RELAX WITH PURRS

Since we began, a sizeable number of people have asked us to create a CD just with cat purrs, no music.

And guess what, Jeff has been working on it this week [w/e August 27th]! So, the long-awaited Relax With Purrs will soon be out.

A short burst of it through headphones had me nearly nodding off! Wonderful stuff...

BEST FRIENDS

Best Friends magazine [www.bestfriends.org] in the USA has published a great article about us in their current [July] edition. It's a great site to visit anyway.

The article is here.

We have entered a licence agreement with a company in the USA to manufacture Relax With Cats and Purrfect Symphony. Purrfect Symphony (USA) can be contacted on 219-805-9131 [Christine], e-mail
purrfectsymphony@yahoo.com

Love me, hate my cat.

Famous cat haters-Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini, and Adolph Hitler. An interesting collection eh?

WREXHAM CATS PROTECTION

Wrexham and District Branch of Cats Protection do a fabulous job and are very pro-active in their work. We have supplied them with some CD's after Publicity Officer Nicola Gage reviewed it. The team appear regularly around Wrexham and Chester doing their bit to help cats and through that spreading the message of compassion for and love of animals in their wake. They are also doing an awareness day at Chester's Dining Pub of the Year, the Cheshire Cat on June 4th. Here's the review:

It's been known for years that cats help people relax, that the sound of a cat's purr soothes, and now, scientists believe, can even heal. Local psychotherapist Jack Stewart MSc, and sound therapist Jeff Moran MA have produced one of the most amazing CD's I have heard in a long time. Blending the sound of cat's purring with music, it is a delight to listen to. Not just a 'relaxation' tape, there are tracks to energise and promote health and well-being. My cats and I enjoyed a lovely quiet time one afternoon listening to it-though I found it difficult to differentiate between the 'professionals' purring and my 'amateurs'! Whatever, we all loved it!

The sleeve notes also have biographies and pictures of the 13 cats who 'purrformed'-a detail I found charming!

The Purrfect Symphony is also something of a taster for forthcoming titles, any of which will prove a valuable resource for those of us who feel the need to 'chill out.'

Check them out at www.cats.org.uk/branch/wrexham

THE DAILY MEWS

Want to read a fun and charming site about cats? Go to Pauline Dewberry's site, www.the dailymews.com She has also reviewed our CD:

Recently I received PURRFECT SYMPHONY, a CD of cats purring and beautiful music. There are 8 tracks featuring 13 cats in total and it was an absolutely joyous experience as I lay on my sofa with my eyes closed listening to the different tracks. I have already documented in a previous
MEWSLETTER the advantages to health and healing that cats' purring has on a person, so it should be no surprise when I tell you that I felt energised and refreshed after listening to this CD. Research confirms that cats' purring lowers stress levels and blood pressure and creates frequencies that energise and heal. Listening to this CD will enable you to fully relax,
energise yourself and improve your wellbeing and health.

STRESSED-OUT Britons

STRESSED-OUT Britons get an average of only 6hrs 53mins' sleep a night - leaving them exhausted, a survey says. An estimated three million adults never get a good night's kip, seven million suffer from disturbed sleep on most nights and 12 million experience at least three bad nights a week. Both sexes blame general anxieties and the pace of modern life, though men are more likely to blame late-night TV and boozing. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, which carried out the survey, said: "Two thirds of people think we're less happy than previous generations because of stress. Insomnia is regarded as a main symptom of this."

Whither Cats? [Greeks again!]

All cats belong to a family called the felids and were thought to have evolved 12 million years ago. Domestic cats originated from African wild cats, which they are still closely related to. The first domestic cats were thought to have lived 8,000 years ago in Cyprus. Early settlers must have introduced the cats to the island, as there were no wild cats present

Did you know that animals can feel pain?

