Some time ago I wrote about the robotic d*g that has been promoted as an easy care “pet” that requires no food or water but offers attention and affection at the push of a button. To me, that simply doesn’t seem right…although maybe it’d be a plus for training some folks to live with pets without the risk of endangering the pet.
Now they’ve got robot rodents!
Looks pretty real, huh?
Rocky, a mechanical critter, helps researchers at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts better understand all-things-squirrel. Researchers also use fake lizards in Indiana, counterfeit sage grouse in California, and bizarre bugs (cockroaches) in Belgium to study communication, social cues and survival instincts.
You’d think that the critters could tell the difference between pretend and reality, though. I know that my cat Seren would be really “hissed off” if she finally caught one of those cheeky squirrels, elusive birds or (yuck) tempting bugs only to find it didn’t taste, smell, or crunch in a satisfying way.
No, worms don’t wear jewelry, nor does ringworm result in disgusting squirmy deposits in the litter box or on the lawn. This fungal infection grows on keratin, the substance that makes up the hair shaft, and causes skin disease.
Ringworm easily spreads to humans, too, and very young children, older folks, or those with a depressed immune system are most susceptible. In people, ringworm infections spread outward from a central spot. As the inside central sore heals, the “ring” of reddened skin surrounding the area gives it a characteristic look and name.
Pets won’t necessarily show this distinct pattern, though. Sores expand but not in rings, and can look like other skin diseases. Infected hairs break off, and leave a stubby patchwork fur pattern, and mild to severe crusty sores also can develop. Some pets become itchy, others do not.
There are different kinds of ringworm. Microsporum canis most commonly affects pets, especially cats. Another type of ringworm, carried by rodents, may infect dogs that dig through rodent burrows. A third kind of ringworm lives in the soil.
Healthy adult cats and dogs often resist infection because their immune system squelches any exposure. But very young pets, old ones, and those with inadequate immunity are at greatest risk. During kitten season, chances are you may encounter ringworm in a new furry baby.
Some healthy pets become “typhoid Mary” carriers, with no problem themselves, but spread infection to other animals. Once a pet becomes infected, spores contaminate the environment and can remain infective for months. Even if only one pet has ringworm, you must treat ALL pets.
Your veterinarian may diagnose ringworm first by shining a specialized Wood’s Lamp on the pet to see if any infected areas glow lime green. A culture confirms infection. Suspect hairs are collected and placed in a special medium that encourages fungus to grow, so it can be identified under the microscope. Treatment consists of a three-prong approach, including oral medication, topical treatment, and dealing with the environment.
The most common drugs include ketoconazole (for dogs only!) and itraconazole (Sporanex) for cats. Lime sulfur dips are the only topical proven to be effective, and usually require two dips per week. Longhaired critters must be clipped first to reduce the amount of contaminated hair. Clipper blades or scissors must be disinfected afterwards to avoid spreading infection with the next use. Shampooing or scrubbing the pet can make the infection worse by breaking off infected hairs and spreading the spores over the body.
The spores are nearly indestructible so it’s hard to treat the environment. Only concentrated bleach, cancer-causing chemicals, and enilconazole (toxic to cats) effectively kill ringworm spores, and none of those options work well in your home.
• Get rid of spore reservoirs such as carpet, drapes, pet bedding, and the like. • Repeatedly bleach all surfaces with a 1:10 bleach and water solution. • High temperature steam also may be effective. • Vacuum repeatedly, but remember to toss out the bag every time, or you’ll simply spread the spores. Disinfect the vacuum, too, with the bleach and water spray. • Sunlight also kills ringworm spores. Anything that can’t be thrown away or bleached can be left outside in the bright sun for a couple of weeks.
You must treat the pet and continue disinfecting the environment until follow up cultures of the pet are negative. In a single pet home, treatment may be needed three to eight weeks, but probably will be longer in multipet households.
But it’s worth it--just ask your bald, scabby pet.
When I helped edit the Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul and …D*g Lover’s Soul books, we had several stories of d*gs being rescued overseas and brought back to the states. But on the cat-side, there were very few such stories--yet I knew there must be some out there.
So I was gratified when I read a recent newspaper article celebrating the “cat lady” who rescues cats in Iraq and sends them home to England. In the Associated Press article, the woman identified as Louise is quoted as saying, “Some people buy flash cards, others flash clothes. But it’s my animals that float my boat.”
