All right, it's that time.
Let's put on our 1940s-style fedora,
put in that press card right on the band right there,
get out our big, old stogies, munch down on it.
Lefty, you've got to give me the story.
I've got kids to feed here.
It is time for cat journalism part II,
your questions, your answers.
Let's get to it.
Catify the world!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Last time around, we were talking about cat journalism.
We were talking about the concept
of going deep inside of a problem
but at the same time keeping some subjectivity,
stepping away at the same time exploring it.
That's what a journalist does.
They say, just the facts, mam.
And in gathering the facts, they uncover the story.
And that's what we're going to do.
The first one is from Kitty B. I have
had my cat Izzy for eight years.
A couple days ago, he peed in the laundry basket.
That was pretty random.
We do spoil him a lot.
And I noticed he did this when we ran out
of his favorite food.
I wonder if he was trying to send us a message.
Here's what I like about that.
What I like is you said, I noticed,
meaning that you were present in that moment.
Now, you did hint that it was spiteful
that it was a vengeful pee.
In my experience, that's not something that happens.
Take apart that day.
Why was that day different from other days?
Eight years he never peed in the laundry basket.
How many times in those eight years
did you run out of his favorite cat food?
Was there fighting going on in the house?
Had you gone on a trip?
Were you going on a trip?
Were suitcases out?
Was his carrier out?
Did he know he was going to the vet?
What raised that level of anxiety?
Because don't forget what he did,
he went into a place that smelled distinctly like you.
So something territorially really set him off.
Cats outside the house, cats inside the house,
new child, what came in there that could have spiked him?
Kitty B, I want to hear from you.
Don't forget the hash tag #TeamCatMojo
and the #CatJournalism as well.
I'll get this message.
And we'll continue this conversation.
Number two, D Sanchez, random cat action.
My two cats were walking past one another.
And the smaller and older one turned around
and slapped the other one in the face with one paw
then the other a couple times.
My big cat dazed, walked away.
So the cat boxing had never happened before or since.
Parentheses, is it bad that I giggle about it as a memory?
No, it's still slapstick.
As long as no blood was drawn, it's slapstick.
Let's talk about these two cats.
Unless you have context, that's just
your older cat having an older grouchy moment.
Grumpy old men, that's what we've got right here.
It's just like, hey, you're invading my bubble.
Back the hell off.
How old is he?
If he's older, when was the last time you had him at the vet?
Senior cats have got to get in annually
for a senior panel and a wellness exam.
Because if he's never slapped the other cat before,
and they've been together for so long,
and he's just grouchy that day, boy, he was extra grouchy.
And pain will make you grouchy, believe you me.
Duchess of The Ice-- hello, Duchess Of The ice.
Hey, Jackson, I have a random story.
Jasper, my seal point Birman, lived
to the ripe old age of 17.
However, when he was about 14 or 15,
he followed me into the bathroom one day, came up to me,
turned around, lifted his tail and peed, not
sprayed, on my leg.
It was really out of the blue.
And he never did it again.
What was that all about?
The other thing that you might have noticed,
around 14-15, we start to see signs
of a little bit of dementia.
This is what makes this one tough
is that Jasper is no longer with us, because that way
we really could explore that behavior.
And plus, this was a few years ago.
So it's going to be tough for you.
But here are questions you can ask yourself.
Where were you?
What did you do?
What made him anxious?
Folks, I can't stress this enough.
When we talk about a cat doing something instead of you going,
now, he was pissed at me.
Step away from that language of pissed at you.
Step toward the language and toward the vibe
of anxiety and stress.
Cats are subject to the same kind of stresses we are.
If we're working constantly, were
getting three hours of sleep, we're
going to do things that we might not do otherwise.
OK, folks, that's it.
All three of you guys will receive handsome prizes.
Hopefully, you get a better grasp
on what cat journalism is.
This is something I want you to pass on
to your friends and neighbors and families
who have cats who are creeping toward that ledge of saying,
this cat is driving me crazy.
Homework people, the next time you see a random event,
take it apart on paper.
After you do it for a week straight, you look back on it,
and it is not that same emotional thing.
It is palm-sized.
Get to the truth.
Hopefully, folks, that's what you're going to do,
get to the truth.
And that will make sure that your bond with your cat
is still fruitful and lovely.
All right, folks, if you want to find me, you can find me.
Social media-wise I really am everywhere.
I'm posting every day on Twitter, and Instagram,
and Facebook.
There's a lot of us on Facebook right now.
Don't look for me as much as you look
for the rest of this community.
We are team cat mojo in full effect.
Look at all these other places you can get a hold of me.
Don't forget, #TeamCatMojo when you're making comments.
That way, I see it.
Folks, from today, if you want to give me an update,
#CatJournalism.
I will see you next time, all light, all love,
all mojo to you. [KISSING SOUND] Love you.
Special kudos, and thanks, and props
go out to Motley Zoo up in Washington State.
You can support them as well.
Just go to the link down below here.
Just so you know, pits rock, man.
Pits rock.
That's right, man.
[JUNGLE SOUNDS]