Pawso Media Blog Index

I Am Pawso Media

A collection of articles on Pawso's rise in the media.

Creators

The Creators

Casey and Scott are a wife and husband, author/illustrator, creative team. They built their home together with senior cats Mitzie (23) and Yochabel (20) at the forefront. Scott even created a hospice care room to accommodate their healthcare needs.

Just before the COVID pandemic, the couple opened their home to foster Pawso and Samba through UC Davis' Orphan Kitten Project. Casey and Scott adopted the bonded pair when they “aged out” of the OKP kitten system and county shelters were overwhelmed.

As a failure to thrive kitten, Pawso suffered from many of the same traumas Casey experienced as a child, and he inspired Casey to write I Am Pawso and give children hope. As the couple worked together to socialize Pawso and help him overcome adversities, they naturally merged their creative passions, reconnected with their “inner kitten,” and discovered that couples who create together build happy lives.

Casey Hersch

I Am Pawso is a work of love that combines Casey's professional background as a psychotherapist with her passion for animal advocacy and her appreciation of the creative arts. On a personal level, she loves cats. Cats have played a fundamental role in helping her understand her feelings, manage Crohn’s disease (autoimmune), overcome traumas, and help others.

Casey wrote I Am Pawso based on the shared reality that we are all children at one point in our lives. Adults and children have similar requirements in order to thrive and achieve wellness. We need people to believe in us, to learn how to trust our body’s instincts, and to engage our senses through movement and creative outlets. We need help, acceptance, friendship, and a sense of ownership over our lives. Pawso shows us that our brains and bodies are connected and constantly evolving; every life encounter provides an opportunity to gain resources and grow.

For many years Casey worked with children who were victims of trauma. While she helped children and their adults minimize trauma's adverse effects, these children in turn helped Casey grow and heal. Children showed Casey what they need to thrive and cope with uncertainty. Adults confirmed they benefitted from the same resources.

Casey finds herself working daily on how to cope with stress and respond to life's challenges. Just like the children she teaches, she applies the Pawso Practices to her own life and benefits significantly. For Casey, Pawso represents the child in her that missed out on early interventions that would have eased her health trajectory in adulthood. Early intervention is key. If teachers, parents, educators, therapists, and daycare providers start teaching every young person the Pawso Practices they will lay a foundation based on resilience and self-confidence.

Scott Hersch

scott 1 Scott Hersch is a licensed general contractor and artist. Although building and crafting is part of his daily routine, in his free-time Scott builds Hersch Guitars from recyclables and invents indoor towers for his cats, Pawso and Samba.

Scott enjoys creating “outside of the box,” so he welcomed the challenge of combining his digital photos and composite imaging skills to illustrate I Am Pawso. He is always behind the scenes supporting his wife, Casey, as she brings education and hope to the world.

Pawso's Posse

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Pawso's Posse

We all need a hand during the day and Pawso's Posse shows him the way. We are family, friends, teachers, and pets. We help you through good times and when you're upset.

Peggy

Today, I am confident cat, but I did not always feel this way. Before I met my furrever friend, Pawso, people body shamed me because of my weight. I didn’t like myself when I saw my reflection, and I was scared to meet new people. When Pawso showed me how to have a healthy, trusting, friendship, I felt so good! Even though Pawso and me have arguments, we talk-it-out and learn new ways to get along and respect each other’s opinions. I like to dance, play on the swings, listen to music, and get good grades. When I am alone, I explore my inner powers. When I am at school I use my special gifts and they really work!
Head Honcho

I grew up in Mexico where I learned about my culture. When I immigrated to the United States, I couldn’t speak English. My grandma was poor and people teased me at school because I wore handmade clothes. When she died, I felt safe when I wore the poncho she made me. I didn’t fit-in because I didn’t have my own family. But when I met Pawso, he showed me that I can choose my own family with my favorite people. Every year, when I go to Pawso’s Family Reunion, I see that families come in many different shapes and sizes. When I feel the music beat, I come alive! I love to dance, sing, and play the maracas.
Mom

I was a very young, single mother when I gave birth to Pawso. I loved him so much that I asked a foster program to help me find a stable home for Pawso and his sister. I did not know how to take care of myself and I really wanted Pawso to get meowntal health treatment and a proper feline education. Even though we don’t live together, we are in each other’s hearts and our memories. Our positive thoughts of each other keep us close and connected.
Grandma

I am the proud grandcat of hundreds of cats. In my community cat colony, although we are not related, we're all family. We share and take care of each other. Pawso is my youngest grandcat. Just like me, we are cat-vocates. We know too many homeless cats, and remind people that TNR-trap, neuter, and return- and spay/neuter clinics save lives. Adopting a rescue cat is one of the kindest things people can do. You save a life and get a best fur friend. I have used all of my nine lives, so I have a lot of life experience. I love story time with Pawso. He respects his elders and shares my tips with friends.
Dr. Bengal

