Tom cat Enrichment and Writing Pointers with Sassafras Lowrey (PPiC Ep 11)

The significance of enrichment for cats, Sassafras Lowrey’s newest books Claw This Magazine and Jillian on the Junior Exhibit, and pointers for aspiring canine and cat writers. The most recent episode of The Pawsitive Put up in Dialog. 

By way of Zazie Todd PhD

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Watch episode 11 of The Pawsitive Put up in Dialog on Youtube or under, concentrate by way of your favorite podcast app or under, or scroll right down to learn the highlights.

Enrichment for cats and pointers for aspiring writers

On this episode, we chat with canine instructor and writer Sassafras Lowrey. We commence along with her newest ebook, Claw This Magazine, which is stuffed with a laugh actions to do along with your cat. We know about how Sassafras’s cat Factor got here into her lifestyles and why she wrote this ebook. We discuss enrichment for cats, and the way you have to tailor it for person cats. 

We take one of the most actions from the ebook, making awards on your cat, and believe what our cats would get prizes for. We additionally know about Sassafras’s most up-to-date ebook, Jillian on the Junior Exhibit.

We get Sassafras’s pointers for budding writers and learn about her personal writing regimen. And as at all times, we chat in regards to the books we’re studying at this time. 

Studying Cats and Canines: The recording of A Dialog with Lili Chin, Sassafras Lowrey, Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson  (Studying Cats and Canines may be to be had on Youtube)

Interview with Sassafras Lowrey about Chunk This Magazine

About Sassafras Lowrey:

Sassafras Lowrey  is a Qualified Skilled Canine Teacher (CPDT-KA), Qualified Trick Canine Teacher (CTDI), AKC CGC/Trick Canine Evaluator and AKC FIT DOG Teacher.  Sassafras’ canine coaching books come with Tips In The Town and Chunk This Magazine. Sassafras is an writer and multimedia educator who writes incessantly about canine coaching for main nationwide publications. Sassafras’ canine coaching articles have incessantly gave the impression in main canine magazines like Dogster, The Bark, Trendy Canine, and with The American Kennel Membership in addition to mainstream publications together with WIRED, Condo Remedy and The New York Occasions. 

Sassafras was once not too long ago the recipient of a Cat Writers Affiliation Muse Medallion award for her mag paintings about cat coaching.

Sassafras Lowrey’s web page  Fb  Twitter  Instagram  

The books we chat about 

On Animals via Susan Orlean 

Doomsday with my Canine via Yu Ishihara 

Comparative Animal Conduct via Richard Maier 

Dangerous Cree via Jessica Johns. 

The books are to be had from all excellent bookstores and the Significant other Animal Psychology Amazon retailer  

Highlights of the dialog with Sassafras Lowrey

Z: The explanation that we are chatting with you as of late is as a result of your glorious ebook Claw This Magazine which is incredible, I adore it. It is so filled with actions to do along with your cat. It is actually a laugh, [it’s got] all other types of issues in there and it has got area for folks to jot down in it as smartly. So you’ll do the actions, you’ll stay monitor of what you are doing, there may be even a piece on deciphering your cat’s meows. It is simply pretty. So inform me about this ebook, Sassafras, and why you made a decision to jot down it. 

S: Yeah so it is a ebook that was once such a lot a laugh to place in combination. I think like there aren’t sufficient essentially like concepts about enrichment and play with cats available in the market. And so I used to be actually excited so as to to convey in combination a few of my favourite actions and issues to to inspire folks to have extra a laugh with their cats, check out new issues with them. And so yeah it was once a ton of a laugh to do and actually got here out of conversations that I’ve had with cat fanatics in need of to get concepts for various issues that they may be able to do with their cats. 

Ok: So one of the most issues that I actually like about this ebook and your equivalent ebook for canine is that there is room and puts so that you can write which I feel is helping suggested folks to assume. I preferred the way it made me take into accounts my very own cat and the stuff that I do with my cat. So one of the most portions that you just had was once about your assembly along with your cat. So what was once your assembly along with your cat Factor? Let us know about that.

“I have completed a large number of writing about junior handlers and throughout the canine display international and so it was once very a laugh so as to create a fictionalized twist on that tale.”

S: Yeah, so I recently have one cat. His title is Factor. He’s 9 and a part which does not in reality appear imaginable to me. However we had a gorgeous eventful first assembly. I used to be residing in New York Town. I used to be strolling house, it was once quite past due at night time in the midst of a storm from snow, and there are in lots of communities, however certainly in Brooklyn the place I lived, there are a large number of feral cats. And we noticed — I used to be strolling with my spouse — and in the midst of the snow we noticed one thing dart from a pile of trash luggage in the street in New York to a snow financial institution. And we idea it was once a rat in the beginning after which we noticed it transfer once more and we discovered it was once an overly, very small kitten. 

