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Think Twice Before Giving a Pet as Gift
Jessie, the sweet, adorable, and sensitive dog, always in the holiday spirit, is here to share some season’s greetings and gift-giving insights for the pet lover today:
Thinking of giving a pet to someone this holiday season? While your heart may be in the right place, giving someone a pet as a gift is not such a great idea! For starters, you just never know IF someone really wants a pet and, if he or she does, exactly what kind of pet is desired. Plus, you can’t just give someone a new pet and expect it to fit right into the new home environment right away. You may not be aware of any allergies certain family members might have or if their lifestyle is compatible with the breed of cat or dog you may be giving them. Plus, introducing a new pet to the family during this stressful time of year can really stress out that special dog or cat, too!
So, in the spirit of maintaining the excitement of pet lovers everywhere who wish to spread the joy of pet ownership to others, here are a couple of alternative ideas that can still make this holiday season a joyous one:
1.) Instead of buying someone a cat or a dog for the holidays, give him or her a gift certificate for one, from you, so that he or she can go out at a convenient time (preferably AFTER the busy holiday season!) and make a selection. Encourage that person to go to a local shelter or rescue to find that perfect companion.
2.) If someone you know loves animals but is not in a position to own a pet, why not make a donation to a local pet shelter or rescue in that person’s name? Shelters can always use monetary donations, cleaning supplies, pet food, etc.
(P.S. – If you are seriously looking for a cat, I know where you can get one. Contact me and we’ll talk! He’s asleep right now, so the timing could not be better!)
Making Sure Your Pets Have A Safe and Happy Holiday
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but it’s important to keep your pet’s safety in mind. Here are some safety tips to ensure your pets enjoy a safe and happy holiday season:
- Many cats enjoy batting ornaments that are hanging on the tree. If your feline is one of them, don’t hang breakable ornaments within your cat’s reach.
- Watch out for candles. Dogs and cats can be curious and get too close to the flame or knock the candle over, so be sure candles are out of your pet’s reach.
- This time of year there are many snacks around that can be hazardous if ingested by your pet, so as spelled out above, don’t leave snacks like chocolate anywhere your pet can reach them.
- Electrical cords can be fun for cats or dogs to chew on, so be sure to cover electrical cords to prevent your pet from chewing on them.
- Tinsel can be another fun toy, especially for cats, but can be very hazardous if eaten, so be sure your pets aren’t able to get to them.
- This can be a very hectic time of year with many visitors coming and going, and this change in routine be can very stressful for your pets. If your pet is particularly shy, be sure he has a quiet room to go to for a break from the action.
- Be sure visitors are aware of rules regarding outside time for your pets. With many people in and out, pets can sneak out quickly, so don’t leave doors open to make it tempting for a pet escape.
Five Tests Your Senior Cat Needs
Last week, I was talking to someone that was lamenting the cost of taking her two senior cats to the vet for wellness check-ups.
Like us, as cats age health problems can creep up more often. It’s better to take the preventative approach, though, versus dealing with an illness once it’s taken hold.
A cat is typically considered a senior at 8-10 years of age. Once a cat becomes a senior, it’s best to take him for check-ups every six months. Following are five tests your senior cat needs during his check-up:
- Blood chemistry profile
- Complete blood count
- Thyroid test
- Urinalysis
- Blood pressure check
It’s not unusual for these tests to cost hundreds of dollars, but there are financing options available. I’ve used CareCredit several times to cover pet medical expenses and it’s been a lifesaver for me!
Check their site, carecredit.com to see if your vet office is a member. If they are, application for a card is easy. Once you have an account, present your card at the time vet services are provided, and you can get interest-free financing if charges are paid off within the predefined timeframe.
10 Most Cat-Friendly Cities
Not all cats like to travel, but those that do like destinations where they’re recognized as “Very Important Pets”. The CATalyst Council, a non-profit organization that is a resource for veterinarians, animal shelters/rescue groups and cat owners, picked these cities as the most cat-friendly in the U.S.:
- Tampa
- Phoenix
- San Francisco
- Portland
- Denver
- Boston
- Seattle
- San Diego
- Atlanta
- Minneapolis
Factors that were used to rank the cities included cat ownership rates, vet quality, microchipping, and “cat-friendly” city ordinances.
For more information on the CATalyst Council, go to catalystcouncil.org
4 Things to Make Trimming Your Cat’s Nails Easier
Notice the title of this post, trimming cat’s nails easier, because as any cat owner will probably tell you, trimming a cat’s nails can be a very scary proposition! Although nail trimming isn’t easy, there are a few things to have on hand that can make it go a little smoother.
- Feline nail trimmers: These are available at pet supply stores. By all means, don’t try using the clippers you use for your nails! The feline trimmers have indentations on the side to give you an idea where to trim the nail and how much to cut.
- Styptic powder: In the event you cut too much of the nail and it begins to bleed, the powder will curb the bleeding. If you don’t have any of the powder on hand, flour or cornstarch can serve as a substitute.
- Treats: Although they’ll still know what’s happening, having treats on hand can help your cat survive the trimming a little better.
- Hiding place: If your cat is one that doesn’t like to be messed with in any way (as Marty is), provide a hiding place (a pillowcase works fairly well with Marty) and work on trimming one paw’s nails at a time. It may take a few days to get all paws done, but can save you much pain, and your cat some stress.
Good luck……….and safe trimming!
Pay Attention to Subtle Signs
Jessie
Yesterday, when Jessie was laying down I heard her yelp. I thought maybe Marty had done something to upset her, so I stopped what I was doing for a bit and sat down on the couch with her.
