KittyStar is open for business

It's official, KittyStar Services for Cats is a Neighborhood favorite! That means people have recommended us to others on sisal media, but I am always happy to personally provide references of current and past long time Seattle clients whom you can chat or email with if you have specific questions. 

It's been a difficult year and and a half for traveling and many kitties are now used to having their people home 24/7. There are some things you can do to alleviate your cats' anxieties once you decide to travel. Comfort pheromones, such as Feliway, can be used around your home. Flower remedies, such as Bach Rescue Remedy, available in alcohol free formulas at pet supply stores such as Mud Bay may also help. New toys, scratcher pads, and viewing activities such as bird feeders outside your windows can all enrich your cats' days while you are away. 

Hiring a cat savvy/cat only sitter is also a good plan. KittyStar Services for Cats has been catering to cats only for over 20 years. We look forward to meeting you and your feline family!

The 4th of July is just around the corner but fireworks are already being set off on private property in rural areas. Your kitty might be experiencing stress due to the nature of the noise. There are things you can provide your kitty to help combat this stress. At the same time try to remain as nonplussed by the fireworks as you can so that your kitty doesn't pick up on your stress. These tricks can help is other stressful times as well, such as when you have houseguests or take on remodeling projects.

Some cats feel safe in a high spot; they can keep an eye on things and feel in control. Other kitties prefer to hide in a cupboard or closet and come out after the noise has stopped, and maybe even hours afterwards. Make it easy for your cat to access his view point or hiding spot and allow him to spend however much time he wants there. If it's meal time and he won't come down or out, take his food to him. He may eat less if he's feeling anxious, but as long he eats a little and stays hydrated he should get through it okay. Offering meat baby food or a special nutritious treat might help him eat. Adding a CBD for pets product in your cat's food, Zylkene, a calming supplement, or gabapentin (available by prescription) is a good idea if he is eating normally. A Feliway Calming diffuser is a good idea, or you can spritz Feliway around the areas your cat frequents. Rescue Remedy for animals (no alcohol) can be put in drinking water or rubbed onto ears. Many folks also play soft classical or "easy listening" music. You can stream music for cats that is very relaxing too.

If your kitty goes outside at all, play it safe and keep him inside over the holiday weekend. Any animal outside can get disoriented and panic from the noise of fireworks. They may run and get lost, even if they normally stay close by. It's commonly known in all animal shelters in the U.S. that the 4th of July is the number one time for lost and missing pets. Wildlife too suffers from fireworks (can you tell I am not a fan of fireworks?!). Be prepared for your kitty to hunker down and hate life with all the noise that happens. Hang in there!

The Pandemic and your Pets

In light of the current pandemic, I wanted to share information from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. (Keep in mind that many area shelters are closed to the public at this time and may not be accepting new volunteers.)  What you can do to help keep yourself and your personal pets safe: Prepare a one-month supply of your pets’ medications, litter and food (if possible) along with up-to-date copies of your pets’ vaccination records.  Avoid crowded dog parks, veterinary offices and trails, and be sure to bathe your pet after exposure to those environments. Wash pet bedding, leashes, collars, dishes and toys the same way you would clean other surfaces in your home. Consider creating a complete pet disaster preparedness kit as you put together your household readiness plan.  Refer to further disaster preparedness guidelines for additional best practices.  Visit Best Friends’ resource page for additional guidance.  What you can do to help local shelters and your community: Foster or adopt a pet to help ease the burden on shelters as they experience fewer people visiting. (A little fun four-legged company can also be a welcome distraction from things!)  If you have neighbors who are self-quarantined or otherwise in need of help, offer to walk their dog or take pets for routine visits. (Be sure to follow the CDC’s guidance on interacting with quarantined individuals.) Consider volunteering at your local shelter or rescue group to help support animals and staff members. Use social media channels like Facebook and Nextdoor.com to help return lost animals to their homes in order to ease the burden on local animal control officers. Consider fostering a stray animal in your home rather than taking the pet to a shelter I would add that environmental enrichment is extremely important for companion animals who are staying at home, as cats usually do anyway. Interactive play time, and new toys (homemade ones such as cardboard boxes, socks stuffed with catnip, or a ball in the bath tub) are crucial to reducing feline boredom. Bird feeders outside the windows can be entertaining too.  KittyStar Services is continuing to operate as usual and our services include picking up their food or medication if you are unable to, as well as transporting kitties to vet appointments. However, some veterinary practices are advising that clients skip routine check-ups right now and only bring their animal in if it's an emergency. We would like to be a community resource for your companion animals' needs, so please contact us if you need help caring for your pets. Stay well! Lottie

