PAW Prints: Imprinting on Human and Pet Lives

Pawtraits: Leaving an Impression

• Hello My Darlings:

I have just been away on an extended trip.  This time it was for family reasons, my twin sibling Jenni has passed away after a lengthy illness.  Although we lives in different cities, we were so connected often using our 'cat intuition'.  I received lots of emails on this matter, so I thought I would write a gentle post.

I know this topic doesn't come up very often, in human and cat culture we don't often speak comfortably about death; passing, moving on into "Cat Heaven". Here we can discuss these matters, this is is a safe place we call cat sanctuary.

Cats and humans are not unlike, all of us leave a "paw prints" when we are born.... imprinting on our relationships, this continues as we journey along the road map of life.  Babies and kittens are born, they grow in body, size and develop into wonderful companions we call family.  The "Paw Prints" become memories, photo's, video's stored in our hearts for eternity...this I share from PURSONAL experience.  I'm sure you have your own.

Making a connection!!

The cycle of life is rich, with many journeys shared with humans, animals alike. We are inextricably 'connected' from the moments we meet through 'adoption', 'birth' the bonding begins at a very early age. We call this 'chemistry', the bonding begins the relationship is formed often for a long time.

Always remembering!!

Losing a loved one is very difficult, painful, as deep as any physical wound (I have counselled many human and cat parents on this matter).  Time is often the best healer.

Health in both human and the animal communities can be affected by age and disease, the best we can do is to reply on our Veterinary and Physicians for their advice and quality of care.



Aspects of Imprinting : Human    and Feline                                     

Cat Prints

Human Foot Print

Here is a list of steps to help with the grieving process (there is no right or wrong in this):
1). Recognize that 'grief' is real, honour the mourning stage, recognizing it is both emotional and physical;
2) Veterinarians ,Humans physicians and Clergy can provide - bereavement counselling. Thank you various clergy and to Downtown Animal Hospital http://www.downtownanimalhospital.ca/  and Eden Counselling for their invaluable help and advise http://edencounselling.ca 
 3) Seek support from 'other furry friends'  and 'humans';

4) Be kind to yourself during this time;
5) There is often a need to fill the broken heart, to fill in that space that is missing;
6) Express yourself the best way you can: Do something creative as you move though the process: write, listen to music, you will know at the time;
7) Honour your beloved "pet"  that is appropriate for you;
8) Everyone will will have their own way of coping and moving on
9) Fill your heart with memories;
10) Time is the best healer

A great friend of mine J.P. McLean http://www.jpmclean.net/a well known Canadian author sent me a note, which is a lovely thought:
"Pets when they die take a little piece of us when they go; this is so that THEY can find US
later".

Other resources
http://www.gatewaypetmemorial.com/memorial.php

We know that there is often that unspoken 'connection'
intuition that animals and humans often share.

 

We hope these resources will help you (thank you to my intern "Cali" for her assistance in using her young paws in gathering this information).

Kalamazoo (Cali) Intern at Large

Do remember the connection, the imprint of paws that each
one of us carries with us from the time we are born. Whether feline, canine or human the leave their signature where ever they have been in the world, city, shall dwell especially that place we call home.

 See you next time on the Diva Paws.....