Simba, one of the cats who escaped from Iraq
She’s managed to send home five cats and two dogs from Bagdad, at an average cost of $3500 each, funded by donations and what she can sell on Ebay. You can see more pictures and read the story here
Many of the Western companies located in Iraq have cats and d*gs living in their compounds. But according to some authorities, there are no established groups working in Iraq to rescue or care for small animals needing homes. Veterinarians have been targeted and so fled to save their own lives. Fearing the spread of rabies, the military hired contractors to serve in an animal control capacity to round up and euthanized strays.
The stray cats in our own country at least have a chance of being adopted.
Louise wades through mountains of paperwork in Iraq and again in England where her imported pets must spend six months in quarantine. But for Simba al-Tikriti and the other kitties that have been rescued, the work and the wait are worth it.
Mother’s Day has passed, but those of you with very young kittens could still benefit from the attentions of the SnuggleKittie, billed as a “virtual mom” for bottle babies, orphans, singletons, strays, rescues, pound puppies--and YOU!
Several years ago while at Tufts Animal Expo, I discovered this unique product. It has a battery powered “heart” that mimics the beat of the real mom-cat’s heart, nested inside a plush cat-shaped body. There’s also a heat source that warms the stuffed animal so it feels good to the little ones. And the tummy pocket can even hold a baby bottle, to mimic the pose of all kittens when snuggling and nursing.
This more-than-a-toy also comes in animal shapes to appeal to puppies, ferrets and even birds. For the nervous human, it also works magic. You can find out more about the SnuggleKittie at www.snuggleme.com
Nope, a “tabby” is not a breed of cat, nor is it necessarily a female feline. I’ve heard folks use the term interchangeably.
Classic Tabby
Tabby refers to a coat pattern composed of darker stripes, spots or swirls on a lighter background. The “mackerel tabby” pattern consists of clearly defined stripes, while the “classic tabby” pattern is a combination of circles and stripes. Often these classic tabby cats sport a sort of “bullseye” pattern on their sides.
Mackerel Tabby
The third pattern is the spotted tabby, sort of a miniature leopard look. It’s probable that these tabby coat patterns were the original wildcat look, and better concealed the wily hunter hiding in the grass.
Spotted Tabby
Tabby patterns can come in nearly any color, in longhair or shorthair versions, and if you look closely in the right light, even the solid color cats can have a tabby pattern faintly seen.
I read a great cartoon today, “Rose is Rose” by Pat Brady. The kitten Peekaboo meets a houseguest and immediately crawls all over the woman, sniffing each ankle, sleeves, neck, and then satisfied, trots away. The humans ponder what sort of information she managed to garner from the sniff-fest, and the thought-bubble from Peekaboo says it all:
“Well…she’s happily owned by two Persian cats, a tabby and one slightly damp beagle!”
Do your cats make a point of sniff-exploring you each day? Seren certainly enjoys “reading” me when I return from an outing. And when I’ve done the early morning TV show with special pet guests, she’s always most intrigued by the cat visitors I’ve held. I kid the show hosts that my cat will know that I’ve been “unfaithful” by petting other critters!
Cats are certainly led around by the nose. Besides being able to read scents with their noses, they also possess a second detection system called the vomeronasal, or Jacobson’s organ located in the roof of the mouth directly behind the front teeth. It primarily detects pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals produced by the cat’s body often related to sexual status that trigger hardwired behaviors in other cats. So when you see a cat grimacing with lips curled (flehmen response) he’s simply reading a feline Post-It note that says “Kilroy was here!”
Does your cat “work” for a living? From the beginning of time, it seems that cats have earned their keep mostly with mouse patrol, and keeping human habitations swept clean of vermin. Most cats do this as a matter of course. But through the years, there have been some notable examples of felines actually on the payroll.
It’s no wonder that writers are partial to felines. Newspapers and publishing companies in the past were famous for keeping cats--because mice and rats liked to chew the bindings off of books and make nests of the paper.
The cats of The Sun newspaper, published in New York from 1833-1928 were described by editor Charles Dana as Felis domestica: var., journalistica. And the Century Company brought in a cat to keep the rodents from chewing up magazines, and named the kitty “Century.” The cat was paid in meals of beef or mutton, and his weekly account was audited with the general business of the magazines.