Evidence that the humble hen can master complex tricks that would make most dog owners proud is among a wealth of research to be unveiled at the largest conference ever staged to investigate animal sentience.
The findings offer compelling evidence that creatures caricatured as mindlessly dumb can feel emotions usually associated with humans, such as jealousy, love and loss. Some are crafty enough to hatch machiavellian plots worthy of those who stalk the corridors of Whitehall.
Sheep, ridiculed for a non-questioning herd mentality, possess a sharp sense of individuality and can recognise the faces of at least 10 people and 50 other sheep for at least two years. Scientists at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge also discovered that sheep react to facial expressions and, like humans, prefer a smile to a grimace.
Further studies which reinforce the notion that sheep are more like us than previously believed involved tests showing they mourn absent individuals. Scientists claim such findings are increasingly challenging the belief that farmyard animals have no 'sense of self', a notion that could have profound implications for the way Britain's creatures are farmed.
Pigs were similarly found to have a cerebral capacity beyond the popular preconception of a farm animal. Researchers at Bristol University found that pigs are masters of deceit, deliberately misleading other pigs if it would result in more food for themselves.
Chickens command an extraordinary degree of self-control over food. They are willing to delay gratification if they think a larger portion will be offered in due course.
Other research that threatens the longevity of the phrase 'headless chicken' found that the creatures boast a greater sense of spatial awareness than young children. In tests, chickens could learn tricks such as opening doors and navigating mazes with a speed usually the preserve of dogs and horses. These findings suggest that the character of Ginger, the sharp-witted chicken who leads her colleagues to escape from a farm in the 2000 film Chicken Run, may not be as ironic as its makers intended.
The results that may most perturb animal welfare groups are those that suggest chickens can feel pain. Tests found that those known to be experiencing some form of discomfort or lameness chose food laced with morphine when given the choice. By contrast, chickens who were fully fit chose feed that was not spiked with an analgesic.
Another creature similarly viewed by modern society as little more than a benign food source - the cow - is also shown to be an astute animal capable of solving riddles with an intellect more traditionally associated with an ape. Studies at Oxford University found that Betty, a Caledonian heifer, instinctively bent a piece of wire, using a gap in her food tray to create a hook that allowed her to scrape food from the bottom of a jar.

Taken from The Observer, 6/3/05.

Unstressed Cats

Does your cat worry about the future? Does s/he sit there, beating him or herself up about what might have been. 'If only...', 'When my dish is full...', 'Young cats today...', etc. Yes we either belittle our animal teachers for being shallow, or admire them for living in the moment. You've heard it all before. Most of us know living in the moment is the recipe for harmony, peace and fulfillment, but we agree, then get on with our worry and anxiety.

Stop for a while, and model your cat. Mentally become your cat. Feel what it is like to be at one with the world. Play the CD if it helps...

Milo

If you read the cat stories page, you will discover we never found out the origins of Milo's name. Until recently that is. Our house has the word Lezayre in its name. An Internet search of six languages drew nothing. However, one of our marvelous neighbours told us that the land on which our house was built used to be an apple orchard. One of the varieties of apple was Lezayre. Do you know what Milo means in Greek? All together now-Apple!

Greek Cats

We have made contact with Greece's Friends of the Cat [FOTC] www.friendsofthecat.com, an animal charity based in Athens. Jack needs no encouragement to communicate with Greece as he loves the place and its people. Here's Mary Cochran's comments [FOTC proprietor]:

Anyone who has ever lived with a cat will know just how soothing and relaxing a cat’s purr can be. We at Friends of the Cat are happy to support anything which can build on this and can bring this comfort to as many people as possible. We also hope it will make people more aware of the positive role that animals can play in our lives. Finally, on a personal note, the first time I played this CD my seven week old son stopped crying immediately and listened intently and calmly to the whole recording I can’t think of a higher recommendation!

Radios Halton & Miaowseyside [Merseyside]

I'm reading a book at the moment about a French writer called Steve Jourdain. One of his books is called Cette Vie M'Aime [This Life Loves Me].

Having met both Frankie Connor and Jim Wood last week, Cette Vie does indeed Nous Aime.

Both different characters, Frankie is bubbling what enthusiasm for life, has a typical scouser's quick wit, and shares a massive well of compassion with Jim. Jim has a vast knowledge of music and a collection of over 20,000 CD's, so when he calls ours 'astonishing' you take notice. In the short time we spoke to Jim, it was apparent he had a wonderfully grounding personality and life history which went way beyond his cosy little studio in Halton General Hospital.

Frankie and Jim use music and entertainment to bring joy into the world. Jeff and I loved the time we spent on their shows, and sincerely thank both of them.

Aren't animal and music lovers wonderful?

PS. On Frankie's show a listener rang in with a comment her daughter had made about cats being Gods in ancient Egypt. As Jeff said, maybe they were the first to realise the healing powers of these amazing animals.

'Stress keeps four in ten awake at night'

Four out of 10 Britons are spending sleepless nights worrying about their work or home life, a survey shows.

Increased pressure in the workplace and the home are causing growing numbers of adults to suffer anxiety and have problems sleeping, according to the PruHealth Index. And for 12% of Britons - equivalent to 5.6 million people - sleepless and stress-filled nights were a regular occurrence. Prof Simon Capewell from the University of Liverpool, who analysed the findings, said: "These data are consistent with previous surveys showing surprisingly high levels of anxiety and depression in the general population.

He added: "The UK has one of the highest rates of disease in Europe, particularly heart disease, stroke and the major cancers. "These diseases are preventable through healthier lifestyles and healthier environments.

