Me-Om: Do Yoga, Adopt Cats

by Lisa Selvaggio

Published: February 7th, 2019

TopFeatures

Cats have the right idea when they stretch out their entire bodies. Why not join them for a class of Me-Om – a yoga class with adoptable cats!

After a long day, the soft fur and soothing purr of a kitty might be just what you need to begin to unwind. But if you’re a yogi, you also know that a good yoga class that gets you moving and stretching is also a wonderful way to release tension from mind and body. So imagine the benefits you could reap from bringing the two together. That’s exactly what Me-Om has done, but they’ve added an additional element to the mix: these cats aren’t just there for yoga, they’re also looking for their forever home.

Yoga with Adoptable Cats

Doing yoga with animals isn’t a new trend, and there are plenty of cat cafes and yoga studios that are offering these classes with kitties. While not all “yoga with cats” classes feature pets that are up for adoption, some do, and one great example is the Me-Om program by NKLA.

The NKLA Pet Adoption Center is a Best Friends Animal Society Initiative. The name stands for No-Kill Los Angeles, and their goal is to transform L.A. into a no-kill city where homeless pets will no longer be euthanized in shelters.

One way to raise awareness, as well as get more kitties adopted, is their Me-Om yoga series. During yoga classes offered by the NKLA animal shelter, adoptable kittens and cats are allowed to walk around the room freely and interact with the students.

To participate in a class, you’ll simply provide a small donation (according to their website, it’s just $20, as of this writing). Then, if you connect with one of the kitties, your donation will be applicable towards the adoption fee.

Benefiting People and Pets

Holding yoga poses, especially those tough balancing poses, can become a lot more fun when you have frisky felines trying to get your attention. This helps bring a lighthearted element to the practice, which is surprisingly beneficial. Plus, having cats around might even be what you’ve been missing if you want to learn how to focus better and stay in a challenging pose without getting distracted by what’s going on around you. Work on that drishti…or take a break in child’s pose while petting a kitten.

Beyond making yoga more enjoyable for people, though, Me-Om also provides a variety of benefits to the kitties that are in search of a family who will love them forever. These classes provide much-needed socialization so that cats and kittens can feel comfortable and confident around people, and the felines also have a chance to show off just how cute and affectionate they are, thereby increasing their odds of being adopted. After all, a kitty walking around a calming yoga class will behave quite differently from one that’s stuck in a stressful cage.

Are you grabbing your yoga mat yet? If you’re in the Los Angeles area, consider checking out one of NKLA’s Me-Om classes. You never know, you might just meet your new best friend while finding your zen.

Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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The Court-Appointed Animal Advocate may be a thing in 2024.

How Can I Prevent My Dog From Barking When They’re Home Alone?

Dogs are very affectionate beings, and can form incredible bonds with their owners – but this also means that they would love to be by their side at all times. Sometimes, however, this is just not possible. Their owners have to  work, go to the store, or finish chores out of home and they can’t always take their pets with them. And when you leave your pooch all by their lonesome, they often think it’s the end of the world – you’ve abandoned them for good, even when you’re away for like 25 minutes. This can result in anxiety, restlessness, and a lot of barking. Some dogs – in fact – just won’t stop barking or howling until you come back. How can you bring an end to this behavior, and prevent all the excess barking? And how can you let your pet know that leaving for a little bit is no big deal? Let’s find out. Battles with Barks: Why Dogs Bark When Alone and How to Stop ItExcessive barking when a dog is home alone can be a common issue for a lot of owners, and addressing it requires a combination of training, environmental management, and sometimes, the help of professionals. Above all, it requires patience. However, there are a number of factors that come into play when such situations occur. To make your dog calmer, quieter, and ready to accept your absence, you should take a closer look at the daily routine the two of you share.First, consider if you're providing enough physical and mental stimulation. Physical exercise is crucial for a dog's well-being. Keep in mind that a tired dog is generally a content and quieter dog. So, before you leave, make sure that they have ample exercise, fun, and outside time. If they “emptied their batteries”, they are more likely to remain calm and just snooze while you are out. Of course, to make sure you always fulfill these exercise requirements, you will have to establish a consistent daily routine. Just like humans, doggos too depend on the routine they can follow. This routine helps them feel secure and understand when to expect certain events like meals and walks. If they get used to a daily chain of events, they will expect you to leave and be okay with it.  Interactive toys that provide mental stimulation or dispense treats are also a great thing to utilize when battling anxiety or boredom-induced barking. They can help your dog stay occupied during your absence. As they get involved in playing with the toy, dogs will tire out, keep themselves busy, and not make such a big deal about your absence. With a toy, alone time can actually be enjoyable for a dog.

Stray Dog Becomes Surrogate for Abandoned Puppies at Texas Shelter

A stray Great Pyrenees dog, found wandering the streets of Fort Bend County, Texas, became a surrogate mother to a litter of six abandoned puppies.In late October, a concerned citizen found an abandoned litter of puppies. After failing to locate the pups’ mother in the surrounding area, the person brought the puppies to Fort Bend County Animal Services. “They were tiny, needing immediate bottle feeding and care, they were just about a week to 10 days old,” said Rene Vasquez, the director of Fort Bend County Animal Services, to PEOPLE.Although the puppies arrived at the shelter in good condition, they were starving and needed nourishment ASAP. The Fort Bening County Animal Services took to social media to look for fosters to take in the puppies and provide them with around-the-clock bottle feedings. Around the same time, another local found a stray Great Pyrenees, named Nova, who was full of milk. While it was clear that Nova had a litter recently, her puppies were nowhere to be found. The woman who found Nova saw the shelter’s online call for help and decided to contact them with a different idea. Instead of using volunteers to do the bottle feedings, she suggested bringing Nova by to see if the dog would accept to nurse the puppies. The shelter loved this idea and decided to give Nova a chance. A few seconds after Nova met the puppies it became apparent that the shelter made the right decision. “Nova was so happy to see the puppies! She took to them right away, and they were very happy to have a mama and food,” Vasquez shared. Although the abandoned puppies aren’t Nova’s biological litter, she accepted them as if they were her own. Acting like a true momma, Nova quickly allowed the pups to nurse and cuddle close to her for warmth. Thanks to Nova’s maternal instincts the puppies are doing well and growing quickly.“We were so happy that Nova was able to step up and be a mom for them. Sometimes, it is difficult to find bottle feeders and fosters for when the puppies or kittens are so little, so to have a nursing mom available to accept the babies is definitely a good day,” said Vasquez. Nova and the puppies, five boys and one girl, are currently living in a foster home. The fosters caring for the four-legged bunch plan to adopt Nova once the puppies are weaned. “The puppies will stay with Nova until they are weaned, and then we will start looking for homes for them. They will also be vaccinated, microchipped, and fixed before going to their forever homes,” the shelter’s director added. The case of Nova and her adopted litter has a happy ending, but not all stories end on a positive note. “As an industry, we are facing a real crisis in animal welfare across the country with an abundance of stray animals and not enough adopters or fosters to help the overcrowded shelters and rescues. Nova and her puppies illustrate the importance of spaying and neutering,” said the Fort Bend County Animal Services director.Shelters around the country are struggling to take in new animals due to a lack of forever homes and overcrowding. Each year, millions of pets end up in shelters across the nation, most of which are never adopted into a forever home. If you’re looking for a four-legged companion, visit your local shelter or rescue organization to see which of their residents would make a perfect addition to your home. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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