It’s not just cats that I love. I’ve always felt a connection, a kinship with all animals. Most of you know what I mean, that feeling of compassion in your heart & soul for a creature who is so unlike us yet remarkably similar emotionally. We all want to give and receive love. We all have fears, insecurities, hypersensitivities. We all want to feel safe and secure.

When I was a kid I just knew I was going to grow up to become a veterinarian. I fantasized about working with dolphins or big cats. I had no idea there were professional groomers. Fast forward through life and an administrative career in various fields I had no interest in besides cashing a paycheck. Then mid-summer 2000 I found my calling, my purpose.  

Cat Grooming!! 

Grooming cats, actually bathing, drying, shaving, nail clipping, and dematting felines ranging in size from 6 to 20 pounds. Many with what would be considered less than appreciation for my efforts. This job was purrfect for me! I could help cats look and feel great. I could use my innate understanding of cats to make a stressful situation easier for them. I couldn’t have imagined I would learn so much or meet so many incredible animal lovers. And the cats!! Wow, so many fantastic cats have enriched my life with their beauty. It’s difficult to fully express the depth of gratitude I have for the good fortune and blessings grooming cats has afforded me.

And now, after seven years of being the resident Cat Whisperer / Only-One-Here-Crazy-Enough-To-Actually-Want-To-Handle-Upset-Kitties at the incredible Stonebriar Veterinary Centre, I’ve been given a tremendous opportunity. Today I completed my fifth shift as a Veterinary Technician Assistant. Basically I do a lot of holding animals for various procedures, lots of cleaning, some phone calls, prescription preparation, client interaction, and ask a ton of questions.

I’ve always been proud to work at SVC. Dr. Wilcox, the founder and owner, has my utmost respect and admiration. The doctors and nurses have consistently impressed me with their knowledge and skill. Now that I’ve had the chance to literally work side-by-side with them I’m blown away by their talents, their compassion, and their willingness to teach a crazy cat lady all the workings of a first-class veterinary centre.

I’m exhausted. This type of work is nothing like grooming cats. I work at a much more mellow pace during spa sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

I love the contrast. I love the synergy. I love being there for the animals and their loving humans.

It’s all so exciting and there’s much more happening every new day. Tomorrow it’s back to grooming cats for a couple of days. Purr!!

Before I wrap this up I want to share a ‘funny’ that happened today. I was holding a young, small, longhair dog (I’ll get better about dog breeds!). One of our doctors was shaving its foreleg to prepare for an IV catheter. This little wanna-be-piranha starting wiggling, shaking its head, snapping like a crazy thing. I held on, but it made my heart race!! I don’t have the skills yet to comfortably handle an aggressive dog and not get myself bit. There were other team members right there if I needed to hand this dog over. Thankfully he wasn’t really going for blood and I’m not exactly a newbie when it comes to handling aggressive pets. We both made it out unscathed and I was extremely grateful.

A couple of hours later I was handling a very ticked off Domestic Shorthair Brown Tabby on White (I know my cat breeds!) This cat was screaming and hissing, lunging and kicking, being over-dramatic and very cat-like. It didn’t phase me a bit. The doctor and a couple of nurses were wide-eyed and in a definite hurry to be done with this patient asap before someone got hurt. I just talked to it, held it close with a towel between its teeth and my arm, and we made it through. I had to do this again to the same cat a couple of hours later. Similar story all around.

Eh, it’s just cat talk and cat talk I totally understand. It’s those snappy dogs, kicking bunnies, and wide-eyed birds I’m going to have to study and practice with to become comfortable.

Life is something amazing.  

You think you’re going to do one thing. You take a path, or several, in other directions. As long as you follow your heart it all takes you to where you belong.

That’s where I am.