Do You Know What Stresses Out Your Cats?

Hint:  A lot of things . . . . 

Stress is fairly rampant in today's world. While it can be a good thing when we need to fight or flee for our lives, it can have adverse health impacts when it's chronic and doesn't let up. 

Stress can also have a negative impact on our cats and can negatively affect their relationships with other pets and humans in the home. While they don't generally get upset about the same things we do, our cats can experience chronic stress, which is never good for them.

Causes of Stress in Cats

The main things that cause signs of stress in cats include:

~ Too much competition for resources. This most often occurs in multi-cat households when cats feel like they must compete for food, water, clean litter box space, scratching post real estate, or time with their humans.

~ Inadequate territory. If a cat doesn't feel like the master of a piece of territory, he might become stressed. This is usually the case when he doesn't have a good scratching post to mark or there are other cats in the home that bully him out of spaces.

~ Changes in the household, including the addition or removal of pets or people. Cats are sensitive to change and it can stress them out. In fact, when people in the house are feeling stressed, cats often exhibit signs that they're stressed too, indicating that our emotions can rub off on them.

~ Remodeling or other noisy events in the home. Most cats are not fond of loud noises, so remodeling projects, loud parties, and other noise can cause them stress.

~ Veterinary, grooming, or kennel visits. Traveling in the car, being in an unknown space, and being handled by strangers can all work together to result in stress for some cats.

~ Boredom. Cats that are bored and don't have an outlet for their energy, especially their predator instincts, can become stressed.

Signs of Stress in Cats

Cats show stress in many ways, and it often comes down to observing changes in normal behavior to determine whether yours might be stressed. The catch is that many of these signs can also indicate various medical conditions, so it can sometimes be tricky to sort things out. If you notice any change in behavior in your cat, it's best to consult a veterinarian to rule out medical causes before settling on stress as the diagnosis. Here are some common signs of stress in cats:

~ Inappropriate elimination

~ Inappropriate scratching

~ Diarrhea

~ Hiding or extra clinginess

~ Decreased appetite

~ Over-grooming, sometimes to the point of creating bald spots, often focusing on the legs or belly

Treatment of Stress in Cats

Once medical causes for the behavior are ruled out, treatment of stress in cats relies partly on trying to determine its source. Below are some general ways to combat feline stress in your home.

1. There are enough litter boxes that are all kept clean. A good rule of thumb is that you should have as many boxes as you have cats plus one. There should also be at least one box on every floor of your home to which your cats have access. Make sure litter boxes are not placed in noisy, high-traffic areas.

2. There are enough food and water bowls. It's best to feed cats with structured mealtimes, especially in a multi-cat household. If possible, separate them so they have full access to their food allotment without having to defend it from others. Water fountains can also help.

3. There are plenty of scratching posts in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some cats like to scratch vertically, some horizontally, and some like a variety. Be sure you have lots of sturdy scratching posts (or cat trees with sisal for scratching) in all areas of your home so each cat can always find something to scratch on.

4. There isn't too much noise and commotion. If there is remodeling going on or you are having a party, consider creating a "safe room" for your cat(s) filled with everything they need to stay happy and calm. Try to have this room in the quietest spot in your home as far removed from the noise as possible. Offer them some 'white noise' such as a tv set to something soothing or a music CD for cats. We recommend 'Through A Cat's Ear' (available at Amazon ~ Click HERE to purchase!).

5. Each cat is getting adequate play and cuddle time. Do what you can to eliminate the stress of boredom for your cat by providing plenty of interactive playtime and enrichment activities like puzzle toys. Cats also love what we call 'Cat TV' which is as simple as a comfy perch or two in a sunny window overlooking a yard with birds and squirrels for them to watch. 

6. Diffuse calming essential oils such as Lavender or Stress Away in a water-based ultrasonic diffuser available at HolisticOilsForPetsAndPeeps.com! Our cats love napping in their favorite spots with the room diffuser going. It's a powerful calming tool for pets and their people! Use as needed to keep things feeling calm for the cats in your home. We diffuse pretty much 24-7 in our house. 

