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The Cat Goes Wild

National Feral Cat Day: Sunday, October 16th
Highlights Humane, Effective Feral Cat Population Control

BETHESDA, MD, OCTOBER 14, 2005: In celebration of the Fifth Annual National Feral Cat Day (NFCD) on Sunday, October 16, feral cat advocates in approximately 85 communities throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, France, and Romania, will conduct events to draw support for and raise awareness of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only effective method of reducing feral cat populations.

The theme of this year’s NFCD is Feral Cats … a part of the urban landscape. For more information about NFCD events in your community, please visit http://www.nationalferalcatday.org/database.html. From an all-day spay-a-thon for 200 feral cats in Pittsburgh, PA, to the inauguration of a TNR program in Pontiac, IL, feral cat advocates are marking NFCD with large-scale sterilization efforts. Other groups in Connecticut, Ohio, Texas, and points in between will be conducting food drives to help feral cat caregivers feed their cats throughout the winter months.

“TNR has not only prevented the birth of millions of feral kittens, but has also extended and improved the lives of countless cats,” says Becky Robinson, National Director of NCFD founding organization Alley Cat Allies (ACA).

Many communities will rally to raise money for TNR programs. In Venice, CA, TNR supporters will host a five-mile fundraising walk along the beach, while in Alexandria, OH, the Stray Cat Strut dinner dance event will locally raise awareness. In other communities, feral cat activists are showing Alley Cat Allies’ training videos about the effectiveness of TNR in reducing outdoor cats, and distributing information about TNR to local citizens and animal control officials.

On NFCD as well as throughout the year, Alley Cat Allies offers advice, educational factsheets, videos, and brochures to individuals, organizations, and municipalities that are working to humanely reduce outdoor cat populations.

See http://www.nationalferalcatday.org
to learn more about how you can help feral cats.

Reprinted from Feral Power email list

Find other resources about caring for feral cats in this archived issue of The Cat's Meow and last year's National Feral Cat Day issue.

Don't Let The Cat Go Down The Drain!

Keep Us Growing!

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Why Some People Make the Leap—and Others Don’t

We are each beings of light. Within that light are all the colors of the rainbow—all the aspects of God and humanity—all the power of our natural spiritual abilities. Why do some of us open to the full spectrum of our magnificence and power? Why do most of us continue to see only black and white?

My Dad was colorblind his whole life. He was a "good" man—faithful husband, dutiful father, respectful son, hard worker, trusted employee, solid citizen, on the school board, town council, church elders—hell, he was even the mayor of the city—but he only saw the world as various shades of gray. He often asked me as a child what color different flowers were. I’d describe to him the planet I perceived as best I could. As a child, I often wondered why he chose not to see all the colors of the rainbow of life.

Too Many Choices?

Funny, I always saw his colorblindness as a choice, a decision. I could feel my father’s fear of being bombarded with too many colors to look at—too many attractive choices, too many exciting paths to follow in life. I could feel his relief, his comfortableness, in not seeing too many attractive possibilities—and in doing so, not having to choose between too many intense passions and divergent options.

I cry for my father and all the other men, and women, who choose to limit their exposure to disappointment and frustration in life by limiting their vision—who decide to be safe, rather than sorry, within their gray skies and gray walls. I cry out of love—and understanding. I know why they look away from the alluring bright lights, the captivation of the dazzling dawn, and the frighteningly brilliant hues of a fiery sunset. They are scared of bring snared, captured, by the wonders of the world if they acknowledge the infinite magic of each moment, the aliveness of unchecked spontaneity, the wild electricity of every life encounter. They feel risk where others see adventure. They feel threat where others see opportunity. They feel danger where others see liberation.

Adventure or Risk?

Why are some people excited by life’s banquet and others terrified? Our openness to life’s bounty is determined by the decisions we make along our journey—decisions about what we can "safely" handle, what we can "pragmatically" create, what we "realistically" deserve. Our freedom to grow and be happy comes from discovering and re-making those choices, mindsets and self-images—about who we are and what life is really about.

What Do You Think Life Is About?

What do you think is the purpose of life? And do your actions flow from that perspective? Do your life choices flow from what you think is the meaning of your life? Or does your behavior in life actually reflect a different set of beliefs? One of my teachers observes, "You can tell what a person really believes by watching how the person acts, not by listening to what they say." A person’s behavior—personal everyday choices—reveals most accurately what they really believe is central and important in life. We often sincerely think we believe one way, yet we act in another.

For example, many people think they believe that life is about sharing their blessings of time, talents and money with others. However, if you closely watch how they allot their time and resources, you see a very different motivating force driving their choices—most of their energy goes into building private reserves of money and "things." Many folks genuinely think they believe "we are one," yet their actions scream separateness and competition. A lot of people say "the universe will provide," yet they worry all the time about money and they take jobs they hate. Many "believe" they have a "soul mate," yet they settle for a "comfort mate" just to keep the horror of loneliness at bay. Most people believe in abundance, yet don’t have what they want. Many people believe they are "eternal souls," yet their fear and insecurity shout, "I’m not safe."

Closing the Gap

Why is there a discrepancy between how we "think" life is and how we actually experience it? Why the gap between what we say we believe and how we act? Because our "unconscious" beliefs are running the show! The same observant teacher used to comment, "What we create in life is the sum total of our conscious and unconscious beliefs."

How can you tell what beliefs are lurking under your surface, keeping you from true happiness? It’s obvious—simply look at what realities you’re currently creating in your life. Anywhere you’re struggling—financially, emotionally, physically—you have subterranean beliefs undermining your stated goals.

The way to create the prosperity, love and health you want in life is to get in touch with—and transform—the unconscious limiting beliefs that are counteracting your well-intentioned conscious thoughts. The way to "Have It All" is to transform your unconscious sabotage. Then your actions will align with your natural state of abundance and support—and the goodness will flow naturally in your life.

As you shine the light on the unconsciousness that dictates your emotions and actions—on the unconsciousness that has kept you from living the full life you truly desire—the gap between what you say you believe and how you act begins to close. As you release yourself from these automatic beliefs and behaviors, you regain amazing amounts of:

• Clarity—to see fresh choices, options and solutions you never saw before


• Courage—to act on your regained wisdom


• Creativity—to "stay in the flow"


• Vitality—for increased health, balance and grounding


• Peace, joy and wholeness—without these, what’s the point?

You become free to evolve in any way at any rate you choose. You attract new resources and opportunities. You envision fresh, different ways of making an abundant living and a journey of health and happiness.

If you’re willing to "Have It All"—to let in the multi-colored richness of God and humanity—take the leap into your magnificence and power now.

It’s your life. It’s your choice. Grab your rainbow.

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Drawing from the wisdom of native and ancient spiritual traditions, Keith Varnum shares his 30 years of practical success as an author, personal coach, acupuncturist, filmmaker, radio host, restaurateur, vision quest guide and international seminar leader with “The Dream Workshops”. Keith helps people get the love, money, and health they want with his F-r-e-e Prosperity Ezine, F-r-e-e Abundance Tape and F-r-e-e Coaching at www.TheDream.com

Reprinted from ByRegion.net Healers Newsletter

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