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My publisher is offering 25% off all of my ebooks from December 15, 2022 – January 1, 2023. No coupon code is needed! Just shop & the sale price magically appears in your shopping cart.
My ebooks are available at the link below…
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I have just created a shop on Facebook! Most of my books are currently available for purchase in there, & soon all will be. I opened it to make a central location where all of my books can be purchased, & is easy to find. Each link on the books takes you to a universal link, showing you all places where it is available for purchase.
My shop is connected to my business page, The Butterfly Project, which is why my name doesn’t appear on the shop, just FYI.
I hope you like the shop! Come check it out at the link below:
My publisher is offering a sale.. 15% off all print books when you use code SELFLOVE15 at checkout until May 20, 2022
My books can be found at the link below..
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My publisher is having a really good sale on print books right now! 30% off! Shipping time may be a bit slow due to supply chain issues, but if you don’t mind the wait, this is a great time to get the books you want. Simply use code SAVE30 at checkout.
The print versions books can be found at the link below…
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I recently received an email from my print book publisher. There are difficulties with supply chain delays, so they recommend customers expect to receive their books in at least 3 weeks. Usually, the time is much shorter.
I was thinking about this & how it can affect my readers, I had some thoughts.
Thank you for your patience & understanding! It is very appreciated!!
My publisher is offering a discount of 20% off all of my print books until Friday November 5, 2021. Use code EARLYBIRD20 at checkout.
My books can be found at the link below…
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My publisher has been having some really good sales this year. Here’s another one. Just use code CREATOR15 at checkout when you buy any of my print books from now until August 13, 2021
Here is the link to my books:
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One of my cats, a handsome orange tabby guy named Punkin, has feline PTSD. I didn’t know this when we adopted him, or rather when he adopted us. He seemed a bit skittish but pretty normal. Then one day with no provocation, he attacked our American Eskimo dog, Dixie. Shocked, my husband & I hollered his name. He stopped what he was doing, looked around then shook his head & ran off. I realized he looked like I felt when I’ve had a flashback. Thankfully, that attack was a one time incident, but even so, his symptoms aren’t always well managed. He tries, but like a human with PTSD, sometimes trying isn’t enough to keep symptoms at bay.
One day a few years ago, Punkin was running around playing & doing weird kitty energy jag things. Another of our cats, Grace, got in on the fun with him. They ran around & played for a few minutes as they often do. They stopped playing & a minute later, she sneaked up on him. Grace gently bumped into Punkin’s side as if to say “Boo!”. He didn’t see it coming & apparently his fight, flight, freeze or fawn instincts kicked in. Poor Punkin froze. He crouched low & his eyes got HUGE & he wouldn’t move. He was frozen in place. I honestly thought at first he might be having an aneurysm or heart attack. I quickly went to him to decide if we had to go to the emergency vet. I reassured & talked to him for a minute when he finally started to come out of it. He looked like he has when he’s come out of a flashback.
Something unusual happened at that point. He wanted me to hold him & he purred. These are two things that almost never happen with Punkin. When he wanted me to put him down a few minutes later, Grace meekly approached him. She checked on him then gave him a big head bonk. Her apology, I think, although she didn’t mean to upset him. She has been Punkin’s volunteer service cat since she was a kitten, always offering him love, help or anything she can when his PTSD flares up, so naturally she felt terrible for upsetting her buddy.
I’m sharing this because I know many of you who follow my work also love animals. And, like me, you seem to be drawn to those with some sort of special needs. In a cruel world, this means the chances of you adopting an animal with PTSD are fairly good. If this happens, please don’t give up on your skittish or even aggressive furbaby! Animals like this need someone who understands & is patient, who can help them cope with what is happening.
If you wonder if your furbaby has PTSD, there are some signs…
Nightmares are common. If your furbaby twitches dramatically in his sleep, this is often the sign of a nightmare. Gently pet him & talk to him. That can help stop it. If not, wake him up.
Being skittish or jumpy. This is the animal equivalent of hyper-vigilance. Try not to make sudden moves around your furbaby. Keep a calm, quiet environment as much as possible.
Anxiety. Some signs of anxiety are restlessness, lack of or too big of an appetite, being destructive or pottying in unacceptable places. Along with keeping a calm environment at home, try to maintain a consistent schedule. Medication may be helpful too. Talk to your veterinarian about this option if you think it may help.
Flashbacks can be hard to recognize in animals but they do have them. Punkin attacking Dixie was a pretty obvious one, but other signs of flashbacks are sudden abnormal behavior. Our late dog, Bear, also had PTSD, & I believe his former owner caused it by being abusive. The man wore heavy leather gloves for work, & whenever Bear saw me put gloves on, he would attack my hands. If your furbaby has obvious triggers like Bear did, avoid those triggers as much as possible. Also, flashbacks can take a lot out of an animal, so don’t be surprised if your little one takes a long nap after or even drags a bit for a day or two.
If you have PTSD or C-PTSD, you have an advantage for helping your furbaby. You know what helps you when symptoms get bad. Chances are, those same things will help your little one.
If you don’t know how to help, just watch your furbaby. Animals tell humans what they want & need from us. With Punkin, often he wants to be left alone when things get bad. I watch him from a distance during those times. Other times, he obviously wants snuggles, so I give him all the snuggles he wants. Follow your furbaby’s lead to help the most. PTSD in animals is sad of course, but it can be managed, just like it can with people. Love, understanding & patience will go a long way in helping your furbaby life a happy life in spite of the disorder.