7. As a last resort, some cats may need anti-anxiety medicine to help them break the stress cycle. These medications do have potential side effects and must be carefully dosed. Your veterinarian can help you determine whether one is necessary for your cat and, if so, prescribe it. Never give your cat any medication without your veterinarian's approval. These medications work best when used for a short period of time in conjunction with the modifications described above.

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.

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An air of masculinity: Essential oil diffuser blends for men

Do you catch the man in your life lingering around the diffuser when you’re adding a new blend of oils? Have you found bottles of Cedarwood and Northern Lights Black Spruce strangely missing from your collection? Tell him there’s no shame in using essential oils. In fact, there are many ways they can be diffused to speak to his manly sensibilities.

The following blends are based on 12 drops per diffuser, but they should be modified based on your individual diffuser drop suggestions. Depending on your diffuser, you may want to cut the recipes in half!

No need for an energy drink! Get your guy a diffuser and have him start diffusing the energizing aroma of this blend during the post-lunch lull. Maybe the whole office will feel the boost and benefits of this 'get going' blend.

• 4 drops Peppermint to aromatically inspire a sense of concentration
• 6 drops Orange for a bright, energizing aroma
• 2 drops Idaho Balsam Fir for a scent that enhances calming and grounding

Rush hour traffic can turn anyone’s day south. This manly blend will help keep his eyes on the road while making road rage the last thing on his mind. When used with a USB Diffuser, this on-the-go blend can help make his commute a little time to unwind.

• 6 drops Lime for a cheerful and relaxing aroma
• 2 drops Eucalyptus Radiata for a scent that inspires energy
• 4 drops Copaiba/Cedarwood to help create a grounding environment

The odor that used to emanate from his man cave might have had a hint of “no girls allowed,” but for all the wrong reasons. This blend of essential oils is uplifting enough that you’ll enjoy smelling it throughout the whole house and masculine enough that your guy will be diffusing it himself!

• 3 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce for an invigorating aroma
• 6 drops Bergamot to help create an uplifting environment
• 3 drops Wintergreen for a stimulating scent

Whether he plops down in the recliner after a morning reliving his glory days with his buddies or cheers on his favorite team every weekend, your sports fan will be rooting for you to diffuse this blend regularly.

• 6 drops Valor® to create an empowering environment
• 2 drops Citrus Fresh™ for a bright and refreshing scent
• 2 drops Shutran™ for a scent that inspires feelings of masculinity
• 2 drops Tea Tree to provide a strong aroma

He loves working with his hands and could spend the whole day tinkering with his tools. Help him get all the benefits of being where he loves by diffusing essential oils that enhance the space.

• 4 drops Raven™ to create an environment of clarity
• 6 drops Tangerine for a bright and refreshing scent
• 2 drops Idaho Blue Spruce to provide a woodsy scent

If you find your guy looking longingly at the lawnmower section of the hardware store or if he spends hours painstakingly pulling weeds and timing watering precisely to keep your grass the envy of the neighborhood, help highlight his passion indoors with this essential oil blend for him.

• 2 drops Basil to create a calming environment
• 2 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce for an invigorating aroma
• 2 drops Bergamot to provide a light citrus scent
• 6 drops Citrus Fresh for a bright and refreshing scent

For other Young Living products the man in your life will love, be sure to check out the Shutran line of products, including Shutran Beard Oil!

Should you wish to get started with your own oils and products, we recommend that you enroll as a wholesale member in Young Living by purchasing the Premium Starter Kit, which gives you the Everyday Oils, a bonus oil called Stress Away, a Home Diffuser, as well as samples to try or share. This is an excellent investment in your health, as well as the health of your animals. 

You also have the option of joining as a Retail Member, as opposed to a Wholesale Member, so it is completely up to you. There are also options for monthly Essential Rewards orders, which earn you points that you can spend on additional products, as well as promotional items every month that you can earn for free, just by shopping for what you already need. 

Please ask us for additional information, or you may learn more by logging on to:

www.HolisticOilsForPetsAndPeeps.com  (then click on the Contact Me page for more info)

Thank you for joining us on this wonderfully holistic journey. We are truly grateful to have you here with us and look forward to helping you any way we can! ♥

Open Letter to Essential Oils Newbies!

