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Posts Tagged ‘ cats ’
Funny Pet Picture of the Week
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011What if You Should Predecease Your Pet?
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011The Spirit of Bo, returning to enlighten my readers: Although I have been gone for awhile now, I hope I am never out of mind. Jessie and Marty are doing well with this blog, but sometimes I just have to make an unexpected appearance. Since my passing, I have been busy looking over Jessie, Marty, and my human Karen. I thought this blog post would be a fitting one from me, as it speaks to what could happen to your pet(s) should you predecease them.
A good rule of thumb is to carry an animal card with you. If you are injured or die suddenly, this card will alert medical personnel or anyone taking care of you that you have a pet that needs food, water, and attention back home. The card should include information as to your pet’s name, the kind of pet, where the pet is, and any special instructions as to the care of your pet. It is also advisable to list the contact information for your veterinarian on the card.
If you want to provide for your pet’s care after your death, consider naming a human beneficiary who can receive funds to care for and cover your pet’s expenses after your death. Of course, be sure to discuss this with the named beneficiary to make sure he or she is agreeable to it.
While it is not always easy to think about death, being prepared for the unexpected helps! (Besides, I bet you didn’t expect me to show up today, did you?)
Thanks to askmyvet.com for this helpful information!
The Great Pumpkin: Nutritional Benefits for Our Pets…And Us!
Saturday, November 5th, 2011Halloween brought focus to the pumpkin….ah yes, carving a scary Jack-O-Lantern is a tradition in many households, but did you know pumpkin is a lot more than just something to carve?
Pumpkin has many health benefits for our pets, such as:
- Helping with weight management. Pumpkin has a lot of fiber and not a lot of calories, so putting a spoonful in with your pet’s normal food can help him feel full longer.
- Helping with digestion and elimination. As I mentioned above, pumpkin does have a high fiber content, so if your pet is suffering from constipation, adding pumpkin to his diet will help. Pumpkin can also help if your pet has digestive upset/diarrhea. This applies for both cats and dogs, by the way.
- Also, if your dog has a habit of “scooting”, adding pumpkin will aid in reducing the anal sac buildup that causes dogs to scoot.
- Helps support urinary health. Pumpkins contain oils that help support urinary health. They’re also a good source of antioxidants, Vitamin A and beta-carotine.
Be sure to feed your pet unsweetened pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie mix. The mix has added sugar that pets don’t need.
Tomorrow I’ll share a recipe for pumpkin dog treats that many dogs love!
Five Tests Your Senior Cat Needs
Sunday, October 30th, 2011Last 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.
Is There an Elephant in the Room? No…That’s Just Marty!
Monday, October 24th, 2011Jessie, the inquisitive dog with a nose for the answers: I love to research material online. Educating myself is my first priority. It keeps me mentally fit and two steps ahead of that mangy cat, Marty.
Interestingly enough, my research led me to some interesting information this weekend. Did you know that elephants and cats have something in common? Elephants purr! Just like cats! For elephants, it is a form of communication. They purr when they are out of sight of other elephants, but that purring alerts the others to their presence. If an elephant feels threatened, then the purring stops as a warning to the other elephants of potential danger. Once the danger is gone, the purring continues.
I trust that Marty will stop purring once he realizes I am close by. He should be cautious of my presence. I am, after all, the alpha dog.
Hey, Marty! What do you want to be for Halloween this year? I hear there are some fun elephant costumes at the store!
(Thanks to the bigsiteofamazingfacts for this fun and interesting tid bit.)
Why All the Fuss About Black Cats at Halloween?
Friday, October 21st, 2011Marty Party, ready to kick it up a notch or two in honor of the upcoming Halloween festivities! Hey! While you are sitting there pondering what your Halloween costume might be this year (and may I suggest one in the form of an incredibly funny, good-looking, and engaging cat named Marty?), I did some digging the other day because I was interested in knowing why cats, especially black ones, are associated with Halloween. The devil made me do it! Well, cats have been associated as the devil’s pet for centuries.
As for how black cats became introduced to the Halloween scene, it all has to do with those scary witches. When witches became associated with Halloweed centuries ago, the black cat sort of rode on the witches’ coat tails…or brooms, so to speak! Cats are nocturnal creatures (yes, I do prefer napping all day!), and many believed that witches became cats at night. Plus, the way cats’ eyes glow in the dark tends to reflect an evil presence about them. (Don’t worry. I wear my sunglasses at night!) It’s all kind of creepy if you think about it, but let’s just keep it in good fun. So, this year, I am introducing the black dog. All I need is a can of black spray paint and that annoying dog, Jessie. Maybe I will post photos later….after I have done my work! Shhhh….don’t tell our human, Karen!