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Upcoming Free Presentation on Disaster Planning for your Pet

We don't like to think about it either but...
will you and your animals evacuate or survive for days or weeks without water and power in a disaster zone?

If you want to get serious about preparing 

for a catastrophic earth quake or other disaster,

Attend an upcoming free presentation: 

Keeping your pets and livestock safe 

on Thursday January 9th, 2020, from 7-9 pm.

at Fire Station 99, 8117 267th St. NW in Stanwood

Byron Wilkes is an experienced first responder who specializes in the search and rescue, evacuation, transport and safe sheltering of people and their pets/livestock in natural and man- made disasters.  His over thirty years of experience includes deployment and responses to floods, mud/landslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes/tsunamis worldwide. Mr. Wilkes has a hands-on understanding of the needs of a wide variety of animals. In his presentation, Mr. Wilkes will outline both preparedness processes for you and your animals prior to a disaster, as well as situational challenges you may face. There will plenty of time for questions, plus reference materials will also be available for you to take home.

This free event is sponsored by your North County Community Emergency Response, a group of volunteers local to the Stanwood area who have organized to train and educate within their communities in the event of a disaster. This FEMA-backed course provides training to the general public to assist in recovery after a disaster by giving volunteers basic training in assessing building safety, search and rescue, medical triage and first-aid to help our first responders have a head-start. Check their website for other free programs: NCCERTwa.com

Feeding your Cat

Lottie waits for dinner in the kitchen

Most house cats know that their food comes from the refrigerator or pantry and often they can simply go into the kitchen and food will magically appear (their human is a mind reader!). But think about what a cat in the wild would be eating, a cat in his prime with keen senses and all his teeth. He would hunt and if successful enjoy a mouse, vole, rabbit, or if very successful a small bird. He would consume most of the body, leaving only the truly indigestible parts. Many feral cats probably eat better than our house cats these days.

Grocery store cat food may be "100% nutritionally complete," but it's often filled with carbohydrates, artificial colors, preservatives, and factory farmed meat. I am not a fan of foods sold by veterinarians either (cats often dislike them too). Veterinary formulas work in an acute health crisis, but long term I believe there are better ways to promote a healthy immune system and prevent urinary problems, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Dry kibble was invented because it is convenient, doesn't require refrigeration, can sit out for days without spoiling, and doesn't make a mess. Give your kitty a raw chicken liver on the other hand, and there will be blood everywhere as he drags it around and gnaws on it. But there is SO much more nutrition in that organ and offal! Your kitty will be satiated for much longer and will probably take a long nap as he digests all the goodness. Liver isn't ideal for every meal of course, but what a great treat and regular supplement for most kitties. The next step might be a raw diet, one that is more balanced than just liver. Or feeding a bit of raw on top of some grain-free canned food, or perhaps canned for breakfast and raw for dinner. Maybe some goat milk or full fat yogurt now and then.

Do you eat the exact same food and quantity for every meal? No animal does. We consider our companion animals to be members of the family, yet do we fully understand their needs? They are obligate carnivores, no matter how cute and cuddly they are with us. I encourage you to do your own research and source foods you can feel good about feeding your kitty. Check out this excellent resource: Feline Nutrtion Read about how the founders at the Big Cat Sanctuary really did their homework and hit upon the right combination of foods to make their resident felines happy and healthy. Visiting the Big Cat Sanctuary and seeing some of their magnificent felines in person sounds like a dream trip to me, but for now I am completely satisfied with the kitties I take care of (and I don't have to make blood popsicles for them).

