WHEN a pet owner sees their animal prick their ears up a certain way, they often understand what they are thinking.

But for Cass Martinez, this instinct extends beyond her own backyard.

An animal communicator and owner of Horse Whispers in Warwick, Ms Martinez says she uses energy to connect with animals and understand their thoughts and feelings.

It started about 12 years ago, after she completed natural therapy and energy healing training to become a reiki master.

But she couldn't connect with humans and instead performed reiki on a horse.

Suddenly she heard its voice in her head.

At first she thought she was mad, but then did some reading and realised she wasn't the only one.

Ms Martinez has now honed the skill over years.

"If I'm going to communicate with an animal I put myself on a meditative state and concentrate and focus on that animal,” she said.

"You see flashes of images or visions or you feel something, it's not always that you hear something.”

Ms Martinez said she often uses photographs to connect with the animal, whether it be a dog, cat or horse.

"Domesticated species are usually have more things to say than wild animals, maybe because they've been with humans for a long time,” she said.

Ms Martinez has gathered unbelievable information.

She once connected with a staffy through a photograph, who kept showing her images of his leg.

Ms Martinez later discovered the dog previously had surgery on his leg and had recently started limping.

Pet owners approach Ms Martinez when their pet is having behavioural issues and although she is unable to diagnose exact problems she can find out where pain or problems are coming from.

Ms Martinez said some people are sceptical of her abilities and she knows the method is not guaranteed.

She does not argue with sceptics but hopes they will become more open minded.

Many owners do return to her noticing a difference in behaviour.

"There's a lot more research and studies being done in communication and how animals communicate and I don't see why we can't tap into that,” she said.

"Each animal is like a person, they have a personality.

"Each animal has it's own feelings and reacts to the world differently. They just live in their animal world.”