Anyway, despite black cats being associated with Halloween and all things evil, no matter what the color of your cat (or dog!), be sure to keep them safe and happy this Halloween! After all, they do add so much Joy of Living to your life!
Thanks to holidays.net for the background info on black cats.
Famous Cats in History
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011Party Marty here, trying to “one up” the dog in the householdd: Just because there may be some famous dogs in history doesn’t mean we should overlook those famous felines, right?
**Who could forget Felix the Cat, the amazing star of the animated cartoon that bore the same name?
**Garfield…a personal favorite of mine. He has always known how to out-wti, out-smart, and out-maneuver not only Odie, that dog companion of his, but his human, too! In my humble opinion, Garfield rocks!
**And then there is the Pink Panther! This clever, crafty, pink-colored feline made his worldly debut in 1964 in the original “Pink Panther” movie. While his crafty ways generally kept him unharmed, he always managed to leave some sort of messy trail. He did keep audiences entertained, however!
**You’re probably smiling now, as I am going to mention Cheshire cat from “Alice in Wonderland.” While most cats just leave nuggets in the litter box behind, this clever cat would often just disappear leaving nothing but that famous grin behind. (How did he do that?)
**Muessa – so adored by its owner, Mohammed, that stories claim Mohammed would cut off his robe if the cat was sleeping upon it instead of disturbing Muessa from its slumber.
**Then there was Slippers, the six-toes-per-paw cat adored by President Theodore Roosevelt. Rumor has it that Slippers actually attended diplomatic dinners.
Be sure to look for my name one day in the anals of cat history! Lots of exciting things coming up for me! Stay tuned!
Thanks to lookd.com for this amazing info!
10 Most Cat-Friendly Cities
Sunday, October 9th, 2011Not 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
In What Kind of Shape is Your Cat…Literally?
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011Party Marty here, the cool cat with all the right moves and the killer bod to match! Just because the summer has ended does not mean I give into the whims of laziness and just let my body go. Oh, no! Keeping this physique in shape is a year-round endeavor. Actually, it’s more of a gift. I just can’t help looking the way I do! Often copied; never equaled!
By the way, did you know that there are three body types for a cat? (Well, four if you include my dynamic shape, but it’s unique to me – in a rare class all its own!)
The cobby type is comprised of a compact body, a deep chest, short legs, and a broad head. This cat’s eyes are large and round.
Then you have the muscular type, which is evidenced by a sturdy body and a round, full-cheeked head.
Finally, the foreign type can be observed by its slender body, long legs, and long tail. The head of this type of cat is wedge-shaped and produces tall ears and eyes that slant.
As for me, well….anyone call tell at first blush that I have it going on! Don’t try to duplicate this amazing look! Not possible!
Take care! Catch you later! Thanks to catscan.com for this intriguing information. Perhaps they will dedicate a page all to me! Looks like this don’t just come along every day, you know!
10 Great Things About Cats
Monday, September 26th, 2011
We’ve been giving the canines of the world quite a bit of coverage, so I thought I’d give props to the feline community. I happened upon this the other day on claudebouchardbooks.com. Enjoy!
10 Great Things About Cats
1. They show us where we keep the cat food every day;
2. They let us know when it’s time to feed them, whether it is or not;
3. If we want to sit down, they invariably choose that spot before we get there;
4. They make us feel useful by using us as furniture;
5. They only chew on plants and subsequently vomit occasionally;
6. They only break things like vases or steal small objects once in a while;
7. They wake us gently by shoving their hairy faces in ours or by pouncing on us;
8. They store their toys, especially balls, conveniently towards the top of the stairs and other high-traffic areas or in our shoes;
9. They open the linen closet and sliding closet doors, simply because they can;
10. They are adorable and offer us their unconditional love.
Overland Park Pet Care
Joy of Living provides pet sitting, dog walking, pet taxi and matchmaking services in Overland Park, KS and surrounding areas. This is also the blog of Karen Harrison, owner of Joy of Living and her pets, Bo and Jessie. We blog about pet care and the special bond between people and their pets.
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