Seren, Office Cat
What does your cat do to earn his/her keep? Seren keeps me endlessly entertained, and protects my office from the likes of the goofy, oversized “d*g!”
So how do you say “cat” in your neck of the woods? Interestingly, the word for “cat” is surprisingly similar around the world. That may be due to how our kitties traveled around the world from one general area, and so the original name traveled with him, and was simply changed slightly by the people there.
Three types of names seem to have evolved: those based on the action of the cat, by the sound a cat makes, or by his ancient link to feline deities.
Egypt, home of the first domesticated cats, named him mau which signifies seerer (from the word mau, “to see”). We can speculate that arose from cats being associated with the all-seeing Eye of Horus, but others suggest the word came from the distinct sound cats make (the meow). In fact, China’s word for cat is miu.
Ancient Egyptian cat gods
The ancient cat god was called Pasht, Posth, Bast, Bastet and similar words. So the term puss could indeed have stemmed from these first names. However, the word may instead have evolved from the Latin “pusus” and “pusa” which mean “little boy” and “little girl.” Even then, folks considered their cats as their children!
Romans called the cat felis from the root word “felix” which means, “a good and auspicious omen” linked to magic. Later, the Romans called them catta, the same name as for the weasel, as both cats and weasels were used as vermin catchers.
What do other languages call cats? Here’s a few to get us started:
Arabic--kittah French--chat Polish--kot or gatto Spanish--gato
Yesterday’s blog describe the P.E.T. Test for helping figure out the WHY of poor bathroom behavior. It can be due to physical health, emotional issues or traits of instinct.
How do you fix these challenges issues?
If it’s due to a “P” problem (physical health), once the vet diagnoses the situation the medical treatment often will also solve the behavior. For instance, treating the diabetes or kidney failure can reduce the output of urine so the cat once again can get to the facilities in time.
Occasionally the cat’ just so big he “hangs over” the side of a standard box, and an innovated solution (maybe an extra--large storage bin) can help. If arthritis makes it difficult for your aging cat to climb into the box, appropriate medications may ease the discomfort, or offering a box with lower sides make it easier to navigate.
But cats have a memory for bad experiences. So if kitty remembers that it HURT to go to the bathroom, he may blame the box even after the constipation or cystitis has resolved. In these cases, simply getting rod of the old box that has the bad association, and providing a new one can work wonders.
When the behavior results from traits of instinct, simply listen to the cat. She won’t use a dirty box so keep it clean. He can’t help his hormones, so neuter him--you’ll reduce spraying by up to 80 percent simply by having him or her fixed.
Too many cats pretty much guarantees you’ll have litter box lapses. Even spayed and neutered kitties get their tails in a twist and baptize their territory in the face of too much competition for space. And rankly, some cats hate to share the toilet--so they go elsewhere.
Add litter boxes. A good rule of paw is the 1+1 rule. Have at least one box per cat, plus one. Cats that own a different box for liquids and another for solids welcome the extra facilities. Also, in a multiple cat household, it’s common for one cat to “own” a particular box or location so the other felines don’t dare trespass. Placing more boxes in different locations prevents a single litter box from being guarded.
Hit-or-miss bathroom behavior is the top cat complaint that I hear in my consults. When your cat starts leaving solid “gifts” far from the toilet facilities, or begins baptizing the wall and furniture with pungent liquid, the bond you share can quickly become strained.
There is no magic wand to wave and make this go away. You must first figure out the WHY of the equation before you can address a solution. Of course, some cats like this clueless kitten think the box should be used for a bed!
I’ve often recommended using the P.E.T. acronym to help people with this situation.
Missing the litter box could be due to a “P” problem…(pun intended) when the “P” stands for physical health issues. Cats that suffer from urinary tract problems may need to go more often, or feel pain in the box and blame the facilities for the discomfort. Similarly, a constipated cat that suffers from painful bowel movement might blame the box and look for a different location. Cats with diabetes or kidney failure need to “go” more often and sometimes can reach the box in time. So have the cat’s physical health checked should ALWAYS be your first step.
Emotional health (that’s the “E”) also can impact litter box allegiance. Cats feeling stressed may use bodily functions to make their surroundings smell more like themselves--and be comforted by that aroma. So owners that go away on vacation, change working hour schedules, introduce a new pet--anything new--could prompt emotional problems that literally “come out” in bad potty manners.