This is Punkin with his buddy, Grace.
Filed under Animals
This time, my publisher is offering 15% off all print books. Simply use code READER15 at checkout until March 26, 2021 to take advantage of the sale. Visit the link below to see my books…
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This time, my publisher is offering 10% off all print books until March 19, 2021 when you use code SELL10 at checkout.
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I’ve always loved cats deeply. Unlike my human family, my cats are kind, gentle, love unconditionally, offer support when I need it & so much more.
I realize not every person feels this way about cats. The good part of that is most of those people offer no judgment. They simply agree to disagree with me. They also like animals, & many don’t have any pets because they realize they don’t have the time, money or energy to devote to being a good pet parent. I completely respect these people.
Those I don’t respect are the people who blatantly hate animals & have no problem showing it.
It’s a known fact in the psychological community that many who hate animals may one day turn their hatred on people. Jeffrey Dahmer tortured cats & other small animals & collected their corpses as a child. Most everyone knows what atrocities he did in his adult life.
I have found through my own experiences & those of others I’ve spoken with that many narcissists, although not serial killers, dislike animals, & often in particular cats. I have no scientific evidence to confirm this, but in my observations, I came up with a few ideas why this happens.
Cats’ brains are similar to human brains. They often are able to sense manipulation & abusers quickly, & they ardently avoid abusers. It must be incredibly frustrating for a narcissist that they can rule some people completely, yet they can’t conquer a 10 pound animal. How insulting that must be to a narcissist!
Some people don’t believe this, but cats understand civility. Many times, my parents would be getting along fine with one of my cats, then they would say something insulting either to me or the cat. That cat would either leave the room or scratch my parent. Every time, they were stunned. They never understood that cats want civility & basic respect for themselves & their parents. Not receiving those things or seeing their parent mistreated makes them rightfully angry, & they can act out.
Cats come across as aloof & as if they don’t need people. Cat parents know this is only how they may appear… they love & depend on their parents a great deal yet aren’t often friendly to many others. Narcissists often take this behavior as a personal insult rather than a cat simply being a cat. How dare this cat not shower them with affection! Something clearly must be wrong with that cat!
If you’re a cat parent & wondering if someone in your life is an unsafe person or even a narcissist, let your cat help you figure it out!
Anyone who comes into your home & insults your cat knowing how much you love him or her is unsafe. A normal person would keep their negative thoughts to themselves because they wouldn’t want to hurt or offend you.
Anyone who comes into your home & complains because you allow your cat on your sofa or bed is showing signs of control issues. It’s your home- why would anyone care what your cat does within it? What happens in your home doesn’t affect them so it’s really no one’s business what happens there. Control freaks think what they want to happen is all that matters, even in someone else’s home.
Some people ask cat parents to lock their cats in another room while they visit. To me, this is the epitome of selfish & entitled behavior. The equivalent to this is asking a parent to lock up their human child in a room while visiting. Most people would agree that would be completely unacceptable & offensive. Why would it be ok to do this regarding an animal yet not a human? It isn’t. It’s a sign of selfishness & someone who wants to be in control.
I firmly believe that how someone treats animals can be a very good indicator of that person’s true character.
Filed under Animals, Mental Health, Narcissism
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I have debated quite a bit about sharing this post since it’s so unusual, but feel like it may be a good thing to share. I hope it encourages others who have lost their beloved pets.
Years ago, I wrote a book called, “Pawprints On Our Hearts”. I wrote it after realizing just how much my wonderful pets have taught me over the years. Losing them also has been a learning experience for me. Mostly it taught me they still love us & think of us even after passing on.
Some of you know, we lost one of our cats in the early hours on June 24. Fergus was just under 4 years old & healthy. He had spent much of his final day chasing his favorite laser pointer, in fact. His sudden & unexpected death came as a total shock to all of us.
Losing a beloved pet is always a huge struggle for me. My pets are my kids, & are more family to me than my human family. Somehow, losing Fergus was even harder than usual. So hard, I couldn’t even face his death at first because it hurt too much. For someone like me who believes in facing pain head on to deal with it, that is highly unusual & confusing. To cope, I did a lot of praying as I was able to.
Last week, I couldn’t stop crying one evening & in the midst of that, God told me some wonderful things.
Fergus always knew somehow that he wouldn’t have a long life. That is why he was so passionate & playful- he wanted to enjoy every possible moment of whatever time he had.
Also, he died of a stroke as I suspected. I was confused at first, because my late snowshoe girl, Jasmine, had her first stroke at 13 yet survived with minimal problems. God told me that Fergus’ stroke was different. He would have been paralyzed if he survived, so God felt it kinder to take him rather than let him live in a state that would’ve made Fergus miserable. I had to agree.
God also said Fergus is happy & playing lots. He also loves me, but is worried about me being so sad he’s gone. God told him this is what happens with humans when we lose someone we love. It’s normal & it will get better in time.
This was a lot to absorb, so I asked God to give me a sign if it was true. I was listening to music shuffling on my cell phone at the time. The song that came on immediately after asking for a sign was Queen’s “The Show Must Go On” & I knew in my heart, this was my sign. Fergus was very flamboyant, passionate, caring, intelligent & loving. This song is one of my favorites by Queen. It was written by the guitarist for the lead singer when he was dying. The lead singer, upon thinking about it, was quite similar to Fergus.
The reason I’m sharing this with you is because I hope to offer you comfort if you too have lost a beloved pet. Animals have souls, just like people. When they die, their souls move on just like people’s do. They also love deeply, & death doesn’t change that.
