Let the Sun Shine!

Some kitties are lucky enough to have a custom catio and other adventurous felines take matters into their own paws to stake out their own space with the best view of the neighborhood. If you just can't build an outdoor cat enclosure, here's an article on creating an outdoor inspired space for your indoor cat. Invest in a tall kitty condo with lounging platforms, grow cat-safe plants or buy fresh cat grass weekly, and let the sun shine in. Your kitty deserves the sunniest window in your home and preferably an open window (safely screened of course) where he or she can smell all those fascinating outdoor smells. Sisal mats, baskets,and cardboard boxes are inexpensive and offer interesting textures to scratch and sleep on or in. If you can find a hefty log from a recently cut tree, even better. Basking in the warm sun is one of the pleasures of being a cat!

How to Help Kitties in our Community

Here are two easy ways to help homeless and community cats in Puget Sound: 

Friends of Campus Cats needs items for their annual fund-raising Jumble Sale, and they need them now! They are gratefully accepting donations; please contact them to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up. Wanted are books, jewelry, collectibles and vintage items, knick knacks, kitchenware, small appliances, even smaller furniture, lightly used toys, guy stuff, amusing oddities. (No clothes, please, unless they are unusual; they are already amply endowed with quality clothing from a consignment shoppe.) Campus Cats is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) org dedicated to the humane management of feral cats on UW campus and elsewhere. This year’s Jumble Sale is scheduled for July 30th at 10 AM (last Saturday of the month) in the Maple Leaf neighborhood - no early birds please. 

PS: Volunteers are needed on the day of the sale. Get paid in popsicles and pizza! Email stalbert@uw.edu or call 206-524-7326 to arrange for delivery or pick-up. 

Everyone's favorite shelter in Arlington, Purrfect Pals, will host their annual gala in October. The Black Cat Ball provides more operating funds for Purrfect Pals than any other fundraiser. More than 400 supporters will come together to enjoy a Halloween-themed champagne reception (costumes optional), gourmet vegetarian or vegan dinner, fine wines and both a silent and a live auction. If you can attend it's a lot of fun! 

If you own a business you can donate a gift certificate and have you business listed in the catalog. If you have a favorite wine you enjoy, consider purchasing a case to donate as wine is very popular in this auction. Or donate in honor of your favorite kitty and receive a tax deduction too.

To learn more: Black Cat Ball Donation flier

To donate online, click here: Black Cat Ball online auction donation form

When Your Cat is Hurting...

As our companion kitties age, it's natural that they may develop arthritis or stiffness after getting up. However it's often difficult to tell if and where they experience discomfort. Lots of clients tell me their kitties sometimes favor one paw or have limps that come and go. Many cats go into "hunker down" mode when they go to the vet's office so guardians may need to video the movement or behavior they are concerned about to show the doctor. Given that cats in the wild are prey for many animals, it's instinctual for felines to hide illness and weakness. Here's a good resource to keep handy if you think your cat may be silently suffering:

How to Know When a Cat is Hurting

How can you manage minor joint aches and pains at home? Many of my clients give their kitties a joint health supplement on their food. There are lots of websites to buy reputable veterinary supplements on. Cannabis supplements are also popular and these are often used for a variety of issues in addition to body aches, such as nausea and helping to increase appetite. Infra-red lights (reptile bulbs) can feel good during our dreary, damp days. These can be set up with a clip lamp or you can purchase a stand that holds the bulb at sufficient height for your kitty to doze under. (Only use these under supervision of course.) Heated beds are also soothing. Acupuncture and laser therapy may be recommended by your veterinarian. I prefer an acupuncture vet who makes house calls so that the experience is more relaxing for kitty. It may be helpful to keep a notebook of your kitties ups and downs so you can figure out the best treatment combination. The bottom line is that it may take some trial and error to help your kitty feel his best during his golden years. It's not uncommon for cats to thrive into their 20s with good genes and all the best care..

Sidney, obviously feeling relaxed, cozy and safe (showing his belly), taking his after breakfast nap.

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!