Diary of a Cat Mom
Diary of a Cat Mom is a reflective cat podcast created and hosted by Dagmar Gatell about understanding cats more deeply — and creating a calmer, more connected life for both you and your cats.
Based on real experiences caring for over 50 cats throughout her life, each episode shares quiet observations, emotional moments, caregiving reflections, and gentle insights from everyday life with cats. From routines, behavior, and emotional wellbeing to grief, gratitude, overstimulation, trust, and the small meaningful moments many people overlook — this is not a traditional “how-to” podcast, but a space for understanding, awareness, and lived experience.
Beyond cat care itself, Diary of a Cat Mom also explores our connection to nature, emotional presence, personal growth, and the way our inner state can influence the animals who share our lives. Because living with cats is never only about feeding and routines — it’s also about energy, safety, trust, patience, and how we show up emotionally in the spaces we create together.
Created for cat lovers who see their cats as family, this podcast offers companionship, reassurance, perspective, and emotional support during seasons of caregiving, uncertainty, healing, change, and letting go.
Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal storytelling podcast and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and medical or behavioral concerns should always be discussed with a trusted veterinarian or qualified professional.
You’re not alone on this journey.
We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.
Diary of a Cat Mom
How Do I Regulate My Nervous System? What My Cats Taught Me | Cat Mom Life | Ep. 109
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Have you ever looked back at a stressful moment and realized you reacted completely differently than you would have years ago?
That's exactly what happened to me when one of my cats knocked plates and cat food all over my kitchen.
Instead of frustration, I felt...peace.
That simple moment made me wonder what had changed.
In this Diary of a Cat Mom podcast episode, I share how learning about a dysregulated nervous system helped me understand my own emotional reactions, and how my rescue cats have quietly become my greatest teachers in staying calm and emotionally balanced.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by everyday situations, I hope my story reminds you that change is possible—one small moment at a time.
What You'll Learn In This Cat Podcast Episode
- Why everyday situations can feel overwhelming when your nervous system is dysregulated.
- The surprising lesson a simple kitchen accident taught me about emotional growth.
- How our cats may reflect our own emotional state through their behavior.
- Daily practices that have helped me become calmer, including tummy breathing, Kabbalah, and listening to 528 Hz music.
- Why regulating ourselves may help create a more peaceful home for both us and our cats.
- How small moments can reveal just how much we've grown over time.
Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 A Different Reaction
00:32 Looking Back at Who I Used to Be
00:58 The Aha Moment About My Nervous System
01:40 How My Cats Became My Mirror
02:18 What Helps Me Stay Calm
02:46 Question for You
This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats:
https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/
About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast
Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments from life with cats. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian.
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Diary of a catmom. Do you regulate a nervous system? How my cats help me to regulate my nervous system. Welcome to Diary of a Cat Mom. The other day I thought, wow, Dagma, you can stay calm now. Just came into the kitchen, put the half-eaten plates and bowls down, turned around to do something. And I guess one of the cats thought it's a great opportunity to just jump down and write into the plates. And the plates, they were everywhere, and the bowls were everywhere, and the wet cat food was everywhere and the dry cat food was everywhere. And I heard it, I turned around, and my first reaction was nothing. Ten years ago would have been a totally different story. You know, perfectionism and controller. I would have reacted. I would have been upset and frustrated. And the more I would have been upset and frustrated, the more would have been the kitties upset and frustrated. And then the more I would have been more upset and frustrated too. So now looking back from where I came when today, I was wondering what changed? What happened? That now I can stay in these situations calm and peaceful and balanced. And I really had this aha moment as I listened to a podcast interview the other day, Mon the Brain, and she talked about that we grow up with a deregulated nervous system because our parents a lot of times have a deregulated nervous system. So we just think it's normal. And we think reacting to situation emotionally is how life is. That was such an eye-opener that I'm in control of my nervous system. And because I'm on control of my nervous system, it's depending on internally how I deal with it, no matter what externally happens. And then I realized how tummy breathing and kabbala on 528 hurts. But also the kitties help me to regulate my nervous system and to stay regulated because they are my mirror. Like when something happens and I got upset in the past, I could see it on their behavior, I could see it on their reactions, I could see it on their body language. And it's such a gift, and I'm so grateful for that I have the cats being my mirror and showing me my improvement and holding me accountable for becoming a better person every day, and also rewarding me with their love. I'm curious how do you regulate your nervous system? And what did you learn from having a deregulated nervous system to now feeling more peaceful and balanced in your life? Please share. I would love to read it. Thank you so much for joining me for this Diary of a Cat Mom episode. There's another lesson, another story, another insight right around the corner, waiting to be shared. Watch my next video above and join me for my next entry. Diary of a cat mom.