If you’re missing your beloved furbaby, then please, turn to God. He can & will be glad to give you what you need to help you cope. I have experienced that repeatedly! Fergus isn’t the first one of my cats to have a special song. Far from it! Jasmine’s is, “Angel” by Aerosmith. Georgie’s is, “Angel Eyes” by Steelheart. Vincent’s is “Someday We’ll Be Together” by the Supremes. There are others as well, but I don’t want to bore you with the long list. Anyway each time God told me that my loved ones wanted me to know about a special song, healing started. He may do the same for you or He may do something else to help you start to heal. Whatever happens, it will be what God knows will help you more than anything. It’ll bring you comfort & peace knowing that one day, you’ll see your sweet little furbaby again. In the meanwhile, God is caring for that little one.
And, just because I love showing off my furkids, here’s Fergus. Yes, that tail is orange tabby striped. No, it doesn’t look like it belongs on a white kitty. We are reasonably sure it held magical powers because everyone who saw Fergus fell in love with him.. lol
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
My ebook publisher is offering a sale on all of my ebooks from July 1-31, 2020. They will be 25% off. They’re available on my website or use this link to go to the site directly: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/CynthiaBaileyRug
I am still working with my parents’ cat to earn her trust & bring her home. (It’s so much more humane than trapping her to bring her home. The last thing that poor girl needs is more trauma!) She is making remarkable progress, I’m happy to say. But, remarkable progress is still somewhat slow since I’ve realized she has feline PTSD. Considering the circumstances surrounding my mother’s passing, it’s very understandable. Luckily for me, I already have a cat with PTSD so I’m pretty familiar with it. I know it takes lots of wisdom, patience, understanding & love to help a cat (or a human) with PTSD.
During the very recent past, Molly has let me get close to her. I’ve taken advantage of that & shot some short videos. She now has her own playlist on YouTube containing those videos. I thought I would share the link here since many of my readers are also animal lovers. Enjoy! xoxo
Filed under Animals
From March 3-9, 2019, my publisher is having a sale! All of my ebooks will be 25% off.
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As I’ve mentioned a few times, I have a wonderful kitty by the name of Punkin who has feline PTSD. Here is his picture.. is he not incredibly handsome!?
A few months after adopting him in 2014, one morning out of the blue, he attacked our little American Eskimo dog, Dixie. She wasn’t even looking at him when he suddenly jumped her. My husband & I both hollered Punkin’s name, which got his attention fast. He looked almost as if he woke up. He looked at us & Dixie, then ran off & hid. We checked on Dixie & thankfully she was fine, just very shaken up. While consoling her, my husband & I talked about what happened, & I told him that the way Punkin looked reminded me of how I felt after a flashback. I knew animals could be traumatized of course, but I was unsure if it could develop into PTSD. I did some research & learned it absolutely can. Since I have C-PTSD, I felt somewhat equipped to deal with the situation. It’s been quite the learning experience to say the least! But, my husband & I have learned & I wanted to share it for you other cat parents out there in case you too have a traumatized furbaby on your hands.
In all fairness, I’m not positive how the symptoms show up in other animals, but I believe they’re rather similar. Our late dog, Bear, had been abused & once in a while he acted quite a bit like Punkin does. I believe he had a milder case of PTSD than Punkin has. That leads me to believe the symptoms are probably quite similar among animals, not just among cats.
PTSD symptoms in cats are quite similar to humans. They have an extremely sensitive startle reflex, so they sometimes react inappropriately to situations. If they get scared, fight or flight instincts may take over. Punkin tends to freeze- his pupils dilate & he won’t move. They can be very anxious too, which means they may be skittish, hide or potty outside the litter box.  Separation anxiety can happen too. They’re hyper vigilant, always extremely aware of their surroundings. Getting angry easily can be another symptom. as can being depressed. Signs of depression can mean losing interest in things they normally enjoy such as food, playing or snuggles,  They may have nightmares, which you can see by how they sleep. Most cats twitch a bit in their sleep, but a cat with PTSD will do so more often & violently. Another big clue is they avoid things that can be similar to the traumatic event. I believe due to how Punkin attacked Dixie his trauma was related to a dog. She was the only animal or person in our home he ever attacked. And yes, they can have flashbacks. If you haven’t seen someone have a flashback or if you don’t have them, it can be hard to identify. When Punkin has had them, he doesn’t look quite like himself. His eyes get huge & you see fear written all over his face. He also acts completely out of character, like when he attacked Dixie, then suddenly stops. The first time it happened, he hid for quite a while, but after that, he returns to normal in a few hours. They also make him very tired.
There are some ways to cope with feline PTSD that I have found to be pretty successful.
I talk to Punkin. I tell him I understand what he’s going through, & it stinks. It’ll be ok, though, there is no one or nothing here that will hurt him. He’s safe & surrounded by other cats & people who adore him.
I also follow his lead. Punkin is very loving, but not particularly snuggly. Sometimes when the PTSD flares up, he wants to be left alone & other times he wants me to hold him. I do whichever he wants.
When Punkin has bad days, I do my best to remain completely calm in his presence. Cats pick up on the energy of their humans, so if I’m calm, he’ll be calmer. I don’t tell him “calm down”. Instead, my energy says everything is fine, & there is nothing to be upset about.