Cozy Home Improvements

Just as parents with young children generally have kid paraphernalia in every room, my house is filed with cat "stuff." The kitties have scratchers of course, flat cardboard ones, a very sturdy sisal post, and various carpeted condo styles. Comfy beds, both open and cabana style abound. Chair cushions are covered with fleece kitty blankets, plus step stools are placed in front of these chairs to make it easy for my senior kitties to get into the chair. (One of my kitties who isn't even very old needs steps because she has a BB lodged in her spine and cannot jump.) There is a wicker trunk with a heating pad and kitty bed on top that gets direct sun next to a large window, making this a coveted spot. An iron daybed, also with a heated bed and multiple pillow, is placed under another window. Multiple kitties can enjoy this sunny spot. Heated beds are so important for kitties as they age and often suffer from arthritis and kidney disease, as warmth can make them feel better.

I've put some thought into creating areas kitties will be able to lounge in comfort. It so satisfying to see happy kitties! I'm certainly not alone in "catifying" a space. I've seen so many ingenious ideas for kitties who like to get up high, hide in cozy caves, or simply have a small area all to themselves - like their own little clubhouse. Just pay attention to where your cat wants to be - it may be the busiest area of the house so they can be involved, or it may be a "panopticon" position where they can observe everything, such as the top of the refrigerator.

 My decorating style is more shabby/flea market/granny chic, however I was excited to learn that IKEA has a whole new line of dog and cat related furniture items. Of course it's a well known fact that cats love plain cardboard boxes, but with items this cute and reasonably priced you can splurge. No matter what your style, there are cool ways to make your home more fun for your kitty. Your feline is a member of your family, so embrace cat stuff!

Sidney snoozing in his armchair

How to have an Old (& Happy) Kitty

It's been said that getting old is not for sissies. Your eyesight and hearing diminish, your joints hurt, your digestion can suffer... you get the picture. As your kitty's guardian however, there are many things you can do to help him or her age gracefully. Keep in mind, I am not a veterinarian and your cat's doctor may or may not agree with my (free) advice. 

1. Feed your cat a high protein/high moisture diet. Yes, some veterinarians still subscribe to the lower protein prescription diet they can sell you. They might truly believe this is an ideal way to ease the burden on senior kidneys (and they also make money selling you this food). I think that belief is fortunately not as popular now, since most cats I met who had to eat that food really hated it. I advocate a raw food diet for cats who enjoy it and can digest it. If your cat won't touch it or vomits it up, stick to canned food and supplement with digestive enzymes and probiotics. Canned, grain free food is always preferable over dry food since your kitty needs the moisture to keep this kidneys hydrated. Adding extra water to make the food as soupy as they will tolerate is helpful too.

2. Build your kitty a catio! My darling orange tabby Roy was the last free-roaming cat I will ever have. He joined our household when he was about 9 months old and even though he was neutered, he acted like a Tom cat. He was very unhappy staying inside and I didn't have a catio at the time. When I later had a catio, other cats he disliked occupied it most of the time. My point is that I worried about Roy every single day he went outside. He always came in at dusk, except the first warm night of spring every year. When he was diagnosed with diabetes during the last year of his life, he would run inside at "shot time" because he knew I was taking care of him. Roy passed away at 17 1/2 YO from the pancreatitis which caused his diabetes. We were very lucky he was never hit by a car or attacked by a dog or shot at, or any of the horrible things that can happen to a cat alone outside. Now we have several catios that are basically bear/eagle/coyote/human proof. I don't have to worry about the kitties getting the sunshine and fresh air they need.

3. Rethink annual vaccinations. There is a ton of information on the Internet about the dangers of vaccinating animals every year. I personally know cats who got cancer and had to have amputations, or suffered twitching/tumors forever after, and most commonly, are sick for days afterwards when they ere perfectly healthy before the shots. Obviously if you have a kitty who is outside a lot, such as a barn cat, you would want an initial rabies vaccination. But for a cat who lives a strictly indoor life, consider the risks of vaccinating once they are grown. And never vaccinate a cat who is already sick (yes, I once a vet try to do this on a kitty with a high fever).

