AJ - Cat Whisperer

21/10/2022

Fact!🎯💯

After 4 years of volunteer work at my local shelter with cats, I learned there are 3 main reasons why black cats (this includes Dark Tortoiseshell kitties too) are the most likely to sit in shelters longer than other coloured/purebred cats:

1) They blend into their surroundings and their enclosure looks empty. This can be fixed by dressing their enclosure in bright coloured blankets and towels. Something we would do if we knew a Black/Dark Tortie was going to go into that enclosure to help them stand out.

2) Ignorant humans STILL associate black cats with bad luck 🙄🙄 Haven't we moved past the ideologies of the Salem witch trials?

And, probably the MOST ridiculous...

3) They don't photograph well for social media. 😒 I kid you not!! Because everyone is so involved with their social media presence, they are drawn more to unique looking cats, this includes ones with physical deformities or amputations to gain sympathy attention online.

(Don't get me wrong, I am ALWAYS appreciative those that adopt cats who are 3-legged, 1-eyed, or who have a tail or ear amputation due to trauma or disease, etc but there *are* unfortunately people who are more drawn to these cats because they think the look at the cat will draw people in with 'likes' or 'follows')

! 😻

07/06/2021

Dear followers,

For the next couple of months, I am going to be inactive. I apologize for anyone that I am in the middle of assisting. We are currently going through quite a scary time with our kitty that we have had since she was 10 days old, as well as finally securing our own home and while this is very exciting we are having to deal with the stress over these serious health issues with one of beloved pets.

Please know I truly am here to help you all but 2021 has thrown me a couple of curve balls that I am needing to deal with.

Right now, I am needing to dedicate every spare moment I have to getting organised to move across to the other side of town and also organising specialist vet appointments and our next steps.

I hope you will all be still with me when I am able to properly dedicate the time and energy that this truly requires.

Much love to you all,
Tell your kitties I said psst-psst,❤
AJ

17/11/2020

Announcement:

Good afternoon (or good morning, depending where you are) everyone! I hope everyone has been well.

What a year 2020 has been! 😓 Covid19, the elections, the bushfires, it hasn't been easy for anyone! If any year has tested our strength and resilience, it has been this one!

It saddens me to have to write this but from December 2020 to March 2021, I will be unable to accept any new clients. Our lease is ending soon which means we are looking into setting down roots finally and buying a home for our furbabies to settle into permanently but if things dont go the way we hope, we may have to rent again.

Due to how much effort this can take, I would hate to not have time for my existing clients needing guidence and support while accepting new ones. At this time, I just dont have the headspace or spare time to take on new clients and continuing working with current cases.

I may create a post that people can comment on to describe their situation so that I can keep a record of people to contact when things settle down and we begin working with them and their kitties. If you would like to comment on this post, please provide as much detail as possible and any pictures/videos that show the behaviour would be really helpful and informative as well.

I am so so sorry and I hope you all understand and stick around for our exciting updates. My passion is to help people understand their cats but this is one of those things that I really have to do for our pets, our family and our future. 🐺🐶🐱🐱💏🏡❤
My hopes is that once we have our own place, I will be able to install catfriendly furniture, create videos for my followers and put my heart and soul into this consultancy business.

01/09/2020

29/08/2020

❤ never leave them behind or kick them out because they are causing trouble. 😿 our companions deserve more than that after they give us so much.

The amount of calls we have had saying neighbour / tenant has moved out and left pets behind over the years is staggering .

Domestic animals left behind to fend for themselves all of a sudden struggle to adapt from having someone bring them food and give them a safe place to sleep in to all of a sudden be homeless on the streets without a food source . Many cannot adapt and die.

The frequency to which this is happening is alarming , escalating year after year.

You would never leave your human children behind as things got to hard or cant find a child friendly rental so is it acceptable to do this to a furry family member ?

So remember that next time you see a "feral " cat or street cat as many of those were once a beloved pet they were just discarded like yesterdays trash ...

23/07/2020

**SA FREE DESEXING - ONKAPRINGA COUNCIL**
If you know anyone in the Onkapringa council with a cat, please let them know they may be eligible for free desexing thanks to an incredible generous, amazing donation to RSPCA SA.

Did you know that female cats can begin to sexually mature and become fertile as young as 4 months old?

Did you know that a female doesnt even need to go into season/go unto heat in order to ovulate and become pregnant?

Did you know a female cat can support 2 litters at once? She can be pregnant with one and nursing a set at the same time.

Did you know that femsles can produce kittens year-round?

Did you know that intact male cats are more likely to spray, roam, pick fights and impregnant other local cats?
Roaming and fighting can lead to terrible life long illnesses, specifically FIV (Feline ImmunoVirus, similar to HIV in humans except this is ONLY transmitted between felines from saliva to blood contact). Once FIV is contracted not only is it incurable, it can be devastating as it completely suppresses their immune system which means simple infections/bacteria/viruses can be fatal. FIV itself isnt fatal, the secondary infection is usually what causes an FIV+ cat to succumb to the disease.

Not only is FIV+ transmitted during fights, it is also often passed on by an FIV+ male to a female during mating while they hold her down by biting the scruff of her neck, this can also then lead to the future litter of kittens being infected as well.

Desexing benefits cats and their owners in so many ways. Cats are usually more tolerant, relaxed, quiet, food motivated, their urine doesnt stink as bad, and they are much less likely to roam and fight.

The RSPCA and Onkaparinga Council will work together to have more than 2000 cats desexed for free in what will be largest program in Australia.

29/06/2020

ATTN: If you have started behavioral consultancy with me and would like to touch base, check-in, ask any questions or send me an update, please feel free!

I completely understand people have busy lives and things can get in the way and require all of our focus and energy, but if you would like to continue understanding and solving your crazy kitty conundrum, send me a message and we can continue our work! 😁❤️😽

Hope everyone is safe and well!
AJ

Free use stock photo credit: Crina Doltu .facebook.com/EscalateArt

04/06/2020

**PLEASE READ CAREFULLY IF YOU FEED YOUR PETS FRESH PET MINCE FROM THE SUPERMARKET!**

28/08/2019

Finally have a questionnaire complied and live online. This will help fast track the entire process and will outline a clear understanding of the issues you are facing. When starting a conversation with me, you will receive the link. Upon completing it, I will be able to work with you with a full understanding of the environment and the kitty in question.

Thank you.

27/08/2019

Just spent 3 hours finishing the 14 page questionnaire for clients to fill out in order to fast track solving the issues that they are having with their kitties, and JUST before I hit save... black out. 😤🤯😫😭

My laptop shut down because it's old and doesn't store any battery and can only run off a power lead. Fingers crosse Auto save came to the rescue!! 🙏🤞🤞

21/05/2019

Do you have a complex kitty conumdrum?😺 Are you convinced you have a crazy cat that is leaving you scarred or scared to sleep at night?🙀 Do you have two cats that won't get along?🐈🐈 Do you believe cats are unpredictable/moody or that their behaviour makes no sense?😼😽😾

Whatever the problem, let me try and help! I have over 600 hours of hands on experience working with cats. If you are needing advice, please don't hesitate to shoot me a message! I am passionate about helping humans better understand their feline friends! If I have given you advice and it has assisted you, and you haven't already, I'd really appreciate a little review!