Catnip is a life saver! I started giving it to him to try to help his anxiety levels. It didn’t take him long to learn that it helps, so he goes to it often & voluntarily when his symptoms flare up. I got some very soft, fuzzy socks from the dollar store for this purpose. I put some catnip in a small rag, tie it up, & put it in the sock. Punkin also likes jingle bells so I have some with bells inside, some without. He picks whatever he likes as he needs his ‘nip. Since it doesn’t work for dogs, I used to give Bear valerian root pills. The smell is very strong & it tastes pretty yukky, so it wasn’t easy to get him to take it at first. It didn’t take him long to realize that it helped though, so he began going to where I stored it to let me know when he needed some valerian.
Some pet parents also get tranquilizers for their pet from the vet or use other calming aids that are readily available.
If you too have a pet with PTSD, following these steps really can help. I’m happy to say that Bear turned into a very loving, gentle dog from an aggressive one & Punkin’s symptoms are managed very well. He rarely has flashbacks anymore, & his anxiety levels are much lower in general.
Filed under Animals, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Today’s post is a little off the normal topics, but since many of you are also animal lovers, I hope no one will object.
As of yesterday, it’s been 4 wonderful years since our kitty Punkin entered our life & our hearts. Here are a couple of pictures of my handsome guy….
Punkin when he first came home..
Punkin with Grace not long after we adopted her in 2016. She has always adored him.
Punkin isn’t your average, handsome orange man cat. His vision is either limited or gone in his right eye, & he has feline PTSD. I’ve had traumatized cats & disabled ones, but Punkin is very different than any of the others. And you know something? I love that about him.
Punkin thinks & acts differently than other cats. PTSD does that in humans too, so it’s not a surprise. And, sometimes it can be tough to deal with, like when he has flashbacks. He also gets over the top anxious & panicky sometimes, & is distrustful of most people. Learning about feline PTSD plus having C-PTSD myself have enabled my husband & I to help Punkin manage it. One good part of him having PTSD is we understand each other & can help each other when the symptoms flare up. Plus with his vision problem, Punkin doesn’t have the depth perception healthy cats have. He has to get creative on figuring things out sometimes, & he does very well with it. He’s just different than your average kitty. Thankfully, Grace picked up on his uniqueness immediately after we adopted her. She keeps close to Punkin’s side (as you can see in the picture), helping him calm down when he panics or grounding him during flashbacks. She just instinctively knows what he needs, when he needs it.
Punkin is also very appreciative, loving, snuggly, playful, fun, intelligent & sensitive. He’s an absolutely wonderful kitty.. he simply has a couple of challenges that we have to work with.
Lots of people pass by cats like Punkin. They want to adopt healthy cats who require food, water, a litter box & nothing more. Those cats are wonderful, of course, but so are special needs cats. In fact, many special needs cats are even better pets. They are more appreciative of what their people do for them & loving towards their humans. Plus, because of their unique needs & dependency on their human, it’s easy to form an especially close bond. Caring for someone, be they animal or human, opens that door.
If you’re looking to adopt a cat, please take some time & get to know the shy or skittish ones, the ones with health concerns, the ones who may not have the shiniest or fluffiest coats or who have lived on the streets. Those cats need & deserve loving homes just as much as any other cats. Besides, you may find out you’ve adopted the most wonderful cat you could have asked for, like my Punkin.
Filed under Animals
Most of the victims of narcissistic abuse I have spoken with are devoted animal lovers. I’m one too. My pets, past & present, mean the world to me. I also love other animals that aren’t my pets.
It won’t be a surprise if you know anything about narcissists, but they aren’t the same way. Even ones that claim to love animals really don’t love them because narcissists don’t know how to genuinely love.
Animals are nothing but potential supply to narcissists. I realized that with my parents. When they would visit my home & if any of my pets paid them attention, they were happy. If one didn’t want their attention, that one was criticized harshly. Not only when the incident happened, but after the incident indefinitely. I adopted Magic, my first cat, just before Halloween, 1990. I took him to my parents’ house shortly after to introduce them to him. My mother decided to pick Magic up, even after I said he only likes me to hold him. Magic scratched her so she would put him down, which she did quickly. Until my mother & I stopped speaking in 2016, she mentioned Magic negatively from time to time even though he died in 2007.
If you have a narcissist in your life & pets, as that pet parent, it’s your job to protect your pet from the narcissist.
If the narcissist in your life is physically abusive to you, chances are good your pet will be abused too. If you can escape, do it! If you can’t just yet, try finding a home for your pet until you can escape. If your pet has been hurt, document everything! Take pictures, have a copy of his or her veterinary record. Documentation of bad behavior is always a good thing. Even if it isn’t illegal (like if your state doesn’t have strict animal abuse laws), document anyway. If your narcissist breaks the law, it can help your case to have proof of bad behavior, even when it’s not illegal.
If the narcissist is verbally & emotionally abusive, remember- animals understand what people say. I have no doubt of this at all. I’ve seen too much evidence proving they do. When my parents would upset me, there were always at least two of my cats there to distract them. Chester & Valentine in particular are very sweet cats, but very protective of me. When my parents came to my home, they would sit by them. Each time they said something upsetting to me, the cats would scratch or bite my parents’ hands. Every. Single. Time.
Also, my parents would say cruel & hurtful things to my pets. It hurt their feelings! Poor Chester was called fat more times than I can count. He’s a muscular cat & very solid, but at first glance he does look kinda chubby. I told my parents no more nasty comments to the pets or they aren’t allowed in my home. My mother wouldn’t visit my home for I think it was almost 2 years after that.
