Posts Tagged ‘Cats’

As I posted yesterday, my dogs are truly spoiled. Well, the same goes for our four purry kitties. They (like our dogs) love just about any kind of treat (except Ajax because he’s our picky eater), but the ones I list are their top favorites. What kind of treat does your cat like? You can get any of the treats I list below from your Best Fit Pet Sitter, delivered right to your door by ordering through The Pet Garage. Without further ado, Ajax, Comet, Chili and Nancy’s top 5 favorite treats!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything I know I learned from my cat:  When you’re hungry, eat.  When you’re tired, nap in a sunbeam.  When you go to the vet’s, pee on your owner.  ~Gary Smith

 

 

 

 

 

My husband Denny and I live with four cats, 3 of which are over the age of 6. Our eldest, Ajax, is 14 years old. I started researching kidney disease in hopes to stay on top of any symptoms that may arise, so that  we can catch it before it gets too far (of course, we’re hoping all of our cats live to the age of 30 and die in their sleep). Kidney failure is the second biggest killer in cats worldwide.

Kidney failure is very common in older cats, but can occur at any age. Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is an advancing, irreversible deterioration of kidney function. Keep in mind that when cats don’t feel well, depending on the personality of course, they do not like to show signs that they are sick. In order to hide their symptoms, a lot of times they’ll hide themselves. If your usually upbeat and friendly cat is making himself scarce lately, start looking for symptoms of illness. Some symptoms of kidney failure are:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Increased volume of urination
• Decreased frequency and volume of urination
• Urination in the middle of the night
• Blood in urine
• Decreased appetite
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Reluctance to move or lethargy
• Weight loss
• Poor or unkempt fur

This is not a complete list, and as you see, symptoms vary. Don’t take any chances- we take our kitties in for blood work at least once per year, just to be safe.

Causes of kidney failure vary as much as the symptoms. Parasites, age, cancer, infections (viral, bacterial or fungal), inflammation, trauma, genetics, auto-immune diseases, reactions to medications or poisons are just some of the causes.

There are many different tests that your veterinarian can perform to determine a diagnosis- chemistry panel tests, urinalysis, complete blood count, radiography, and ultrasonography are some of the tests your vet may talk to you about.

If caught early, there are treatments such as fluid therapy, diet change, electrolytes, vitamins and fatty acids that may help your cat get through kidney failure. Chronic Renal Failure can come on very quickly, though and it is not guaranteed that a cat can live through it. Early detection and healthy living is a good way to do all that you can for your cat. Remember, if you pay more for higher quality foods, you’ll probably spend less on vet bills in the long run.

The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude.  ~Robert Brault

You may remember the story about my husband and me taking in the meanest little feral that we’ve ever met. She was rescued from an alley in Lawrenceville by Penny from Huff’s Flowers, along with the mama cat and also a little boy cat. The mama and brother came out of their feral state fairly quickly, but Nancy held strong to her hissing, spitting and claw swinging ways.

It was quite a journey with Nancy (who was named after the girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist, Sid Vicious). On the advice of many folks that are experienced with feral cats, we kept Nancy in a bathroom to get her used to living indoors. That should have been only for a couple of weeks, but as I said, she held strong to being fearful and literally aggressive. Every day, 4 to 10 times per day, Denny and I would try to interact with her, going in the large bathroom, playing with her toys, luring her with treats, etc. Not much progress was made.

I was at my wit’s end, not knowing what else to do. It had been 3 1/2 months, and we were afraid to let Nancy out of the bathroom to interact with our 3 dogs and other 3 cats. We didn’t want her to get hurt or get lost in the house, basically being an indoor feral. One of my best friends convinced me that the only way Nancy will ever “come out of it” was to let her out of the bathroom, and see how domesticated cats act. Well, Denny and I discussed it and neither one of us was crazy about the idea, but we didn’t know anything else to do. We opened the bathroom door and went out into the living room to see what was going to happen.

Nancy slowly but surely came out of the bathroom, growling and hissing as loudly as possible. Then, she made her way upstairs, which is where our “cats’ room” is, where fresh food, water and litter boxes are (she also had those things in her bathroom, of course) and we didn’t see her again for 2 days. I was so scared that she was going to find a way to get into the attic or into the ventilation (there’s no way, I was just concerned about her to no end).

Of course, our two small dogs were really curious about what this little gray, growling and hissing animal was up to. We keep a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs so that the dogs don’t get into the cats’ room and eat their food or “kitty crunchies,” so they just stared up at the loft for days. Finally, Nancy showed her little face, peeking over our living room from the loft, and then jumped down onto a large wooden decorative shelving piece that we have in our living room to observe us.

Now, months later, this little kitty is another member of our family. My friend Allison was right, she just needed to interact with the other cats to see what it’s all about. There was a lot of growling and hissing from our other 3 cats at first, but now they are all buddies. Nancy follows me around in the morning at feeding time, big fluffy tail up in the air, just meowing away with our other morning beggar, Comet. She and Chili play non-stop, getting pretty rough, but still just play. They run up and down the stairs, just going completely crazy. Nancy even gets up on the couch and asks for attention from Denny and me now. She is very skittish and probably always will be, but she is as normal as a cat can ever be at this point. Nancy has come a long way and we are very proud of her! Now, if I can just find a way to teach her that she is not allowed on the kitchen counter!!!

