I TOLD YOU ALREADY!
The Ask Maya archives
page 9

Please note: Maya's opinions are not always those of the management!

Ask Maya for the 5th week of December, 2002/1st week of January, 2003
Ask Maya for the 4th week of December, 2002
Ask Maya for the 3nd week of December, 2002
Ask Maya for the 2nd week of December, 2002
Ask Maya for the 1st week of December, 2002
Ask Maya for the 5th week of November, 2002
Ask Maya for the 4th week of November, 2002

More "Ask Maya" archives on pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Ask Maya for the 5th week of December, 2002/1st week of January, 2003:

Dear Maya,
I hope this question isn't too trivial. I don't want to offend you or waste your time with nonsense. I'm wondering if you can tell me why a cat would just start yowling for no apparent reason. My eldest, Bea, does this occasionally. Sometimes she's just sitting somewhere and will do it for several minutes. Sometimes she does it walking around the house in the middle of the night and it is a frightening noise. She also gets under a piece of furniture and does it during severe thunderstorms (that one Does make sense). She sounds like she's in severe pain. I've had several other cats who did this occasionally also. All have been females and all were spayed. Thanks and I hope this isn't beneath your expertise (grin),
Respectfully,
- Paula

Dear Paula,

Thank you for the question and thank you for the respect. I will try to show you respect, too (although it's not always in my nature -- ha ha!).

There can be lots of reasons for cats yowling. They can be afraid, or lonely, or just want attention. Sometimes they are trying to tell you something. I yowl sometimes, even though I'm deaf. In fact my moms tell me I'm quite loud, but who cares? I can't hear it! Ha!

Sometimes even cats like to talk to themselves, particularly if they're bored or lonely. Usually, if you give your cat a little attention or a petting they will calm down. Sometimes they may even just be getting their "cat crazies" out. This means that they are having chemicals and energies and stuff rushing through their bodies, and they have to get it out with meowing and running and stuff. Cats spend a lot of time resting their bodies, and sometimes they just HAVE to exercise their muscles, including their voices! Oftentimes, this happens at night, because we are partially nocturnal creatures (and why not? The night is cool and we can see well). Does this mean you have to get up and say something to your cat or pet it to get it to stop yowling at night? Well... probably yes! Ha ha ha HA!

[Man, she's feeling perky today. -GK]
(Shut up, Mom -- you remember what I told you about keeping your sense of humour? Besides, the more light you feel, the more you can tune into MY humour, see?)

Anyway, I hope this helps. If it doesn't, and you don't want to get up at night, you might try setting up an extra attention and play time for your cats before you go to bed. My mama G plays with the other ones at the same time every morning. They look forward to it, and it keeps them on a schedule and off of everyone's back (including mine) most of the rest of the time. Now if only she would find my laser pointer/red light...

Take care and think about it next time you are talking our loud to YOURself!

- Maya the Magnificent Cat

A bonus follow-up:

Dear Paula,
I am not Maya, and I apologize to her in advance for intruding my thoughts here, but you don't say how old the cat in quetion is. We had a cat who began to do this--especially at night and it turned out she was having a series of small strokes.
- Sylvia

And a response from Gretchen:

Hi, Paula.

What Sylvia writes is a good point. My cat Maurice was yowling up a storm this morning and I checked in with him to make sure he was alright (he was, just lonely). Then it hit me: Maurice also used to yowl when he was having bladder problems/cystitis. I promptly went to Maya and said "you know, you never told that lady that it could be a health problem that makes cats yowl". She was actually a little chagrined (!), but insisted that from the wording of your message and what she was "getting" from you, she didn't think this was true in your case, and so didn't suggest it. She also added, "yeah, some cats will even yowl over little things, like when they have gas!" Uh, thanks. So, on behalf of us both, I apologize and remind you all that if your cat seems to yowl continually as though in pain or disoriented, please get him or her checked by a vet!

Best wishes,

- GK and Maya ("Sorry about that!")

Ask Maya for the 4th week of December, 2002:

Dear Ask Maya Readers,

Mom wanted to know if I wanted to send out a "special holiday message" to everyone. My first thought was "this is stupid," but then I sighed and realized that there are times of year that people seem to be more thoughtful and want to hear and try to absorb stuff, so I will do what I can.

First of all, I am not any of your religions, so I have nothing to do with that. I do like your miracles, like the extra-long burning oil and a lot of what Jesus did, and stuff. I think there are mystics and great spirits and people in all religions. Then again, you shouldn't use that stuff to talk down to or subjugate anyone else! If there's one thing you can learn from your "holiday season", it's that everyone should be treated well and respected.