Whatever the narcissist in your life does with your pet, protect him or her! It’s your job as the parent! Proverbs 12:10 says, ” A righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.” (AMP) It can be hard to stand up to a narcissist, I know, but you must protect your pet. As always, when you talk to the narcissist about it, do so calmly & in a simple, matter of fact way. Any emotions you should could be narcissistic supply & something the narcissist would use to hurt you again later. As an example, telling my parents not to insult my pets, I calmly said “I won’t tolerate anyone coming into their home & talking badly to them. If you do it again, you won’t be allowed back here.” My father never said a word back to me on the topic & didn’t insult them again. My mother defended herself vehemently, stayed away for a long time after that conversation & behaved much better when she finally did return to my home.
Filed under Animals, Mental Health, Narcissism
Job 35:11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? Â (KJV)
One of God’s greatest blessings is animals. Â I’ve always loved & appreciated animals, but the older I get, the more I love & appreciate them. Â Animals love deeply & unconditionally, they are fun, they are very intuitive & intelligent. Â What’s not to love?!
In 2001, my husband & I lost Bubba, a very gentle, sweet, special orange tabby cat I’d had since he was only 4 weeks old. Â I was absolutely convinced losing Bubba was going to kill me, my grief was so strong. Â In spite of the pain though, God showed me something interesting at that time- I could communicate with animals.
The day after Bubba died, I let the cats out into the backyard for some supervised fun. Â I went to Bubba’s freshly dug grave for a moment of grief. Â I told him how much I loved him & missed him, & always would. Â A small voice spoke to my heart saying, “It’s OK, Mommy. Â I feel much better now!” (Bubba suffered with feline AIDS & emphysema for about 4 months before he died) Â I wasn’t sure I heard this right at all, & quickly came back to the part of the yard where the cats were. Â Spitfire, the queen of the castle, looked at me with great concern as I came near her & I heard, “Something is wrong with Mommy.” Â I told my husband what happened, & he said he could believe I could hear them. Â After all, I was extremely close to all of our cats.
The following day, I turned on some music while I was doing housework. Â When Lynyrd Skynyrd’s song, “Freebird” came on, I heard what I’d thought was Bubba’s voice again, as I heard it the previous day. Â “Mommy, this song fits me. Â Listen to the lyrics.” Â By this time, I doubted my sanity. Â Once I was done my chores, Â I prayed, asking God what was going on. Â I felt no answer coming, so I opened up my Bible. Â It came open to the book of Job, & my eyes fell on this Scripture: Â Job 12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Â (KJV) Â Immediately, I knew I heard Bubba & Spitfire. Â I wasn’t crazy!
Since that time, I’ve gotten better at communicating with animals.  I don’t often hear them as clearly as I did Bubba & Spitfire, but I still communicate with them constantly.  What’s so interesting is the more I wanted to communicate with them, the more they wanted to communicate with me.  Our late chow chow mix, Bear, taught me that when he barked once it meant yes, twice meant no & three times meant I love you.  Vincent, my granddad’s cat that we ended up adopting in 2008, told me one day his great great great great grandfather was a purebred Abyssinian cat.  He was very proud of his heritage apparently.  Minnie Rose, our dilute tortoise shell cat, actually tries to form words with her meows, so there is never much trouble figuring out what message she is trying to get across, especially when she says, “Yea” or, “NOOOO!!”.  Punkin is our orange tabby with feline PTSD.  He is very vocal & very clear at communicating whatever he wants me to know with certain facial expressions as well as meows.
I’m always impressed by how if you just pay attention to them, animals will make sure you know what they want you to know. Â You just need to be observant.
Also, not all animals are overly interested in communication with people, so if you try to communicate with some animals, they may have absolutely no interest, no matter how hard you try. Â Some seem to put up a mental wall.
Be careful reading about communicating with animals. Â Some who discuss animal communication claim it is some sort of psychic ability instead of a gift from God. Â They make it sound almost occult in nature. Â I have asked God to help me to communicate with animals His way, & with whatever animals He wants me to communicate with. Â I believe keeping God involved keeps anything bad out of what really should be God’s gift to His children.
Several years ago, I wrote my first book on the topic of animals.  I even included some about things my animals & I have discussed.  If you would like to check out this book, it is called, “Pawprints On Our Hearts”, & is available at this page on my website, simply scroll down  : http://cynthiabaileyrug.com/Books-For-Sale.php
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers, Mental Health
Ecclesiastes 3:19 “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.” (KJV)
I realize many Christians will disagree with me, stating that humans are much more valuable than animals.  I respectfully disagree though.  God loves the animals He created.  Reread the Scripture I opened this post with: Ecclesiastes 3:19 “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.” (KJV)  The Scripture states. “that a man hath no preeminence above a beast,”  so obviously God believes humans & animals to be equal.
Other Scriptures speak of the value of animals:
Animals are a wonderful blessing to people! Â They offer us companionship, unconditional love, help us with chores (such as on a farm), & if we pay attention, teach us a great deal. Â I’ve had pets since shortly after moving out of my parents’ home at age 19, & pray there never will come a time I don’t have any! Â Mine have blessed me in more ways than I can count! Â They have made me laugh or comforted me when I was upset, defended me to people who were nasty to me, & taught me many things, including how to be a good mom.
I hope you, Dear Reader, aren’t one who thinks animals are “just dumb animals” like many people do. Â If so, though, I pray you’ll consider what I’ve written, & reconsider your position!