Traits of instinct (the “T” of the PET Test) are behaviors that cats are born with and can’t change. Spraying urine is a normal territorial marking behavior of intact cats, both males and females, and some felines also use feces to mark territory. Even spayed and neutered cats may spray to make statements about their social standing. Cats also have incredibly sensitive noses and fastidious natures, and hate dirty toilets (wouldn’t you?!). So a dirty litter box often encourages the cat to seek out a clean place to do his business, while a house with many cats increases the odds for territorial marking.
Have your cats ever “missed the mark?” What do you think was the reason? And how did you solve the issue? In tomorrow’s blog, I’ll offer some tips for reestablishing litter box allegiance.
Every once in a while, I like to offer some cat breed photos just to see how many can be easily identified. How well do you know your breeds? Here are the descriptions with the photo, and at the very end, I’ll list the answers (don’t peek!). See how well you do.
GUESS THE BREED!
1.This cat is a native of Thailand, and boasts a distinctive silver blue coat and luminous green eyes. He’s a gentle, quiet cat that dislikes loud sudden noises and enjoy lap-sitting.
2.Here’s a cat breed developed from breeding the Siamese with the Burmese, creating a talkative, outgoing kitty with a gentle and affectionate nature. She loves mischief making and can get into lots of trouble opening drawers, and reclining on tops of the refrigerator.
3.The picture’s hardly fair as a test, because it hides this cat’s distinctive ears that sit on his head like a small cap. This breed originated in Scotland.
4.Can you see all that short curly fur covering the greyhoundlike body? This distinctive feline originated as a spontaneous mutation in 1950, in Cornwall, England. Such cats are incredibly athletic, great climbers, and sheds less than some other breeds.
5.This breed has only been around since 1981, and her distinctive ears are born straight, then furl and unfurl until reaching permanent shape at about six months old. They’re said to retain a kittenish exuberance for life that they never outgrow.
ANSWERS: Click each breed name to go to their petside Breed Profile, see more pictures and learn more about the breed!
In these economically stressful times, we’re all looking to save money. I’ve blogged about this topic before, but it bears a repeat since I got a request from my local veterinarian last week to write something about the importance of vaccinations.
It seems that my vet has had a rash of puppies stricken with parvovirus, a deadly disease that causes vomiting and bloody diarrhea…and is EASILY preventable with economical shots. Our kittens are no different, and without protection, they’ll easily succumb to cat-killing diseases.
And you won’t ever get a better bargain than purchasing those kitten shots! Because once the baby goes through the kitten series of vaccinations, she’ll be virtually protected for life against panleukopenia (cat distemper) and will get at least three years (potentially more) protection from upper respiratory diseases.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that kittens be given a series of “core” vaccinations (panleukopenia and upper respiratory agents) until they are twelve to sixteen weeks old, one year later, and then every three years. Rabies vaccinations also are considered “core” and your state or local laws dictate how often you should give those to your cat.
Tomorrow, I’ll be wending my way northward to the Oklahoma Writers Federation 40th Anniversary Conference, May 1-3. I’m the president and have spent the last year sweating blood, planning, and organizing this massive event--40 seminars, 7 editors and 5 agents from NYC, 15 best-selling authors, even JA Jance as keynote speaker.
There are still registration spots left, and I’m expecting close to 400 folks to attend the big party, some as single day-only walk-ins. So my nerves won’t get a rest until next week…and then I plan to sleep a month!
And through all the angst, Seren(dipity) has been my staunchest supporter. When the worry became too much, when gray hairs began popping out all over my brow, and when that nervous tic became noticeable in my right eyelid--Seren purred me calm.
While the d*g snored through my sleepless nights, Seren stayed by my side. She checked every piece of paper that came through the printer, giving it her paw-stamp of approval. She paced with me during my angst-attacks, and snuggled on my lap during important phone calls (this from a cat that avoids lap-sitting on general principle!).
How does your cat help you during times of stress? Seren even plays “clown” for me, and revels in making me chuckle. Do your kitties notice when you’re upset, or depressed, or nervous? What do they do?
I couldn’t have made it through all the trials and tribulations of the past year without Seren’s gentle purr-sonal attention. And I hope she knows how grateful I feel.