Also, giving is fun and so is getting presents, and it's fun to spend time with the ones you love. My moms will be going away for a week or so this year, and I will miss them. But, as I don't celebrate your "holiday season," it's just like any other time they go away for me. I miss them when they're gone, and I cuddle with them when they are here. Unless I'm in a bad mood. But really, can't you just love each other and celebrate that and the gifts that All There Is brings any time of year?

Now then, I do like warm coziness indoors. And snow. Snow is good. It's pretty and white, just like I am. You gotta love that. We are both miracles! Ha HA!

Anyway, I know that when the Winter comes we get all contemplative and want to snuggle up for warmth and protection with our loved ones. That's why this is a good time of year to celebrate these things. However, if you could take some time out every day to celebrate what you have and what the world gives you (even when you are crabby), you would feel much better, and the world would be a better place. Am I right? Don't you think?

Also, if you want to give me any presents, go right ahead - anytime! Ha!

But seriously, I send all of you warmth and purrs and love from myself and the well of All There Is. Take a moment to feel it and spread the good cheer. And remember to take good care of your animals over the holiday season, even if things get busy and family comes and you get drunk and stuff, okay? Don't forget them!

Love and best wishes for all to come,

- Ms. Maya, A Very Special Cat

Ask Maya for the 3rd week of December, 2002:

Dear Maya,
One animal communicator told me that when cats are asleep they leave their bodies (I understand this as many dogs do also) but that cats cannot tell the difference between this and death. Is this true and can you explain this?
- JB

Dear JB,

Good question, although a little surprising for me. Sometimes I forget that humans understand so little about spirit travel and the difference between life and death.

Okay - spirit travel is something we cats do all the time. Other animals do it, too, but we cats are particularly good at it. After all, we spend a lot of time relaxing and often have our needs met. It's a little harder for cats in the wild to do sometimes, but they do it, too.

Actually, this is one of cats' Great Purposes. We do a lot of spiritual travelling and emotional work that keeps things in balance and light. Cats may seem selfish sometimes, but that's because we have a lot of work to do! Besides, usually if a cat seems selfish that is because a human is demanding too much of it. Anyway...

Now, the difference between life and death is very slim, but it is there. In death you have a spirit, and it is free. In life you have a spirit, too, that can be free, but it is anchored to the physical body most times. Even if you go travelling, there is that little bit of light or energy that attaches to your body. This is a blessing, because it keeps you grounded in a certain way, but it is also a pain in the ass, because sometimes it holds you back! Only the very advanced can go wandering as, say, I can. Hee hee hee!

So, most cats know the difference between life and death. It's just that in intense travelling or transition periods, things may get hazy. Maybe we don't WANT to be connected to our bodies, or the attachment is very thin, almost nonexistant. Also, maybe we get tired of explaining things to humans all the time. "Are you in spirit?" YES! I'm ALWAYS in spirit! It's just that I lug this body around, sometimes! Actually, I love my body and it's very fine and fun to be in a lot of the time. But, believe me, you will be able to tell when I'm dead, because it won't be moving anymore! [laughing] But seriously, that is also more of a disconnect, and we get/become even more free when we leave our bodies permanently.

Also, one more thing that might help you. When animals go out of their bodies in death, very often they are more aware of past lives in other forms and less attached to seeing themselves as they were in this last body ("dog", "cat", "ocelot", whatever). This is not to say that we are not aware in life, it's just that sometimes the connection to our bodies is strong enough that it "blurs" things on the other side, or our concentration is more on that, you know? So, if you talk to an animal when it is "alive" and then you talk to it when it's "dead", you may notice a difference between how free the spirit is and how he/she knows more about other spirits, past lives, universal connections, etc. He or she may also have an easier time bringing back/relaying information from other spirits who have passed on, too.

I hope this helps you and thank you for the interesting question. Just trust me, you will get this more with experience! Humans can connect with this sort of thing, too - they just have to relax and feel/know it. Sometimes it helps to have a kitty guide, although you can't have me, because I'm taken! Ha, ha! Actually, I could guide more people, but there are other animals/spirits, too, who could guide you. You just find your own special ones and see what happens!

