to his beat,
There wasn't a single one left in the street.

Life Explained

One day, God created the dog and said:

"Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?" So God agreed.

On the next day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?" And God agreed.

On the next day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life. You want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?" And God agreed again.

Then on the next day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years." But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

Why We Forward Jokes

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. "Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."


Sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding jokes to us without writing a word.

Maybe this will explain.

When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward jokes. When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes. When you have something to say, but don't know what, and don't know how, you forward jokes.

Also to let you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for, guess what you get? A forwarded joke.

So, next time if you get a joke, don't think that you've been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you've been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.

You are welcome at my water bowl anytime.

A Dog's Philosophy

A few words from the wise...

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. - Ben Williams

Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. - Sigmund Freud

We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. - M. Acklam

A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. - Robert Benchley

Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. - Franklin P. Jones

If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. - Unknown

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. - Joe Weinstein

Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! - Anny Tyler

And for the final wise word...

Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. - Robert A. Heinlein

PET DIARIES

DOG'S DIARY

7 am - Oh boy! A walk! My favorite!
8 am - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 am - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
Noon - Oh boy! The yard! My favorite!
2 pm - Oh boy! A car ride! My favorite!
3 pm - Oh boy! The kids! My favorite!
4 pm - Oh boy! Playing ball! My favorite!
6 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Mum! My favorite!
7 pm - Oh boy! Welcome home Dad! My favorite!
8 pm - Oh boy! Dog food! My favorite!
9 pm - Oh boy! Tummy rubs on the couch! My favorite!
11pm - Oh boy! Sleeping in my people's bed! My favorite!

CAT'S DIARY

Day 483 of my captivity... My captors continued to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction that I get from clawing their furniture.

Tomorrow I will eat another houseplant. Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded - must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. I must remember to try this on their bed.

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in an attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear in their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was.

Hmmm, that did not work according to plan...

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the food. More importantly, I overheard that my confinement was due to my powers of inducing "allergies." I must learn what this is and how I may use it to my advantage.

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit.

The bird, on the other hand, has got to be an informant and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move.

Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.

But I have patience, I can wait.

ZEN

FOR

CATS

by Henry Beard (an excerpt)

Dogaku: The Wisdom of the Tao

The Miao that can be meowed is not the eternal Miao.

The cat that can be named is not the eternal Cat.

The wild cat wandered at the beginning of heaven and earth.

The tame cat is the mother of ten thousand kittens.

Ever outside, one can see what the animals see.

Ever inside, one can see what the humans see.

Tiger and housecat, these two spring from the same source, but differ in nature.

Because they are so unlike each other, they appear to be separate.

Because they are one and the same, the line between them is fuzzy.

Fuzziness within fuzziness,

The cat-door leading to the mystery.

::::

Things are only found by misdirection.

Circling is the motion of pursuit.

Withdrawing is the direction of attack.

Vanishing is the perfection of resistance.

::::

The food bowl is a treasure, but it is the hollow it shapes that makes it useful.i

The wall keeps out the wind, but it is the door cut into it that makes it useful.

The house provides shelter, but it is the empty space within that makes it useful.

What is there would have no utility

If what is not there were lacking.

No sound, the true source of restfulness.

No medicine, the surest sign of health.

No dog, the ideal companion for a cat.

::::

The Master's Cat makes no effort.

If the Master throws a stick, she will not fetch it.

If there is a fire in the Master's house, she does not sound the alarm.

If a burglar enters and seizes his possessions, she refrains from attacking the intruder.

Having no purpose, she cannot fail.

Never failing, she incurs no blame.

Blameless, she is the apple of her Master's eye.

::::

Why did cats become companions for humans?

It is because they had nothing in common:

Nothing to envy,

Nothing to fight over,

Nothing to say.

Since neither of them had any expectations

They were entirely satisfied with each other.

The cat wasn't seeking anything in particular

And would have eaten the mice anyway.

The human wasn't looking for anything special

And the cat fell right in his lap.

Nothing brought them together;

Nothing can keep them apart.

::::

Butsuneko Shingyo: The Teachings of Buddha's Cat

The Four Noble Truths

I Our lives are full of unnecessary suffering.

II There is a way to put an end to unnecessary suffering.

III The way to put an end to unnecessary suffering is to get a human to take care of you.

IV To get a human to take care of you, follow the Eight-Fold Path and observe the Ten Precepts.

The Eight-Fold Path

1. Bathing oneself

2. Looking adorable

3. Purring and showing affection

4. Personifying mystery

5. Catching mice

6. Projecting restfulness

7. Amusing oneself

8. Using the catbox

The Ten Precepts

1. Do not eat any of the pet birds, or fish, or small mammals in your human's house.

2. Do not scratch or bite your human.

3. Do not be overly friendly to your human's guests.

4. Do not steal easily missed meal ingredients from the kitchen counter.

5. Do not take a dump in the middle of the carpet unless the catbox is truly filthy.

6. Do not devour the mouse until it has been shown to your human.

7. Do not come back to the house when first called.

8. Do not fill up on the dried food.

9. Do not reveal your secret hiding place.

10. Do not drink water out of the toilet while your human is watching.