Golden Whiskers with Scott Colby

Could understanding your cat’s energy help you better understand their behavior, emotions, and even their health?
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Joan Ranquet, animal communicator, energy healer, TEDx speaker, and author of Animal Chakra Healing. Since I knew very little about cat chakras myself, I approached this conversation from a beginner’s perspective—and Joan does an excellent job explaining the concepts in a practical, approachable way.
We discuss what cat chakras are, how they may relate to physical and emotional well-being, why confidence and relationships matter more than many cat parents realize, and simple ways to create a calmer, healthier environment for our cats. Joan also shares how animal communication complements chakra work and leaves us with one easy technique every cat parent can practice at home.
Whether you’re completely new to energy healing or simply curious about another way to understand your cat, this conversation offers plenty of food for thought.
👉 If you’ve ever wondered why your cat reacts the way they do—or if stress could be affecting their health—this episode is for you.
✨ Episode Snapshot
In this episode, you’ll learn:
😺 What Cat Chakras Actually Are
A simple explanation of chakras, how they function as energy centers, and how a cat’s chakra system compares to our own.
🧠 Why Cat Parents Should Care
How understanding your cat’s emotional and energetic state may help you recognize challenges before they become bigger health or behavior issues.
🐾 The Connection Between Confidence and Health
Why confidence, digestion, and emotional well-being may be more closely connected than many cat parents realize.
❤️ How Stress Can Affect Cats
Why changes such as moving, introducing a new pet, or other life transitions can influence a cat’s emotional and physical health.
🏡 Creating a Calmer Home
How safety, relationships, and household energy may play an important role in helping cats feel secure.
✋ A Simple Technique You Can Try Today
Joan demonstrates the “bladder sweep,” a gentle stroking technique designed to help cats feel more grounded and relaxed.
📘 Joan’s Recommendations for Cat Parents
* Observe your cat’s body language and behavior with curiosity rather than judgment.
* Support both emotional and physical health—they’re closely connected.
* Help build your cat’s confidence through enrichment, play, and positive experiences.
* During major life changes, focus on creating calm, predictable routines.
* Use gentle daily touch, like the bladder sweep, to help your cat feel grounded and secure.
* Work alongside your veterinarian, using energy-based practices as a complement—not a replacement—for medical care.
🌍 Where to Find Joan
🌐 Website: JoanRanquet.com
📖 Book: Animal Chakra Healing
🎓 Communication With All Life University (CWALU)
📸 Instagram: @joanranquet
📘 Facebook: Joan Ranquet – Communication With All Life
Joan also offers workshops, online courses, animal communication training, and wildlife retreats through her website.
✨ Final Thought
Our cats communicate with us every day—through their body language, behavior, emotions, and relationships. Whether or not you’re familiar with chakras, Joan encourages us to slow down, observe more closely, and recognize that supporting our cats emotionally can be just as important as supporting them physically. Sometimes, helping our cats thrive begins with simply paying attention.
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Subscribe to The Golden Whiskers Podcast and leave a review—it helps more cat parents discover practical ways to help their cats live longer, healthier, and happier lives.


