November 30, 2003

Molly writes: What is it about my basement that has Miles running (bolting) up the stairs after she uses her cat box? She's been doing it for years, sometimes scaring me when she immediately hides under my bed. Also, Miles is aging and I'm feeling that she knows her time is limited. She always wants to be with, near or on me. Is this an indicator of anything other than her wanting affection and love?

Tuli: I would have to know Miles personally to really tell you why she runs up the stairs after going to the bathroom. I often celebrate after I go to the bathroom and running up the stairs sounds like a good way to do that. But, maybe there is something in your basement that scares Miles. Cats are very sensitive to energy and maybe there is something in there that doesn't feel good to her. On your other question, we cats always know that our physical lives are temporary. That does not mean that we are afraid of dying or that we get nervous when we are aging. We are beings in the present and that is the best present you could give to Miles. Be present yourself and don't be thinking about how much longer she will live in her physical body. Celebrate this time, the right now time, when you are here, together in physical bodies. How nice that Miles wants to be near you, touching you and loving you. That is a great gift; embrace it.

Mrs Q writes: Is there any data on a person having captured and caged a hummingbird. Do they live in captivity? Can a hummer be a pet?

Tuli: I think it would be a very rare thing for a hummingbird to want to be a domestic pet. Why would anyone want to capture one anyway? Aren't they beautiful to watch flitting from flower to flower, or buzzing around a feeder? I don't think they would look so good in a cage.

October 6, 2002

Patti asks: Why are so many cats afraid of vacuum cleaners? I thought cats like to be really clean.

Tuli Bear: Patti is just being funny because she knows that I am not afraid of vacuum cleaners. In fact, I love to help when the house is being cleaned and I chase the vacuum all over the place. I let Tera vacuum me for a laugh but I didn't like it very much when she sucked up my tail in it. It is very funny to see Maia run for the nearest exit when she even hears the closet door open where the vacuum is stored. She is terrified of that thing. You should ask her why cats are afraid of vacuum cleaners because she is the number one vacuum phobic! I'm brave!

Of course, we felines are very sensitive and sometimes things that you wouldn't imagine can be scary. Like the other day, I jumped in the air and fell off the counter when I saw the cordless phone sitting there. I had never seen it there before and it looked really scary. You can just never tell about us felines. We are so brave and self-possessed and then along comes a cordless phone or a vacuum cleaner and boom! we lose our cool. Not for long though, we are the kings of recovery.

Lynda asks: I would like to ask you about animals within the same species getting along with each other. I know that animals do not feel separate from each other and All That Is and my difficulty lies in understanding certain behavior between animals that I would not expect when one has not forgotten the interconnection of all beings. Could you explain to me what goes on inside of you if you meet another cat you do not like and how the individual you and your higher self react?

Tuli Bear: Hmmm, this is a serious question. Okay, I can be serious too. It is true that most animals know they are connected to All That Is, but we are still in a physical existence. I would not call it the "individual" and the "higher self". I would call it the spiritual self and the physical self. That gives a clearer picture as one is not above the other, they are simply different aspects. When you are in the physical realm, it is a unique experience of being individual--expressing a very personal point of view rather than expressing the whole all of the time. This is such a gift for all of us in physical bodies. Your physical existence has likes and dislikes, can have very definite opinions about what is good or what is bad. Your spiritual self is not an individual and does not hold a lot of opinions. Everyone in a physical body is both an individual physical being and a spiritual being which is a part of the whole. The physical part of all of us is here to learn and grow and participate as if we were separate, autonomous beings and the challenge, especially for humans, is to remember that we are also spiritual beings. But we all still have the ability, and the license to act as individuals. Does this make any sense? It is difficult to explain it.

Let's just say that another cat came to my house. (I hope one doesn't because I am afraid of cats I don't know.) I would instantly and automatically recognize that this cat is a spiritual being, a part of the whole, and connected to me. My physical being would recognize that this is a cat I do not know, I feel suspicious of, and I probably do not like. I would act accordingly--I like to think I would make myself big and scare this cat away but I would probably run and hide and wait for Maia to scare it away.

Recognizing that you are connected to everyone does not mean that you have to like them. It just means you have to recognize their spiritual self and know that they are a spiritual being in a physical body on a path just as you are on a path. This is a planet of diversity and polarity and vast experiences that can only happen when souls have become individuated and are free to express whatever they want. It is unique and fun and also deeply painful at times. Some domesticated animals get very caught up in their feelings of separation as they take on the issues of their people. And for humans it is sometimes unbearably painful as they do not recognize that they are spiritual beings and a part of the One. But most of us animals (other than human animals) do recognize that we are One, that we are eternal, and this physical existence is a wonderful and beautiful play that we are grateful to participate in.

Linda asks: I have read that there is a Colony of Cat People living in the Hole In the Wall on one of the mountains by Banff. The Sioux and Blackfoot tribes have welcomed them often to their sacred Sun Dance. They are supposed to be a higher spiritual alien race that lives here still. Would you be able to give us some information about them such as where they are from and how they are helping us at this time.

Tuli Bear: There are felines everywhere--in the water (cat fish), in the air (owls), on the Earth (big cats, little cats), and there are many what you would call alien races all over this planet. (I'm not kidding here, I'm really serious.) Most of these alien races are here to help.

I do not know the specific Cat People you are speaking about, but from your description I feel they are people of a different dimension. What I mean is that you could not drive to a certain spot and find them living there. They are people who enter our dimension at specific times for a specific purpose and that most humans would not be able to physically see them. But that does not mean that they aren't there (or here). When humans do ceremonies or rituals like the sun dance, they often get in altered states and their vision can then perceive many things in other dimensions, including people like these Cat People. So many beings are participating on the earth now that your physical eyes cannot see and your mind cannot understand. It is another one of those wonderful mysterious things about this planet.

January 27, 2003

Kris writes: Can all animals sense that they are loved, including reptiles? I have a snake and an iguana, and while I completely understand that these are not cuddle animals sometimes I wonder if they understand that I care for them. Sometimes I feel more like I am raising children, and I feel horrible when I have to tell one of them no, like when my iguana decides to climb on my head; that wouldn't be so bad actually but she tries to climb down my face, ouch! I hope and wonder if they truly understand that even when being corrected they are loved.

And just because I'm really curious, why does it seem like cats are drawn to people who are allergic to them?

Tuli: All animals can give and receive love but we don't all express it in the same way. Humans sometimes forget that different species have different ways of experiencing things. This happens with cats all the time. I happen to be a very cuddle oriented guy but many cats do not like that type of expression and they are labeled as unfriendly or aloof. If people would stop for a minute to ask the animal how he would like to express his love and affection then we would not have so many misunderstandings. Being cuddly is just one way to express love. Be open to letting your animal friends show you other ways to love.

I don't know any iguanas but I think your friend wants to express her affection for you. Explain to her that her claws do not feel good on your skin. She is probably thinking that your skin is tough like hers. Ask her to teach you about iguana love and offer to teach her about your way. You can do the same thing with your snake friend. It is not right that reptiles are called cold and unfeeling. They are very sensitive beings and I know they would be happy to teach you how to love them better.

As for people with cat allergies-well, it depends. Sometimes we cats really have a sick sense of humor and we like to torment people just to see their reactions. And sometimes people have allergies as a defense, a way to keep themselves safe and not have to get close to others. If we sense that, we might want to shake them up so that maybe they will break down their barriers. It would really depend on the situation. I don't think we really go toward people with allergies more than we do other people. I think it just seems that way because the people with allergies make such a fuss. Sorry people with allergies.