Dear New or Future Member:

We’re so excited that you’ve decided to join us! We know that this will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. Why? Because Young Living essential oils have the power to elevate, motivate, and inspire. In this letter, we’ve put together a list of five ways they can transform your life.

You Will Smell Amazing!

“You have to tell me what perfume you’re wearing!” You’re going to hear this a lot.

You’ll chuckle to yourself because it’s not really perfume at all. It’s the pure scent of Mother Nature herself ~ Young Living Essential Oils.

People are going to want to know how you smell just like a blossoming orange grove or field of brilliant purple lavender, and you’ll tell them that it’s because that’s exactly where the aroma came from! It’s the smell of 100 percent pure essential oils, derived directly from fresh oranges or lavender.

You Will Inspire Greater Physical Wellness!

You’re home after a long day at work, and your gym bag is casting an accusing look your way. At the same time, that carton of triple-chocolate-chunk ice cream is serenading you from the freezer. You feel yourself take a step toward creamy indulgence when you see a bottle of Peppermint staring serenely back at you from the corner of the kitchen. You walk over, remove the cap, and inhale deeply ~ your nose tingles, your senses awaken. You apply a few drops to your neck and temples and immediately feel a cool, tingling sensation on your skin. You feel awake, alive, and suddenly ready to tackle what you know you need to do.

You change directions, walking right past the freezer, grabbing that gym bag, and heading confidently out the door. Young Living essential oils strike again!

A gym bag just isn’t complete without your army of oils. A few drops of invigorating Peppermint can be just the thing you need to do that extra pull-up or run that extra mile. A few drops of Grapefruit Vitality™ can be the difference between drinking a couple sips of water or the entire bottle. Keep them handy for those moments when a little motivation could mean the difference between going the distance or giving up.

They Will Help Make Your House A Home!

Essential oils have a way of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. With just a few drops of Cinnamon Bark, Orange, and Clove, a dark, cold winter night can turn into a festive, cozy evening. With natural home fragrances like this, you’ll find it easier to enjoy each day for the gift it is and spend more time cuddling and conversing than daydreaming of tropical beaches.

Essential oils can enhance even the most basic of daily rituals. Your little ones will love falling asleep to dreamy aromas like gentle Tangerine and enchanting Lavender. So when they bring home that crazy boyfriend or crash the car as teens, you can smell these oils and remember simpler days of story time, jammies, and butterfly kisses.

Make sure Young Living essential oils are a part of your family milestones and everyday activities, so with just a quick whiff, you can transport yourself back to your happiest, most magical memories.

They Will Spark Your Creativity!

With essential oils, the usage possibilities are virtually endless. There are always more applications to try out! You might start by adding a couple drops to your moisturizer, laundry, or household cleaner. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself in a sort of essential oil Nirvana, covered in coconut oil and candelilla (vegan beeswax), vigorously shaking bottles of Peppermint and Lavender over a mixing bowl ~ and you won’t be able to stop there! You’ll start making DIY essential oil body butters, makeup setting spray, dry shampoo, even Christmas ornaments! Not to mention all the ways you’ll use YL Vitality oils in the kitchen.

You’ll need to embrace the fact that essential oils will become a key part of your everyday life, and the more you use them, the more you’ll wonder how you ever got by without them.

You Will Find A Greater Connection With Nature!

Young Living essential oils are samples of the best that Mother Nature has to offer. In an increasingly fake and artificial world, they serve as a reminder of the pure and simple. As you use them in your life, your bond with nature will grow, along with your appreciation for the bounteous gifts it offers you.

Every time you reach for a bottle of Geranium over a synthetic perfume or use Orange Vitality instead of artificial orange flavoring, you’re supporting a world where man and nature live together in harmony, the way it was meant to be.

An old proverb says: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” You’ve just taken the first step toward a life filled with greater wellness, purpose, and abundance. Every person’s Young Living journey will look a little different, but there’s no doubt it will enhance your life. We are excited to see where this journey will take you!

Warmest regards,

Raven @ Holistic Pets & Peeps! 

(Independent YL Executive Leader ~ #1797711)

www.HolisticOilsForPetsAndPeeps.com