Author: Laura Weers

My Cat, Dog, And Goat

Our cat became best friends with our small dog, a miniature lab, rat terrier, and dash hound. She even had her kittens in the dog house. Jitters would babysit the kittens and care for them when Tabatha hunted for mice in our ditch. Even when the kittens were fully grown, they still lived cozily in the dog house with our dog. They formed a hunting party. One time, Jitters caught the mouse, and Tabatha got it away from her as she wanted that mouse so she could teach her kittens how to catch and kill a mouse. One of her kittens let go of the mouse, and Jitters ate it up, and we saw the tail disappear down her throat. It was interesting to watch the cats and the kittens, followed by our dog, coming out of the dog house every morning. Jitters and the cats would share the table scraps, but they each had their own types of dry food. As time passed, I got a pet miniature goat named Zachary. I put him in a building with two cats for a month when I first got him. He loved the cats and our dog Jitters. They would run up and down the deck chasing each other, and Zach would jump up on the windowsill and watch us eat breakfast in the morning. The trio formed a hunting party. Jitters and Tabatha caught mice, and Zach ate the leftover corn that the combine did not pick up. One day, they wandered away from home, and a woman herded Zach and Jitters back to our place. Tabatha returned on her own, as you cannot herd a cat.

Sugar, The Siamese Cat, And Perry The Parakeet

I adopted Sugar when she was 8 years old, and she became very good friends with Perry, our Parakeet. She was used to birds, as the party I got her from once had birds in their home. She would lie on the bed in the bedroom where we kept Perry, listen to him sing, and then leave and do her own thing. One time, another cat came over and intended that perhaps Perry was her lunch. Sugar laid into her, and the fur did fly, so to speak. Sugar was devastated when Perry died, and she enjoyed his singing and having the company of another pet in the house.

Pets Can Get Along With Most Other Pets If Introduced Properly

I had one cat that liked mice, as I had adopted him from a Vet. The Vet could not have a cat that would perhaps eat a person’s pet mouse in the office. I had an outdoor cat that was now a house cat, and she had a Bluejay in her mouth. I told her to drop it now, and she did, and the bird was safe and unscathed. Introduce your pets when they are very young to any other type of animal you may want them to get along with in the future, and they should be able to live in perfect harmony then. Introduce them slowly, let them smell each other, and say a firm no if you do not like a particular behavior.

Tags Cat and other pet relationships, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Running On Empty

Do You Feel Like You Are Running On Empty?

Some days, we have too many irons in the fire and feel burned out. It is OK to slow down and work at a slower pace. After all, slow and steady wins the race said the tortoise to the hare. Try to keep a list of things that have to get done, and try to stick to the list if your health permits you to do so. I have my lawn mowers serviced at the end of the year so they are ready to run next year. If something needs fixing in your home, have it serviced ASAP so you will not have a mile-long list of things that need to be repaired in or outside your home. Do not commit to more things than you know you can handle, no matter how much someone pushes you. I know some middle-aged people who live alone, and they have to mow their lawn and keep everything repaired on their own, and they do not have time to volunteer, as they have too many things to do on their own. When you are happily married, you share in getting things done around your home; it does not just land on one person. Everyone does not have time to do extra activities due to health, and depending on what falls on their shoulders, they have to do.

God And Faith

If you do not have God or Faith, you run on empty, and the fumes will not carry you through life. You need God to carry on and sustain you. Without God and Faith in your life, you are nothing. God gives us a high-octane fuel that will help carry us through any storm in our lives. God completes me by giving me ultimate joy, hope, peace, love, and the promise of eternal life. God’s light shines on the whole world, so let your light shine brightly for the entire world to see. Faith has sustained me in many ways. One woman told me that she would not be alive without her faith. God is a constant friend for anyone who wants God in their life and reaches out to God in prayer and song. Thank you, God, for my many blessings. Rejoice and be happy with the Lord by your side.

People Who See All The Negatives And Overlook The Positives In Life

You are genuinely blessed if you are healthy and blessed with good friends and family. If people only dwell on the bad times in their lives and don’t remember the extraordinary good times, they are not living life to its fullest potential. Travel while you can, as traveling with your husband or a good friend is truly a blessing. Look for the beauty in God’s creation. Look at the majestic mountains, God’s great and small creatures, and how each has unique characteristics and different personalities. Every one of us completes God’s puzzle as our lives fill in the spots on the puzzle for a specific purpose while we are here on earth.