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In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Kathleen Prasad, founder of Animal Reiki Source and creator of the Let Animals Lead® Method of Animal Reiki.
Kathleen has spent nearly three decades working with animals and teaching people around the world how to build deeper connections through presence, compassion, and meditation. Together, we explore a simple but powerful idea: when we give cats more choice, more agency, and more respect for their preferences, everything changes.
We talk about what Animal Reiki actually is, how Kathleen’s approach differs from traditional Reiki practices, why cats are such incredible teachers, and how our own energy can impact the animals we love.
Along the way, I share stories about my cats Niko and Milo, and Kathleen shares some fascinating experiences from her years working with shelter cats and other animals.
👉 If you’ve ever wished you could better understand your cat—or create a calmer, more connected relationship—this episode is for you.
✨ Episode Snapshot
In this episode, you’ll learn:
😺 What Animal Reiki Really IsWhy Animal Reiki is less about “doing” something to your cat and more about creating a calm, healing space where connection can naturally happen.
🐾 What “Let Animals Lead” MeansHow Kathleen’s approach gives animals the freedom to choose how they engage—and why that choice can be transformative.
💞 Why Cats Are Such Powerful TeachersWhat cats can teach us about boundaries, trust, presence, and respecting individual preferences.
🧘 How Your Energy Affects Your CatWhy stress, worry, frustration, and anxiety can influence our cats more than we realize—and how calm can be contagious too.
🌱 Helping Shy, Fearful, or Stressed Cats Feel SaferA simple breathing practice that helps you become more present and creates an environment where cats feel more comfortable and secure.
💊 Using Calm During Challenging MomentsHow bringing a grounded, peaceful energy to situations like medication time can make the experience less stressful for both you and your cat.
👂 Learning to Listen to Your CatWhy paying attention to your cat’s preferences may be one of the greatest gifts you can offer them.
📘 Kathleen’s Recommendations for Cat Owners
Give your cat more choice whenever possible.Choice builds trust, confidence, and emotional safety.
Practice being fully present.Cats live in the moment. The more present we become, the more connected we can be with them.
Notice your own energy.Stress is contagious—but calm is contagious too.
Respect your cat’s preferences.Not every cat wants attention, interaction, or affection in the same way.
Let go of expectations.Sometimes the deepest connection happens when we stop trying to make something happen.
🌍 Where to Find Kathleen
🌐 Website: animalreikisource.com📸 Instagram: @animalreikisource📘 Facebook: Animal Reiki Source📺 YouTube: Animal Reiki Source
🎁 Free 3-Day Animal Reiki Challenge:In this free challenge, Kathleen teaches simple practices you can use immediately with your cat to create more calm, connection, and trust.
✨ Final Thought
Cats have a remarkable way of showing us what matters.
They remind us to slow down.To be present.To listen more than we speak.And sometimes, to stop trying so hard to control everything.
When we give our cats the freedom to be themselves, we often discover that they’re teaching us how to be more fully ourselves too.
🎙️ Loved This Episode?
Subscribe to The Golden Whiskers Podcast and leave a review—it helps spread the word so more cat parents can help their furry friends live longer, healthier, and happier lives.


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This week on the Golden Whiskers Podcast, I’m re-sharing one of the most downloaded episodes from last year — my conversation with feline longevity expert Penny Wood, also known as Dr. Zoolittle.
I wanted to bring this episode back because dental health is one of those topics many of us know is important for our cats… but we still may not really know what to do with it.
Honestly, I learned a lot of this the hard way with Nomar and Mia.
Nomar ended up needing teeth pulled later in life. Mia also had dental problems, but by the time they were discovered, she was already dealing with kidney disease and other health challenges, and we had to make some very difficult decisions around treatment and anesthesia.
Now with Niko and Milo, I’m trying to approach things differently and be more proactive instead of reactive. And as I listened back to this interview myself, I realized I still haven’t fully acted on some of the things Penny shared. So this re-release is a reminder for me too.
🎧 In This Episode
Penny and I discuss:
* Why dental health is connected to the entire body
* How oral bacteria can affect the kidneys, liver, and overall health
* Signs of dental problems cat parents often miss
* Why brushing your cat’s teeth may not be the only option
* The myth that kibble naturally cleans cats’ teeth
* How wild cats naturally maintain healthier teeth
* Natural approaches to prevention and tartar support
* What Penny feeds her own cats, Merri and Pippin
😳 One of the Biggest Takeaways
One thing that really stuck with me is Penny explaining why dry food doesn’t necessarily clean cats’ teeth the way many of us were told.
She compares it to trying to clean your own teeth with candy or toffee — technically abrasive, but still loaded with carbohydrates and sugars that bacteria love. It was one of those “wait… what?” moments for me.
🌿 About Penny Wood (Dr. Zoolittle)
Penny is a longevity zoologist, zoo welfare consultant, mammal trainer, and pet health concierge specializing in animal longevity, cognitive enrichment, and holistic wellness.
You can learn more about her work here:
* DrZoolittle.co
* @DrZoolittle on Instagram
💬 Final Thought
Dental issues are now one of the most common reasons pets visit the vet — and according to Penny, cats as young as two are already showing signs of dental disease.
If you’ve ever wondered:
* “Should I brush my cat’s teeth?”
* “Does kibble actually help?”
* “What are realistic things I can do?”
…this episode is worth a listen.
And if you already have a dental routine that’s working for your cat, I’d genuinely love to hear about it.
Grab Penny’s free dental care guide for cats, a must-read for starting preventive measures or tackling existing dental issues. 📚 You can download the guide here.