Blessings for a smooth transition for all animals and all of you,

- Maya The Cat/Infinite Wisdom Spirit [Oh, jeez - "infinite"? - GK]

Ask Maya for the 2nd week of December, 2002:

Dear Maya,
One of the cats that lives in our home is always eating the house plants. She never eats the whole plant, but certainly leaves gaping, jagged holes, where she's noshed. I feed her really good food, and supplement it with tuna and chicken from time to time. It breaks my heart to bring a new plant into the house because no matter where I put it, she still tastes it. What can I do?
Thank you for your feline wisdom!
- Theresa

Dear Theresa,

Thanks for the question. Have I mentioned that I love answering questions?

Okay. Plants. Leaves. Cats. A deadly combination. Hee hee hee! But seriously, if a cat wants plant, she's gonna eat it. And what's wrong with that? Plants are nourishing and crunchy. Plus, sometimes they tickle you and they deserve a bite or two. It's not like she's killing them, or anything. The plants hardly feel it. Maybe they're goading her into it.

Personally, I rarely eat plants myself, as I really only eat crunchy nibbles. Plus, have you seen the plants in my mamas' house? Puh- lease. They are in the worst shape. They're barely hanging on -- I'd be afraid to kill 'em. My mamas keep saying "oh, we're going to repot them and re-fertilize them, blah blah blah." You see that about as often as you see a rock Cornish game hen in my bowl, which is NEVER. The plants outside our windows are much nicer. I like them. Plus, they have birds in 'em.

Anyway, back to your plants and animals. Plants have healing energy and sometimes cats want to share it by taking it in. You may be able to help this by putting more leafy greens in your cat's diet, although you should mix it up with something meaty so she doesn't go "what the hell is THIS?" Also, you could put the plants up higher or spray something yucky on them, like citrus spray. Cats don't like citrus. You could check with your local nursery and see if some non-toxic citrus sprays, oils or juice would damage the plants. I feel sorry for the cat, because I think she deserves to have some roughage and nibble if she wants, but you asked for my advice. I hope you take it, because I am very smart, and I don't like being ignored, as you may know!

Well, I hope this helps. Best wishes to you and all your plants and animals,

- Maya The Invincible [She just came up with that one, I don't know why. - GK]

Ask Maya for the 1st week of December, 2002:

Dear Maya,
I know this sounds like a trivial question, but a human friend and I were talking about it and we both wondered why so many cats like to stick their paw into the surface of their water before they drink it. Are they testing the temperature?
- Jodi

Dear Jodi,

Yes, we like to test the water and it makes pretty patterns when we do. But the main reason is, sometimes when we bend over the water bowl it's hard to see where the surface of the water is. As you may know, cats (well, most cats) don't like to get wet, so we don't want to just plunge in and get our noses in there! So, we do a test to make sure that we can see where to stick our tongues without getting the rest of our faces damp.

Hope this helps,

- Maya The Magnificent Cat

Ask Maya for the 5th week of November, 2002:

(Editor's note: This question was originally answered in the Summer.)

Dear Maya,
I've got a question for you - you may gather this is from frustration!!
We've got a shelf full of first edition books near the computer - nothing valuable but they were my dad's and he died a while ago, so sentimental value rather than anything else. So, why is it only these books Baldrick chooses to pull out of the bookshelf, pour onto the floor (often in the early hours of the morning but also just now!), then sleep behind? I don't really mind - if I did I'd swap the books for different ones - but why doesn't he pick any of the other bookshelves that are in easy reach? I suspect this is one way of getting my attention when he thinks I shouldn't be at the PC ;-)
And Maya, do you know why he is so confident with strange people in the flat, but if he meets them outside he is really wary?
- Karon

Dear Karon,

Dear Karon, That Baldrick! I like that he is up to trouble again. A cat after my own heart. I think you should leave him be with the questions, though. Obviously, he is amusing and you love him. What could be better?

Anyway, about the books... I think he loves them. First of all, any cat would like attention when you are on the computer. As I've said, cats do long-distance communication, so we can tell when you're doing it, too. That's one reason a lot of cats are attracted to you when you're on the computer...

[GK gets an "AHA!" moment and is excited and surprised by this information]

Oh, yes, and we like the energy/sound the computer makes, too. The phone is not quite as exciting because the energy is lower. Plus, the computer is obviously fascinating to you, so we have to be a part of that! Anyway, those are some reasons cats get interested when humans use computers (along with the way you stare and do all that finger wiggling -- interesting!), and we tend to like to be around and do things to get attention when you do it.

But, with Baldrick, I think he just really likes that space and he thinks it and the books are special to him. They have a particular smell and vibration that the others don't... could be the way they are made, but also he knows they are important to you and he feels the love vibration off of them having to do with your father. So, he likes that space on the shelf AND the feeling of the books, and... voila!