I’ve been on a diet. Actually, it’s more of a lifestyle change, re-learning how to eat properly, exercise and generally take better care of myself. During this time I often wished there was a complete and balanced “People Chow” to make my life easier!
Sadly, despite having terrific foods ready to drop into the bowl for our pets, surveys indicate that roughly 40 percent of cats, older than five years are overweight. Several factors influence whether pets carry increased poundage. But the same reason that I gained weight holds true for kitties as well: over-eating and under-exercising.
I’m fortunate that Seren remains a svelte seven pounds and has never had a weight problem. Just as some people remain naturally lean while others gain weight if a potato-chip walks by (that’s me!), different cats gain and maintain weight differently. But it doesn’t take much to pudge up a cat--For a ten-pound cat, an extra pound or two is the equivalent of a human gaining 25 pounds.
Obesity, defined as weight that exceeds the ideal by 20 to 25 percent, has serious health risks. Obese pets are more prone to diabetes, cancer, skin diseases, heart problems, and lameness due to arthritis. Overweight cats are also at risk for life threatening “fatty liver disease” (hepatic lipidosis). But a crash diet can be very dangerous, too, so any weight loss program should be approved by your vet. Usually the target is to lose about 1 to 1½ percent of starting weight per week.
If you have a weighty problem with your felines, you must be more diligent about limiting intake. Keep in mind that commercial “lite” pet foods provide 10 percent fewer calories than that same brand’s regular food, and may actually have MORE calories than a competitor’s regular food.
Meal feed with portion control instead of keeping the bowl full. And encourage exercise by making your plump puss work for her food. Set the bowl on top of the cat tree or head of the stairs so she must climb or leap up to get fed. Invest in some treat balls that can hold dry kibble, so she must “hunt” and move the toy to shake out and eat one of her meals each day. Break out the cat toys, fishing pole lures and flashlight beams for chase games and get that tiger-in-your-cat roaring to go!
A 14-year study by Nestle Purina PetCare Company proved that keeping d*gs lean extends their lifespan by 15 percent—nearly two years for the dogs in the study. Lean cats also live longer. (include link to other food/diet articles) I suspect the same is true for people, even if we don’t benefit from People Chow. And yes, I dropped slightly over 40 pounds this past year, in part due to running to keep up with the Magical-dog and out-think the Serendipity kitty.
This picture was emailed to me several years ago and sadly, it’s no laughing matter. Is your cat a lean, mean purring machine? Or does she pack extra pounds?
It seems a bit redundant to write about this topic in a cat-blog, because if you’re reading this--you’re already passionate about and kind to your kitty-critters. But it bears announcing publicly that the month of May has been designated “Be Kind to Animals Month.”
What are some ways that you are kind to animals? If you’re a student and school soon will be out, perhaps (purr-haps?) you have extra time to spend with your kitties or other pets. When the weather turns mild, maybe you can open up the screened-in porch for the sun-worshiping cats to indulge in napping in a puddle of sunshine.
Maybe you donate your time or supplies to the local shelter, or take your cats to visit the nursing home and brighten a resident’s day with some furry love. Please share with us some of the ways you are kind to animals this month--it may inspire others to following your paw-steps!
Spring has come to N. Texas, and Seren(dipity) loves to take in the rose tour. She also enjoys nibbling the petals, so it’s hard for me to bring bouquets indoors.
Most parts of roses are actually edible and safe, of course. Here’s a short tour of my garden . . . about 700 antique roses surround the house, and Seren likes to patrol (on leash) to keep varmints away.
This past week the Associated Press reported the story of Moon, a Siberian husky, that ran off during a road trip at a rest stop. Her owner Doug Dashiell last saw his pet on April 6 near Railroad Valley, Nevada.
I’m sure he thought he’d never see his beloved d*g again.
A week later Moon wandered up to Alvin Molea’s residence in Ely, Nevada--the same town where Dashiell lives. He took her in, fed her and gave her a place to sleep, and after seeing her collar tag came from the White Pine Veterinary Clinic, he reported her found.
The clinic called Dashiell. He couldn’t believe Moon had walked home. The dog apparently traveled nearly 80 miles across Nevada’s high desert and two mountain ranges over the 7-day period. Other than wearing the “cologne” from a skunk encounter, the two-year-old d*g was none the worse for wear.