Animals sensing the looming waves.

Among the countless tales of human tragedy, anecdotes of animals behaving weirdly before the tsunami struck have been creeping into the news. In Thailand, elephants used to carry tourists around began wailing or broke free of their chains and made a break for higher ground, the news agency Reuters reported this week. Other reports have claimed that suspiciously few animals perished in the disaster.

Plenty of animals are attuned to vibrations in the ground. Rodents as well as elephants have been shown to use shockwaves as a means of communicating.

The suspicion that animals may have a sixth sense for anticipating earthquakes has been recorded countless times. In the 1997 book "Dangerous Earth: an introduction to geologic hazards", Brian Skinner, from Yale University, compiled a list of reports, which includes anecdotes of strange behaviour by all manner of creatures from snakes and turtles to chickens and eels, some claiming to be as early as three weeks before earthquakes, or up to 250km from the epicentre
Chinese authorities have long charged zookeepers and farmers to report any strange behaviour in their animals in the belief it might betray a future earthquake.

‘Stress Raises Asthma Risks’

Stress quadruples the risk of an asthma attack in children, research has revealed. The study, led by Dr Seija Sandberg, and published in the magazine, Thorax suggested that the worsening of asthma was likely to be caused by different psychological and immune processes brought on by stress.

There have been studies that indicate that purring can aid in dyspnea [breathing difficulties]. In 2000 a study of 11 cats and 17 dogs with acute and sub-acute myocardial necrosis [heart cell problems] none of the cats in the study had dyspnea, although all the dogs did.

Doesn't our CD both de-stress and heal? Are we missing something?

Nick Robins a real gentleman

Jeff and I were interviewed by Nick Robins yesterday [Sunday 21/11] on Radio Merseyside [on his afternoon show, around 2.20 p.m.]. What a great bloke. Genuinely interested, great questions, felt totally at ease, and he played one of the tracks. And guess what? An outbreak of relaxation and bliss... Somebody up there likes us.

And by the way, on my way home, was a huge rainbow. Just before dropping off to sleep later last night, I read a page of my bedtime book. Half-way down it, emphasised, were the words 'Coming Home.' Yes, the name of track 3, which Nick played.

Cat's chorus is cool and a chorus stroke of purrfect genius [Nov 17 2004, By David Charters, Daily Post]

A SOULFUL choir of cats has released its first CD to teach the world that purring is cool.

THEY had the full range of male and female voices needed to add a mellifluous undertone to the symphony. And, after exhaustive tests in the recording studio, 13 cool cats passed the audition for the choir. But - and here you have to be diplomatic, so as not to trample on delicate feline feelings - some were found to be more suited to the solo parts than others. Of course, it's the same with human singers. Gusts of enthusiasm don't always compensate for a lack of pitch.

At this time of carol rehearsals, you can always hear the alto who thinks she's a soprano about halfway through the glorias on Ding Dong Merrily on High. The key is knowing when to join in and when to mouth silently. Thus, we have our soto and our forte moments.

However, Jeff Moran and Jack Stewart are masters at soothing the temperaments of feline prima donas, as can be heard in the choir's CD, Purrfect Symphony, which has just been released.

It is in the most direct sense, mood music, with the idea being to blend the purrings of cats into synthesised melodies.

Pet owners have observed down the centuries that the vibratory rhythms from a cat's purring can induce feelings of calm and well-being. Scientific investigations suggest that these deep resonances are rooted in the evolution of the cat into the domestic moggy. Even those who don't believe each cat has been blessed with nine lives will accept that they demonstrate a remarkable capacity for survival. Wounded cats purr instinctively because they know that it will quicken healing and help to strengthen their bones and organs.

It works in much the same way as vibrational stimulation in humans. Cats purr at between 27 and 44 cycles per second.

Jeff and Jack are aware that cynics will scoff at their idea. But we all know that some people do find the purring of a cat agreeable as well as relaxing. Researchers at the University of Warwick found that old people particularly were comforted by the companionship of cats, but they were also beneficial in the caring of patients with long or terminal illnesses.
The Fauna Communications Research Institute in North Carolina noted that the similarity in the pattern and frequency of purring in cats could help in the mending of fractures, the easing of swellings, the control of pain, the treatment of osteo-diseases, as well as stress-related conditions.

This is not in any sense a replacement for traditional treatments, but it can complement them, according to Jeff and Jack.

Both men have experience in the therapeutic use of sound. After an education at Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Jeff, 44, worked in business, before gaining his MA in psychotherapy at Chester College. Since then he has toured schools and organisations as a trainer and presenter, specialising in the use of sound in healing, health and learning.
Jeff, from Bebington, helped produce the record, which lasts 70 minutes, divided into eight tracks, to help with health and well-being, relaxation, energising and self-discovery.

