About Cat Mum Journal
- Rachel
- Feb 7
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Welcome to CMJ, otherwise known as Cat Mum Journal!
Just like a scrumptious can of meaty chunks in jelly, what you'll find here is pretty much what you see on the tin. My name is Rachel, and I originally started this blog to document a sudden phase of inter-cat aggression between my sibling cats, Drax and Simba - which, to be honest, was a means of maintaining my sanity during the most stressful period of my life (and there've been a lot of them!).
Read more in My Story
Over the following months, I spent every spare minute of every day gathering every piece of information I could find. What I learned is all here on this site - and more!
It became increasingly apparent that behavioural problems like aggression are a common occurrence in domestic cats. When people started to reach out to me and share their own stories, I knew I had to do more. When it comes to cats, knowledge really is power.
So, I took the plunge and enrolled in some online courses, first and foremost to better the lives of my cats. I actually enjoyed it and, what's more, I was pretty good at it. There's already a wealth of freely accessible information online from vets and specialists alike, but what I struggled to find were personal experiences.
A good example of this is the separation and reintroduction process for fighting cats. What any behaviourist will tell you is the equivalent to a tailor-made cake recipe. You have the ingredients, the instructions, the baking time - yet if ten people followed the exact same recipe, each of their cakes would turn out differently, with a variety of textures, flavours and colours.
I'm sure I don't have to point out that the health and wellbeing of animals is a far cry from The Great British Bake Off (you know what I'm talking about, fellow Brits) but I'm going to add a disclaimer anyway! My point is that, sometimes, nothing can prepare us for an experience better than the experience itself.
What makes this blog unique, I hope, is that a lot of the topics covered are personal to me, whether through my own circumstances or those of friends and family members - clearly, I come from a clan of cat lovers! This extends to reviews and recommendations, where I use my own product photos and feedback, wherever possible.
Subjects I'm most passionate about are feline behaviour and psychology, with a special interest in stress and aggression. This in itself has forced me to expand my knowledge base to other areas in order to fulfil my cats' individual needs and requirements, including but not limited to: feeding, territory, exercise and play.
Of course, I also blog about animal-related causes that I strongly believe in - if this isn't the platform to raise awareness than what is?
I don't offer quick fixes or miracle cures, but I do have the honour of connecting with other parents and sharing experiences to further understand why our cats do what they do. Remember, the uncooperative and, at times, unpredictable nature of our feline friends continues to challenge the minds of scientists to this day.
Cats are complex, unique and intelligent creatures, which is why they make for such a fascinating blog. Not everyone "gets" cats, but their ability to develop a deeply spiritual bond with their human companions is worth exploring.
The information on this site is intended for guidance only, based on personal research and experiences to help improve the relationship between humans and cats. It's my genuine aim to explore some of the issues cats face so you can seek the best solution for your feline friend.
This could simply be passing on information to your vet to give them a better understanding of your cat's symptoms, for which they can arrange the necessary tests to rule out illness or disease. They may also refer you to a specialist, behaviourist or other appropriate person.
While I'm happy to offer support with any issues you might be having, I kindly ask that no one contacts me for an official diagnosis or treatment/medication for their cats. If you suspect your cat has a health problem, be it physical, emotional or psychological, it's your responsibility as an owner to seek advice from a professional. The only person qualified to advise on medical conditions is a registered veterinarian.
If you have any questions about CMJ (or myself, but I'm really not that interesting) then I encourage you to use the contact form at the bottom of the Home Page or check out the information below.
Thank mew so much for sniffing by!
Qualifications
I have accredited diplomas in the following subjects:
Feline Nutrition
Feline Behaviour and Psychology
Animal Communication
I'm currently studying feline anxiety, feline anatomy, animal reiki and others.
Resources
Researching couldn't be easier thanks to the World Wide Web, but you may find that some information varies from source to source. Here are some of my most trusted websites:
*I am not affiliated with or being paid to promote any of these organisations, nor is this site endorsed by them in any way. This is my own honest and unbiased opinion.
FAQs
Do you accept third party contributors/guest bloggers?
I'm the sole writer for CMJ but may consider enquiries for related content in the areas of feline health, behaviour and/or nutrition. If you're a qualified vet, veterinary nutritionist or behaviourist, do get in touch to discuss!
What is your review policy?
I try to do as many "tried and tested" reviews as possible, using my own original photos and choosing products that I genuinely believe will benefit my cats. Where this isn't possible or viable then I base recommendations on a combination of extensive research, customer feedback, overall quality and word of mouth - if, for example, someone I know personally mentions a great product.
Unfortunately, cat stuff gets expensive - and it can take up a lot of space. If you've been following this blog then you'll know too that I have the most picky eating, unmotivated pair of scaredy-cats that you could ever parent. As wonderful as they are, they're not the best tester cats; fortunately, I know plenty of backups that are more than willing to be lavished with new toys, treats and bedding.
If you're an independent artist, creator or company and want your product featured for a review, I'm happy to receive samples and will select the most suitable kitty for testing. Requests for positive reviews in exchange for payment will be declined, and if I feel that products aren't up to "scratch" (see what I did there?) then I reserve the right to refuse a review on the basis that it's counterproductive for both yourself and my audience.
To ensure authenticity and maintain trust with my valued readers, I will never promote a product that I wouldn't buy myself or has a rating of less than 3 out of 5 stars on Amazon UK (sorry!). I will always give my honest opinion, for good or bad.
Got a cat-related question or want to know more? Get in touch! I love hearing from animal charities and welfare organisations, too.
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