Of Cats, Moving And Boxes

Janet Roper
2 min readOct 6, 2022

--

Let’s talk about relationship struggles with animals, because.…struggles happen. I bet you can name a couple you’ve had!

Your animal pal is a part of your family. You wanting to do right by them is only natural — and thank you for that! Yet when you take sole responsibility to decide what’s best for them, you can find yourself uncertain and second guessing yourself, which is exhausting for everyone.

Let me share a story with you…

Since my cat Raven came into the family, every single time we have moved he has made a very big production of not being sure he wants to move with us. His logic is always “I want to be here, not there”.

I’m very thankful he has always decided to move with us.

In circumstances like this I always struggle. Am I doing right by him? I’m the human, I know what’s best, shouldn’t I just pack him up and move him along with the boxes?

Hmmmm……

Of course there are many contributing factors to what needs to be a very nuanced conversation. Yet one factor that is easily overlooked is the animal’s own agency.

I realized when I think I’m the only one capable of making decisions I am denying Raven his agency.

In situations like this I find it invaluable to settle down, quiet myself and ask the hard question “How am I denying Raven his agency?”.

This is an ongoing process — some days it’s 3 steps forward and 1 step back, other days it’s 0 steps forward and 7 steps back. True kinship is about meeting animals where they are, AND it’s also meeting yourself where you are and tending to yourself so that when you are with animals, you are more of your authentic self.

Here’s an invitation for you to join me on this path of true kinship with animals. My work is devoted to helping you show up in the world for animals from the fullness of your authentic self. I hope this encourages you to look at your relationship with animals differently so that a new place of understanding begins to open for you.

Just for today remember: We all do better when all creatures do better. Until next time, take good care!

Janet Roper is an animist, podcaster, intuitive practitioner, non-traditional animal communicator, mentor and educator who for 20+ years has helped people restructure their relationship with animals. Two of her most popular resources are her monthly newsletter and her 5 email introductory series to her signature program Deepen. Visit her website and give her podcast True Kinship With Animals a listen.

--

--

Janet Roper
Janet Roper

Written by Janet Roper

Animist intuitive mentor help you relate to animals from a new place of understanding https://www.janetroper.com true-kinship-with-animals.printify.me/products

No responses yet