The CD is dedicated to the memory of Tommy who died as it was being made. But his calm purr can be heard on four tracks. Like Elvis, his spirit lives on in music.
The Sinatra-style cat, the one who can hold the same purr for a long time, is Ch'Bee. Other members of the choir are Harry, Milo, Molly, Milly, Merlin (the melodious hippy), Iggy, Belle, Hope, Colin, Gerry and Sufi.

Jeff, from Bebington, crawled around with a microphone testing the purrs of the cats for pitch, tone, melody and therapeutic properties. Each cat can be heard on least one track, except Milo, a spiritual type, who was overcome by shyness when his big moment came.
After all, Milo might have mused, you can't be sure of your audience. Caterwauling is not a nice word in the human vocabulary - even if it couldn't be applied to the mellow sound of Purrfect Symphony.

Jeff's partner in this venture is Jack Stewart, from Kelsall, near Chester, who has a BA honours degree from Lancaster University and a MSc in employment studies from Salford University. Jack, 52, who is married to Anne and has two stepdaughters, wrote Learning Organisation in the Public Services in 1997 and has another book, The Coaching Parent, coming out next year.

He has worked as a management consultant, a lecturer and a psychotherapist with an interest in the possibilities of alternative medicine. Now he is sitting in a Bebington conservatory with Jeff, Harry and Ch'Bee.

"To the uninitiated a purr is a purr," says Jack, "but what we discovered when he recorded the cats was that they were different. For example, these two cats have quite loud purrs which lend themselves to either being energised or relaxed. But we also noticed that Belle had a healing purr. Some others were very uplifting. So we combined them, breaking down the qualities, based on the various cats."

Jeff, owner of Harry and Ch'Bee, composed the music. The project has taken two years. "It took us three months alone to edit the cat purrs.”

The 2,000 copies of the CD are professionally produced with an informative, colour booklet, giving biographical details of each cats with his/her particular purring qualities.
Purring is at the heart of the record's therapeutic appeal, generally deep in the Paul Robeson metre. The miaow is less beneficial, though three have been included to add variety to the rhythm of the mews (or should it be muse?).

"There's a high degree of intelligence within a sound," says Jeff. "Cats purr rhythmically. After listening to them for so long, you can say, 'Ah that's Harry or Belle'. Kittens hear the purring at a very early age and that instigates the suckling process. At a very deep nature, a purr to a cat is like a mother's heartbeat to a baby."

"I want this music to change the world," adds Jack. "It's a big scheme but I am serious."

THE tracks are called Infinity, Breeze, Coming Home, Back to Nature, Here and Now, Santorini, Drifting and Catalyst.

In addition to the cats, the symphony features the sounds of the didgeridoo, crystal bowls, whales, dolphins, storms, waves and bells, with additional music coming from Jack Watson (synthesizer) and Kathy Digman (flute). It is produced by Jeff Moran.

The Purrfect Symphony CD costs £15.99 with 50p from the sale being donated to the charity, Cat Protection. It can be ordered on www.purrfect symphony.com

It has, have you?

Taken from the Independent, 10/11/04

WANTED, CHAMPIONS FOR OUR CAUSE

We know this CD is unique, and in some ways appears to be a little strange! However, everything changes when you listen to it. Both Jeff and I come across almost daily people who are destroying their health and their lives by putting up with stress and tension, and ignoring the beauty of the world.

Life wasn't meant to be a struggle. You don't get bonus points for making yourself sick or ill, or being cynical. Move out of your head, into your heart, let our cats help you relax, heal and energise. Testimonies are coming in all the time, as are shops who are now selling Purrfect Symphony.

Hearing is Believing. Put aside time for yourself, close the door on the occasional madness that contemporary living can bring, and delight in something that is without cynicism, works, and can only make the world a better place. Coming Home anyone?

PURRFECT RELAXATION

Jeff performed his magic in a Wirral Primary School using the CD and being helped by the pupils and the headteacher's cat!

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Angel Cats

Allen and Linda Anderson*, co-authors of the wonderful best-seller Gods Messengers, and originators of the Angel Animals Network, are embarking on a book signing tour of the USA on 28 September. They are promoting their new book, Angel Cats.

Guess what they will be playing at the signings? Yes, Purrfect Symphony of course!

US visitors to this site, check out their tour dates on angelanimals.net

*Allen and Linda Anderson started the Angel Animals® projects in 1996. They dreamed that their work would help animals all over the world by changing people’s attitudes toward furry, feathered, flowing, and flying creatures.