I admit it: I’m biased toward taking the edge off Bugs’s intense energy. So I’m going to start two companion posts — The Yin Of It, And The Yang — with the yin.
I decided I’d give Jackson Galaxy’s flower essences a try. I had a long phone conversation with a most kind, patient, and obliging person. She, after hearing Bugs’s presentation, recommended the STRESS-STOPPER formulation.
You guys should see what’s in this thing. An ingredients-list as long as your arm. Here’s a representative sampling:
Pennyroyal
I remember this from my heyday as a hippie. I’m sorry to say, back then the use I’d heard of for pennyroyal was as an abortifacient.
Cat’s-claw
Don’t you just love how that little flower in the upper left looks just like the very thing?
Mimulus
picture by Stan Shebs
I love what the Bach-flower system says about mimulus: “Fear of worldly things, illness, pain, accidents, poverty, of dark, of being alone, of misfortune. The fears of everyday life. These people quietly and secretly bear their dread, they do not speak freely of it to others.”
I can so relate!
http://www.edwardbach.org/therapy/remedyplants.asp?pagenameid=PP1MIM
Now imagine my delight when, after only one day, this was the effect:
And this:
And this:
The heat probably had something to do with this gay mad abandon — but on the other hand, it’s been hot like this for around 40 days, and this is the first time ever that I’ve seen Bugs with this much of his belleh open to view. Maybe now these two little pimples he’s had for ages, just where his back legs join his belly, can resolve themselves.
[Editor’s Note: This writer doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Pimples indeed. Calls for another post, to straighten this out.]
I also noticed that his paws feel bigger. Before when I touched the tops they felt knobbly. Now they’re flatter. Maybe if he’s less stressed, he might have let go a little of the white-knuckle-type death-grip.
The first day, he was pretty much a cat-puddle. Now he’s bounced back a bit, to more his “normal” style — so, next . . .
The Yang.
catself 
I’ve been very curious about how these flower essences work… but too much of a cheapskate to find out myself… I’ll be tuning in anxiously to hear the rest of the story!
You and me both, Melanie. It definitely seems to have taken a serious edge off Bugs. But, still, he is still The Bugs. See next post. Of course, this morning a mitigating influence could be rumbles of thunder. Could we be getting rain? Nah. It’ll never happen.
VERY interesting! How did you administer the dose?
and….those lil’ pimples might be kitty titties!
A few drops in his water, and a few drops rubbed into the tops of his front paws. And — gee, do male cats have nipples? Who knew?
Good lord. Seems they do! They can have — six of them, just like mama cats! Now I see to surf around, there’s no doubt: This is what they are! Check out this nice article at:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1505427/enlarged_nipples_on_your_male_cat.html?cat=53
speaking of your pimple confusion… In younger days I picked up a puppy and exclaimed with glee, “Oh look what a cute little belly button!” My friend embarasingly explained my mistake. It was a boy puppy.
Now if only you could teach Bugs to lay like that in winter time, you’ll have a perfect draft blocker doorstop.
This anatomical confusion is quite hilarious! And about the draft-blocker? How many cat-people would buy such a thing, do you think? Millions? I definitely would. An idea whose time has come? It could single-pawedly revive the economy? I’ll alert Catsparella. She’s plugged-in to that kind of thing.
We’re loving this!
Oh yes. And we have you to thank!!