FAMSA’S FAMILY FOUNDATION TRAINING 2015 – PLETTENBERG BAY:

This course is great for individuals interested in becoming lay-counsellors for FAMSA,

existing counsellors wanting to refresh their skills and ALL members of the public.

This forms part of FAMSA’s counselling training for 2015 – it involves:

Personal Growth; anger & conflict resolution, mental disorders, addictions,

marriage & divorce and much more.

Should you be interested please register before 15 January 2015

Please call 044 533 0515 to book.

Stop Your Cat From Spraying

When you spot your cat stand by a door or any other object at home, lifts its tail then urinates then you know that it is spraying on the door or object. Perhaps if you are a neophyte in the cat world, you do not know what spraying means. When a cat is new to a place, it is bound to make that place its territory by spraying. It is not a cat’s dilemma as not knowing its own litter box; rather, it sprays for marking a definite location. It is natural for them to spray and usually it is ordinarily done by cats outdoors. Yet, there are cat owners who complain about their cats spraying indoors. It could be troublesome for a home owner if a cat sprays inside the house. Do not worry too much as for every difficulty, there is a solution.

The reason why cats spray can either be one of the following: for marking a location, for calling a mate or for relieving stress.

A cat, just like other territorial type of animals, wants to mark its territory. In order to do this, it sprays a bit of urine on its territory. The smell of the cat’s urine will alert other cats and animals to get off its property. It is natural for cats to spray on things, so extend a little understanding towards your cat.

Pheromones are a substance that animals utilize to communicate. This substance is released with the urine sprayed by cats in heat. This hormone is similar to fingerprints because animals use this to identify the kind of creature that sprayed in the location. Often, this hormone is released when cats are in heat. The pheromones tell the other cats that it is searching for a mate. Other cats in heat are attracted towards the scent of the urine due to of the pheromones. This serves as an open invitation to get engaged in procreation. Later, you will get kittens in the house.

Getting rid of stress is another reason why cats spray. It could be stressful for a cat to find another of its kind in its territory. When it catches a glimpse of another animal, it also sprays. The spraying of urine allows the cat to release some of the built-up stress generated by seeing another creature in its territory.

The scent of cat’s urine can be odious. The problem is sometimes the cat sprays inside the house. The urine can stain furniture and leave foul odor. When your cat sprays, do something at once like shooing it away.

The most effective way to eradicate this spraying behavior is by neutering or spaying the cat. This applies to both male and female cats. The spraying activity will immediately stop after being neutered. Since a male cat will no longer mate after being neutered, it will get rid of its spraying. It is important to consider whether you do not want to breed your cat or otherwise because spaying or neutering is irreversible. Do not spay or neuter if you still wish to have kittens. Consider another option. It is best to ask for your vet’s opinion regarding spraying if you do not want to sterilize your cat.

Master the Mountains

With the right strategy, you can reach the top of any hill with ease
Many riders are anxious about their climbing skills—specifically, whether they’ll be able to keep up with the group. Pro riders struggle with the same issue. When we watch theTour de France on TV, we always see the leaders at the front hammering comfortably up the mountains, but the truth is the rest of the field is simply trying to survive. Those riders need to expend their energy as efficiently as possible so they can make the time cut and advance to the next stage. Here’s how to make the most of your own climbing ability.

TRAIN THE TERRAIN If you typically ride flat roads, you will most likely find climbs difficult. Even if your local rides include short, steep hills, don’t expect to lead on a long climb. Andy Hampsten, the only American to win the Tour of Italy, grew up in the flatlands of North Dakota. It wasn’t until he moved to Boulder, Colorado, that he became a true climber.

SPIN LIKE A PRO Most of us aren’t naturally blessed with a climber’s 4 percent body fat. Consequently, we need to be strategic about how we approach a climb. A general rule is the bigger the rider, the more important it is to sit and spin. On an extended climb, the pro peloton’s larger climbers pedal seated at 110 to 120 rpm for greater efficiency. A lighter rider might be in and out of the saddle, pushing a bigger gear at 80 to 90 rpm.

RIDE YOUR OWN PACE Many people make the mistake of hanging onto the wheel in front of them until they blow up. They think that if they do this often enough they will improve, but it’s the opposite of what you need to do to get better. Instead, try the following workout.
Warm up for at least 30 minutes.
The first week, do one five-minute climbing effort, pedaling at 90-plus rpm. Go as hard as you can while keeping your breathing under control.
Each week, add another five-minute effort to the ride until you can do five in one session. Pedal easy for at least five minutes between intervals.

USE THE TERRAIN Most climbs don’t have a constant grade. When you reach a flatter section, shift into an easier gear and spin at a faster cadence to let your legs recover. As you approach a short, steeper section, you may want to shift into a harder gear and get out of the saddle. As the terrain levels out, you can sit down and go back to your easier gear and higher cadence.

RELAX Even the best riders will have a bad patch during a climb. The key is not to panic–if you stay within your limits, you’ll often start to feel better mid-climb and go on to finish strong.

Researched By :
Kátia C. Rowlands – PLETT PILATES ; SPINNING & FITNESS STUDIO – 082 513 4256