Tags faith, Inspirations with Laura, positive outlook on life, Worn out

My Springtime Plants

Early Garden Vegetables

I generally plant lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard in April. I add fertilizer to the garden soil and work up the ground with my garden tiller. My garden rows are 30 inches apart, so I can quickly till between them. I plant my seeds shallow so they will not have trouble coming up if we get a lot of rainfall that packs the soil. April is also a good time to plant radishes, beets, carrots, peas, potatoes, onions, kale, and turnips. I plant my tomatoes on May 10th, butternut squash, and green bean seeds. You can plant more green bean seeds on May 25th if you wish to do so. Thank you, God, for the seeds that turn into excellent food for us to eat year-round. Tending to your garden is a joy as you watch the fruits of your labor flourish. Gardening is a fantastic exercise for you and has many health benefits.

Springtime Flowers

I enjoy looking at our tulips and the flowers on our Magnolia tree. I appreciate the early crocuses and daffodils. I love looking at the blossoms on our old Bartlett pear tree and the crabapple trees. The Red Bud tree flowers open a little later in the season but are also truly beautiful. The tulip festival in Pella, Iowa, is lovely to look at. They have wonderful places to eat and fantastic candy stores with almond letters. I love to look at the early flowers in the parks and look for morel mushrooms.

Planting Trees

Now is the time to plant fruit, shade, evergreens, and ornamental trees. Make sure you open up the root ball before you plant your new trees. An open root ball will ensure a healthier tree with room for its roots to expand and grow, and soak up the moisture in the soil quickly. Water your new trees as recommended by your greenhouse.

Freezing Excess Vegetables

I love to freeze lots of green beans as they are good to eat in winter. I also freeze squash, Swiss chard, spinach, tomatoes, and raspberries. I used to freeze pumpkin, cherry, gooseberry, currant, and mulberry pies.. I also froze several rhubarb crisps.

Springtime Brings All Kinds Of Beauty Back To Life

Once again, our lawns look green, plush, and lovely, and we keep them manicured by mowing and weed-whacking around trees and bushes. We hear birds singing with glee every morning, or when the sun is shining, Robins look for worms, and generally they succeed in unearthing one for a tasty meal. Many animals are born in the spring and enjoy eating the long grasses and their regular feed. God’s beauty is found everywhere we look. Thank you, God, for the beauty you have put in the world for us to see and appreciate.

Tags flowers, gardening, tips, Trees, vegetables

Problems That Can Arise After Adding A new Cat to Your Household

Problems That Can Arise After Adding A New Cat To Your Household

Post author By Laura Weers
Post date April 14, 2025
No Comments on Problems That Can Arise After Adding A New Cat To Your Household

Cats Are Territorial Creatures

Adding a new cat to your household can cause significant stress to your resident cats. Your cat wants to remain in charge, and if he sees the newcomer as a great treat, he may stop eating or using the litterbox. Most cats should overcome these factors after one month; if not, take your cat to your vet to rule out serious health issues. Some cats will vomit what they eat because they are so stressed out that the new cat may take their position in your home. Cats are genuinely very jealous creatures, and it is more than they can bear to see you give out love to a new cat. Your cats may have hissing and growling matches to make the others think I am big and strong, and you better not tread on me.

Your Cats May Become More Aloof

Your new cat or resident cats may hide more and not want to be as close to you as they once were because they feel betrayed or left out. Your cats might start sleeping under furniture and not on your bed like they used to. Lavish more love on your resident cats and pat your new cat when they are not watching. Never stop treating your cats like you used to before the new cat entered your home. Your cats may stop coming when you place food out for them. If your cat seems afraid to eat, stay next to your cat while you feed him to reassure him he will not be harmed by the new cat while eating.

Time To Start Training Your New Cat

When I see my new cat jump on the countertop or table, I say no, no, get down, and he will right away. Be consistent in what you want your cat to do so he does not get mixed signals from you. Do not be wishy-washy and say, “Oh, isn’t that cute?” if you see them on the table, and then the next minute, you say no, get down from there. Even human children have to have consistent boundaries set. If your cat refuses to use the litterbox, remember if you have three cats, you should have three litterboxes out. We do not like dirty toilets, and our cats do not like litterboxes. Never hit or slap a cat, as that is animal cruelty and is not acceptable in any circumstances. Be kind and loving, as it takes time to learn something new. Learning something new takes us longer than usual if we are stressed, worried, and upset. Be kind and loving with your new feline friend, and be committed to your cat forever.

