Billy, a Very Special Therapy Cat

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160079/How-love-Billy-stray-cat-finally-brought-year-old-autistic-boy-shell.html

Anyone who knows me could guess that I would raise some concern over a 4 year old child accidentally injuring or unduly stressing the family cat. Billy however, is a wise cat who has clearly chosen a 4 year old boy as his best pal and he acts as a therapy cat for the child as well. The lovely photos in this story demonstrate the obvious bond between the two and obliterate any concern that the kitty is in danger of being misunderstood by a youngster with limited social and motor skills.

Therapy animals are commonplace these days, as dogs, cats, bunnies, and farmed animals visit elderly and disabled care homes and are often adopted to individuals with disabilities. I've wondered though if the animals sometimes become tired or overwhelmed but carry on their duties because they want so badly to please the people around them. I recall reading that cadaver dogs used at disaster sites routinely become depressed with their task of finding the deceased and that trainers would sometimes plant a live person for the dogs to "rescue" in order to combat this depression. Animals, just like people, need to play and relax. I find that my kitties remind me to take time to sit and enjoy the sun, brush them simply for their pleasure, and give them silly things such as a fresh green bean to play with. I think all animals are actually "therapy animals" when we stop doing and take a moment to be.

Too Hot Baby?

Alfie loves summer weather but not all cats tolerate heat well, especially long haired, overweight or elderly felines. During very hot spells in past years, Alexander was clearly uncomfortable even though he slept in the coolest places in the house and stayed inside. I positioned a fan on the floor aimed at him while I placed chilled, wet hankerchiefs over him every few hours. He kept his activity level minimal and appreciated the makeshift air conditioning I created for him. Some guardians will place flexible ice packs under bedding for their kitties to lounge on. Providing extra water bowls, particularly china bowls in the bathroom, can encourage cats to stay hydrated. I always add a little extra water to canned food as I think it's a good practice to maintain. Many animals will eat less in general when the weather is a but too warm for them. Avoiding strenuous play and closely monitoring your cat while he or she is out sunning is also important. Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Sunshine and my favorite herb, ahhh...

Here's one more way to enrich your kitty's environment and make life fun. Catnip is fairly easy to grow provided it can get enough sunshine, so now is the perfect time to plant up a pot. Starter plants can be found in the herb or veggie section of nurseries. Fresh catnip is yummy to both eat and roll in. It may improve digestion as well. Sidney gives it a thumbs up!

How Cute am I?

Working a trap/neuter/return site means that sometimes difficult decisions must be made. Leave nursing kittens in their outdoor environment or remove them from their waterfront site on the green River to get mom spayed and then bottle feed the babes for two weeks until they can eat regular food? Given that one kitten had already disappeared in the last few days according to the feeder, I chose to put the kittens in foster and work on rounding up the adults for S/N. The adults are barely one year old and the two females had their litters together and were sharing parental duties. Removing the kittens means that the mom cats can go into heat immediately so we have to work fast to get everyone fixed. Of course female cats can be spayed while in heat or pregnant but there is slightly more risk to the surgery.

These little furballs are 2-3 weeks old and scheduled for intake at the Humane Society in Bellevue where they will eventually be adopted out. Two of the black kitties are polydactyl - a fairly rare trait that gives them extra digits. There are six total so feeding takes a while! 

Mini Me

Meet Indy and his little charge Sweet Pea. A friend of mine in Canada is fostering kittens for her local humane society. Her two adult cats are pretty mellow so she let them meet the kittens. The kittens have their own room and are separated from the resident cats most of the time. They generally stay until they are big enough to be spayed or neutered so they can be adopted out. Most vets do early age surgeries at 2 pounds, which is about 8-10 weeks of age. The kittens recover much more quickly than adult cats. I couldn't resist sharing this adorable shot!

Famous Fat Cat passes away

http://www.tailsinc.com/2012/05/meow-the-39-pound-cat-dies/

I've written about overweight felines before, and that currently 52% of domestic cats need to lose some weight. Meow was a friendly and adorable boy surrendered to a shelter where the staff was working on helping him shed pounds. Sadly, his body was just too stressed at his extreme weight and Meow died recently at only 2 years old. Attached is a clip where Anderson Cooper cuddles him on National television. Kudos to the the Santa Fe Animal Shelter for taking Meow in and using his situation to discuss healthy weight for companion animals.

KittyStar Cuteness

I love having the KittyStar so easily accessible when I get the craving for fuzzy tummy kisses! The kitchen is really where all the action is and this way Alexander is always ready. Alex turns 17 next month. I remember his 5th birthday party - he indulged in a catfood buffet and threw up a little on the couch afterwards. This year he will probably be treated to mashed yams, one of his favorite foods. In addition to healthy food, napping is one of his beauty secrets.