“The phrase ‘domestic cat’ is an oxymoron.” – George Will

Keeping Your Pets Safe This Christmas

This is a truly fun time of year for all of us, including our pets! A lot of the decorations can pose a serious threat to our pets. Here are a few things to think about:

* If possible, put your Christmas tree in a room that is off limits to your pets. This can save you a lot of redecorating and also your pet from harm’s way. A baby gate around the tree can help as well.

* Tinsel and any other sort of string that can be swallowed are potentially deadly, as they can become entangled up within the intestines and will require surgery.

* Electric lights should be unplugged when your pets aren’t supervised. They are tempting to chew on and can cause electric shock.

* Glass ornaments look like toys and shatter easily, causing you and your pets painful cuts.

* The tree could fall on top of your pets, not only scaring them, but possibly hurting them.

* Some Christmas plants, such as poinsettias, mistletoe, and amaryllis bulbs, are poisonous, yet tasty. Keep these out of your pet’s reach.

* Tell your guests not to feed your pet holiday foods, such as chocolate and fatty or sugary foods. Keep pet treats around for your guests to give them instead.

* Make sure your guests keep all doors to outdoors closed and that your pet is wearing the appropriate identification.

* Keep your emergency vet and pet poison control numbers handy.

* Enjoy your holiday!

There are tons of great resources to learn training tips, pet diet tips, read great stories, etc. I’ve decided to make a list of some of these sites that I enjoy visiting and reading on.

Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer’s official website:

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com

On Pet Web Site you will find information on dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, gerbils, and mice.

http://www.petwebsite.com/

Dog breed, adoption, health and care information:

http://www.dogster.com/

Dogster’s fantastic blog:

http://dogblog.dogster.com/

Cat breed, adoption, health and care information:

http://www.catster.com/

Catster’s fantastic blog:

http://blogs.catster.com/the-cats-meow-a-cat-and-kitten-blog/

Horses, horse care, horse riding and driving, and safety:

http://horses.about.com

A site dedicated to saving animals of all kinds. Click the purple button once a day to feed a pet in a shelter for free. Lots of great merchandise, all money goes to animal rescue:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Pet adoption, great blog and lots of info:

http://www.petfinder.com/index.html

All about birds. How to choose the right breed of bird for a pet, health tips, etc:

http://birds.about.com

Victoria Stilwell of It’s Me or the Dog’s official website:

http://www.victoriastilwell.com/

Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen. A non-profit organization helping struggling pet owners with pet food cost:

http://www.daffyspetsoupkitchen.com

Lifeline Animal Project, Atlanta’s LifeLine for Homeless Pets:

http://www.atlantapets.org

There are many more websites to choose from, these are just a few. Type any pet question that you may have in your search engine and you’d be surprised how much information you have to choose from. Personalize tips to fit your pet and your schedule and don’t be afraid to modify!

Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~ George Elliot

While researching this subject, I found that there are MANY toxic dangers out there for your pets. I did my best to collect them all and put them in a readable and organized list. Please let me know if I left anything out and I’ll add it. There is so much, make sure that if you think that your pet has ingested or breathed or touched something that is making them act weird or feel bad, get them to the vet first and ask questions later. You could save their life.

PLANTS

Aloe Vera
Amaryllis
Apple (seeds)
Apricot (pit)
Arrowhead
Asparagus Fern
Avocado
Autumn Crocus
Azalea
Baneberry
Begonia
Bird of Paradise
Black Locust
Black Walnut
Bleeding Heart
Boston Ivy
Caladium
California Poppy
Calla Lily
Carnation
Castor Bean
Ceriman
Cherry (seeds, wilting leaves, and pit)
Chinese Evergreen
Chives
Christmas Rose
Chrysanthemum
Clematis
Corn Plant
Crocus
Croton
Crown of Thorns
Crown Vetch
Cyclamen
Daffodil
Delphinium
Devil’s Ivy
Dicentra
Dieffenbachia
Donkey Tail
Dumb Cane
Dutchman’s Breeches
Easter Lily
Elderberry
Elephant Ears
English Ivy
Eucalyptus
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Florida Beauty
Four O’Clock
Foxglove
Foxtail
Fruit Salad Plant
German Ivy
Gladiola
Hemlock
Holly
Honeysuckle
Hurricane Plant
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Iris
Ivy
Jack in the Pulpit
Japanese Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Jimson Weed
Jonquil
Kalanchoe
Lamb’s quarter
Lantana
Larkspur
Laurel
Lily
Lily of the Valley
Lobelia
Locoweed
Lords-and-Ladies
Lupine
Marigold (Marsh Marigold)
Marijuana
Mayapple
Mexican Breadfruit
Milkweed
Mistletoe
Monkshood
Morning Glory
Mother-in-Law plant
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Mountain Laurel
Mushrooms
Narcissus
Nephthytis
Nightshade
Oak Tree (buds and acorns)
Oleander
Onion
Peace Lily
Peach (wilting leaves and pits)
Pencil Tree
Philodendron
Pigweed
Poinsettia
Poison Ivy
Poison Hemlock
Poison Oak
Poison Sumac
Poppy
Potato (all green parts)
Pothos
Precatory Bean
Rhododendron
Rhubarb
Ribbon Cactus
Rubber Tree
Sago Palm
Schefflera
Shamrock Plant
Snake Plant
Snow on the Mountain
Sorghum
Star of Bethlehem
Stinging Nettle
Stinkweed
Swiss Cheese Plant
Taro Vine
Toadstools
Tobacco
Tomato Plant (entire plant except ripe fruit)
Umbrella Tree
Water Hemlock
Weeping Fig
Wisteria
Yew