Hopefully, Your Cats Have Accepted Each Other

I hope your cats see that you love them equally and that there are no favorites. If your cats do not eat like they used to or refuse to accept the new cat, you may want to move him to an entirely different area of your home, away from your resident cats. If he is aggressive toward them, you may want to rehome him. A friend may care for and love your new cat if he is sweet and loving. If cats are introduced correctly, they usually form close friendships and live in perfect harmony.

Tags Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home, not eating, vomiting, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Exclusions

If You Are Excluded From An Activity

Sometimes, you will not care if you are excluded from an activity; other times, you will. If all your friends are invited to an activity and you are not, you wonder why you were excluded. You may feel bad, especially if one of them mentions why you didn’t come to our party, and you do not want to admit that you were not invited. Another thing that can happen if you are not good at sports or for some other reason you do not know about it is that you are always picked last to be on the baseball team or other sporting event. I do not go for this behavior because it is rude and uncaring, and if any friend treats you this way, they are not your friend. One party would see her friends drive by her house constantly, but they never stopped to ask her to go along with them. Think if it was you and you saw your friends driving by and not stopping even to say hello. If you keep calling someone and they never return your phone calls time after time, they are not your friends. Be glad they have excluded you, and hang onto the friends who are there for you through thick and thin.

We Can Be Excluded From Things Because We Are Too Young Or Too Old

Some amusement parks require a certain height before you can ride their rides. As we age, we can no longer ride on some rides because we can no longer stand the spinning motion, or they are too much for our old bodies to take. Kids twelve and under get to eat free, and teenagers have to pay because teenagers have an endless appetite. We can only get the Senior Citizens discount on specific menu items when we get old, as the others are excluded. It is funny to think we want to grow up quickly as kids. When we get old, we would like to feel like we did when we were kids so we can participate in all the activities we did when we were young that we are excluded from simply because our bodies are no longer limber.

There Are All Kinds Of Exclusions In Our Lives

If a store runs out of a sale item, they may offer a different item to take its place with some exclusions compared to the one they sold out of. I find that the substitute item generally has fewer bells and whistles than the tesser item to get you in the store, which they only had five of, to begin with. Warranties can have a list of exclusions that are a mile long if you want to take the time to read all of them. If you use a lawn mower for commercial use, the warranty time frame is generally cut in half. Exclusions make us mad or sad, but sometimes they work out for the best. Some people and some events you want to be excluded from.

Tags excluded, not allowed in

Milton

Adopting A Young Cat

I just adopted Milton. He is a young black cat with a little bit of white on his belly. On the ride home, he unlatched his cage door and joined my friend and me in the front of the vehicle. He liked to look at the cars driving past us. We put him back in his cage, and we bought some of the ham out of our omelets, and he had eaten all of it by the time we got him home. He was very vocal, with a wide range of cat vocal sounds. He is gentle and seems to get along well with Garfunkel and Cali. I left him in the cage in my basement for a while so my cats could smell him. When I let him lose, I placed him in the litterbox and showed him the food and water bowls again.

Entering The Kitchen Through The Cat Door

He explored the main floor and just walked by my cats, and they did the same. He looked at my cats on the bed and then at the cat hammock/scratching post. Later, he found a cat teeth-cleaning toy and played and played with that. He then proceeded to take a catnap in front of the heat register. Milton enjoyed bird-watching 101, looking out the picture window at the various birds and squirrels. He is now watching me type this post about him.

Milton And His Sleeping Areas

He loves to sleep on top of recliners and in the seat. He has also fallen soundly asleep in the cat hammocks. Once in a while, he places a toy in the hammock with him, and then when he wakes up, he chews away on his teeth, cleaning catnip pickle or what looks like a small bone. He jumped on my bed toward morning and fell asleep for about one hour before getting up. After bird watching, he stretches out and sleeps next to the picture window.

How My Cats Got Along Today

Cali hisses at him, and today, Milton growls back at her. Cali finally walks away. Cali is part Siamese, and I guess she cannot help herself, as Siamese tend to be moody. Garfunkel also hisses at him, and he growls at him. Milton never tries to strike at them. On the whole, they get along fine. Everyone is trying to find their place on the totem pole. Cali has to be number one, as Siamese must be number one in any household.

Milton Is Establishing A Daily Routine

He loves to eat cat treats infused with catnip. Today, he discovered that he likes Hartz Delectables squeeze-ups. He also loves to sleep in my bed for a while, then in the cat hammock and the recliner. He discovered how to open the sliding door upstairs, and I found him on a large cat bed basking in the morning sun shining on the cat bed. He just discovered the cat warming blanket on the couch and is relaxed. He goes to the basement to eat his cat food, drink water, and use the litterbox. Milton is an excellent addition to my housecat family.