4. Choose a "Muttigree." Purebred cats have more health issues, from my experience. 

5. Sadly, cancer is a common killer in companion animals and we don't really know the role chemicals have in contributing to different cancers. Avoid as many chemicals in your home as possible, such as scented litter, fabric softeners and air fresheners. Your kitty is likely in your home 24/7 and breathing those chemicals into his tiny little body at a much higher concentration than the average human. If your cat's litter box stinks, chances are it needs to be cleaned! There are many good natural and clay-free litters available now. Buy a scoop for each box, keep a little covered waste can, whatever you need to make it EASY to clean a few times a day. Also, open the windows to ventilate as often as possible and keep healthy houseplants that filter the air.

6. Help your kitty with extra steps/ramps and rubber backed throw rugs if he has trouble getting up on furniture or slips on the floor. Keep heated beds in multiple locations to soothe his aching joints (kidney kitties also seek heat to help themselves feel better). Don't let your cat become obese in middle age, which may later translate into joint problems. Keep your senior kitty's nails trimmed so the nails don't grow into the pads or cause his gait to be off. Help him stay groomed with brushing or combing more frequently, since older cats often don't groom themselves as frequently. 

Sure, young kitties are cute but I enjoy meeting senior kitties, who often have unique preferences. If we are lucky, we all get to grow old. 

Lottie (left) and Paddy (right) enjoying an after breakfast sun bath

Hannah sitting in her zen pose.

Free Feline Behavior/Enrichment Class!

Ever wonder why your kitty wakes you up at 5 AM, walks on the counters, or turns his nose up at his dinner? Do you worry that your kitty is bored or being destructive when you are away from home? Do you want to make your senior kitty more comfortable and help maintain his or her activity level? Gain insights on innate feline behaviors and how you can provide mental stimulation and environmental enrichment to create a happier, richer life for your kitty. Learn how nutrition can affect cat behavior as well. Nancy and Diane will address your questions and challenges about living with cats. Free kitty goodie bags to take home!

Saturday, April 13th, 2019 1-3pm 

NOAH Events Center

31300 Brandstrom Rd

Stanwood, WA 98292

NOAH website

Nancy Howard is the owner of The Whole Cat and Kaboodle and Cafe Cocoa- two cat resource stores in the greater Seattle area. The mission of the business is to help cat owners see the world from their pets perspective. They offer grooming, boarding, nutrition, behavior modification as well as adopting out cats from local rescues and area shelters. Nancy also founded the feral cat sanctuary, Sanctuary at Hidden Creek Ranch, in Bothell in 2000. This space is home to over 100 feral, and otherwise unadoptable cats. Whole Cat website

Diane Venberg operates KittyStar Services for Cats on Camano Island, offering in-home visits for companion animals, assistance with medications and hydration for kidney issues, and behavioral/enrichment consultations. As a professional pet sitter and former volunteer with the Feral Cat Spay & Neuter Project, she has over 20 years of experience working with and caring for felines of all ages and personalities. Along with her mother, Diane founded Flower Feline Sanctuary, which offers a life-long home to senior and special needs kitties. Flower Feline Sanctuary website

Transporting your Kitty

We recently had two kitties who required surgery; Ally had a dental procedure with six extractions and Coco had a mass removed from her eyelid. Thankfully, they are both recovering fine. The multiple trips to the veterinarian were probably the most stressful factor for all of us, humans and kitties alike. There are ways to reduce your cat's anxiety, motion sickness, and reluctance to even allow you to place her in a carrier. While not every trick will help every kitty, hopefully you can find a combination of measures that help calm your kitty and make traveling a bit more pleasant.

1. Use the right carrier for your cat. A top and front loading crate will make it easier if your cat uses her legs to brace herself when you attempt to put her into the carrier. Rigid plastic is easy to clean if your kitty is a nervous pee-er or a senior kitty who cannot always hold her urine. A soft carrier, such as a Sherpa brand, often has a full zip top. This means you can totally unzip it, nudge your slightly suspicious kitty onto the soft "bed," and then rapidly zip the top with your hand on her back to hold her there. Because these type of carriers cannot be cleaned very well, I recommend putting piddle pads inside under a towel in case of accidents. Bring a plastic bag and extra blankets in case there is a #2 accident and you need to pull over (been there). 

