Kitten Season!

Kittens at a Best Friends nursery 

Who doesn't love kittens or puppies?! Of course they are super adorable but pet overpopulation is still a HUGE problem in our state as well as across the U.S. and in many other countries. Did you know that many animal shelters do not have the resources to care for underage kittens and routinely kill them? Fortunately organizations such as Best Friends in Kanab, Utah is helping to change this practice. They provide training and grants to establish kitten nurseries, where neo-natal felines without mothers to nurse them can be bottle fed and cared for. Staff and volunteers lovingly tend these little fuzzballs around the clock, which also helps to socialize the kittens in addition to making sure they are physically healthy. 

Kittens with their mom often need a quiet foster home for the period of time it takes the kittens to eat solid food and reach at least 2 lbs. so they and their mom can be sterilized, given vaccinations, and then made available for adoption. This process can be as long as 2 months, especially if there are any complications such as upper respiratory disease which is common amongst kittens as their immune systems develop. Fostering is a great option if you aren't quite ready to commit to full-time companion animal or have some extra space in your home and the time and attention to devote to them short-term. You can call on the shelter with any concerns or questions and their veterinarians provide all medical care. It's a great experience even though you have to give the kitties back at the end - unless you decide to adopt them. (That is what's called a "foster failure" but it's not a bad thing!)

Want some inspiration? Check out these precious wee ones who were featured on the Best Friends website recently: Best Friends babies

Please encourage everyone you know to Adopt and not Shop for a pet and to spay or neuter of course!

Beautiful Black Cats

It's been a busy Spring for me! I wanted to highlight some of the gorgeous black cats I sit for. This particular grouping was all part of my "spring break" week. (Their peeps graciously allowed me to feature their kitty's photos here.) 

Hector - a gentle giant of a kitty

Hector lives with two tabby brothers. They all enjoy catnip and da bird.

Cinders - a tiny girl and very active youngster

Cinders enjoying the concrete surface (on her harness)

Phinney, only 5 mos. old, recently adopted from PAWS. He is already an accomplished purrer.

Phinney lives with an adult tabby brother.

Ella, after a bite of delicious food

Henry, he's a chill fellow. He lives with Ella and a brother who is an orange tabby. His brother is the 

hunter of the family while Ella and Henry are the snugglers.

Earth Day action

Today is Earth Day so it's a good day to reflect on the larger world outside. Unfortunately so many species around the world are threatened or endangered that it's difficult not to get discouraged. Sadly humans are pretty much behind all the factors that contribute to a plant or animal species demise. How can you not feel overwhelmed? If you are a registered voter, contacting your legislator regarding wildlife and environmental issues is an easy and free action. Most major non-profit groups such Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, Snow Leopard Trust and the Iinternational Fund for Animal Welfare will send you regular emails about upcoming state or federal legislation that pertains to wildlife. Just log onto their websites and get signed up. 

Today I chose to highlight a wild cat I didn't know much about. There are only 2,500 Andean cats left in the wild. Unlike majestic lions and tigers, this guy is as small as a house cat! A coalition of organizations is working to purchase protected land in Argentina where these cats live. In honor of Earth Day please consider skipping your Starbucks or lunch out today and donating $5 or $10 to help these little cats.

Protect the Endangered Andean Cat

City Kitties Outside

With more high rise building sprouting up all over Seattle these days, I fear "kitty high rise syndrome" may increase as well. Cats can get bored inside and being outside, even on a small balcony, can add interest and excitement to their lives. But just like humans, savvy felines make errors of judgement or have accidents that can end up being painful and disabling or worse, fatal. Here's a story about one lucky kitten  who survived an incredibly long fall and will make an excellent recovery. Being young likely helped his survival, as older and overweight cats may not fare so well in a fall.

So how can you safely give your kitty the fresh air and enrichment he needs? With outdoor enclosures, cats can have "outdoor time" when the weather permits. For kitty guardians living in apartments or condos where no structural changes are allowed, the Kitty Walk systems are ideal. You can also easily take these with you when you move. Your cat will quickly learn the routine and when it's time for him to go back inside, a few treats should help as a reward for his cooperation. No matter what type of enclosure you choose it's always best to allow for "outdoor time" only when you are home and can monitor your kitty to make sure he is comfortable. If you can install a cat door or leave your own door open enough for kitty to come and go then you can be sure he is able to come back inside if he gets cold, wet or overheated. (Just like people, some cats enjoy the cold or heat and others don't.) Put a kitty condo or chairs with cushions out so your cat has a soft spot to doze and a bowl of water. Spring is just around the corner, we'll all soon be able to appreciate the outdoors again!

This is a DON'T!

Ready for the Kitten Bowl this weekend?

This Sunday, February 7th, watch the cutest little "footballers" play around on the Hallmark channel. All 71 kittens will be available for adoption after their big game. This is a great way to raise public awareness of all the precious kittens and cats in shelters awaiting homes.   

Kitten Bowl

Kitty Stars

Catdance Festival

Check out some of the cute short films entered in the 2016 Catdance Festival!

 I love how cats truly own the Internet. 

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day!

Squirrels are part of our urban landscape and just like birds, they are not only important in our ecosystem but super fun to watch! The infant squirrels who years ago fell out of a very tall tree into my back yard may or not still be around  (I cannot tell them apart). Those four squirrels had been bottle fed for a month by a licensed wildlife rehab center and while not exactly tame, they weren't afraid of humans. I felt some obligation to feed them during the fall and winter months and continue to do so. So now all the squirrels living in my garden share a bowl of sunflower seeds and peanuts in the colder months and help themselves to whatever fruit and vegetables I attempt to grow. They prefer zucchini blossoms to the actual zucchini so I never have to worry about a glut of giant zucchinis like a lot of gardeners, or even having any squash actually. Oh well, the kitties and I think squirrels are cute and enjoy having them around so I can buy zucchini at the farmer's market if I want...

happy-squirrel-appreciation-day