Bosco, a gray and white cat, used to show up at the apartment where I lived. He wore a collar with a rabies tag that had the clinic name, so I was able to track down his owner. Turns out, he used to live in that very apartment--but now his owner had moved to another complex two miles down the road. Bosco continued to come visit whenever he managed to hook open the screen door.
Bosco During a Visit
It’s not as surprising that Bosco managed the two-mile trek. But how did Moon do it? And what about the awe-inspiring tales of other pets that find their way home over insurmountable odds?
Psi-training is a term coined to describe the apparent ability of some pets to find their way home over long distances. This ability is celebrated in the story, The Incredible Journey, by Sheila Burnford, of a Siamese cat named Tao who leads furry companions 250 miles across the country to be reunited with their family. That, of course, was fiction.
But a true case, documented by the veterinarian owner, identified the found cat as the missing feline by a bone growth on the fourth vertebrae of his tail (he’d been Xrayed before). This kitty left New York and found his owner, who had moved to California.
Chat Beau’s owners identified him by the scar on one eye and his habit of growling like a dog, after he trailed his family to Texas, 300 miles and four months away from Louisana. Sugar was identified by a deformed left hip joint after arriving in Oklahoma fro California--traveling 1500 miles in fourteen months.
Skeptics will never be convinced, but believers cannot be dissuaded of the many instances in which beloved felines somehow turned up to rejoin families. But don’t leave it to chance…these are called “miracle stories” because they’re so rare. Invest in some reliable pet identification like microchips to safeguard your pets.
Are your kitties shedding? It’s that time of year, and at my house I simply can’t win. We have white carpet--actually, sort of cream color--which matches Seren’s lighter color fur. That’s good, because her shedding blends into the background. And the hair is short. Lord help me, if she instead sported long fur, like a Persian!
Seren Blending in with her Surroundings
Of course, when I wear any clothes darker than cream-of-wheat, I carry samples of my beloved feline wherever I go. I simply pretend that my clothing is supposed to look fuzzy.
The d*g, of course, is mostly black. He leaves grayish areas on the carpet from shed fur, no matter how often he’s groomed. Magic, the German shepherd, must have read the book that says his breed sheds copiously. He doesn’t simply shed, he DUMPS woolly undercoat continuously. Whatever light clothing I wear manages to turn fuzzy whenever in his presence.
I’ve discovered a terrific tool, called the Furminator. It works on both Seren and Magic, and pulls wads of pet-fluff off the beasts. I have to take the d*g outside to comb him out, or else we’d be engulfed in a tidal wave of the black fuzz, as it pulls up to 80% of shed stuff off.
Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) has designated the last Sunday in April — this year, April 27 — as National Pet Parent's Day. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and honor all those pet caregivers (yes, that’s YOU if you’re reading this). National Pet Parent's Day recognizes and honors those who lovingly consider their pets to be a part of their family.
Do you know somebody who exemplifies the best of being a pet parent? Send them a card that let’s them know how you feel. VPI offers free e-cards just for that purpose through April 27.
Pet Parent E-Card
A recent survey by the American Animal Hospital Association indicates 83 percent of pet owners consider themselves their pet’s mom or dad. And the AVMA says nearly half of pet owners considered their pets family members.
While I do, indeed, consider my pets to be family members, I draw the line at referring to myself as their “mom.” Because when speaking of Magic-the-d*g and referring to him quite technically and correctly as a son-of-a-B, I am NOT talking about myself, thank-you very much!
Although I do own a sparkly pin that I wear proudly on certain occasions.
So, do you consider yourself a “pet parent?” Maybe you buy presents for your special kitty especially on her birthday or “gotcha-day” remembrance. Some folks include their pets in family celebrations, such as weddings, or take them on vacations.
If we had a calendar with every “special” day, week and month noted, there wouldn’t be room to jot information about an upcoming dentist appointment! Truly, there are “national this-and-that’s” for some of the most interesting things.
One you won’t want to miss, though, is the week of April 27-May 3, which has been designated “National Pet Volunteer Week.”
It’s the perfect time to thank the self-sacrificing individuals who volunteer at your area pet shelters and animal welfare organizations. You might also look into becoming a volunteer yourself. Springtime with the kitten boom in high gear demands lots of eager, willing hands to help. The kittens you play with and socialize today have a much greater chance of being adopted into a loving forever home.