She got up and when she moved a certain direction she yelped again. No Marty in sight, so I knew something wasn’t right. I figured I would wait until today, see if it got any better….or worse. She was okay eating breakfast, ok on our walk, but then when she was circling to lay down she yelped again.
At that point I called to schedule a vet appointment. Good thing I did, the vet, after reviewing x-rays said he was surprised she could walk. This was very upsetting for me to hear. He went on to say it was good I got her in when I did, by doing so I may very possibly have prevented permanent damage to her back. Failure to act promptly in a case like Jessie’s could very possibly mean back surgery.
Turns out she has a couple of inflamed vertebrae that are pressing on her spinal chord, the pressing is the source of pain that was causing her to cry out. She’s going to be getting a series of anti-inflammatory meds via IV that will hopefully reduce the inflammation, and subsequently reduce her pain.
I’m sharing this story to encourage you to pay close attention to subtle changes in your pet’s behavior that could signal a serious problem. Prompt attention could mean the difference in a speedy recovery vs. a long, painful and probably very expensive course of treatment.
Is Your Cat a Night Owl?
One thing I’ve been dealing with since Marty, aka “Party Marty” joined our household is his fondness for waking up in the middle of the night.
At first the 3 a.m. wake-up calls weren’t too bad, but after a couple weeks of it, the novelty definitely wore off. So what are some things to do to prevent your cat from waking you up at crazy hours?
One thing that’s worked for me is ignoring Marty when he starts pleading in his whiny voice. When that doesn’t work, he usually finds things that make noise (the blinds are a favorite) to try to get me up. Although it can be very difficult to not acknowledge him (keep in mind that yelling is a form of acknowledgement), I’ve found that it does seem to be working.
Something else I’ve started doing is playing with him more to use up some of his pent-up energy. I’ve been breaking up our play sessions throughout the day, reserving some for the evening with the thought of tiring him out so he’ll sleep better, and hopefully longer.
If your cat is one that likes to get physical, as in sitting on your chest and looking at you, or, as Bo used to do, pull your hair, it might be worth considering making the bedroom a kitty-free zone by closing the door.
What has worked for you to prevent your cat from keeping you up nights?
Airport Program For Safer Pet Travel
Air travel can be very stressful for pets, and with this in mind, Boston’s Logan International Airport has created a program to train employees on pet safety.
The program was started in 2008 in response to several pet escapes from kennels and pet health emergencies. There are approximately 2000 pets that travel through Logan monthly.
Veterinarians teach pet first aid classes to firefighters, state police and paramedics working at the airport. Other airline employees receive training on handling of pets.
The Animal Rescue League of Boston provides a pet ambulance to transport sick or injured pets to nearby veterinary hospitals.
Since implementing the program, Logan sources report there have been no reports of escaped pets and pets requiring emergency care have been treated successfully.
Source: Dog Fancy, September 2011
What the Litterbox Can Tell You About Your Cat’s Health
Scooping your cat’s litterbox isn’t the most enjoyable chore, but it is a chance to learn some things about your cat’s health.
When scooping the box, check for signs your cat may have diarrhea or is constipated.
Pay close attention to urine clumps. An increase in the size and/or number of clumps could signal diabetes. If the clumps are fewer and becoming smaller in size, it could signal crystals in your cat’s kidneys.
Cats are masters at concealing health problems, so subtle signs like changes in litterbox content may be the only sign we get that something is wrong.
If you notice changes in your cat’s litterbox contents, make a vet appointment to be sure everything is ok.
What’s your cat’s litterbox telling you?
Guest Post: Could Your Pet Benefit From Reiki?
Today’s post was written by Lori Carter, a Usui Reiki Master based in the Kansas City area.
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. The word “Reiki” means spiritually guided energy. Reiki is ideal for use with animals because it is gentle and non-invasive. It does not cause stress, discomfort, or pain, yet yields powerful results.
Our animal companions can feel pain, sadness, and experience deep worry and concern just as we do. Animals also pick up and absorb our stress. When you come home from a stressful day at work and see that wagging tail and bundle of fur giving you joyous kisses of welcome, do you find your stress has dissipated? Your little animal friend may have just absorbed all your frustration and anger, but may not have the means to easily release these sticky and heavy energies from his body.
Animals respond intuitively to Reiki’s power to heal emotional, behavioural, and physical illnesses and injuries. Even when a physical healing is not possible, Reiki can bring peace and comfort and ease the transition to death. Animals often respond more quickly to Reiki than people do and positive results can be seen in a short period of time. Science has shown there is an inter-connectedness between the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Reiki fulfills the need to address the mind and spirit, while veterinary care fulfills the immediate needs of the physical body.
For animals that are healthy, Reiki helps to maintain their health, enhances relaxation, and provides an emotional sense of peace and contentment.
When animals are ill, Reiki assists healing at the deepest levels and is a safe complement to conventional Western medicine, Chinese medicine, and all other forms of healing. Reiki helps to reduce the side effects of other treatments as well.
For dying animals, Reiki is a highly effective yet gentle way to provide comfort; relieve pain, fear, and anxiety; and ease the transition from this life. It provides support and helps with grief and fear for the human companion as well.
Lori regularly uses Reiki on her two cats and Amazon Parrot. She also conducts Reiki classes to attune others to the healing energy of Reiki for pets and their people. If you would like more information on the use of Reiki for pets, Lori may be contacted at (913) 219-4415 or email her at ldcarter@everestkc.net
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