Cats, Dogs and the Full Moon

Okay, we know the effect the full moon has on werewolves, but what about cats and dogs?

There have been plenty of studies suggesting that pets get into more mischief and are injured more often when the moon is fullest, but is lunar activity the reason?

The study, authored by Raegan Wells, DVM, and her colleagues at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said there seemed to be a correlation between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats  when there was a full moon.

The study, titled "Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle,” appears in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The data, compiled from case histories of 11,940 dogs and cats treated at the university's Veterinary Medical Center, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days. The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the moon's three fullest stages—waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous.

"If you talk to any person, from kennel help, nurse, front-desk person to doctor, you frequently hear the comment on a busy night, 'Gee is it a full moon?'" said Wells. "There is the belief that things are busier on full-moon nights."

We realize that folklore alone does not make for good science, but the research indicates that this folklore may indeed be based in fact. 

Modern studies have associated the full Moon with insanity, traffic accidents, increased aggression, unintentional poisonings and absenteeism, and the female menstrual cycle, but many of the studies are a mixed bag of results. 

"While the results of our retrospective study indicate that there is an increased likelihood of emergency room visits on the days surrounding a full moon, it is difficult to interpret the clinical significance of these findings," Wells writes.

There has always been the belief that a full moon can effect people and animals causing them to act strangely. In fact, the word ‘Lunatic’ came about due to the belief that the Moon can make one mad.

We have a lot of cats, we have dogs as well, and regardless of what the opponents say, we see that our 4 legged family members are affected to some degree during the full moon.

Because we have some knowledge of ours own cats behavior, we know when things are different.

As a result we get a lot of questions from cat owners about their cats and the full moon! 

“Can a full moon cause cats to act weird?,” “cat meowing more," “cat more crazy than usual during the full moon?,” “cat temperament changes around full moon,” “why are my cats more aggressive during a full moon?"

It's obvious people see something is different with their pets when the full moon is out.

So, we believe there is a full moon behavior having an effect on the feline's circadian rhythm, that is, physiological and metabolic processes that are based on a passage of time, change of season, tidal variations, gravitational cycles and amount of light or darkness. This variation in circadian rhythm presented by the completion of the lunar cycle to full moon, thereby leading to changes in night-time light and gravity, affects the behavior of felines. It is not only felines that get affected, as the same variations of behavior associated with full moon affect dogs and even people in much the same way.

So, what does all this mean for pet owners?

"It serves as a good reminder to remain cognizant of your pet's environment and overall health status, and to avoid situations that would put them in harm's way," Wells said.

This advice includes keeping a closer eye on them near the full moon, when their likelihood of injury explicable peaks.

We Love Cats

Regardless of what anyone says, cats aren't evil. They are a wonderful, beneficial part of our lives. 

Cats Can Heal Your Mind and Body

Cats are magical animals and they are far more ‘psychic’ than we realize. 

They protect our homes from negative energies and they are able to sense and see things that we as humans usually cannot.

Ancient Egyptians actually revered the cat as a Goddess. 

From ancient times and even now, cats are thought to be special. 

They tend to have this ability to make us happy with the minimal effort. 

Being around them is a wonderful way to reduce stress and their purring can often help a person get rid of their headache.

These animals seem to know when we are down or hurting. 

If you have a cat that is a bit more independent you have probably noticed that he or she tends to stay by your side when you are upset. 

Many believe that cats can easily predict future as they get to ‘know’ or can easily sense feelings. 

They certainly may not be able to completely protect you from all negativity but can certainly warn you if anything bad is to happen. 

There are times when you might have seen a cat behave weirdly as if something exists around or as if it is playing with something.

It has been observed that cats behave weirdly when they sense an unusual presence around them. 

It is even said that they do not like a place if they sense any negative presence there. 

Ancient Egyptian mythology that cats are blessed with the power to ward away evil spirits.

Science: Cats Are Healers

Cats are special, they have abilities and powers and there is a spiritual bond that we have with cats dating back to ancient Egypt.

Cats were once worshiped as gods and played a vital role in Egyptian culture and we can still benefit from their incredible powers of intuition, their loyalty to us.

It's no secret that the Pagan Kitchen loves cats.

Cats are not only our friends and companions, they are family.

 
Besides all that, scientific studies have shown time and time again that cats are extremely therapeutic, and may actually be a good form of medicine for people suffering from heart conditions.
Did you realize that owning a cat can reduce your risk of a heart attack?

This is the result of a 10 year study of more than 4,000 Americans by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Stroke Institute in Minneapolis.

After a 10 year follow up period, cat owners showed a 40% lower risk of death from heart attack compared to non cat owners.
This was due to a lower heart rate, lower stress levels, and lower blood pressure. Lowering your risk of a heart attack by 40%.

This is a big deal, 40% gives holistic healers and even heart medications a run for their money.

Besides the improved heart health, cats also cause a release of oxytocin in the brain. Oxytocin is a feel-good chemical as well as healing to the body. 

Serotonin and dopamine are also released in the brain as you are playing with your cat, which reduces stress and puts the body into a harmonious state and stabilizes your immune system.

There is also this:
Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.

People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets.

Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets.

Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.

Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

A cat purring offer healing power as well.
According to an article published in Scientific American, cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. Various investigators have shown that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing.
You may find that having a cat on your chest while it purrs feels like a complete regeneration.