Tags Benefits of Having a Cat, cat Toys, Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home, What Should I be Feeding My Cat ?

Wisdom In All Things

Wisdom

We need knowledge and intelligence to navigate today’s world. Learning something new each day is the key to intelligent thinking. If we have a good perception of how a machine or something works, it will help us use the machine, and the machine will last longer if it is oiled and taken care of properly. Never yell at people or use profanity, for this shows a lack of intelligence on your part for using proper words that will solve your problems on an intelligent level. You must know how to converse with people and solve issues satisfying both parties. If you do not understand something and don’t ask anyone to explain it, you will stagnate and not contribute much to life.

Wisdom And God

God has wisdom beyond our understanding. He knows that man is not perfect and has a guide for us to follow the Bible. If you read the Bible, you will find a verse about how you feel or how you should react to something appropriately. God knew that man would sin, so he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we may have everlasting life in heaven after our earthly death. It is wise to read the Bible, attend church, read daily devotions, and surround yourself with people who share the same values. Remember, you are the company you keep. God is wise beyond our understanding, as he knows what we want or need even before we pray for it. God’s timing is perfect, for he knows when he should grant our prayers at a time that will benefit us the most. Praise God with all of your heart and soul for the many blessings he has given you.

Wisdom To Move On In Life

If something is not working for you and you do not like your situation, leave it and change your life direction. If you are in a marriage that is hurtful and harmful, do not think it will improve, as it will only get worse. Get help from family and friends and get yourself where you will be safe and free from harm. Life will throw many curve balls your way. Remember to constantly throw the ball back and not hang onto it, as it becomes excess baggage in your life that will slow you down.

With Wisdom Comes Responsibility

We must share our knowledge with others. I have had people tell me they do not wish to share their knowledge. One man was good at making brooms and said he would never teach someone to make brooms. I asked him what would happen to the equipment after he died. He replied he did not care and was taking his knowledge to the grave with him. If everyone felt that way, our society would crumble and fall apart quickly. We must teach our children good work ethics and good values so they will flourish in life and help others do so also. Be kind, compassionate, loving, caring, and bring hope into people’s lives as a wise and knowledgeable person should.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, wisdom, with age comes wisdom

Finicky Cat Problems

Cat Food And Finicky Cats

If you try to switch cat food on a finicky cat, they will most likely reject it in hopes that you will return to their old familiar brand of cat food. If you are trying to switch brands, have a bowl of their familiar cat food with the new brand next to it. You can try mixing the two brands and see if they will accept the latest cat food that way. If they start to vomit the new cat food up, it does not agree with their digestive system, so try a different brand and see if that works better. I always stick with the same brand of cat food, which usually agrees better with their system. Try to stick with the same brand of cat food if possible. Sometimes, they may stop making a brand, and you must have a backup plan.

Some Cats Are Finicky As To How They React Around People

Some cats do not wish to be held or touched, and others want to be held, and they love everyone who comes to your home. My cat Kohl was a people-person cat; he loved to be touched and had a laid-back personality. Some cats do not even want their owner to touch them, even though you have been around them since birth. If a kittens parent were skittish around people, their kittens would likely also be that way. Some of my cats have had a friendly mother and a father who was not a people cat. The kittens they had were friendly but on their terms. Feral cats never seem to warm up to people 100%, probably because some of them were abandoned by owners that they thought loved them but hurt or harmed them, and the trust issue remains regarding all human interactions.

Cat Carrier Problems

Most cats do not care to be put in a pet carrier. A good way to put them in is to put the back end in first, as it is not as scary for them that way. Some cats will cling to the carrier with their claws, and you have to release their claws before you can get them into the carrier safely. Some cats might rub the fur off their nose while in the carrier. If your cat is getting harmed in your carrier, buy a soft-sided carrier that will prevent them from rubbing off the fur from their nose. Finicky cats are scared to death of cat carriers. I have found that putting some catnip or treats in the carrier helps get them into the carrier safely.

Finicky Cats And Other Cats

If you bring another cat into your home, a finicky cat may start peeing on things in your house. Some cats do not want to share the attention you give to them with anyone or anything. There might be fighting matches, and your cat might ban the newcomer from getting close to you. Litterbox issues can arise quickly with a new cat in the house. Your cat may break something when your new cat is sitting there next to the object, so your new cat will get blamed for the broken item. Introduce cats slowly to each other as friendships are not formed overnight. Be patient and understanding with your finicky feline friend.