And so I instantly get started pulling canine treats out of my pocket and I am looking to lure this very small kitten, who’s by myself, out of this snow financial institution and out of in between luggage of trash, as a result of there’s a snowstorm in truth coming in that night time. And in order we are looking to catch this kitten the bodega proprietor from around the boulevard comes out very kindly with some cat meals as a result of he fed the feral cats in the community, and he proceeds to try to lend a hand us catch this kitten. He has gloves on, he catches the kitten Factor, the kitten that turned into Factor bites him, breaks the teeth off in this man’s glove. 

Ok: Oh no! 

S: And he is like do you continue to need this cat? And I am like “Sure?” as a result of I will be able to’t go away this kitten outdoor. We convey it house. We already had two canine and two cats at this level. And he instantly charmed his approach into everyone’s hearts and ended up in the end being raised via my senior canine on the time. And the senior cats had been like we do not know what you’re however you’ll keep. In order that was once the very eventful approach that we met Factor. 

Z: This is moderately an foundation tale for the cat. Factor is clearly an overly particular cat! And one of the most issues that I like about this ebook is you may have a piece known as Perfect in Display. And it is about how superb all cats are, however how each cat is astounding in their very own approach. And I actually love that. And in reality that set me fascinated with my cats and I am additionally going to invite Kristi what her cats gets awards for too, as a result of I feel I like the way in which this ebook is one of these dialog starter. So for Factor, what awards have you ever made for Factor? Have you ever made any? What would you are making for Factor? 

S: I feel that Factor is an overly particular cat, however I feel his most sensible prize is most probably Pizza Thief. He’s a kitten and we love to mention it is most probably his origins. We predict he was once about six weeks previous once we discovered him you realize. So he had most probably been surviving on bagels and pizza crusts and such things as that. However he’s a bit of carb fiend and you’ve got to have to look at your pizza slices as a result of he certainly could make off with a gorgeous excellent measurement slice of pizza. I do not suggest, it isn’t excellent for cats, but when he had his approach he will be the final Pizza Thief. Yeah, it is what he would love. 

Z: Superior. And Kristi what would you give Apricat an award for? 

Ok: You already know I feel it might be laborious. There is going to be like first, 2nd, and 3rd for him. However certainly lap, he’s an inveterate lap cat. He wishes heaps of lap time and so when I am long gone Yoenne, my spouse, will now and again ship me a message and simply be like Apricat’s on my lap once more, like I will be able to’t even rise up. I feel as a result of I make money working from home, so he is on my lap lots of the day. I feel he is both on my chair or close by so after I move away she’s identical to wow I did not understand how a lot lap time he wishes. So he is certainly gonna be just like the winner for the lap, any lap festival. Sorry different cats and canine. [Laughter] 

However he additionally actually loves to, and I feel it is most probably a reinforcement form of contingency that I have arrange, he likes to stroll throughout my keyboard and bat at my display screen. Like previous as of late I used to be having a banjo lesson and Apricat was once identical to that, “Your banjo trainer’s happening!” And so he was once hitting my display screen time and again after which I used to be like, what was once that? I did not moderately listen you realize, like my pc was once simply wobbling round as a result of I attempted to, what chord is that? Yeah after which I will simply put him on my lap at the back of my banjo, it is ok. 

In order that would certainly be his primary and quantity two I feel, will be the lap. After which I name it pestering you realize very fondly, however he certainly loves to get consideration. And right here he comes, he is like “You have got you known as, human?”. 

S: Sure, Factor is excellent at the ones video video games, the only’s for cats that you’ll swipe. He must be, yeah he is all about it. He is like smack it down. 

Z: Very good and I like that Apricat got here to enroll in us too. My cats would now not win for lap time. I’ve two cats. They might certainly now not win for that. However Melina would win for being conversational as a result of she’s very, very talkative. She’s a tortoiseshell cat so she lives as much as that popularity that tortoiseshells have of being very, very chatty. And she or he makes a wide variety of noises, it isn’t simply meows, it is a lot of chirrups. And you’ll have a protracted dialog along with her for those who meow at her, however she does even like mmm roughly noises and for those who move mmm she’ll move mmm. And a lot of very stunning chirrups. So she’s at all times speaking, she’s at all times announcing one thing, so that is what she would win for. 

