Cat Food Recall Issued by Iams

Salmonella, salmonella, salmonella.  Will you ever get out of the news and stay out?!

Procter & Gamble is voluntarily recalling a limited number of bags of its Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food, which may have been sold in a couple of stores in Loveland, Colo.

The recalled product comes in blue 6.8-pound bags and features a code date of 02304173 (B1-B6) and the UPC number 1901403921.

No other Iams pet food products are affected.

P&G reported that it has worked with retailers to remove the product from stores in Loveland. The company said it believes three bags may have been purchased recently by consumers in the area. No illnesses have been reported.

Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans, according to the company. Cat owners are urged to contact their veterinarian if their pet has consumed the recalled product and is exhibiting these symptoms.

Humans can also become infected, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the cat food or surfaces exposed to the recalled product, according to the company. Symptoms in humans may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and headache. Children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to infection, according to the company.

Consumers who have purchased Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care dry cat food are urged to discard the product and call P&G toll-free at 1-800-862-3332 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST for a product replacement.

Cats Love Cat Trees, But You Need to Choose Wisely

The following is a guest post by Claudia Brian.  It deals with a subject very dear to all cat’s hearts: Cat trees!  Cat trees are so popular with indoor cats, those of us who love them delight in buying only the best for our babies.  Indoor cats get a sense of adventure with great cat trees such as the one shown above.  They’re able to climb, scratch, and achieve the sense of superiority they crave.  Cat trees allow them to live out their wild instincts and entertain their humans as they do so.  Aren’t the cats in the cat tree above adorable?!?!

Cats are wonderful as pets. They are active, playful and keep the household engaged all the time and in no time become a member of the family. Children love to play with cats and so are adults. For some, it is a de-stressing exercise in the evening after a day of hard toil. If you have a cat at home then a Cat Tree would be beneficial to you and your pet.

Cats love to climb. It is an intrinsic activity for them over which they have no control. That’s why, at the first given opportunity, they look to climb on beds and other furniture. But, you cannot afford to allow them climb everywhere. They may get hurt or the climbing may spoil your furniture. A cat tree will help you in keeping the cat playful and maintaining their climbing behaviour without any danger to your furniture.
A cat tree is a great place for your pet to relax and play. The trees have soft carpeting for the cats to sleep and relax. Once it gets in to the habit of playing on a cat tree then it would be really impossible to break that habit.

You won’t be complaining either as your darling pet as well as the furniture will remain safe. Cats tree are available in many shapes, designs and colors. Most of the trees are designed as attractively as furniture and it will easily gel with the interiors of your home. You can buy a Cat Tree for a single cat or can shop for a bigger tree if you have 2 or 3 cats at home.

Cat trees are also available in multiple stories that provide greater space and challenges for your cat to climb.  – Claudia Brian

Please visit the links in the article above to see a wonderful variety of cat trees your cat will surely love.

Taking the Mystery Out of Cat Vaccines

When it comes to cat vaccinations, cat owners can have a ton of questions. Mostly, the questions center around the safety. We wonder if we should vaccinate our cat and, if we do, will it lengthen her life?

Thanks to Paw Nation, much of the mystery and controversy has been dealt with. Paw Nation spoke with veterinarians Kristen Nelson, author of “Coated with Fur: A Vet’s Life,” and Christine Bellezza, co-director of the Feline Health Center at Cornell University.

When and why should pet owners vaccinate their cats?
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends that kittens start getting their shots at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, the time when the immunity they received from their mothers starts to wane. “It’s important to vaccinate cats because the viruses that we’re vaccinating against are very prevalent in the environment,” Bellezza says. “Cats that aren’t vaccinated are very much at risk.”

Despite that high risk, not all cat owners follow the guidelines.

“Unfortunately, there is a lot of incorrect information on the Internet related to vaccinations,” says Dr. Nelson. “As a result, I have observed an increase in the number of people who refuse vaccinations for their pets. Now I am beginning to see an increase in the number of animals who contract these diseases.”

To read the rest of the interview (one that all cat owners should read from the first word to the last word), please visit Cat Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Protecting Outside Cats in Excessive Heat

As I’ve said many times before, I have outside cats that are only “outside” cats because of a certain inside baby (Alexa) who I’m afraid wouldn’t be too welcoming. We don’t call her our little spoiled baby for nothing.

Plus, a few of our outside cats are Ming Li’s kittens – she was a feral cat who it took months of coaxing to even approach. Unfortunately, she’s no longer with us but before she left, I was able to pet her at will – she actually became a pretty big baby, purring constantly.

She left behind several babies and, since they were born to such a wild little momma, I’d never stand a chance of picking them up!

I can pet two out of three of them regularly. They’re very sweet but picking them up would probably completely freak them out at this point.

So bringing them inside is an impossibility. Hannah, of course, can be picked up, hugged, kissed, and held all day… she loves it, the big baby. I’m just very scared of her and Alexa getting into a squabble. Besides, she doesn’t seem to mind living out in the wild.

However, with an excessive heat advisory in effect here in Owensboro, Kentucky today – I’ve been doing all I can to cool off my hot little girls and boys.

I’ve “iced” Hannah down twice – she loves it! Fatima wants no part of it and the boy cats look at me like I’ve lost my mind completely. Earlier, Fatima (the tiniest little cat in the world) looked on the brink of death – seriously. Her mouth was hanging open and her eyes just didn’t look right. I wet a towel down with cool water and laid it on the ground. She wouldn’t let me rub her with it but when I laid it out on the ground, she laid on top of it.

I then took out a big bowl of ice and placed it all around the area she and Hannah were lying in. They both licked the ice and laid down amongst the melting glaciers.

One of the boy cats (Bullet) took off for the barn after a long cold drink and the other (Jelly Bean) enjoyed the glaciers with the girls.

He’s such a little Romeo.

I looked out a few minutes ago (I’ve been checking on them frequently) and they were still chilling nicely. Fatima looks 100 percent better and Hannah seems to be hinting for another ice massage.

Soooo…. I’m off to ice my girl down and HOPE the others will allow me to give them one as well.

Cat Perch for Pampered Cats

This morning, as I was admiring our beautiful purple morning glories (planted specifically beneath one of Alexa’s favorite windows – so she can admire butterflies and hummingbirds up close and personal), I realized that IF there were such a thing as reincarnation, you could do a lot worse than coming back as a pampered house cat! They don’t have to fight for anything – food, water, shelter, a bed, attention, safety, head scratches, 8:00 am hummingbird shows….

I read not long ago that one of the things we Americans DIDN’T cut back on during the slumping economy was pet food and pet supplies. We love our babies! They bring us so much love, happiness, joy, companionship, and laughter – how could we NOT want to give them everything their little cat hearts desire?

Admittedly, I just returned from the store with cat food, fresh cat litter, and even a bag of Whiska’s Cat Treats. All of our cats absolutely adore these cat treats, especially the Salmon variety.

Now, Alexa’s curled up in her favorite cat bed – belly full and more content than anyone or anything has a right to be!

Three of our outside babies (outside simply because Princess Alexa wouldn’t accept just being “one” of the cats inside… she has to be “the” diva who lives inside with her people) Hannah, Fatima, and Jelly Bean are sprawled out in the shade, enjoying their full bellies and the August breeze.

Our fourth outside cat, Bullet, is apparently off catting around or sacked out in a loft. Hannah ate enough treats for her and him both, though.

The Two Level Cat House -Cradle & Perch – Cream appears to be something Alexa would be very much interested in and, personally, I’m crazy about the beautiful Cream color – though they’re available in 9 great other colors as well. The hunter green is also gorgeous – it might even make the pampered cat feel like she’s out in the jungle!

Product Description:
Whether you have multiple kitties, or just one who is the queen or king of the castle, this Two Level cat house is a great piece of cat furniture. This cat house features two rest areas – a round bed and a curved cradle. Not only is this a terrific cat lounger, it also is a scratching post. A solid pine pole is wrapped in all-natural sisal rope, which provides an outlet for busy paws. Available in nine colors – Cream, Tan, Brown, Red, Navy Blue, Country Blue, Green, Gray, and Hunter Green. With such a range of colors, you’re sure to find one for even your most finicky of felines. And remember – not only do cats love having their own area, but a good scratching post will deter your cat from scratching your furniture! This item ships directly from the manufacturer. Product usually arrives in 4-10 business days, depending on destination, including order processing and shipping.

See Two Level Cat House -Cradle & Perch – Cream for a closer look. I just looked at the different colors again and now I’m torn – I love them all. The country blue couldn’t be any prettier. But the cream….

Whimsical Cat Face Birdhouse You Have to See to Believe

If you’re like me and love cats AND birds, you’re going to flip for this Cat-Astrophe Sculptural Birdhouse!

It’s one of the cutest, most whimsical birdhouses I’ve ever seen.  This cat face birdhouse is certain to become the talk of your neighborhood.

Product Description:

French artist Frederic Levesque joins a long list of countrymen who’d choose finicky felines over feathered friends with his tongue-in-cheek sculptural birdhouse! Though it takes a brave bird to approach the piercing green eyes and deceptive “welcome mat” tongue of this humorously sculpted, quality designer resin sculpture, your “invitation” is easily mounted to tree, wall or fence for instant garden gaiety. Bird not included.

11″Wx9″Dx9″H. 2 lbs.

Click through for a closer look and to order your own Cat Face Birdhouse today!

Precious Happy Endings Thanks to ASPCA!

See the inquisitive little doll above?  His name’s Lyle (is that a great name or what?!?!).  He, along with 138 other precious cats were recently rescued thanks to compassionate cat lovers such as Lyle’s new parents.  ASPCA does so much for animals and has been responsible for so many animal lives saved and human lives touched that I’m sure there’s a special place in Heaven for each member.

Lyle was one of the cat’s rescued and now…. you’ll love this… has his very own room, filled with cat trees.  Lyle’s living the good life now and I have a  feeling his new family couldn’t be happier.

To read more about Lyle and this recent effort, please visit ASPCA’s News page – it’s currently the second story down.

Don’t you just love happy endings?!?!

Egyptian Cat Goddess Statue that Sums Up a Cat’s Self Image

The gorgeous Egyptian Cat Goddess Bastet Statue: Large statue above pretty well sums up every cat’s self image, doesn’t it? Regal, to be appreciated, holier than thou… that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

This beautiful cat statue is perfect for cat lovers and their beloved cats. It’s from Design Toscano and I’m sure you’ll want one asap if not sooner.

Product Description:
the sun s warmth and life-giving power. Cats were so revered that they were often mummified upon death and buried in cat-shaped sarcophagi. Our oversized sarcophagus is a replica modeled after a museum piece from the reign of Queen Twosret, the final Pharaoh of the 19th dynasty. This large-scale, display-quality indoor sculpture of the goddess of joy and protector of women transforms any home bar, entertainment area or recreation room into something truly magnificent! Our highly-detailed, quality designer resin indoor reproduction is hand-painted in the rich silver and gold of the Egyptian palette.

17½”Wx10″Dx29½”H. 12 lbs.

See Egyptian Cat Goddess Bastet Statue: Large for more information!

Cat Lovers, Check Out Catios!

My husband, and father of our cats, e-mailed me this great article this morning.  It’s always, always, always warm and wonderful to see other people who love their pets to distraction and back, too.

I could give a little background or set the stage, or patio as it were, but it’d be best if you read – and saw – firsthand what these cat lovers have done for their pampered babies.

Alexa’s only question is, “When do the patio renovations begin?”

Enjoy! – Catios Bring Cats Outdoors

Giveaway From Moderncat: A Purrfectly Stylish Cat Scratch Tower

Moderncat is giving away a gorgeous, stylish, and outrageously fun Scratch Tower.  What cat wouldn’t want to climb to her heart’s content on such a great tower.  Our cats love scratching posts, so we try to keep several on hand… rather, on paw.

What’s more, they’re elegantly pretty for those of us “parents” who like to keep the home at least a little sophisticated-looking.  Well, as sophisticated as you can with catnip toys, little stuffed animals, toy mice, and balls strewn from front to back!

As a matter of fact… just now…. on the way from my bedroom to the kitchen, I stepped on two catnip toys and accidentally kicked a purple easter egg toy.  Alexa thought that meant it was playtime, so she took off after the egg.  We batted it back and forth until we both decided it was snack time.

That’s another great thing about cats – they’re always ready to play and have a great time AND “now” is always the perfect time to grab a snack.

Be sure to hustle over to Moderncat for your chance to win a Cat Scratch tower. Good luck, and if you win one instead of me, I’ll try not to be too disappointed.  I might even congratulate you! Might.

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