Tags Cat food, cat treats, finicky cats, Introducing a New Cat Into Your Home, picky cats, What Should I be Feeding My Cat ?, Whats Upsetting My Cat ?

Currents In Life

What Is Your Current At Present?

I hope you are not running on high voltage. You will miss out on many things if you constantly run on high voltage. Eventually, your “I have to get it all done right now” attitude will catch up with you. As the old saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. If you do not go out with people because you have to get everything done right now, eventually, no one will want to go out with you, and you will miss the whole point of life. People are made to be social and interact with people as much as possible. Do not chase after people if they do not return your phone calls; they do not want to form a friendship with you. God will put the right people in your life at the right time. Run on a standard current, enjoy your life, and do not try to do more than you physically can do. Life should become less stressful as we age, and we should stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Stress is high voltage in your life, and stress takes a tremendous toll on your body and how you react to others. God wants you to run on a standard current that does not get overloaded with things that will not benefit anyone.

What Do You Want Your Current Path To Be?

I want to be connected to God at all times. God has been there through all my trials and tribulations, and I feel I have become a better person for having gone through storms. A storm in your life does not damage you if you rise above it and move on. If you dwell on something too long, it consumes you night and day, and you will never be good to yourself or anybody else. Storms will come and go every day that we are on earth, and with God’s help, we can rise against all of them. God did not put the storms in our lives as they are part of nature. Do not blame God for things that happen, for nature is unpredictable. I loved this Song years ago, and it still applies to all of us. The Song Is called Ain’t nothin’ go slow me down ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride. I have to keep on moving now. I told my Mother about that Song, and she said you remember that, and I have and keep moving.

The Best Current For Your Life

Read your Bible and Daily devotions. Go out with friends often and build wonderful memories with your loved ones. Live by the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule. Have pass-it-forward days. Listen to church services every Sunday. Be ready for God to take you home any day you might be called home. Be true to yourself and others. Always do the best work that you can. Leave the world a better place for you, having been here. Run on a standard current and stay away from high voltage.

Tags Inspirations with Laura, What Current Are You Running On?

Spring Chores

Getting The Garden Ready To Plant

A rear tine tiller grinds my soil to a fine powder. I spread an organic fertilizer on my soil and then worked it into the ground with my tiller. I generally dig up a couple of toads, but they are not harmed. I rotate my garden vegetables in the garden to avoid pests and bugs. If you have a significant problem with bugs on a particular vegetable, do not plant it for one year; that should kill the pests. Mark out your rows and put sticks or markers on the end of each row, as that will make weeding much more manageable. If your ground is dry, water the vegetable seeds so that they will germinate and produce fine vegetables that your whole family can enjoy.

Cleaning Up Your Yard

Even though you raked and mowed your lawn late in the fall, you will still have to rake, mow, and grind up leaves that fell off after you mowed. You will also have to pick up small branches and probably some trash that blew into your yard, such as plastic bags, food containers, etc.

If It Is A Warm Spring, You May Want To Paint Outdoors

I have painted in the spring. If the temperature at night stays at 50 degrees, your paint will dry fine and adhere well. I like to stain my deck early with oil since oil lasts much longer than latex stain. I even use oil paint on my buildings if possible, as it does not peel off and soaks into the wood. I think ordinary latex paint is a waste of time outdoors as it does not adhere well and will peel off right away, as I have painted for many years. I love latex paint indoors, and spring is an excellent time for indoor painting.

Planting Trees

Spring is a good time to plant young arborvitaes, as they are bushy evergreens that keep out the winter breeze. I also plant maple trees, fruit trees, and bushes. If you water and tend to them until it gets too cold to water them, they should live through the winter and keep the wind-down, provide shade, and make your home warmer as they cut down the wind. When planting trees, ensure they are planted at the proper depth and that you loosen the root ball so the roots can spread out properly, and keep on top of watering them.

Spring Cleaning Chores

If you have not used an item for ten years, get rid of it, as your chances of using it are slim to none. Please eliminate clutter, as it also clutters your life and keeps you from enjoying things. Clean your home from top to bottom. Clean your wastebaskets and replace old plastic items and scratched-up cookware. Do all your typical spring cleaning, such as. Weeding things out of your closets, drawers, and home. If needed, buy new towels and bedding. Wash your curtains, replace old, worn window shades, replace smoke alarms, and ensure your battery-operated equipment does not have corroded batteries. Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

Tags Spring Cleaning, Spring Gardening, spring planting, Spring watering