As for Harley I roughly comic story about Harley and I make out that he is now not an overly suave cat, however it isn’t true as a result of when he cares about one thing he is extremely suave. And the article he’s so excellent at is opening doorways, and he can open all the doorways just about. So if it is a door with a care for that you just push down, he can soar up and he can push it down in order that the door opens. If he is at the flawed aspect of that door, a few of our doorways do not in reality close correctly as a result of it is an older space, so he can put his paws beneath and he may just open it that approach. 

After which we now have a door that is a sliding door that slides, like a pocket door it slides into the wall. So if that door is closed he can put his paw beneath it and he simply jiggles it about till it begins to open after which he places his paw up and opens it that approach. And all the cabinet doorways within the corridor, he can open all of the ones principally. You can’t stay this cat out of any place except you in reality put a latch on or lock it. 

And he opens the cabinet doorways within the kitchen. One time I discovered him curled up in a frying pan within the kitchen cabinet! So his prize is for opening doorways. And fortuitously we now have one door that we have got a spherical door knob on, which is towards development code as a result of a large number of folks battle to open the ones spherical doorknobs, however we now have one and that is the reason the one door that he can’t open. In order that’s his prize. That is an excellent skill. And I like that your ebook made me take into accounts these items, Sassafras, I feel that is actually cool.

Ok. So I feel we are speaking about enrichment. I think like for Apricat slapping the display screen is lovely enriching for him, no less than I attempt to body it that approach. So I am not like I simply wish to paintings. Then you may have a large number of enrichment on this ebook which I feel is excellent and I feel Zazie already discussed that is, and you probably did too, Sassafras, is one thing that folks leave out for cats. You already know I feel a large number of persons are fascinated with it for canine however I do not believe it is actually reached the cat international as a lot. So why is enrichment so necessary for cats and what is your cat’s favourite enrichment job? 

S: Yeah I feel it is one of these thrilling matter that is simply beginning to actually turn out to be extra fashionable or mentioned extra within the cat international. I feel once we take into accounts enrichment it is incessantly about canine. And persons are like, cats are simple pets they simply sleep all day, and it is like no, no our cats actually, actually receive advantages when they’ve alternatives to make use of their brains and when they’ve alternatives to get extra energetic, and it is one of these nice approach to bond with them. 

So I like checking out other enrichment actions. Within the ebook it is divided out in numerous types of you realize cat purr-sonality concepts. And also you realize it’s only for a laugh however now not each cat goes to revel in the similar issues. 

There have been a number of actions within the ebook that Factor would now not be keen on. However his particular favourite issues in relation to enrichment, as a result of he was once so younger once we discovered him and we had very senior cats, I will be able to’t recall to mind how previous they had been on the time, they handed once they had been 20 and 21. So I feel they will have to had been like 15 once we discovered him, they usually had been like you are now not a part of us. 

So he turned into actually hooked up to the canine for the reason that older cats had been like you’re energetic and younger and now not one in every of us, they had been littermates. So he was once at all times very thinking about what I used to be doing with the canine. So his favourite enrichment certainly is he loves to get all for trick coaching that I am doing, however on his phrases. So it is all on his phrases. If the treats are out he is like, I would love treats please. So he is excellent at spin, he will take a seat, he will provide you with a top 5, he enjoys performing some trick coaching. 

However his all-time favourite is most probably his window chicken feeders. We now have some chicken feeders which are outdoor the window and he’ll very thankfully take a seat and simply watch the other birds that come to consume there. So yearly for his birthday the final couple of years, he is gotten any other chicken feeder to look at. So now he has like a complete little array of channels. 

Z: Superior I like that, and you have got such a lot of other enrichment actions within the ebook and I feel they are all a laugh for the cat but additionally a laugh for the individual.

…

Ok: Previous we spoke to you in regards to the ebook that you’ve got written that is very similar to this ebook for canine [Chew This Journal]. I do know Zazie and I had been speaking about this, however it is attention-grabbing that you are writing for each cats and canine. And I do know there may be a large number of individuals who have each, however I additionally assume simply you realize, now not scientifically, that they are form of a Venn diagram. And there may be surely people who find themselves all canine and people who find themselves all cat and they are going to be a bit of bit other I feel in my thoughts no less than. So I suppose we are keen on what variations do you in finding about writing for cats, spotting that some folks will likely be within the each camp, however some folks will certainly be very a lot within the cat camp. Was once it other? 