Volunteer--save a life! You’ll feel good about it, I promise.
I live in tornado alley, and spring is prime time for hail, torrential rain, and big winds to whip through our area. Of course there are many d*gs that exhibit fearful behavior during storms, and are especially sensitive to thunder. Not as many cats suffer from thunderstorm phobias, and I wonder if it’s in part because they get advance warning.
Cats can detect variation in barometric pressure. Therefore, they can tell ahead of time that a weather change is in the air, and take cover if need be.
More often than not, they don’t do anything. Except watch the dance of the hailstones ga-thumping cars into dimpled wrecks. When I visited a friend’s house and a storm threatened, her husband took steps to protect my car.
How many of you saw the recent Oprah show on puppy mills? It’s getting a lot of mileage in the cat and d*g Internet community, and among animal advocates of every furry purr-suasion.
“Kitten mills” aren’t as common, perhaps because the demand for pedigreed cats isn’t on the same level as that of d*gs.
Universally the pet-loving community condemns puppy mills.
The professional, responsible d*g breeders and fanciers, though, had concerns that their own hobby would be painted with that same horrid brush. When the show aired, many were satisfied and relieved that purebred dog fanciers were presented in a fair light.
Yet, I also have read communications from those who saw the same Oprah show. They are happily convinced that those “awful terrible purebred breeders” got their comeuppance--and indeed, seem intent on dumping puppy mills, backyard breeders, and the responsible professionals into the same bucket. They are using the show to leverage their mandatory spay/neuter initiatives.
It just goes to show you that people will hear and see what they want.
This week after sending our hard-earned nickels and dimes to Uncle Sam, and reading about the state of the economy, I worry about the cost of care for our fur-kids. Have y’all been tightening your belt and making do with fewer luxuries? Eating at home instead of going out? Renting a DVD or waiting for HBO release instead of heading to the movies? Letting the lawn get a wee bit more shaggy between mowing to save on the cost of gas? Staying in town instead of traveling on vacation?
What about your pets? I’ve heard from many cat and d*g owners that they’re cutting back on standard care and putting off those yearly check ups, making the monthly flea meds stretch to six weeks, and looking into home-cooking-kibble and do-it-yourself treatments when possible.
Cat owners are the worst culprits, I think, because our kitties are so darn stoic we may not recognize they have a problem until something’s seriously wrong. And that can be dangerous.
There are some ways to cut corners, of course. One way I do this is with what I call “cheap thrills.” Forego the pricey store-bought cat toys and catnip. Grow your own catnip--it’ll be more pungent and effective than the dried stuff that’s been on the shelves over the winter.
A plain empty paper bag also gets Seren’s motor running. Just be sure to cut off any handles or cats can get caught.
Toss a Ping Pong ball into the empty bathtub and watch the kitty bat it round and round. That keeps you from having to fish it out from under the refrigerator time after time.
Does your cat adore feature toys? Or those fabric pom-poms? Go to the craft shop. You’ll find packages of all kinds of features, and bags full of pop-poms for the price you’d pay for one fancy cat-tease at the local pet supply store.
What other types of cost-saving pet tips do you practice?
Is your cat a Garfield-glutton or a finicky-Morris? My cat Seren is still a svelte seven pounds at eleven-years-old, but…she will eat anything! There’s a reason that I’ve invested in covered coffee mugs. Seren likes to dip with her paw, and lick off the coffee (I use quite a bit of creamer). And while I love her to death, I know where her paws have been.
She’ll also try to get her face right into my dinner plate to see what’s good to eat. One time, when I’d fixed a snack of oven-baked egg rolls that I dipped first in hot mustard and then sesame seeds, Seren was determined to get a taste. Never believing she’d actually go through with it after getting a good whiff, I let her examine the mustard. She took a tiny lick. . .
Have you ever seen a cat levitate?! I mean, she went STRAIGHT UP into the air, landed with her fur bristled out all over, and ran. I was laughing so hard, it took a bit to catch her, and rinse out her mouth. Then I returned to my plate to finish my snack.
And within twenty seconds, Seren was at my chair, trying for another taste . . .
Does your cat swipe food? What are his/her favorites? You can also read more about the subject at the article “A Matter of Taste” and “Is it safe to share?”