And, if you’re an animal lover like me, but never thought about such Scriptures, then please, also consider this post.  Maybe pay a bit more attention to your furkids- they are wonderful teachers, & you can learn so much from them.  Don’t forget to let them know how much you love & appreciate them, too!  They appreciate hearing such things just as much as you do!  🙂
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
Human beings aren’t the only ones who can suffer from mental illness. Â Animals can as well.
Contrary to what many people seem to think, animals have emotions like people do, & even process them much the same way as humans. Â This means that animals can develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, following trauma.
Unfortunately for animals, they can’t verbalize their pain. Â You have to observe your pet to figure out if they have PTSD, & it can be tricky to identify.
My 2 year old cat, Punkin, has Feline PTSD.  When he arrived in our home at 3 months old, I had no idea of this fact.  All I knew was he showed up on the deck of the neighbor of my friend’s friend, & he was in need of a home.  He was immediately friendly with the other cats, & seemed indifferent towards our dog, Dixie.  A few months later, Punkin attacked Dixie out of the blue.  My husband & I hollered at him immediately.  He stopped, looking completely baffled, then ran away & hid.  Thankfully Dixie didn’t even have a scratch, but she was visibly shaken, understandably so!  My husband was mad at Punkin, but I realized he looked like I felt during a flashback.  Once Punkin calmed down & apologized to Dixie (looking sheepishly at her & trying to be nice to her), I did some research & learned that yes, animals can have PTSD.  I realized some signs to look for, at least in cats, but probably they are much the same in other animals:
After realizing what was going on with Punkin, I had to pray to figure out how to handle this problem. Â It’s not like I could take Punkin to a therapist, & he could discuss his feelings. Â As far as I know, veterinary medicine doesn’t even acknowledge PTSD in animals, so even a vet check up wouldn’t help. Â Thankfully God showed me some things.
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
This past Thursday, we lost a beloved & very special member of our family. Â Our cat Pretty Boy passed away suddenly of unknown causes at just over 14 years old.
I’m not sharing this for sympathy. Â I’m sharing because I want to remind you fellow pet parents out there to enjoy every moment you have with your furbabies. Â The time together can end in an instant, so make it a point to treasure every moment you have with them. Â Pray for them regularly. Â You may be surprised how much your furbaby likes it when you pray for them. Â Pretty Boy had diabetes for 5.5 years, & I regularly prayed for him. Â When I prayed for him in his presence, he purred & cuddled me. Â It can be a bonding experience, praying for your furbaby.
Also, I have asked God to help me to understand & communicate with my furkids.  As a result, we are all very close.  And, I think this also has helped them to become the wonderful little creatures God created them to be.  It’s not just me that thinks they are wonderful either.  I’ve had several friends over the years who have said almost exactly the same thing- “I’m not normally a cat person, but there is something special about yours.  They’re so friendly & loving.”  I had one friend who was terrified of cats.. until he met my first cat, Magic.  Magic became his buddy in no time.  This friend also was no longer afraid of cats after spending time with mine.
Communicating with animals is possible, & God will show you how to do it. Â It is beneficial for you as well as them, & draws you closer to the furbaby. Â I wrote some about it in my book, “Pawprints On Our Hearts” & will discuss it in a bit more detail in an upcoming blog post. Â Job 12:7 says, “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:” (KJV) Â God will allow us to communicate with animals & be blessed by it. Â It is truly a glorious gift He has given us, to communicate with these wonderful creatures He has made. Â By communicating with mine & becoming so close to them, I have been blessed more than I can say. Â In fact, one of those blessings has come in the form of music. Â As my cat Weeble, was dying in May, she told me that the song “Angel” by Jon Secada reminded her of me. Â I still have trouble listening to the song since losing her was so recent, but at the same time, it gives me comfort. Â Also about a year ago, I was listening to Queen when the song “I Was Born To Love You” came on. Â Pretty Boy & I were snuggling when he stopped & looked at me, giving me the slow blink cats do when saying they love you as the song came on. Â Immediately I knew he was saying this was our song.
Just because… here is a picture of Pretty Boy. Â RIP, my angel boy. Â I love you with all my heart & will see you again one day soon..
Pretty Boy
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
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On this day in 2014, my husband & I lost one of our special cats, Georgie.  We adopted him & his brother, Pretty Boy, when they were only about 4 weeks old.  They were adorable tiny, fluffy black powder puffs, born to a stray living in a local lady’s yard.  She said she was going to have animal control take all of the cats later in the week.  Rather than let them take their chances at the shelter, we decided to adopt the brothers.  After all, we had lost 2 cats in a short time prior, & another one was dying from cancer- we knew she had very little time left.  Kittens always help to cheer us up (they’re so fun & silly!), these two were in need, black cats are the least likely to be adopted & also my personal favorites.  It seemed like everything was saying we needed to adopt these two precious little boys.
That was in 2002, & in the 12 years we had both boys, we had a lot of laughs, mostly because of Georgie. Â He was mischievous & ornery, where his brother is much more serious. Â In spite of their very different personalities, they were inseparable. Â Georgie was always Pretty Boy’s protector- if another cat went to mess with Pretty Boy, Georgie intervened, even if the other cat only wanted to play. Â When Pretty Boy was diagnosed with diabetes in 2011, Georgie was always there to comfort his brother, especially when he came home smelling like the world’s most horrible place, the vet’s office.
