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.

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?!?!

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

Adorable Cat Toy for Cats Who Just Wanna Have Fun

Presenting your precious cat with a new toy is every bit as fun and rewarding as presenting a child with a new toy. And why not, our pets are our babies after all! Not only are cat toys fun for cats to play with – giving them entertainment and enjoyment, cat toys are also vital to a cat’s health. They provide a little exercise for your cat (or a lot, depending upon your cat’s energy level!).

Cat toys also keep an inside cat, who doesn’t have other cats or dogs to play with, from getting bored. They keep her mind active and provide a level of the unexpected that she craves nearly as much as she craves tuna. Nearly.

I recently bought Alexa a new toy and she has delighted herself with it for hours since.

Her favorite toys are balls and she’s absolutely on top of the kitty world when we’re in the floor playing baseball. I roll it to her and she swats it with her paw back toward me. She can’t be bothered with running the bases, of course, because she’s conserving her energy and has been since she was a day old.

She also doesn’t go for any “loose” balls if I happen to roll it too far to the left or too far to the right. It’s up to me to retrieve all of these, as well as the ones she swats pass me.

I get quite a workout crawling around like a 12 month old.

Alexa has a toy box (actually a basket) that she loves to grab toys from – but, of course (like all kids) she never puts them back. That’s also left to me.

Cats just love toys like the ETHICAL/SPOT SPRING DING CAT TOYS ASSORTED above. Alexa has this adorable cat toy pegged as the next addition to her toy collection.

Since she is one pampered little girl, it’s jut a matter of time. I look forward to chasing this cute little cat toy around… and then putting it back where it goes.

One of us has to.

*** Cat Toy Safety: Be sure to examine your cat’s toys for pieces that have come loose – small parts that could choke your cat. Also, never allow anything near your cat that she could get wrapped around her neck.

Alexa once had, somehow, found a long paper ribbon left over from Christmas. She managed to get part of it down her throat and was as struggling to pull it out. Thanks be to God, I happened to be walking through the room at the time and pulled it out.

What is My Cat Thinking? Cat Lovers, You’re Going to Love this Book!

I absolutely love What Is My Cat Thinking?: The Essential Guide to Understanding Pet Behavior, by Gwen Bailey. As the mother of (currently) six cats (and countless cats in the past and future), I can tell you this: Gwen Bailey knows her kitties!

The photography in this wonderful book is gorgeous and the information is priceless. There’s a great deal of humor because, face it, cat’s are – by nature – hilarious little creatures.

Even if you’re as close to and familiar with cats as I am, I guarantee you’ll learn something from this book. It’s chock-full of fascinating insight and explanations for many of the mysteries surrounding the way our cats think and behave. While they revel in being mysterious and quirky, Gwen Bailey lets us in on a few of their secret thoughts and feelings.

It’s just an outstanding book that I turn to again and again.

Below are a few of the excellent and informative Did You Know’s from the pages of What Is My Cat Thinking?

• A cat that has been to the vet may come back smelling very different and may be treated like a stranger by other cats that once lived in harmony with him.  Separating them and swapping their scents with a cloth may help.
• Adult cats are more likely to adjust to a new kitten than to a new adult cat that is introduced into the household.
• By sniffing a male cat’s urine, female cats can tell whether or not he is a suitable mate.  They are able to detect by-products of his food, which tell them how much fresh meat he has eaten, and hence, how good a hunter he is.  This helps determine how suitable he would be as a father for her kittens (Ming Li, apparently never found a scent she didn’t approve of!).
• The amount of socialization a kitten has with people while he is between two and seven weeks old will determine how well he will interact with people later in life.  Good experiences in early life will produce a friendly, outgoing cat.

The last Did You Know is one that I certainly can attest to.    The friendliest, most outgoing cats we’ve ever had were ones that we had from very, very early on. Alexa and Bo, for example, were born to our beloved Carly – we were there when they were born and every day thereafter.  This produced very friendly, outgoing, and spoiled babies!

We got our precious Prissy when she was only about 6 or 7 weeks old.  She was babied and pampered from the time she was tiny enough to fit in one hand to the day, over 20 years later, when we lost her.  On each of those many, many, many days, Prissy was one of the sweetest, friendliest, most sociable cats I’ve ever loved.  She’d greet strangers at the door, sit in any available lap and insist on being in the middle of everything.

Needless to say, I still miss that little girl something fierce but feel incredibly blessed to have had her in our family for so long.

I’m also incredibly blessed to have the beautiful little babies we have now.  Alexa and Hannah are extremely outgoing and friendly.  Alexa is my constant companion – always within reach for chin scratching, head rubbing, and belly tickling (and what a belly it is!).

Jelly Bean – although he was born to our feral cat Ming Li – is coming around.  I can pet him easily now.  I don’t push things and always allow him to call the shots.  He’s a large beautiful, solid black cat with gorgeous big green eyes.  He feels like absolute silk and the fact that he allows me to rub him now just makes me smile head to toe.

Tristan, Gabriel, Bullet, and Scratch (also Ming Li’s) weren’t around us at all in the first month of their lives.  Ming Li brought them into our yard (and garage!) when they were past 7 weeks old.  They remain very much feral cats but I honestly believe I’m winning one of them (Scratch) over.  Tristan, the only girl, is a very tiny black cat and I don’t think I have any hope of ever petting her.

Bullet shows promise, but not quite as much as Scratch.  Feral cats are so frustrating to people who love cats as much as I do!

Jelly Bean honestly is a reformed feral cat – he sticks close to the house and is becoming downright sociable.  I have a large basket with a blue baby blanket in it for him on a shelf on our carport.  It’s his bed of choice and he can be found in it 85 percent of the time. He even lets me pet him and baby talk him in his bed, something I wouldn’t have ever thought possible a few months ago.

Click the link to learn more about What Is My Cat Thinking?: The Essential Guide to Understanding Pet Behavior, by Gwen Bailey and to order a copy for you and your cat(s)!

ASPCA and Walmart Ask You to Lend a Paw

One of my absolute favorite organizations is ASPCA.  As an animal lover extraordinaire, I absolutely love all that they do for helpless little animals.  That’s why I follow their trail of good deeds and try to bring them to your attention!

Please read the following and help ASPCA and Wal-Mart as they try to help as many precious animals as possible. I already loved Wal-Mart, but I do even more so now.

From ASPCA:

Approximately five to seven million adoptable dogs and cats enter animal shelters nationwide each year. Of those, approximately three to four million are needlessly euthanized simply due to a lack of space or resources to adequately care for them.

Overpopulation is the leading cause of unnecessary euthanasia. This is largely due to an inadequate number of spayed and neutered pets, even among those living with otherwise responsible pet parents. Experts estimate that half of all puppies and three-quarters of all kittens born in the U.S. are the result of unplanned litters.

Walmart^® is proud to support the ASPCA^® in our goal to save and improve the lives of millions of pets nationwide, and to help raise awareness around the importance of adoption and spay/neuter. Walmart is showcasing its partnership with the ASPCA and celebrating Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month throughout April, culminating with a special event on May 1 in Miami, Florida. The event will raise awareness and funds for the ASPCA, Miami Humane and Miami Animal Control Services.

Through the support of key pet suppliers, Walmart will host a fun walk and Pet Care Fair in Bayfront Park. Sponsor tents featuring educational seminars, information and giveaways will be available throughout the event, along with main stage performances and family fun. Education and community support through programs like the Pet Care Fair play a large role in preventing unwanted litters and increasing the number of pet sterilizations.

You can get involved, too! Animal lovers everywhere are encouraged to visit www.facebook.com/lendapaw and help “Lend a Paw” to support the ASPCA’s goal to save and improve the lives of millions of animals nationwide. When visitors click on the “Create a ‘Lend a Paw’ Post” button, Walmart, through the generous contribution of key pet suppliers, will donate $1 for each post (for a total donation of up to $100,000). All funds raised go to support the life-saving missions of the ASPCA and its local partners.

Also: ASPCA was selected as one of 49 charities to participate in Members Project^®, an exciting new promotion from American Express^® and TakePart. As part of the promotion, they need you to vote for the ASPCA EVERY WEEK at takepart.com/membersproject/vote – this will help them win $200,000 to help animals in need!

They’re currently in the lead – but there are only about 5 weeks left, so every vote really counts!

Also from ASPCA… Go Orange!

To commemorate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month this April, our corporate partners are “Going Orange” to celebrate the ASPCA’s victories on behalf of animals. ASPCA partner Red Lion Hotels has selected one of its flagship properties, the Red Lion Hotel at the Park in Spokane, WA, to light up orange for the entire month. In addition, Subaru of America, Inc., Clorox, the makers of Fresh Step^® cat litter, Brown Cow^® All Natural Yogurt, and Dyson^® will be supporting an ASPCA Spay/Neuter Block party in New York City as well as pet adoption and wellness events in Tampa, FL (April 24), and Dallas, TX (May 1). For more information about the ASPCA’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month celebrations and how you can get involved and be a voice for animals this April, please visit AspcaApril.org.

For the Cat Who Thinks The Buffet is Open All Day

Animals, yes even cats, know to eat just until they are full. I’ve watched my cats over the years and have found that – at a certain point – they know they’ve eaten enough. Then they find a comfortable place to give themselves a bath and digest. It doesn’t matter if they’re inside cats, outside cats, people-friendly cats, cats who are part of the family, or feral cats – they naturally know when they’ve had enough.

So, you’d think there’d be no way a cat or dog could possibly get overweight, right? After all, they know when to stop eating, so there’s no chance they’ll overeat, right?

Wrong-o. That’s where we come in.

If there’s a bowl of constantly available dry food lying around for her to graze at whenever she feels a little bored or under stimulated – Alexa… I mean she’ll do just that. We generally don’t have a full plate of our food sitting on the table all day for us to graze on each time we pass. I wonder why we ever get in the habit of leaving food out for our pets to eat at leisure.

Naturally, we think we’re doing them a great service – Here, baby, eat whenever you want to! The problem is, it leads to obesity and a host of health problems.

That being said, some cats do fine with free-feeding. Our outside cats have dry food available at all times and not one of them is overweight.  Prissy always had dry food available and kept a nice, trim little figure for over 20 years!  It all depends on the individual cat.  If you leave dry food out for your babies and they take advantage of its availability a little too often, maybe you should try putting it up for the most part of the day.

So how often should you feed your cat?

According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, it depends upon the cat’s age and health.

Kittens require more food per pound of body weight to support their growth than do adult cats, and therefore should be fed more often throughout the day. “Growing kittens up to six months of age may require three meals a day,” says Francis Kallfelz, DVM, PHD, board certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and James Law professor of nutrition at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “From age six months to maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day.”

Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats, age seven and above, should maintain the same feeding regimen. “Once cats reach adulthood, once a day feeding is fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease problems suggesting a reason to feed differently,” says Dr. Kallfelz.

The Health of Your Cat Matters

If your cat suffers from a health problem such as diabetes, you may need to feed him based on whenever he is administered insulin, depending on the type. “Talk to your veterinarian,” says Dr. Kallfelz.

If your cat has hyperthyroidism, he may want to eat all the time. “Treat the disease,” says Dr. Kallfelz. “If it is a treatable problem, treat it and then feed your cat normally.”

When a cat ages, his teeth may go bad, or he may develop gum disease that may make it difficult to chew dry food. “If they get to that point, then offer them canned food or dry in a finer nugget size,” says Dr. Kallfelz. You can also mash up the dry and mix it with water to make it easier to chew.   – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Should You Feed Your Cat Wet or Dry Cat Food?

Experts seem to agree that the type of cat food isn’t that important.  However, keep in mind that you should feed your cat CAT FOOD -not dog food and not human food. There are certain things cats need that they can get only from cat food.

Read the labels on your dry cat food and wet cat food.  Make sure you select the brands that are the most balanced and offer the most nutrients. If you feed your cats dry cat food, be sure they always have plenty of fresh, clean water to drink. (Then again, all cats should have fresh water at all times!)

“If a cat can maintain his weight, free choice feeding is okay,” says Dr. Kallfelz. Even dry food left out for your cat to free feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day. If free feeding doesn’t work, you need to control how much they eat. “Several small meals may make them feel less hungry,” says Dr. Kallfelz. “But one is okay nutritionally.” – Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

When it comes to a feeding schedule, cats are like babies (but we already knew that, right?) – they need to keep a schedule as much as possible.  Most cats do best when fed in the morning – then later in the evening.

If you cat seems to genuinely be hungry, however, during the middle of the day – give him or her a little to eat. After all, we’d want someone to do the same for us!

Credit: The picture at the top of the post is from one of my favorite online destinations (hours, I tell you, hours I spend on this site): I Can Has Cheezburger

Safe Toys and Safe Play for Your Cat

One of the things I cherish the most in my e-mail inbox is the daily Cat Age Tip of the Week newsletter. (Click the link to find out how to sign up!)

In today’s tip, we’re reminded how important it is to keep out cats toys and playthings safe.

Here’s the daily tip:
Whether your cat prefers expensive store-bought toys or items found around the house, take care to keep your cavorting cat safe.

To prevent choking, avoid toys with parts that can become detached during play. Bring out the pounce in your pet with safe choices such as a ping-pong ball or a catnip mouse. Playtime with string or yarn should be carefully supervised to prevent your cat from accidentally swallowing it. Finally, secure free-standing kitty condos and cat towers to the floor or wall to keep them from toppling over.

Great advice! I’d also add the following:

• Decorative ribbon that’s used for gifts is very enticing to pets.  It’s fun to play a great game of tug and catch with them using the bright ribbon.  However, this kind shreds pretty easily and could be a real choking hazard to an animal.  Last year, Alexa found a strand beneath the Christmas tree and took off for the back of the house.  It was as though she knew she had something I didn’t want her to have!   I followed to get the ribbon to throw away and, in that little span of time, she had one end down her throat.  This year I didn’t even buy this type of rolled ribbon for our presents.  I subscribe to the theory of “better unbelievably safe than unbelievably sorry.”
• Inspect toys just as you would inspect them for a child.  Think of each conceivable possibility – will this small piece come off…. can that get wrapped around her/his neck… that sort of thing.
• I love the tip above about securing their towers and condos to the wall.  Just because you don’t think it could possibly topple over doesn’t mean it won’t.  I never in a gazillion years believed Alexa would be able to turn an ironing board over on herself, but she sure managed.  (Yes, as a matter of fact, she does have to be watched like a toddler!)  In fact, we have bamboo shelves in the kitchen that she occasionally likes to climb, I need my husband to anchor them to the wall. Our little girl is more of a busy body than Prissy ever was.  Prissy rarely climbed anything beyond the couch or the nearest bed.  Alexa’s convinced she’s part mountain lion.
• Watch out for newspaper left lying around.  If your cat is as inquisitive or playful as Alexa (Heaven help you), they probably like to attack the paper and see how fast they can shred it.  Little pieces of newspaper can get stuck on the back of the cat’s tongue and become a choking hazard quickly.
• While we’re talking about chocking hazards, watch out for the green grass that’s popular in Easter baskets.  Like the ribbon and paper, it can become dangerous very fast.  Be sure it’s out of your little one’s way.

I guess that’s all of the tips I can think of for now… at least until Alexa gets into something else!  If you have any to add, please do so in the comments.

Click the following link for a wonderful article: 10 Ways to Make Your Cat Younger.  Oy.  I’m almost certain Alexa has no waist definition. I mean, I know she has a waist… somewhere…. She’s all over the other 9 though.  She just needs to eat a little less… Maybe cut back to just 1 lunch instead of 3…

Teleflora and ASPCA Create a Beautiful Valtentie’s Day

What a beautiful idea! If you or a loved one send flowers this Valentine’s Day (which is always an excellent way to say I Love You), you’ll want to do so with Teleflora. Not only are their floral arrangements too beautiful for words, their heart’s in the right place, too – with animals!

When you send flowers for Valentine’s Day, you can also give back to the ASPCA. When you buy flowers through Teleflora using their special link, 20% of the product price will be donated back to the ASPCA. Click HERE for the special link and the very special opportunity to give love all the way around.

Send a bouquet today!

Next Page »