As a person who loves cats and also writing, I often feel truly fortunate to be able to bring my love of words matched with cats to people all over the World Wide Web. For Pam Webster, AKA the Crocheting Cat Behaviorist, she was able to combine her love of cats and crafts to spread joy and awareness for homeless felines. I caught up with her hoping to feature her work with all of the Cattitude Daily readers, and thankfully for me, she agreed. So, everyone get to know this crafty cat lover with a passion for helping cats in need.
Can you tell me a little bit about the work that you do as a cat behaviorist?
Every day, I go to the PetSmart across the street to work with the cats and kittens that are there for the rescue I work with, Kitty CrusAIDe. I did my training through school, Animal Behavior College with them, and I told them that I could still help them out. I work on getting them all socialized together so that they can get along with other cats that they could potentially be adopted either with, or go home to another cat. If it is another cat, I make sure that the owners know that they need to do a slow introduction, and I let them know step by step how to do that. I make sure that all of the cats and kittens are used to having their paws played with and are okay with having their claws trimmed. I also work on getting them all used to a harness and leash, and then I walk them around the store for a while. Some take to it right away, and want to explore the store, but some just want to cuddle for a little bit first. There have been some that have wanted nothing to do with it, but most of the ones that I have worked with have been extremely successful. Any of the cats that have been adopted and end up having behavior issues, Kitty CrusAIDe tells them about me.
What inspired you to come up with your cat calming blankets?
I started making my cat calming blankets for my cats so that they could have something of their own to cuddle with. They always think that anything that I make is for them. They all love to lay on them, whether they’re ones that I have already made, or one that I am currently working on. The blankets are approximately 32″ X 32″. I also make my cat calming blankets for Kitty CrusAIDe for all of the kitties that get adopted.
Can you please explain to me how they work?
The calming blankets not only can be something soft for them to lay on, they can be used for either calming spray or an herbal cat garden, and can help with a nail trim or any injections that your cat might need.
What is the ordering to delivery process like for your blankets?
To place an order, simply go to my website. All blankets are customizable, and I just need to be contacted with details. There’s even the option of a behavior session, which includes a calming blanket. The website is a little weird. All of the pictures are just pictures. To place the order, you have to click on either the SHOP button, or the little cart in the corner.
What’s something about cats that you wish more people knew?
I wish that more people knew that there’s no such thing as a mean cat. There’s always a reason why they do what they do.
I’m sure you have a cat of your own (or two or three!) can you tell me a little about them?
I have 3 cats of my own. Mogli, a Maine Coon, who we think might be 12. We’ve had him for 9 years, and we don’t know how old he was when we got him. There are plenty of times his arthritis and asthma make him feel like an old man, but there are plenty of times that he has to play tag with the “kittens”. RayRay, an orange tabby, is 2 years old. We got him almost 1 1/2 years ago, and he was truly the perfect fit. He went right up to Mogli when we brought him home, and immediately wanted to play with him. He’s our little welcoming committee. Juju, a smoke black medium hair, is almost 1 1/2 years old. She was one of the kittens I was working with at PetSmart in October. She was the most reclusive of the kittens, so while I was trying to work with her, a mom and her two extremely loud kids stopped outside the glass door. She said to the kids loudly that they would never get a black cat because it was Halloween time, and they were bad luck. My apprentice, who is my 14 year old daughter, tried to tell them that was a myth, but they ignored her, and walked off. I talked to the group about it, and told them that we would take her. The day we brought her home, RayRay chased after her, calling for her to come out from under my bed, and offered her his favorite toy. They’ve been best friends ever since.
I’d like to give a special “thank you” to Pam the Crocheting Cat Behaviorist for allowing me to share her story with all of the Cattitude Daily readers. The world is certainly a better place for cats with kindhearted people like her in it. For more on her work, be sure to check her out here on Facebook.