FOODS
Alcoholic beverages
Apple seeds
Apricot pits
Avocados—toxic to birds, mice, rabbits, horses, cattle and dairy goats
Cherry pits
Candy (particularly chocolate, which is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets, and any candy containing the sweetener Xylitol)
Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)
Garlic
Grapes
Hops (used in home beer brewing)
Macadamia nuts
Moldy foods
Mushroom plants
Mustard seeds
Onions and onion powder
Peach pits
Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
Raisins
Rhubarb leaves
Salt
Tea (caffeine)
Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
Walnuts
Yeast dough

This information was gathered from several sources.

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. ~Hebrew Proverb

My husband, Denny, and I have cut some holes in a few cardboard boxes, taped 2 of them together, and the cats are going nuts! I added some catnip, a few of their toys and shine the laser pointer in there one in a while. It is so fun to watch and basically hands free! The best part is, our cats are getting some exercise. Here are a few more ideas for your kitty’s exercise plan, whether they are actually indoor or outdoor cats. Lots of fun and bonding for you and your feline friend!

• Bring out your cat’s primal side and buy some toys with feathers. If they make some sort of noise, even better! Our cats really go for a rattle sound or a bell sound. I suggest something on a string attached to a pole. I can’t tell you how many scratches that I’ve gotten playing with Ajax with a toy in my hand. Ouch!
• You can use that toy on a pole to get your cat to chase it up a tiered cat tree, up and around the furniture, and down and up the stairs. Getting them to move and use their balance and coordination skills is important.
• I also LOVE the laser pointer. Be sure that you don’t shine it in anyone’s eyes, they can do some real retina damage. Get your cat to chase the laser pointer up a tiered cat tree; all the stretching and climbing helps to strengthen and tone the muscles in your cat’s shoulders, legs, hips and back.
• You don’t have to spend extra money to get your cat something fun to play with. Use the cap from your milk jug or water bottle, or even a piece of ice and throw it on the floor so your cat can chase and scoot it across the floor. Be sure that you supervise your cat so that he doesn’t try to swallow the cap or anything. Also, if you have dogs, be sure that the pup doesn’t pick up the caps. Major choking hazard!
• Before you play any of these games with your cat, be sure that they have a clean bill of health. Monitor your cat’s behavior and be on the watch for signs of change in personality, eye color, smell or behavior. Playing with string or yarn with your cat may be funny, but if he swallows the string, thread or yarn (or any other similar object), it could get wrapped around his tongue and if he swallows much of it, the string can wrap itself around your cat’s intestines, causing serious illness and eventually death.

Our cats are now all pooped out from playing. They’re still all 3 a little overweight (well, Ajax is a lot), but we’ll continue to work on it and keep you updated! Please feel free to comment with suggestions, comments or anything that you want to say on this subject!

“The reason cats climb is so that they can look down on almost every other animal…its also the reason they hate birds. – KC Buffington

I realized one day as one of our 3 cats, Ajax, was weighing down my lap with his 17 lbs, it’s time to get this kitty moving! Once I started trying to get this docile senior off of the chair and down on the floor, I immediately recognized that this is truly a daily task that I have ahead of me, and not an easy one!

I bought a laser pointer and had him really going all over the house like a kitten! When our other two cats jump in, though,  Ajax backs off and returns to his horizontal position. I also put some cat nip in the toe of a panty hose knee high and all 3 of our cats enjoyed that, especially when I tacked it up a little high.

Ajax and I spend some one-on-one time together almost daily; me with toy in hand, and he with a kitten look in his eyes. He is 12 years old and still looking good! Since I started this play time with him, he’s gotten down to 16 pounds. I know one pound doesn’t sound like a lot, and it certainly isn’t enough, but it’s a great start in my opinion!

I’ve also started harnessing and leashing our cats one at a time and giving them some time in the backyard. Comet, Chili and Ajax all three really enjoy this time.

What do you do with your cats to keep them active? Any fun games or favorite toys you can suggest?

When I play with my cat, how do I know that she is not passing time with me rather than I with her? – Montaigne