The Problem with YouTube

 The Problem with YouTube

Newest Cat Compilation – Funny Cat Compilations: Crazy Cats #shorts

Our latest short is up! 🐱🎉

This video showcases just how YouTube’s algorithm change has impacted small creators like us.

Watch below:

It only received 562 views (formerly called reach) and 305 engaged views (formerly just views). Since

YouTube’s major policy change in July 2025 and the algorithm change starting March 31, 2025, we’ve

seen steep drops in visibility and engagement.

How YouTube’s Algorithm Change Hurt Our Channel 

Before the March 31 update, we were doing much better. One of our most successful Shorts was

📺 Funny Cat Compilation: Cats in Trouble #shorts

d

This video received:

6,300 views

51 new subscribers

803 likes

But after YouTube’s policy change in July 2025 and the algorithm change reclassifying metrics, we lost

visibility and couldn’t see what used to be called reach. Now only one number is shown, and our numbers took a hit.

Other Problems We Faced   

We also endured issues unrelated to algorithm or policy changes:

We received a content strike because YouTube’s automated Content ID system mistakenly

flagged the Koran being read in Oromo as piano music.

Someone stole our avatar, causing our channel to become hidden in searches. YouTube

eventually fixed it after we complained, but by then we had changed our avatar—and stabilized

our channel visibility.

During that period, this Short: 📺 Funny Cats: Cat Compilation #shorts

Received:

607 engaged views

613 total views

Every disruption can reduce reach and engagement, making it harder to grow.

The July 15 Disaster: YouTube Content ID Claims 

On July 15, 2025, YouTube enforced one of its most devastating updates: it began issuing claims on

Audio Library music. They had previously told creators that YouTube Audio was safe. Three years ago,

we trusted it.

Suddenly:

We got 50 content claims.

One video had 5 minutes of ambient wind claimed, even though it was self-recorded.

The fallout:

📺 Funny Cat Compilation: Cats Being Cats #shorts

This video dropped to:

62 views

28 engaged views

If you want to know how to protect a YouTube channel, this is a key lesson: without proper licensing,

there’s no recourse.

What We Learned – Advice for Small Creators

Because of all this, here’s how to protect your channel going forward:

Use licensed music vendors like TunePocket or Artlist—they give you formal licenses you can

use if YouTube issues a Content ID claim.

Use licensed sound effect vendors too. Without a license, even original recordings (wind, street

noise, birds) can get flagged under Content ID.

Remember: Without a formal license, you have no legal standing with YouTube.

If you want to learn more about how to protect a YouTube channel in 2025—especially after the

algorithm shift and policy changes—we can help walk you through it.

What’s Next?

We’ll start publishing our Shorts here on the blog too, so even if YouTube hides our avatar or limits our

account visibility, you can still enjoy our videos.

Meta Description (for Blogger sidebar or SEO settings):

Discover how the 2025 YouTube algorithm and Content ID changes have affected small

creators. Learn how to protect your channel, deal with claims, and understand recent policy

changes including those from July 2025.

Emily’s Favorite Food: What to Feed a Picky Cat That Won’t Eat

Emily is a very picky eater—she's been that way since she was a kitten. It's always a challenge to find something she'll actually enjoy, and if she doesn't like it, she'll refuse to eat. If you're dealing with the same struggle, you might be wondering what to feed a picky cat that won't eat. 

We were lucky to discover a solution: wet cat food that picky cats love. Emily absolutely adores Weruva Cats in the Kitchen wet cat food. Below is a video of her enjoying Kitty Gone Wild, a salmon-based canned food that she eats with enthusiasm.

Emily’s Top Picks 

These are the wet cat foods that won Emily over.

Weruva “Cats in the Kitchen” Lamb Burgini 

Weruva “Cats in the Kitchen” Kitty Gone Wild – Wild Salmon

 Mideast Feast – Grilled Tilapia in Gravy

 If you have a picky kitty, these might work for you too. They're Emily Cat approved and definitely fall into the category of wet cat food that picky cats love. Sometimes, since she’s such a queen, Emily gets tired of her favorites. We rotate her options now and then, and she always comes back to these top picks—but that’s a story for another post.

Full Disclosure: We don't have an affiliate account with Amazon, so we don't make any money from these links.  We're just sharing Emily's favorites to help other picky cat owners!

Cats in the Kitchen Lamb Burgini

link to Amazon Lamb Burgini

Kitty Gone Wild - Salmon

link to Amazon Kitty Gone Wild- Salmon

MidEast Feast

link to Amazon MidEast Feast

MidEast Feast

Meet Emily – Our Beloved Family Cat

 Meet Emily – Our Beloved Family Cat

Emily is more than just a pet — she’s the heart of our home. As an old cat now, she’s been with us

through so many changes. Though we’ve had to say goodbye to several of our furry companions, Emily

stayed right by our side, always steady and full of love.

She’s truly a beloved cat, especially to our son, who’s now 24 years old. When Emily was born, he was

just three, gently carrying her around in his little hands. That sweet bond never faded.

Emily is a tiny thing — just about 8 pounds — and always needs an extra-small coat to keep warm. But

don’t let her size fool you. She’s a fearless jumper, once leaping to the highest spots in the house, and she

remains the queen of our clowder. Even when younger cats joined our home, she made it clear she was the

alpha.

Emily loves to wear costumes! Here she is in her many costumes, showing off her playful and charming

personality

But Emily isn’t just bold — she’s also nurturing. She helped raise every kitten who came into our family,

showing motherly care and calm authority.