Plus, he secretly thinks you like it when he does it. You find it funny and quirky and he gets SO much attention!

As for the being in the open or inside with strangers bit, he likes being inside where he has his hidey-places and familiar spaces and you to protect him. Outside, he is out in the open, where he can't navigate as well (having poor eyesight and things being larger and more changeable) and where he is vulnerable. Being an outside cat, he has contended with strange people and smells and animals outside that he felt a need to get away from. But, when he is inside he is protected, and his senses are less attuned to fight-or-flight and more to being sociable. Does that make sense?

Also, you should make sure to warn him when he is getting visitors. Some cats are okay with it, but we do not like to be snuck [sneaked?] up on!!!

Okay, that's it. Good question. I've enjoyed getting in touch with Baldrick and consider him an almost-friend. He is also properly respectful to my presence. I've learned from him about the horses.

... Oh, Baldrick also says that he pulls down the books because you should look at them! He says that they were something of your father's, and so you should look at them sometimes and think of him. He says it will make you feel better sometimes. Also, it's just fun knocking them down!

Well, that's it for those questions. Any others?

You're welcome,

- Maya The Magnificent Cat, who is too hot just now and is wondering when the air conditioner will be turned on again)"

Ask Maya for the 4th week of November, 2002:

Dear Maya,
I would like to know your take on intelligent life on other planets. :) Is there? Have they been to earth? Are they peaceful or hostile?
I figure, if anyone can answer the alien question, you can. :)
- Christie

Dear Christie,

Interesting question. I would have answered you sooner, but Gretchen was "busy" and didn't "have time" for me. The nerve. I hate it when she's a slacker.

OK, the short answer is -- of course! What do you think? There are animals all over the Earth -- in the land, sky and sea. There are animals ON those animals. There are animals IN the animals that are ON the animals. And all of this is life! So, already you can see that there is more life than you humans think about.

Next, think about spirits. Spirits are energy. Matter can become energy and energy can be transformed into matter but they can't be destroyed. So, there's all this life out there that's happening that YOU CAN'T SEE. Sure, it's not physical life as humans "know" it or define it, but it's life, nonetheless. I mean, it is a form of intelligent being, you know?

Now think about this: it's something we smarter animals know, although humans are just "getting" it or attributing it to their "science". There's no such thing as a vacuum. Even in space, where there's nothing for a long ways, there's something -- it's just so small or on a frequency that you can't detect it. Inside atoms, there are smaller bits -- neutrons and protons and whatnots. Inside them, or making them up, are even smaller bits. What are they called - - quarks? And also, your "scientists" have found that these things react differently when someone is observing them. Hel-looo? Congratulations! You've discovered that there is other intelligent life that you didn't detect before!

So, if you look at it from a spiritual point of view, not only can OUR spirits, those of us on Earth in physcial form, travel outside of Earth at this time as energy, but there could certainly be (and is) other energy and life forms that spend most of their time outside Earth. Now, this could be on different energy "wavelengths" (some say dimensions, but that's a tricky concept), some could be just floating around, and some could even be on other planets or stars. Some could BE other planets or stars. The truth is, we are all a part of All There Is, and that makes everything - EVERYTHING - a part of intelligent life! Even man-made, "inanimate" objects can be infused with spirits, sometimes, and carry energy patterns. Think about that!

This is blowing my Mama G's mind, and it may sound hard for you to grasp, but the key is to accept it. Just relax and un-focus and accept everything around you, and you will feel the energy flowing around. Once you tune in, everything will seem possible. There are rules, and we make them, but that's okay. Personally, I like the rules that govern me in terms of being a cat, most of the time -- but I also like that I am a special cat and I am "bending" the rules by talking to humans a lot and doing mind travel and I don't care what anyone thinks but I've had someone pick up on it! That, to me, is pretty cool, and yet an accepted and expected part of my existence. How about you? What rules do YOU make or bend or break?

I have really enjoyed answering this question and I'm so glad you asked it! It has made me really excited! I hope you will think about what I had to say because it TRUE, dammit. It's true. After that, you can ask me questions about smaller issues or whatever else. But that was a RIGHT question. Good for you! Now I think I'm going to go run around and lick myself. And possibly meow.

Best cosmic and kitty wishes to you!

- Maya The Great and Wonderful Cat

More "Ask Maya" archives on pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Copyright 2002-2003, Gretchen Kunz