2. Spray the carrier and blankets with Feliway Comfort Zone an hour before loading kitty. Spray your car a bit too. 

3. Try Rescue Remedy flower essences on your kitty's temples before the trip. The formula made for animals doesn't have alcohol in it so they won't even smell it. 

4. If you have a kitty who was/is somewhat feral or works herself up by howling for the entire trip (been there too!), resort to Gabapentin. Your veterinarian can prescribe this and it's inexpensive. You can even get it compounded if you have better luck with liquid meds. My tabby twins will usually eat something tasty such as baby food with a capsule mixed in and not notice it. Note that this drug often needs at least two hours to reach a noticeable effect. CBD may also help if you wish to experiment with the variety of products made specifically for pets.

5. Since I moved to a colder climate and my kitties are mostly geriatric, we use a cuddle disc under the blankets inside the crate. Alternatively, you could warm blankets in the drier before placing them in the crate (NEVER use drier sheets with fragrances and chemicals around cats).

6. Always cover the carrier when walking to and from the car, to reduce the feeling of being exposed and unprotected. If you go to a veterinarian that also sees dogs, keep the crate covered until you are bot in the exam room. Obviously if it is very warm out, use common sense and make sure your cat doesn't get overheated. 

I've read that the safest place to put your crated kitty while driving is on the floor of the back seat. My car doesn't allow for this so I put the crates in the back seat area where the kitties can both see and hear me talking to them. Some newer carriers can be secured with the seatbelt, such as SleepyPod brands. If I had to purchase a carrier for air travel or wanted to splurge on a luxury carrier, these would be my choice. Safe travels!

Our favorite carriers

Happy Holidays!

Bramwell and Christina help string up some lights 

Christina with Rudolph

The shortest day of the year at the end of the week means a lot of darkness during our waking hours. Fairy lights help make the early evenings less dreary and the kitties love them. (Just use caution if you have kittens or a kitty who chews and secure the lights where kitties cannot access.) Everyone knows cats love Christmas trees  - all those dangling toys hanging from a tree right in the living room! You don't need to spend a lot of money of store bought toys to make your kitty happy. Everyone also knows that cats love boxes too! Create a play gym out of boxes with cut-out tunnels and tape it securely together. Add a sprinkle of catnip and your cat will likely spend hours in it. Be sure to keep pieces of ribbon and string picked up after gifts are opened, as any veterinarian will tell you that cats can swallow these and surgery is usually necessary to extricate the foreign matter. Most kitties enjoy nibbling on fresh grass and actually derive some digestive benefits from it. Growing you own cat grass is easy once you get the hang out it. You can buy a kit, then buy wheat in any bulk food section at the grocery store and re-use the pot and lid to keep on growing.

If you decide to splurge for your kitty, consider a sturdy cat tree that will provide your kitty exercise and fun for many years to come. Look for a locally made one instead of one made in China, so that you can sure the materials are safe and you can support a local crafts person. NOAH in Stanwood sells beautiful cat trees in their lobby at prices that are quite a value: NOAH Center.

Shopping for a cat lover on your list? A donation to a cat charity in their name is a wonderful gift with a big impact. Donating cash, or supplies via their Amazon wish list, helps kitties get spayed or neutered, adopted into loving homes, or warm and well fed in a safe sanctuary space.

Wishing you and your kitties a healthy and happy New Year ahead!

Happy Autumn

Misha, Cole and Odin share a heated bed in the sunshine on a cool autumn afternoon.

As the weather turns chilly and we start to think about the upcoming holidays and new year, it's both a time to prepare and look back. With Election Day behind us, we can be proud as Americans that Florida will enact a ban on greyhound racing and 11 tracks in that state will close forever. Like animal based circuses such as Ringling Bros., attendance was down making it unprofitable to continue to exploit animals. Even China closed it's only legal dog track earlier this summer and volunteers are working on getting the dogs placed into loving homes. In California, Prop 12 passed by a landslide, and will require that eggs, veal and pork sold in that state come only from cage-free animals. This historic law will hopefully set a precedence for the rest of the country as more consumers become educated to the atrocities of factory farming and demand changes. (In Washington State, a 2011 bill eliminated a total phase out of battery cages for egg laying hens along with mandatory enrichment, such as having perches available, by 2026.)

