Big Cats in Peril

FSC-certified products

It's a sad fact that only about 3,000 tigers remain living in the wild. Learn how your everyday choices such as buying paper products for your office and the bigger ticket purchases you make, such as remodeling your kitchen, can impact tigers. Make the effort to seek out FSC-certified goods and if the stores you patronize don't carry such items (or simply don't know), communicate that it's an important factor in your buying decisions. 

More Wisdom from Jackson

http://www.tailsinc.com/2015/04/jackson-galaxy-the-cat-whisperer/

"Cat Whisperer" Jackson Galaxy has created a new foundation that will be heading into shelters to increase cat-positive environments and reward forward thinking about felines. Maintaining lots of vertical space for kitties to utilize (AKA the cat super highway) in a large, open area and ditching the individual cages is clearly the way modern shelters house their adoptable kitties. Interested people can better envision how a cat may behave in their home when they meet them in this type of environment and how well they get along with the others. Jackson also points out that modern shelters are integrating FIV+ kitties with non-FIV felines in efforts to shake off the stigma often associated with the FIV virus. (I sit for several integrated households and the only households who separate cats do so because of personality conflicts, not FIV status.) Jackson also wants to spread the word on trap/neuter/return of feral cats, and increasing spay/neuter and adoption opportunities. Currently up to 60% of  cats retained in conventional shelters do not make it out alive. By working on all these fronts, the number of cats killed in U.S. shelters will hopefully decrease. Please encourage everyone you know to adopt from a shelter and not purchase an animal from a breeder if they are thinking about bringing a companion animal into their home.

Roy is a big fan of Jackson!

Spring (almost)!

http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/how-to-hike-with-your-cat?utm_source=Freekibble&utm_medium=quiz&utm_campaign=Feb262015

Spring has hit Seattle a couple of weeks early and everyone is relishing it. Many North westerners are avid hikers and campers and most probably take along a canine buddy, not a feline. But there's actually a growing trend of kitty hikers, including Honeybee the local famous sight impaired cutie. Harness training your cat is the first step and obviously not all cats will be comfortable leaving the safety of their yard once they gets used to the harness or jacket and lead. (Going out into wide open spaces is actually against survival instincts since cats may be prey for larger species.) The important thing to remember is that you will have to go at your kitty's level of comfort and abilities and think safety first. Some cats would rather lounge on the deck a few feet from the back door in case they need to go inside to use the litter box or get too warm, like Rosemary. Fresh air and sunshine is the best tonic for any S.A.D. feelings we've accumulated over the winter months, whether hiking or hanging out. Enjoy!

I already exercised today, honest...

Cats who eat Plastic...

http://www.petplace.com/cats/why-do-some-cats-eat-plastic/page1.aspx?utm_source=Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EatingPlastic&utm_content=CL-20150218%20(1)&spMailingID=22142226&spUserID=ODQ0NTAwNjMyNDES1&spJobID=501738231&spReportId=NTAxNzM4MjMxS0

Here's an article that discusses strange eating habits some cats possess, which may sometimes be dangerous to their intestinal health. Offering toys which alleviate boredom, such as treat balls you can fill with a few tablespoons of dry or freeze-dried crunchies, can help deter harmful eating habits. Dr. Schaible, the author of the piece above, mentions offering a variety of texture treats for cats with these habits; just remember to only buy American sourced rawhide type products as the products coming from China are considered unsafe and often deadly. Cat grass and catnip plants are two things you can confidently allow your kitty to help himself to of course.

Being extremely conscientious about never leaving out rubber bands, strips of packaging or very small puffs that can be swallowed is also important. For felines who like to suck wool, take an old fashioned heavy wool sock, fill with some catnip and tie at the end. Changing out toys and routinely offering new items keeps their days interesting. Many cats love to "hunt" small items and will caterwaul while they carry them around. Stuffed mice or similar little soft toys are great for this type of play and usually too large to be swallowed. They are even better when they've "marinated" in a tin of catnip for a while beforehand. One of my kitties, Jane, has left her toys on my slippers and shoes since she was a kitten. I love finding her little gifts in my shoes!

Cat friendly catnip

Catification

Catification - Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) is a must read for all cat guardians. Jackson Galaxy of Animal Planet's My Cat from Hell fame and Kate Benjamin, founder of Hauspanther.com, a cat design website, help you to better understand how felines navigate their indoor world and how multiple kitties can live together more harmoniously. Thinking about your cat in terms of a bush dweller, beach dweller or tree dweller and your home as "the vertical world" affords you a new point of view. For example, will your cats be using a kitty condo as a destination or rest stop or as an on/off ramp to get to a super highway? Climbers and condos placed in dark corners or unused areas of the home often go unused by the cats as well because it's boring. Placing the climber in front of a sunny, south-facing window with an unobstructed view make it highly desirable and encourage "time-sharing." Heated beds such as the one pictured with Roy (above) act as a cocoon but still allow you to be within sight and sound of each other, unlike a "cave."

Using case histories from Mr. Galaxy's practice and actual homes where people and their cats live, this book presents a variety of enriching and fun features to inexpensively build. If you are renting there are options you can take with you and don't require structural changes to a room. If you are fortunate enough to have a window box style bump-out or high ceilings with areas built in that could be used as kitty shelves then modifying these to give your cat easy access and make them comfortable would be an afternoon project. Something as simple as hanging bird feeders outside where your cats can watch can help alleviate tension and boredom while you are at work all day. There are also several catios featured and one that makes perfect senses in an urban environment.

Remember that catification is an evolving process and as you make changes you can gauge what works and what doesn't in your home. Watching your fur-kids have fun on their own special cat stuff and act on their innate cat behaviors at the same time is so much more positive than trying to "correct" a behavior they love but you don't. Catification should be required reading for all feline guardians, as there is something to be learned even if you consider yourself an experienced cat lover!

Cheetahs Up Close!

http://blog.therainforestsite.com/curious-cheetah/#0k8SXGXERFkjd4vp.97

I love all cats, big and small but cheetahs are especially fascinating. For one thing, they are the fastest land animals and can reach a top speed of 70 MPH in just 3 seconds. From the experiences this photographer had in the Serengeti, they are also as curious and playful as many house cats!

Sadly, cheetahs have disappeared from more than 75% of their natural range. Learn more about the declining numbers of all the big cats and how humans can help here:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats-initiative/
Check out the incredible pictures of a variety of beautiful, wild animals. Watching National Geographic footage is far more educational than gawking at captive animals in zoos. You get a sense of the vast amount of space these animals inhabit and realize that zoos can never provide anything close to a natural environment, even with "enrichment." Yes, nature films can be difficult to watch since big cats are carnivores but I feel far sadder knowing these animals are pacing in their enclosures for the rest of their lives in every city zoo around the world. We can't all go on safaris to see wild animals being wild but we all have Internet access and can choose not support Woodland Park Zoo.

Recycle to Help Animals

http://bellasvoice.org/

The new year is a great time to clean out your closets and unload all the things you've collected (or been gifted) that no longer fit you or your lifestyle. Donating to a thrift store that helps animals is a win-win for everyone. Bella's Voice in Lynnwood accepts clothing, books, toys, household items, even furniture and then donates profits to several animal charities around Puget Sound. They are open every day and located next to the Feral Cat Spay & Neuter Project which is one of the charities they support. Prices are quite low and they even have sales on color tags so you may also enjoy shopping there!