Every Kitty a Star

It's been a busy Spring! Here are just a few of the charming kitties I had the opportunity to visit with last month. You can see why I love my work!

 



 Candy

Hester

Trudy, Hester's sister

Charlie

Marco

 

 

 

Please don't eat the flowers!

With Spring right around the corner, you might be tempted to bring home some colorful, fresh flowers or compelled to do some deep cleaning. Keep kitty's safety in mind however, as you endeavor to celebrate the season; certain flowers and cleaning agents rake among the top poisons that can harm cats. Indeed, we recently visited our veterinarian and our doctor's day had started out very sad when a feline patient was brought in with acute renal failure from ingesting lilies. The cat's family didn't know what caused his sudden illness and it wasn't until after his death that they discovered he had nibbled on a bouquet they had brought into the home only a few days earlier. If your kitty loves to chew on plants simply swing by any produce department and pick up a tub of "cat grass." It only lasts about a week so you may need to buy fresh each time you go to the grocer but it's completely safe and often organically grown so you don't need to worry about pesticides either.

Cleaning products that are toxic for your kitty are probably also toxic for you as well. Switching to products from Dr. Bronner's, 7th Generation, and BioKleen, or making your own with white vinegar and baking soda have the added advantage of being cruelty-free (not tested on animals like Clorox, Proctor & Gamble, and SC Johnson products all are). Instead of chemical "air fresheners," try using zeolite crystals near the litter box. These can be "recharged" by setting them outside in the sun on bright days and rinsed off if they get dusty. I also like cotton balls soaked in essential oils such as peppermint or lavender tucked into a tall jar or placed out of an area kitty can reach. This is a great "emergency" fix when I've had to transport Tom cats in my car to be neutered!

Check out the link below with lists of common household hazards to both cats and dogs, plus phone numbers for posion control centers you can call anytime:
http://www.tailsinc.com/2014/02/the-411-on-pet-poisonings/



Snow Storm Seattle 2014



 

http://www.tailsinc.com/2014/01/17-pets-who-love-the-snow-as-much-as-we-do/

Yes, the snow is melting today and none of my kitties were particularly impressed but some companion animals apparently really enjoy the white stuff. Take a break with a warm beverage and a kitty in your lap and check out these cute pics of pups and kitties romping in snow.

Another Micro-chip Miracle

http://www.pet360.com/cat/lifestyle/missing-cat-lived-in-pastry-factory-for-3-years/Bl2sNN_1fEKJifipFE_1Pw?utm_source=freekibble&utm_medium=freekibble&extcid=fkib

If you still don't believe micro-chips are worthwhile, read this short piece about a British kitty reunited with his people after three years. The pastry factory will now be forced to go and adopt a kitty (or two) from a rescue shelter to keep up employee morale!

Your Dose of Cute for the Day

http://www.catchannel.com/cat-rescue/kitten-aided-by-robotics.aspx

Check out this short piece on a disabled kitty who got just the help she needed to navigate the world around her. Darling Flipper inspired some humane education in action! 

Healthy New Year!

You don't think I'd make a cat wear a tiara do you?



If one of  your resolutions for the new year is to help your kitty shed extra weight so she can be healthier and more active, here's a link to advice from a feline only veterinarian.

 

http://www.tailsinc.com/2013/12/ask-the-vet-kitty-weight-loss-tips/

 

Personally I've fed a  mainly raw and home made diet to my kitties for years and now with frozen raw diets available at local pet food stores it's easier than ever. But I understand that this diet is not optimal or appealing to every kitty and fortunately there are also more natural/organic/high-protein choices than ever as well. There are several reasons to feed your companion animals U.S. made pet foods from companies that use human food grade ingredients and facilities: a history of recalls of tainted ingredients from large overseas manufacturers and genetically modified ingredients that many non-organic products likely contain. I also add "real foods" such as cooked, mashed sweet potatoes and winter squash, organic yogurt, and cooked chicken soup when the weather is very cold. Set mealtimes, rather than leaving out large amounts of food continuously, gives your kitty something to look forward to and discourages boredom (over)eating.

 

If your kitty eats too fast and tends to throw up, spread the food over a few small plates around the room or one large platter instead of a bowl. Or try a "treat ball" that holds dry food or pieces of freeze dried salmon or chicken. The difficulty level can be set lower or higher depending on how determined your feline is to get the food out. This is also a great device for cats left alone all day. Of course interactive play is the best exercise and don't forget clicker training for those very active kitties. A tall kitty condo in front of a large window is usually an excellent spot for your kitty to hang out, especially with bird feeders in sight. If your kitty isn't using the condo try moving it to a different spot and adding a few pinches of catnip to the perches. Bringing in sticks from outside and leaving out cardboard boxes or shopping bags without handles can encourage play just as well as fancy toys. The key is to add and subtract things to keep the environment new and stimulating. Have fun!

Shopping for the Holidays?

If you plan to do online shopping check out this link first. Register for free and the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project ends up getting a donation from the retailers you purchase from!

http://www.igive.com/welcome/lptest/wr24.cfm?c=9455

Here's a great idea for any cat lover on your list - sponsor a kitty for the month at Purrfect Pals with a one time donation of $25 and receive a beautiful card with a photo of the kitty you selected to give to your gift recipient.

http://www.purrfectpals.org/About/Shop.asp














If you have people on your list who might prefer to see a gift made in their name to an organization that helps a broader audience  than just kitties (such as those who think Heifer International is a worthy group to support), check out Help Animals India. Your donation will go far to support disaster relief, environmental projects, educational efforts, and help individual animals who are suffering as well. This is a top-rated charity of 2012 and you can be sure you are helping humans and animals.

http://www.helpanimalsindia.org/index.html