November is often a busy month with preparation for either traveling, house guests, or both. It's definitely time to book for pet sitting if you are going to be away. Choose a professional sitter who pet sits as a career and not just a part-time job, has years of animal care experience along with references from folks whose companion animals she has cared for over the years, and has insurance in case something in your home gets accidentally damaged or your pet gets injured while in her care. If you will be home and hosting guests, be sure to put your dogs and kitties' collar and tags on - splurge on a cute, new collar so they look their best for the party! Some kitties may do best however not actually attending but lounging in a quiet room closed off from noisy guests. Be watchful that your dogs or cats do not get into food or drinks that will make them ill. "People food" isn't necessarily bad for them, but ingesting rich, fatty food, alcohol, sweets (especially xylitol and dark chocolate) and cooked poultry bones could require a trip to the emergency clinic.

I'm sure your kitties will be tops on the list of everyone and everything you feel grateful for in your life. Our companion animals provide us with unconditional love, help us relax (petting a sweet, furry animal can actually lower your heart rate), and entertain us with their antics and expressions. They truly are "our sunshine" on dark and stormy Northwest days.

Have a cozy autumn!

Help Support the Kitties!

Visit our our table at the Holiday Gift & Craft Bazaar on November 17th, from 9am-4pm at the Camano Center. We will be selling unique greeting cards featuring KittyStar and Flower Feline kitties, organic catnip pillows, and beautiful handmade earrings with semi-precious stones and silver or gold filled wire. Buy gifts or a little something for yourself and your kitties while helping artisans do their creative thing!

Flower Feline Sanctuary is live!

Flower Feline Sanctuary is officially open, just ask Ellie, Bramwell, Christina, Bunny and most recently, Riley. The FFS website and blog are ready for viewing too. How can you help the kitties? You can list Flower Feline Sanctuary as your dedicated charity when you shop on Amazon Smile. We also have an Amazon wishlist if you would like to donate supplies. If you are interested in seeing our catio structures for ideas on how to build your own secure kitty enclosures, contact me for a tour. Thanks for caring about kitties!

Co-founders Diane, Geri and Misha, our most senior feline family member

So Long Summer...

As our first summer on Camano winds down, the kitties are still enjoying sunshine and dry days. However, heating pads are plugged back in and extra fleecy beds are employed as the nights have grown chilly. My efforts at vegetable gardening paid off with a great crop of sugar snap peas, green beans, chard, zucchini and cherry tomatoes. I'll continue with squash, kale and onions through winter. I've wanted to grow dahlias for years but lacked the space and sunshine (and ability to kill slugs), so I'm very excited about how easy it was to grow dahlias here. It is so dry here that there are never any slugs in my garden beds!

Kitties will always take priority over my gardening (I do that while they nap). I've been working on Flower Feline Sanctuary as well. Stay tuned for my next post featuring the Flower Feline Sanctuary website and blog! You'll get to read about our new residents and see their cute photos. Hint... Bramwell, pictured below, is one of four new kitties.

Karen enjoys a summer day

Jane dozes in the warm sun

Bramwell nibbles on grass

Double the Fun

 Thinking about adopting a kitty? Don't let Single Kitten Syndrome happen in your home! Kittens adopted as only cats can end up with a host of issues that may not be life threatening but are rather sad when this can so easily be prevented. Most people want their house cat to be friendly and cuddly, but think about how much time the average cat is alone.  It's a conundrum - the free-roaming feral cat who might do quite well by himself does not make a sweet companion in your home. Many folks adopt a kitten for their child, but the child will hopefully grow up and leave home during the cat's lifetime, and in the meantime is busy going to school and leading an fun, active life. People also must often work away from home, leaving the kitten home alone. Even if new pet parents are retired and home a lot, the new kitty still misses out on cat-to-cat contact and playtime. 

Fortunately there is a simple solution - adopt two kittens or a mom and one or two of her babies! Watching cats interact is SO much better than TV. Most shelters give you a deal on more than one as well. Read more on the Seattle area Feline Rescue  blog.

Tabby Twins Turn 10!