Then on April 16, 2014, I realized around 10:00 that I hadn’t seen Georgie since the previous night. Â I texted my husband who said he hadn’t either. Â I thought maybe Georgie sneaked outside (as he had a couple of times before), or was hiding somewhere napping. I searched the house & couldn’t find him. Â He didn’t come when I called, which was very unusual. Â In a panic, I asked my husband to come home & help me find him. Â He found Georgie in our bedroom closet. Â Apparently he passed away in his sleep, why we don’t know.
Pretty Boy was devastated, & as you may know, stress & emotions can play havoc with one’s blood glucose levels. Â For a month, Pretty Boy’s already sensitive levels could jump 600 points or sink 600 points in a 12 hour period. Â Thankfully, his glucose levels started to level out after about a month. Â Pretty Boy has not been the same since losing his brother. Â He became even more serious, but at least he has developed closer friendships with the other cats.
Losing a furbaby is excruciating for people, but we aren’t the only ones who suffer.  Their furry family suffers too.  Blood related or not, if you have more than one pet, chances are good that they are bonded to some degree.  Maybe they don’t show their love as openly as Georgie & Pretty Boy, but there is a bond there.  I have had 27 cats in my adult life, & have lost 17 to date, plus had 3 dogs & lost 2 of them.  I can tell you that the survivors always grieve.  Not all grieve as hard as my Pretty Boy did for his brother, but there was still a great deal of pain when others passed on.  I have seen it over & over
If you have lost a furbaby, please remember this! Â I know you are suffering, but so are your surviving furbabies. Â You need to help each other through the grief process. Â It will help you both to get through & bond you even closer.
How do you help when you feel like you’re falling apart? Â First, pray. Â Ask God to help you to help your furbaby. Â Pray for your furbaby- lay your hands on him or her & pray out loud. Â I have yet to have one pet not like this. Â They understand what you are doing, & they do appreciate it! Â Mine certainly have.
Offer your surviving furbaby extra love. Â Lots of snuggles & saying “I love you” truly help you both a great deal. Â Don’t think animals don’t know what you’re saying, only the tone of voice- they understand exactly what you’re saying! Â And, like humans, hearing a heart felt “I love you” is always welcomed, but especially when they are hurting. Â This helps you too- when you receive snuggles in return, it helps to lift your spirits.
You can take your baby for a walk- not only dogs enjoy walks, but some cats do as well.  In fact, some cats enjoy walking with a harness & leash, believe it or not.  If your kitty isn’t a fan, they make pet strollers that safely protect your cat in a netted cage of sorts, allowing her to enjoy the fresh air & remain protected at the same time.
Playing is always a good bonding experience with your pet, & it helps to elevate both your moods. Â I have yet to meet a dog who didn’t love a good game of fetch or tug of war. Â Most cats enjoy cat nip, chasing a piece of string or rope & some even enjoy jingle bells or small crinkle balls. Â The experience also helps to cheer you up because it’s such fun watching your furbaby have fun.
Losing a pet is a painful, horrible experience, but never forget, it also hurts your other pets. Â They need you now more than ever, & you need them.
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
Tomorrow is a day I can’t forget.  On January 21, 2007, I lost my sweet cat, Magic.  He died quietly in my arms after over three years of dealing with heart problems, which was twice as long as vets expected him to live.
Magic was very special. Â Not only was he my first cat, but he was also my soul mate. Â He was extremely in tune with me. Â He defended me when people were cruel to me. Â He comforted me when I was sad & snuggled me when I was happy. Â He was extremely intuitive, intelligent, fun, caring & a wonderful surrogate daddy to the other cats & dogs. Â It’s hardly a surprise that after his death, he was still special..
One day not long after losing Magic, I was listening to the soundtrack from the TV show, “Touched By An Angel.” Â Wynonna’s song “You Were Loved” came on. Â God spoke to my heart & said, “This is your & Magic’s song. Â He wanted you to know that.” Â Even now, I cry when I hear the song, remembering that precious moment.
That wasn’t even the first time something like this happened. Â In December 2001, I experienced my first kitty death. Â My sweet boy, Bubba died from FIV & emphysema at only age 9. Â God gave me Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird” two days later. Â In 2002 after Sugar died suddenly & completely unexpectedly, God told me the same thing about Lonestar’s “Not A Day Goes By” Â There have been other songs too. Â In December 2010 when Vincent died, on my way back from burying him, the song “Someday We’ll Be Together” started going through my mind. Â Â God told me that was Vincent’s & my song. Â A similar thing happened the following year when Jasmine passed, except the song was Aerosmith’s “Angel” & in 2014 when Georgie passed with Steelheart’s “I’ll Never Let You Go.”
My point in sharing all of this with you, Dear Reader, is to reassure you. Â Not only people go to Heaven or Hell. Â Animals do as well! Â Mark 16:15 says to preach the Gospel to all creation or to every creature in every single translation I’ve seen. Â This tells me that animals also can accept Jesus as their savior. Â This means they can go to Heaven & we will see them again one day!
I also firmly believe that death doesn’t mean that they no longer think of their humans once they are gone. Â I have no doubt they think of us & miss us as we think of & miss them. Â Otherwise, why would God have told me they wanted me to know that these songs are ours?
If you have lost lost a precious pet, please be reassured that your baby still loves you & thinks fondly of you. Â And best of all, you’ll see him or her again one day. Â I know it hurts more than you can describe when you lose a furbaby, but knowing you’ll see them again one day is very comforting.