This is because the frequency of the cats purr is literally healing your cells.

Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts if they live with a companion animal.

Pet owners with AIDS are far less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.

People who suffer from high blood pressure, then adopt a cat or dog, navigate stressful situations with lower blood pressure than people who don’t have pets.

Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without.

When you interact with cats, they don’t judge you, interrogate you, belittle you, or comment on you.  They simply love you.

Cats with their special healing gifts were recognized by the ancient Egyptians as Gods,

Rey the Blind Kitten

Rey the kitten who was born without eyes! 

But she doesn't believe she's handicapped.

She uses her senses of smell and hearing to do anything she wants.

Rey's owner decided to adopt Rey and her sister after finding them living on the streets. Rey’s sister was taking really good care of her then, and still takes good care of her pretty much the same way even now.

Cats

The Purring Cat

Cats purr during both inhalation and exhalation with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 Hertz. 

Various studies have shown that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing.

Nature provides many wonderful discoveries, all we have to do is reconnect with the Magic of Nature.

Pope Gregory IX, Cats and the Plague

Yes, we know there are many senerios about the spread of the Black Plague, but the fact remains the deadly plauge occurred at the same time so many cats were executed. 

The Black Death was an epidemic of bubonic plague, a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis that circulates among wild rodents where they live in great numbers and density. 

Such an area is called a ‘plague focus’ or a ‘plague reservoir’. Plague among humans  arises when rodents in human habitation, normally black rats, become infected.

If you look at the photo above, with the bird looking creature, it's interesting, that during the time of the plague in Europe, physicians wore long black robes, wide brimmed hats, and masks that appeared to have a beak. 

The reason for doing this is that the masks contained a combination of herbs, spices, and essential oils that the physicians would breathe in order to keep themselves safe from those infected. 

In June 1348, people in England began reporting mysterious symptoms. 

They started off as mild and vague: headaches, aches, and nausea. 

This was followed by painful black lumps, growing in the armpits and groin.

The last stage was a high fever, and then death.

The theory was that hot water opens the pores, and that doing that leaves you vulnerable to plagues carried by “bad air.” 

That air supposedly gets into your bloodstream through said pores, and so many kings and queens alike took no more than two or three baths a year.

Pastor Gene Kim: The Bible Says Cats Are Evil

Pastor Gene Kim of San Jose Bible Baptist Church, who believes the Earth is hollow, had a video on YouTube proclaiming that all cats are evil.

So, it goes like this: somehow the Bible says all dogs will go to Heaven, but cats are the worst, evil and destined for Hell.

Unfortunately the video has been lost, removed or they just don’t want us to show it.

Your Partner The Cat

Say hello to Flossie! (Photo below) Just ahead of her 27th birthday, the British cat was named the oldest living feline in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. To be exact, Flossie earned this title at 26 years and 329 days of age, which is about 120 years in human years.

The oldest cat in history, however, was crowned 15 years ago—Crème Puff lived to be 38 years and three days old in 2005.

Flossie's owner, Vicki Green, couldn't have been happier to find out about the record-breaking news. "I knew from the start that Flossie was a special cat, but I didn't imagine I'd share my home with a world record holder.”

Cats, Dogs and Frequencies

It was assumed till now that animals cannot see UV rays but scientists have discovered evidence that indicates otherwise.

Biologists at the City University, London, US, conducted a study where they found out that cats and dogs could see in UV light. 

UV light has a wavelength beyond the range of human vision that extends from red to violet.

“Have you ever felt that your cat or dog can see something you don’t? Well, you may be right, according to a new study. 

Cats and dogs are thought to see in ultraviolet light, which opens up a whole different world than the one we see, the study explains.

UV light is the wave length beyond the visible light from red to violet that humans can see. 

Humans have a lens that blocks UV from reaching the retina. 

It was previously thought that most mammals have lenses similar to humans.

Scientists studied the lenses of dead mammals, including cats, dogs, monkeys, pandas, hedgehogs, and ferrets. 

By researching how much light passes through the lens to reach the retina, they concluded that some mammals previously thought not to be able to see UV actually can.”

It is a quite common experience to see your pet looking at something or someone that is apparently not visible to you. 

This study suggests that there might be more to this phenomenon that we completely understand.

It might be possible that animals might be seeing energies that we can not see.

While this study does not prove that animals can see spirits, it does suggest that animals can visually perceive things that we can not.

Cat On Apple

As religious characters continue to appear on toast, Grumpy Cat has made an appearance inside an Apple.

Cyclists Finds Stray Kitten

Stories like this show the love some people share with these wonderful animals.

Saint Gertrude and Cats

Saint Patrick is not the only saint whose feast day is March 17.  It is also the feast of Saint Gertrude, the patron saint of cats and the people who love them.  
Because of her love for cats and nature, we consider her our honorary Pagan Saint.

Lilies Kill Cats

A Cat Purring

Luna and Cleo

We wanted to share 2 of Pagan Kitchen’s wonderful family members...

How Old is Your Cat?

Cat Day

 

National Cat Day is observed each year on October 29th.  

National Cat Day was founded to help the public recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued.  

The day also encourages cat lovers to celebrate the cats in their lives for the unconditional love and companionship that they bestow upon them.

We Love Nature

 

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