The Tabby Twins lounging on their sunny kitty deck

Hard to believe but Adian (left) and Odin are 10 years old this month. I started my blog with them in mind after employing nearly every person I know to come over and socialize with them. People wanted to know how they were doing and would they find their forever home? They had a daily calendar with friends bringing their friends and moms along just to expose the boys to new people and let them know that it's okay to like humans. (Odin only bit one person.) The boys are still very shy with people they don't know, especially Adian. Their favorite thing when there is someone they don't know in the house is to let themselves into a cupboard that closes behind them. There is plenty of space inside and I never disturb them when they are in their cupboard because that's their safe spot. They also enjoy their giant, covered kitty deck with a pot of fresh catnip and their cushy chaise. So yes, they found a home!

It's Adopt a Shelter Cat Month!

June is Adopt a Shelter Cat month! Many folks find a cat adopts them by parking outside their home and slowly maneuvering their way into the household routine. However, if you want to add an additional kitty to your family there are many wonderful shelters in Western Washington. Shelters in our area are constantly networking with other shelters and small rescue groups to find homes for all kinds of kitties. Shelters in the greater Puget Sound area are now mainly no-kill except for instances when a kitty is truly suffering and euthanasia is the kindest option. It wasn't always so rosy and 1.5 million animals are still killed every year in shelters across the U.S. 30 years ago when I volunteered at a large shelter with municipal contracts to act as "animal control" a large number of cats were unfortunately killed due to space. (Two of my most precious kitties ever were adopted from that shelter and I started my career fostering litter of kittens there so I don't regret that experience.)

Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, has had a profound impact on showing shelters how to dramatically reduce the number of traditionally animals killed in this country; in certain areas of the country there is a glut of small dogs for instance so they will be transported to areas where small dogs get adopted quickly, community cats are now recognized as deserving of resources in order to be spayed/neutered and returned to their outdoor home, neo-natal kittens immediately go into a 24 hour nursery if one is set up or into foster homes where they are bottle fed around the clock, then weaned and eventually entered into the shelter system as adoptable kitties. Volunteers are now an integral part of every progressive shelter so if you cannot adopt perhaps you can you can use your special skills to help your local shelter. Foster homes are always needed and all you need is an extra room in your house to sequester off for a short time (shelters can provide all other supplies). Do you sew as a hobby? Make kitty beds or toys for the shelter to sell at fundraisers. Celebrating a birthday? Ask guests to bring high quality/grain free cat food or kitten milk replacer, or donate via the shelter's wish list. This is great for kids' parties too and fun for them when they deliver the goods to the shelter. If you own a business perhaps you can donate your products or services to the shelter and get a great tax deduction. 

No matter how trendy a specific breed of dog or cat is, there is absolutely no excuse for purchasing a companion animal when so many animals are waiting for their forever homes in shelters right now. We know better and can do better for these sweet fur babies.

Purrfect Pals, a no-kill, non-profit private feline only shelter , 230 Mc Rae NE, Arlington, WA 98223, www.purrfectpals.org, 360-652-9611

The NOAH Center, adoptions and low cost spay/neuter clinic (free for free-roaming cats), 31300 Brandstrom Rd., Stanwood, WA 98292, www.thenoahcenter.org, 360-629-7055

Everett Animal Services, adoptions and pet licensing, 333 Smith Island Rd., Everett, WA 98201, https://everettwa.gov/148/Animal-Shelter, 425-257-6000

CASA, adoptions, low-cost micro chipping, pet licensing, 198 Can Ku Rd., Camano Island, WA 98282, www.camanoanimalshelter.com, 360-387-1902

Gorgeous adoptable kitty at CASA in February 2018. He was a hugger!

Happy Spring!

Everyone is enjoying the more frequent sunny days now. Getting fresh air and sunshine is important for kitties but so is staying safe. We most often think of cats as being great hunters since they often keep your home free of the occasional moth, spider or fly that makes it inside. However kitties are also prey for many animals and that's one reason they are capable of sleeping "with one eye open" so to speak. They need to stay alert to dangerous dogs, coyotes, hawks or eagles (or frightening and loud humans they dislike). Speeding cars are unfortunately one thing cats are ill prepared for. Keeping your kitty enclosed in a catio, on a harness, or staying close by him for supervised only outdoor time in a fenced yard are options where he can be safe yet still experience the outdoors. Bright days also offer fabulous conditions for some charming pictures!

Cinnamon

Sidney 

Total Cat Mojo, a book review

Total Cat Mojo, The Ultimate Guide to Life with your Cat by Jackson Galaxy with Mikel Delgado, PhD, is the perfect book for both new and experienced cat guardians.  Mr. Galaxy explains all those weird little isms that make cats such a fascinating combination of wild creature and ideal companion in the home. If you are planning to introduce another feline, a dog, or a human baby to your current kitty, or are currently having a challenging situation involving your cat, Total Cat Mojo is a must-read. This isn't a book that will tell you how to train your cat, but will instead help you understand your furry family member. "If you took the species part out form the equation and just saw your cat as another member of your family, you'd be left with a relationship. At the core of this relationship are fundamental elements that dictate your ability to successfully navigate the relationship...," states the author. He then lists components he views as vital to any relationship, such as listening and compromising and vulnerability - components that folks who think of having a cat as "ownership" really need to grasp in order to have a truly meaningful and deep bond with their kitty. All of Mr. Galaxy's solutions take the cat's feelings into account and emphasize empathy as to why the cat may be reacting in such a way.

Total Cat Mojo is a trade paperback (fairly low priced) and features lots of cute graphics that get the author's points across. I'd love to see this book included in adoptions packets when people adopt a rescue kitty. I'd love to see this book sold at veterinarian clinics and anywhere people with companion animals frequent. Truthfully, My Galaxy is television personality with no scientific training so many professionals might balk at some of his information. However, I've seen firsthand many frustrated kitty guardians who went the route of veterinarians and certified veterinary behaviorists and still need help. It is Mr. Galaxy's experience with traumatized shelter cats and desperately unhappy felines in private homes, along with his passion for all cats that give his work depth and breadth. His suggestions all ring true to my own ideals and years of working with a wide variety of kitties. So I give Total Cat Mojo two paws up and highly recommend it.

Sidneys got total cat mojo 24/7

Save the Claws!

Cat people know that cats need their claws! Removing a cat's claws is a painful, debilitating procedure with lasting effects such as phantom pain, remaining bone fragments, and behavioral changes. Since stepping on the surface of the litter may be uncomfortable cats may stop using the litter box. Cats may also turn to biting since they feel defenseless. Other cats may hide all the time whereas they used to be confident and outgoing. Since felines without the ends of their "fingers" don't have their whole feet to walk on their gate and spine can change over time and arthritis can develop. So why do veterinarians continue to offer this service? I have heard some doctors comment that they suspect the guardian might surrender their cat to a shelter if they don't perform this surgery. Actually, more kitties end up in shelters after such a procedure because of the resulting behavioral and personality changes. I tend to believe that guardians who seek to change and control their cat in such a way are probably less committed to the relationship in the long run anyway. Whatever the reason veterinarians give, they do profit from these surgeries and outlawing declawing has historically been an uphill battle in the U.S. The light on the horizon is that feline advocates are attempting to pass laws outlawing declawing in the states of New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Currently Denver, eight cities in California and 42 countries have all made declawing cats illegal. Learn more here:  Alley Cat Allies

Americans love their companion animals and most are open to learning about issues impacting the lives of dogs and cats. Look at the recent Olympics and the amount of attention that Korea attracted with the practices of dog and cat meat eating. Puppy mills have come into the limelight in the past decade and California recently became the first state to ban the selling of puppy mill dogs in pet stores. (County and city bans but no other state bans exist throughout the U.S.) The saddest part of declawing, as well as debarking, and the cosmetic procedures of tail docking and ear cropping in dogs, is that all of these surgeries are completely unnecessary and utterly worthless for the health and happiness of the animal. Cats scratch just like dogs wag their tails and bark for a reason. All of these actions make your animal who he or she is; expressing their kitty or doggy self is vital to their catness or dogness. So next time your co-worker or neighbor mentions they made an appointment to have their new feline declawed, please educate them on why this is a bad idea.  There is usually resistance at the beginning of any social change, but we need to continue on for the kitties.