The songs I’ve gotten are also quite comforting. Â Granted, not every single furbaby & I have a song, & I don’t know why that is, but the ones I do share a song with? Â That song comforts me & helped me to get through the initial, devastating pain of losing them. Â If you haven’t experienced this, it may be a good idea to ask God about it. Â He certainly won’t object to it! Â And, who knows? Â Maybe you were too caught up in your grief to notice God gently trying to tell you about a song. Â It’s certainly possible to be grieving so hard, you don’t listen to God. Â I’ve done that myself.
If you have experienced the pain of losing a furbaby, please know I understand. Â It’s devastating!
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
I’ve always been an avid animal lover, especially cats. Â In 2009 after losing my 18 year old tabby cat Sneezer, I thought I’d study what the Bible has to say about animals. Â It was very eye opening! Â I learned enough to write a full book on the topic, “Pawprints On Our Hearts” Â
The Bible has so much to say about God’s love for the wonderful animals that He created. Â Two verses though really spoke to my heart about how valuable animals are:
Job 12:7-10  “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”  (ESV)
Job 35:11  “Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’” (ESV)
I’ve always known that animals can make wonderful companions, but they also are wonderful teachers. Â After reading those verses, it began to click in my mind just how good they are at teaching.
My first cat, Magic, taught me how to be a good mom to my cats. Â He was always loving & patient with them, even the neediest young kittens. Â He knew exactly what they needed & how to meet those needs.
Vincent taught me to appreciate the little things & people. Â One day I was walking him outside & he stopped to let the cool fall breeze flow through his fur. Â The look on his face was sheer bliss. Â When it stopped, he looked at me, then grabbed my hand & kissed it, I believe to thank me for allowing him to enjoy the experience of being outside.
Jasmine inspired me to never give up. Â She had 4 strokes in just under 2 years, & fought incredibly hard to recover from them, even when a vet told me I should put her down.
If you just pay attention to the animals in your life, you can learn some really amazing things. Â I have asked God to help me to learn from my furbabies. Â They are also some amazing teachers, always willing to teach you.
I also talk to them just as I talk to people.  Animals are very intelligent, & they truly understand what we say to them, not only the tone of our voices as some wrongly believe.  They also find ways to convey their messages to you.  I remember one time before my dog, Bear, passed.. he  had arthritis really badly, & one day he needed a pain pill.  He came into the kitchen as I was washing dishes & looked at me.  I could tell he was hurting by how he walked, & asked if he was ok.  He looked at the fridge, then me.  I asked if he needed a pill & he barked once as if to say “yes!”  I gave him his pill, & he gave me a kiss in return.
Animals are truly a blessing & a gift straight from God. Â If you aren’t enjoying them or enjoying them as much as you could, I urge you to give them a try. Â Get to know them. Â Ask them questions. Â They’ll find a way to answer. Â Most of all, love them & enjoy their friendship. Â It will bring you great joy!
Filed under Animals
I’ve been noticing something disturbing lately. Â So many Christians openly hate animals. Â This bothers me terribly, because there are so many Scriptures that show God loves the animals that He created & wants people to care for & appreciate them. Â Some examples are:
These are only a few examples. Â There is much more in the Bible on the topic of animals. Â I found enough for me to write a book on this topic several years ago.
It hurts my heart that so many devoted Christians openly hate animals, hunt only for sport or even think humans are so much better than animals. Â Ecclesiastes 3:19 clearly shows people are not better than animals. Â Read that verse again: “19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.” (KJV) (emphasis added)
How can anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian truly feel this way about animals after reading that Scripture?? Â Yet, many people do every day & harshly criticize those of us who feel differently.
It’s simply wrong.  Obviously, God loves animals.  After all, He created them.  Hating them is no different than hating other people.  Personally, I’m not fond of bossy people, but that doesn’t mean I hate them or wish them harm.  If I did, I would be criticized for it.  “Love your neighbor as yourself,” people might say.  However, if I hated animals, hunted them only for sport, called them “just dumb animals”, etc. most Christians wouldn’t bat an eye.  Do you see how wrong this is?
If you are one of these people, I urge you to reconsider your position. Â I’m not saying you need to become a vet or stop eating all meat. Â Instead I’m suggesting you give animals a chance. Â They are intelligent, caring, empathetic companions. Â Get to know some animals, maybe friends’ or relatives’ pets. Â I have 10 cats, 1 dog & 1 finch, all of whom make my life better each day. Â This morning, for example, I sat on my bed. Â I’m having a very bad day, & I just needed a few minutes to refocus. Â My cat Zippy joined me, showing me a great deal of love while purring loudly. Â He often is the first one to show he cares if I am upset, sick or even having a flashback. Â In fact, after becoming very sick in February, he has become my shadow. Â Once I got home from the hospital, he didn’t leave my side for a good 2 days. Â Since, he stays close to me at all times, watching me closely.
Animals can teach you so much, too. Â I learned how to be a good pet parent from my first cat, Magic who was a naturally loving father. Â Vincent, my granddad’s cat, taught me not to take the little things for granted, but to appreciate them instead. Â Jasmine, my snowshoe siamese, had 4 strokes in her final 2 years of life, & watching her fight to regain her faculties after each one was an inspiration.
God has blessed humanity with a wonderful gift in animals. Â I would like to encourage you today not to take that gift for granted. Â Instead, appreciate it & have fun with it! Â Animals truly are a gift from God in many ways.
Filed under Animals, Christian Topics and Prayers
Cynthia Bailey-Rug, Christian Author 
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