Before I became a doctor, I was a tough jungle cat who got into a lot of fights and bullied others. I was king of the jungle until one day I stepped in a trap. OUCH! After that, I turned my life around. I went to school and studied really hard to become a doctor. Now I help cats heal from illnesses and traumas.
Sister Samba

I am named after the Brazilian dance, Samba, and even though I am the life of the party, I have always been grounded and present for my brother, Pawso. We had a rough start as kittens. He depended on me when our mom was not around. I taught Pawso many of his life skills. Being a big sister stresses me out, and Pawso gets on my nerves because he always wants to play and have my attention. However, I balance my stress by making sure I take daily “alone” time to slow down and enjoy a quiet relaxing nap in the sun. My favorite activity is running on my cat wheel. Exercise is so energizing!
Meow Ma Casey

I am an only child and while I enjoy kids, I never gave birth to any children. Throughout my traumatic childhood, my cats were my family, playmates, and teachers. Today, Pawso and Samba are my children in every way. I brush their teeth, cook them organic whole food meals, and provide them opportunities to explore, exercise, and problem solve. Pawso and Samba give me the most precious gifts: laughter, unconditional love, serenity, and health. We need each other and we know it!
Paw Paw Scott

Before I met Pawso and Samba, I thought cats were boring and rebellious. I did not want animals in my home. But fostering Pawso and Samba changed my attitude. I understand how cats bring out the best in their humans and why cat rescue changes lives. When we adopted them, I never imagined they would teach me about life and relationships! I am a hard working guy and I had forgotten how to be playful and enjoy one moment at a time. I enjoy applying my construction background to building cat trees and towers in our home.

learning and activities

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Learning & Activities

Pawso wants to share fun and helpful learning tools as they become available.

COMING SOON: Free Parent, Teacher, Clinician Guide Book. Learn How To Apply the Pawso Practices At Home And In The Classroom
Pawso Balloons

Coloring sheet to print

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Pawso Maze

Find your way through tricky curves

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Pawso Word Search

Find words from I Am Pawso

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Want MORE Games and Activities?

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Who Is Pawso

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Who is Pawso?

Message from Pawso

001 When I was a kitten I felt worried and anxious.

Noises, dogs, and people petting my fur scared me.

I protected myself by biting and hiding.

I felt sad and alone. No one wanted to adopt me.

Fortunately, my foster mom, Casey, brought my sister, Samba, and me home.

Casey is a therapist (A nice person who talks about feelings and helps you work on problems.)

Casey gave me tips to calm down and ways to help me feel better!

pawso710small Now I am a capable and confident cat.

I still work on my problems, but I have skills and people to help me.

I feel pawsitively purrfect being me.

MEET PAWSO

pawso paso I Am Pawso! I used to feel embarrassed introducing myself because people called me the wrong name. Not anymore! Now, I really like my name. It's a part of who I am!

Did you know I am named after a dance called the Paso Doble? Meow Ma Casey loves International Latin Ballroom Dance. Two of the five dances are called Paso Doble and Samba. That’s how my sister and me got our names!

During the Paso Doble, dancers imagine the dancefloor is a Spanish bullfighting arena. The leader is the matador, and the follower is the cape. I used to be shy and insecure until I imagined I am Pawso, the matador, in real life. Just like a matador, I am strong. I think before I take two steps forward. I observe and wait for the right opportunity to act. I stand up tall and use my big voice to express myself. I love being the center of attention.

Cats sleep most of the day. Not me! I stay up all day if my family is home just so I can play with them and get extra pets. I still hide when strangers come over, but I am working on being a matador in new situations, too.

pawso samba cattree

I wasn’t always confident. Life as a kitten was really hard. I had a lot of adverse cat experiences (ACEs) such as living on the street, being a rescue cat, sleeping in a shelter, and having sensory overload. Everyone wanted to adopt my sister, Samba, but no one wanted me because I was different. Meow Ma Casey wouldn’t separate us because she knows I need my sister. Paw Paw Scott says I am just like him. He has high functioning Aspergers. He says people don’t understand us because we are “quirky” and sensitive. Textures, sensations, and sounds overwhelm me unless they are just right.

Sometimes I do silly things that make other people laugh at me or call me “weird.” Social rules, like how to greet people when they come over, confuse me. Luckily, Samba teaches me how to do things. I am special, just like you, and sometimes people have to be patient and gentle to really see the treasure behind our whiskers and fur!