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Have you ever felt like your cat is trying to tell you something… but you’re not quite sure what it is?
In this episode, we explore a different way of understanding our cats—one that goes beyond behavior and into energy, emotion, and connection.
I’m joined by Blair Hope, an animal communicator and animal hospice practitioner, who shares how our cats are constantly communicating with us… and how our own emotions may be shaping their behavior more than we realize.
Whether you’re fully on board with this idea or just curious, this conversation might shift how you see your relationship with your cat.
🐾 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
* How cats communicate beyond meows and body language
* Why your emotional state can directly impact your cat’s behavior
* Hidden reasons behind common behavior issues
* What your cat might be trying to tell you when something feels “off”
* How to build a deeper, more intentional connection with your cat
* Gentle insights into end-of-life care and understanding your cat’s needs
📘 Recommendations for Cat Owners:
🗣️ Start talking to your cat more intentionally—your tone and energy matter
👀 Notice behavior changes as communication, not “bad behavior”
🤔 Before reacting, ask: what might my cat be trying to tell me?
🌿 When things feel off, look at both your cat’s environment and your own energy
🧘‍♂️ In stressful situations (like vet visits), focus on calming yourself first
🎙️ About Our Guest:
Blair Hope is an animal communicator, Healing Touch for Animals practitioner, and certified animal hospice practitioner. She helps pet parents better understand their pets, navigate behavior challenges, and make compassionate end-of-life decisions.
You can learn more about her work at:👉 www.blairhope.com
🐱 Final Thought:
Your cat may not use words…
…but they’re always communicating.
The more we slow down and pay attention—the more we start to understand what they’ve been saying all along.🎧 Listen now and let me know what stood out to you.
🐾 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow cat lover. The more we learn together, the longer and healthier our cats can live.
See you next time on The Golden Whiskers Podcast! 😺💛


Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe

Encore Presentation: One of the most important conversations we’ve had on feline nutrition.
If you’re feeding your cat kibble—or even if you think you’re doing everything “right”—this episode might change the way you think about your cat’s food.
In this encore presentation, we’re diving into cat nutrition with one of the best in the field: Dr. Ruth Roberts, creator of The Original CrockPet Diet and a pioneer in holistic pet health.
Whether you’re feeding kibble or already trying to upgrade your cat’s diet, this episode is packed with practical, easy-to-understand ways to support their health and longevity.
🐾 In This Episode:
* Why most cats should not eat starchy carbs (bye rice & potatoes 👋)
* How to make a slow, safe transition from kibble to canned, then to cooked or raw
* What to look for (and avoid) in canned cat food
* Easy food upgrades for cats with kidney disease
* Why feeding variety matters (and why too many proteins in one meal might be a problem!)
* The truth about taurine—and how to make sure your cat gets enough
* Toppers, supplements, and homemade tips for feline gut health
* How to use fermented foods like yogurt and goat milk for better digestion
* The one unexpected human food Dr. Ruth recommends adding to your cat’s bowl
📘 Dr. Ruth’s Recommendations for Cat Owners
* 🧠 Start simple: If your cat’s been eating kibble for years, transition slowly to canned, then to cooked or raw
* 🥩 Stick to one protein per meal to reduce food sensitivities and support gut health
* 🛑 Avoid starches like peas, potatoes, and rice in your cat’s food
* 💧 Moisture is everything—especially for cats with kidney disease. Add broth or water to food and use filtered water when possible
* 🌈 Feed the rainbow: Add colorful veggies (cooked and pureed) to support the microbiome
* 🧂 Use toppers like sardines, bone broth, or butter to make new foods tastier
* 🧬 Use omega-3s and probiotics: especially helpful for cats with inflammation or digestive issues
* 💪 For cats with kidney disease: prioritize moisture, avoid low-protein diets unless absolutely necessary, and explore phosphate binders if needed
* 🔬 Want to cook at home? Check out training from Feed Real Institute, Dr. Ian Billinghurst, or work with one of Dr. Ruth’s certified Holistic Pet Health Coaches
🌐 Where to Find Dr. Ruth Roberts
* 💻 Website: drruthroberts.com
* 📘 Facebook: The Original Holistic Pet Health Coach
* 📸 Instagram: @dr.ruthroberts
* 📺 YouTube: Dr. Ruth Roberts
✨ Final Thought
“Feeding your cat better doesn’t mean doing everything all at once. Start where you are—and take one small step forward. Even switching from kibble to canned is a big win.”— Dr. Ruth Roberts
This is one of those episodes I’d bookmark and come back to.
🎧 Listen now and let me know what stood out to you.
🐾 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow cat lover. The more we learn together, the longer and healthier our cats can live.
See you next time on The Golden Whiskers Podcast! 😺💛


Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe