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…
ASPCA released the following News Alert concerning Pet Safety during this time of year. As Pet Parents, it’s up to us to protect them and keep them safe, so here are ten ways we can do just that:
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1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if large pieces are ingested.
3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don’t put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke on.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy when they can’t see.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.
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If you’re anything like me, you love having candles and potpourri around. Needless to say, however, you have to be very, very careful when you have furry little babies in the house. Curiosity can cause them to investigate and, thereby, land themselves in danger. Be sure candles are never left unattended. Also watch out for tablecloths or anything that a curious cat can pull down on herself in an attempt to check out the “fascinating” candle.
Also be sure liquid potpourri far from your pets’ reach. The essential oils in these fragrant mixes can be harmful to pets who spill it on themselves or get it on their fur. The Cationic detergents in hot scented oils can cause significant burns to a cat’s esophagus, mouth and tongue.
Try putting liquid potpourri far from your pets’ reach or using an air freshener instead.
I was thinking (literally, just yesterday) about how Bo and Svenn live life on the edge. We have a long driveway and they love nothing more than to hang out in it. What’s worse, they’ll dash out in front of cars without giving it a second thought. For those of us who live here, we know to watch out for them at all times. In the evening, we have raccoons, possums, and rabbits to watch out for as well as these two little daredevils. When Alexa was an outside cat, she was the same way.
I always get a little scared when someone new comes up our drive – I hold my breath, hoping one of my fast and furry sons doesn’t dash out to say “Hello.”
I came across this aluminum sign a few minutes ago and would love for my husband to buy a few and hang them prominently at the end of our drive. It’s gorgeous and could very well save daredevil cats who think cars are as harmless as catnip.
From the website:
Our Cat crossing sign will look great outdoors or indoors. Made from rust resistant aluminum, this durable and weather resistant Cat sign is both functional and fun. Easy to install with the predrilled hole, each cat sign is ready for easy mounting to your post, wall, deck, fence, etc. Each Cat crossing sign measures approximately 12 x 12 inches.
Read more about the Cat Crossing Sign
clicking the link.
Entirely Pets.com has a Cat Quiz that you and your cat might want to fill out. You answer a few questions, then they e-mail you your cat’s “profile.” It’s not 100% accurate, though – for example, they said that “Prissy the ancient” was 24 in human years, making her a young adult. Apparently their system misread something, because – at 18, my Prissy (unfortunately) is nowhere near a young anything.
However, the e-mail did have some great words of advice and suggestions on keeping my girl healthy. Prissy’s strutting around here like she’s the cat’s pajamas as well as the cat – she’s obviously buying into the “young adult” assessment. I’ll never tell.
The website also has a Health Quiz for dogs.
Joi
The diva above is our much, much, much beloved Prissy. She’ll be 18 in September – and, yes, I know how old that is in human years but won’t allow myself to think about it.
I was reading a few online articles and forum threads this morning about senior cats and dogs. Not only do we have Prissy, when my mom unexpectedly passed away in March, we got full custody of her much loved dog, Wednesday. He, himself is kind of long in the tooth – at least 12.
I learned a few things and thought I’d pass them along, in case any0ne else has a baby or babies that are “getting up there.” If you do, you know full well how it is to go searching for them when they’re out of sight for even a minute – I think I probably drive poor little Prissy crazy! I feel better after reading the following:
- There are lots of stories of cats living into their 20s.
- I found an account of a veterinarian who said that the oldest cat he ever treated was 31, and doing nicely!
- I read about a lady with a cat who, at 19, still ran and played with much younger cats.
Prissy moves a little bit slower – especially after she wakes up – and she’d rather be lifted than jump (but she will and can jump if a human isn’t handy), but otherwise she’s healthy, has a huge appetite and absolutely loves attention. She even “acts out stories” like she’s always liked to do: She’ll take off running through the house, then turn suddenly like something’s after her – then she’ll take off in the other direction. She had a good “rip” yesterday….she hit nearly every room, then collapsed in the office floor looking at me like I’d done something ridiculous.
As a matter of fact, she’s looking at me now. I think she knows she’s getting blogged up….. I just hope she doesn’t find out I gave her real age away. She lies, you know.
Shhhhh…
Joi
From the ASPCA News Alert Wire:
Each year as flea season approaches, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) receives thousands of calls from pet owners who have accidentally misused flea control products on their cats. There are almost 20 brands of products containing permethrin currently available that are labeled “for dogs only.” When used on cats—even in small amounts—these products can spell big trouble.
“The misuse of flea and tick products can be extremely harmful and even deadly to our companion animals,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, APCC Senior Vice President. Signs commonly seen with permethrin toxicity in cats include tremors, muscle fasciculation and seizures. These symptoms can develop within just hours, or may be delayed up to two days. Most cats have a good chance of recovering with prompt and aggressive veterinary treatment, which may include medication, IV fluids, bathing and other supportive care.
APCC experts urge you to consult with your veterinarian before purchasing products to control fleas on your pet or in your home—and always read the product instructions completely before using any product on your pet. Adds Hansen, “By simply taking the time to read a product label carefully, a pet owner could save his or her animal’s life.”
If you have used a flea control product and notice that your cat is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more pet poison prevention tips, please visit APCC online.
When you go to the link mentioned above (and you really, really should go to the link mentioned above!), get a load of the adorable kitten in the top banner – Those eyes!!!
Have a great, safe, fun weekend – especially all you fathers!
Joi
My Mouse Pad is officially Prissy free, for now, so I’ll try to finish up yesterday’s post!
- Touch. Due to arthritis, an older cat may be very sensitive, so she should be handled with care. If she has begun to his or bite when picked up or handled, don’t take it personally – it simply may hurt and she knows of no other way to react. If she has lost weight, you have to be very careful and gentle as there will be bones protruding.
We also have to be extra careful when grooming an older cat. It would be a good idea to switch to a much softer brush, and to go about the procedure more gently than ever.
I’ve noticed that everyone in our household handles Prissy like fine china. She’s quite taken with the whole thing.
Here are some other great tips the book recommended:
- Older cats aren’t as fastidious about cleaning themselves as they once were. Help her out by (softly) brushing her each day.
- Elderly catslove to sleep in the sun’s rays, so provide a comfortable spot near a sunny window.
- Keep her away from drafts.
- Be very tolerant of an older cat’s litter box habits. It’s totally a hit and miss thing. Low-sided boxes are best, and unless you live in a really small house, several litter boxes would be a great idea.
- Have your cat examined by the vet several times a year.
- Use Spring or distilled water only.
- If your cat used to jump onto a favorite spot that she’s no longer able to get to on her own, provide her with some steps or even a few pillows.
- You may find you older cat seeking you out more than she once did. (Like lying right on a mouse pad!) This is the time to give her the comfort and security she’s looking for. Let her curl up in your lap, greeting her with warmth in your voice and show her just how much she’s loved and cherished. I’ve found that with Prissy, the time benefits me as much as it does her. It’s the perfect way to relax and unwind!
- You may notice that your cat has started calling out for you, especially at night. She may just be a little disoriented, wondering, “Where did everybody go?” Then again, she may just want a little bit more of that extra attention she’s coming to love so much!
Joi
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