True to her royal nature, Emily is incredibly picky. If she doesn’t like the food, she simply won’t eat — no

matter how hungry she is.

Still, her favorite spot is right beside our son. Emily is his cat — devoted, loyal, and full of affection. The

rest of us? Well... she politely tolerates us.

Watch Emily in her adorable costumes and see why she’s our family’s tiny queen in this special video!

We’re grateful every day for Emily — our tiny queen, our family cat, our forever friend.

 

We’re Considering an Amazon Affiliate Store — And We’d Love Your Input!

At Serenity of the Mind, we’re always looking for ways to support our channel, our blog, and, of course, our cats.  That’s why we’re thinking about opening an Amazon Affiliate Store linked to our blog and channel.

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 What Is an Amazon Affiliate Store?

An Amazon Affiliate Store is a place where we can share links to products we personally recommend — things we’ve used ourselves or that fit with our videos and blog topics.

When you click one of our links and make a purchase, Amazon gives us a small commission. It costs you nothing extra, but it helps us:

• Support our cats’ vet care 

• Buy art supplies for backgrounds and videos 

• Keep creating relaxing, fun, and helpful content for you

We’ll only ever link to items we trust, use, or truly like. 

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 What Would Be in the Store?

Our store would match the themes of our channel and blog:

 Cat Owners’ Items:
Cat collars, bowls, plates, clothes, treats, beds, toys, food, combs, brushes, plaque removers, over-the-counter meds, hairball remedies, mat shavers, claw clippers, raised feeders, slow feeders, no-tip water bowls, calming sprays — and more!

 Books About Cats:

• How-to guides (cat care, training)

• Stories of famous cats (Grumpy Cat, The Library Cat)

• Fiction series (The Cat Who, Warrior Cats for kids)

• Cat-themed cookbooks (How to Bake a Cat — don’t worry, just cat-shaped cookies and cakes!)

 Calming & Sleep Products:

• Yoga mats, meditation guides

• Calming teas, aromatherapy

• Books on relaxation and peaceful living

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 We’d Love Your Input!

We’re planning a poll and want to hear from you:

• Are you a cat owner looking for products for your cat?

• Do you love cats and want fun cat-themed items, mugs, t-shirts, or statues?

Your feedback will help shape the store!

Thank You!

Thanks so much for supporting our blog, our channel, and our cats. Every kind word, comment, and view means the world to us. We’ll keep you updated as we plan this new step!

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 Disclosure:

If we do open an Amazon Affiliate Store, we may earn a small commission from purchases made through our links. This helps us support our cats’ care, buy art supplies, and keep creating videos and blog posts you can enjoy — all at no extra cost to you.

Links to follow later.

 Our Channel and Blog Are Now on the Same Page!

Hello blog visitor,

Last month, we told you about the changes YouTube had us make to our channel banner and avatar. Well, we finally got around to updating the blog to match the channel!

Let us know in the comments if you like the new look.

We’re also getting closer to the 500 subscriber mark on our channel — and we couldn’t have done it without all of you. Thank you to everyone who has viewed, commented, and subscribed. Your support means the world to us.

Stay tuned — more to come!

– The Serenity of the Mind team

visit our channel at Serenity of the Mind or @serenityofthemind   

New Look, Same Serenity

 

New Look, Same Serenity

When we started Serenity of the Mind, our focus was on calming and peaceful content—videos designed to help you relax, unwind, and find stillness in a busy world. Back then, our avatar and banner were simple, with a soft floral theme and our channel name in a calming color.

What we didn’t know at the time was just how much cats would become part of our journey. It began with one short featuring a white cat walking across a piano, and to our surprise, it resonated. That short brought in over 500 views—more than we had ever received—and it was clear our viewers enjoyed it. Since then, our channel has grown to include more calming cat compilations, footage of our own beloved cats, and peaceful videos that blend the beauty of nature with the quiet presence of animals.

Because of this shift, we’ve updated our avatar and banner to reflect who we are now. Our new design features a soft white background, our name in the same magenta shade we’ve always used (but now with a clean outline to make it easier to read), and a new visual: a silhouette of a cat reaching out toward a falling leaf. It’s quiet, simple, and it feels just right.

We want to thank everyone who’s been part of this journey. Whether you found us through a calming short, a sleepy video, or one of our cat compilations, we’re so glad you’re here. We hope this new look brings a touch of clarity and warmth—and of course, serenity—to your day.

Blown Away! 250+ Subscribers and Counting!

Wow, everyone—we are absolutely blown away! 🤯✨ Just a few months ago, we started creating cat compilations, adding speech bubbles, sound effects, and the perfect music to capture all the funny and adorable moments.

 Now, here we are, past 250 subscribers and still growing! We can’t thank you enough for watching, liking, and supporting our channel. 🐾💖 Your encouragement means the world to us, and it’s truly amazing to see how many people love these cat moments as much as we do! 

 What’s Next? 

As promised, we are already working on our special video to celebrate this milestone! 🎬🎊 It’s going to be a fun and lighthearted look at how our channel got started—a little behind-the-scenes comedy about the journey that led us here. We can’t wait to share it with you! Stay tuned, and once again, THANK YOU, PRECIOUS VIEWERS! 🥰

🐱 You’ve made our millennium! 

 Much love,

 Serenity of the Mind 

 Here is the popular video that did it all

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zKrdyjxTS8A