S: Yeah you realize it’s at all times such a fascinating, I do not wish to say problem however it is at all times a fascinating puzzle, to you should definitely enchantment to the folks which are like deep cat folks. I feel there may be a large number of us which are in each, which are each canine folks and cat folks, after which there are the cat folks which are much like, for those who do issues with canine I’m so now not . So it is at all times a bit of difficult. I have in reality written for cat magazines and about cats for, gosh, over 10 years, regardless that I feel a large number of folks do not essentially know that. And I feel it is because the cat folks have their very own international and the canine folks roughly have their different international so now and again canine other people they are going to be like, I did not know you probably did issues with cats, and I am like sure, sure I do.

Striking in combination this ebook, it took place as a result of I had gained the Muse Medallion from Cat Writers Affiliation for a piece of writing in Catster mag about trick coaching with cats. It was once a canopy tale in 2020 or 2021, uh 2021 I feel for the mag. And so after I gained the Muse Medallion, the writer of the canine ebook was once like we must discuss cat actions, and I considered it and it was once like, yeah we completely must. 

“I used to be actually excited so as to to convey in combination a few of my favourite actions and issues to to inspire folks to have extra a laugh with their cats.”

So we are going again to this dialog that we had been having a pair mins in the past about enrichment being roughly now not as recurrently considered for cat folks. When I used to be placing the cat ebook in combination, it actually was once now not other essentially than the canine ebook in relation to my writing procedure, however I used to be very, very considerate of creating positive that the actions within the ebook had been issues that cats had been going to revel in and that other types of cats would revel in. And that there could be one thing for all cats from the very outgoing, social, perhaps form of like dog-like cats, as we’re going to perhaps describe them, to cats which are a lot more shy and reserved. And I sought after to have issues in there for each cat. 

Ok: So do you in finding that there is stuff that like, pondering once more about Venn diagrams, is there stuff that you’d say is just for canine, stuff that might be excellent for each, and stuff that is just for cats? Do you may have that for your thoughts? What would you, for those who had been cornered, what bucket would you set positive issues in? 

S: Yeah you realize I feel that It is tough as a result of cats are so, so other. So like for instance I’d completely by no means, ever take my cat Factor out to a puppy pleasant retailer. That will now not be a laugh and thrilling for him, he would in finding that very, very horrifying. A cat that I had two decades in the past was once a cat who completely cherished going puts, like from a tiny kitten to the day that he handed he was once tremendous outgoing, not anything scared him. He would have cherished that. And I feel maximum cats most probably fall nearer into the camp of going backpacking, out climbing, that roughly stuff, most probably now not what they wish to be doing, most probably extra of a canine job. However there are completely cats that revel in the ones issues. So I tended to err at the aspect of actions that had been nearer to house for extra of the actions in Claw This Magazine, regardless that surely there are kitty exceptions to that. 

Ok: Proper, evidently. I was into sled canine sports activities, and I could not even depend on all my arms and ft the selection of instances folks have despatched me like a Fb video of a cat that skijores. And I am like ok that is cool, however no. That is like, I have by no means met a cat like that. No. 

S: Yeah there may be at all times, like that one TikTok cat that  does the entire issues and I consider that cat is obviously having a great time, not anything is indicating that that cat is stressed out or unsatisfied. However that is a one in one million cat. 

Ok: Yeah precisely, yeah. 

Z: Yeah and I feel one of the most issues that I like about your writing, now not simply on this ebook however the canine books as smartly and in Tips within the Town too is that you have considered other creatures and what they personally may like, and you will have made positive that there’s something for everybody’s cat or everybody’s canine. And you will have been transparent about what types of issues to take into accounts as as to if a undeniable job could be suitable on your personal puppy, so I feel that is a actually great factor to do. So yeah thanks for that. And you are such an achieved creator since you additionally write for youngsters and I feel it is your most up-to-date ebook, Jillian on the Junior Exhibit. Let us know about this ebook. 

S: Yeah so Jillian on the Junior Exhibit was once my most up-to-date ebook launched in January. And this is a bankruptcy ebook for younger readers, actually all readers, this is set in canine displays. And Jillian is a tender woman who actually, actually needs an agility canine of her personal. She attends Kennel Membership with all of her buddies and someday she reveals a bit of terrier combine at the back of the fuel station that has been deserted there and is hoping that that canine will turn out to be the agility canine of her goals. In order that was once a perfect a laugh ebook to jot down. I have completed a large number of writing about junior handlers and throughout the canine display international and so it was once very a laugh so as to create a fictionalized twist on that tale.