Month: December 2010

I frequently get asked my professional opinion about whether I think people go “too far” in their consideration of their pets — people who plan their vacations around their companion animals, buy them holiday gifts or refer to them as their children. In my opinion, the question itself is a problem. I think it can be dangerous to label the behaviors of others as if there were universal rules about what is acceptable and what is “too extreme.” Labeling another’s values as “good,” “bad,” “right,” “wrong,” or “too extreme” is futile in most cases, and only serves to divide people. Many people feel their furry (or feathered, scaled or otherwise) friends are kin in the same way a human child or relative is. Frankly, I see no problem with this — quite the contrary. It says a lot about commitment and personal responsibility for someone to take the life of another in their care seriously. To value another life regardless of difference (e.g. species) is at the very root of peace. And to rank someone else’s worth is its antithesis.

I’d even go further to say that not making certain sacrifices to accommodate one’s companion animal is far more problematic than the reverse: It is one of the primary reasons our shelters are overfilled with former family pets.

There is an instance in which someone can go “too far”… finish the post by clicking here.

Pia blogs often at The Daily Wag on MarthaStewart.com, the home of episodes from Francesca and Sharkey – Martha Stewart’s two dogs. Dr. Pia Salk is a psychologist, animal welfare advocate, and expert on the human-animal bond. Pia frequently highlights the important role that animals play in our lives and how our societal treatment of animals conveys important messages to our youth. In her own work, Pia often credits the animals as being “the real therapists.”

Car trips with your pet can be so much fun! Ideally you set out smiling with the excitement of being on your way to sharing exploring new worlds, be it a friend’s home, camping in the wilderness, or a fido/fluffy-friendly hotel. Then on the way back, there’s the joy of coming home! But for some pets, car trips can be not only stressful, but can make them sick or cause them injury if they are not properly contained. We’ve done dozens of car trips with our own dogs and cats, from cross-country marathons to short trips around town. Based on our experiences and some research, we’ve narrowed our advice down to the most essential 5 Tips for Safe Car Trips with Your Pets:

1. Pet Seat Belt Harness or Crate. Pets should never be allowed to ride unrestrained inside your car/suv, or outside in the flatbed of a truck. Keep your pets safe in a properly fitted car or flatbed pet harness, secured to the seat-belt or tie-downs, or inside a properly-sized travel crate that is securely strapped in place.
2. Windows Open? Oh my, how dogs love to stick their noses out of a moving car window! But is the danger of your pet being blinded or worse worth it? Check out BreezeGuard‘s car window screens! They will let your dog (or even that adventurous cat) enjoy the same windy sensation much more safely. They also keep your pet safely contained, and inside temperatures matching the outside, when you stop.
3. Back seat. Just like with kids, the back seat is the safest place for your family pet to ride – not all the way in the back of a wagon or truck, and not in the front, especially where an airbag could deploy in case of an accident.
4. Car Sick Pets. Motion sickness is really no fun for you or your pet. Try to not feed them 4-6 hours before the car trip. Make frequent stops if its a long trip. Drive slower than usual, especially around curves. Roll down the window closest to them an inch or two for a safe breeze, or use a BreezeGuard car window screen. If they are a smaller pet, elevating them on a cushion, pet car seat, or in their crate so they can see out the window can help too. You can also get your pet used to car trips and less likely to get sick by taking them on daily short rides around the block, gradually lengthening the trip each time.
5. Collar and ID. Every car trip, make sure your pets are wearing a collar with an up-to-date ID tag. Preferably it should have not only your phone number and address, but your emergency contact phone numbers as well – like your vet, or a neighbor/friend who could take in your pet temporarily. What if you are in an accident, your pet escapes, and you are not home or unable to answer your cell phone? Having your pet microchipped with all those up-to-date contacts is a good safety tip too.

As you enjoy your pet’s companionship, a little extra effort on your part will teach her to be a good neighbor.

Most communities require each cat in a household to be registered and some have limits on the number of cats one household can own. Keeping your cat indoors avoids problems with neighbors and protects your cat from being hit by a car, encounters with unfriendly dogs or attacks by other animals. If your cat is allowed outdoors, train her to wear a safety collar with an expansion device and a tag that gives your cat’s name and your telephone number to distinguish your cat from stray cats. Proper identification enables someone to contact you if your pet wanders far from home.

Cats who are allowed to roam may damage neighbors’ gardens or use planters as litter boxes. If you allow your cat outside, keep a watchful eye on her. If she leaves to visit a neighbor, bring her back to her own yard.

A cat who is not neutered or spayed may become an undesirable neighbor. Female cats come into their first heat cycle between five and seven months of age and may have several heat cycles throughout the year. Spaying eliminates the problem of a female in heat who attracts male cats and annoys the neighbors. A male cat who is not neutered can be prone to roam and fight. He also sprays urine, which has a strong, unpleasant odor.

Keep your cat well nourished by feeding a nutritionally complete and balanced quality pet food. Take her to your veterinarian regularly to keep her vaccinations current and to be certain she is free from internal and external parasites and in general good health.

Kitty purrs every time you pamper her with an afternoon petting – but how did purring come to be a sign of contentment?

Kittens first start purring when mama spoils them with a suckling feast. This signals that her milk rations are successfully reaching their destination. Mom purrs back to confirm the message has been received.

But a cat’s reaction to being sick or injured may be no different – she’ll purr the night away. Some scientists think that when a cat purrs in reaction to suffering, the act releases endorphins, which are natural analgesics that ease suffering. In other words, kitty self-prescribes her own “feel-good” medication when pain strikes. It’s a purr-fect solution.

When a cat falls, it almost always seems able to land on all four feet. This ability – called the righting reflex – has been honed through thousands of years of evolution.

Ever wonder how a feline accomplishes this incredible feat? During a free fall, the cat’s eyes send a message to the brain, which in turn signals the muscles to twist around so the animal’s head becomes parallel to the ground. The body naturally follows.

It’s an amazing stunt, but don’t ever think about dropping your pet to test her abilities! Not only does an upside down cat need at least three feet to right itself – if the animal is nearsighted or farsighted, her self-righting mechanism could be off balance, and you could seriously injure your pet.

Do closed doors mean a cat is cooped up or kept from harm? Some people assume that it’s cruel to keep a cat in the house all day, but indoor cats are often better off. In fact, veterinarians say they tend to be healthier and live longer. That’s because an indoor cat is less likely to be exposed to viruses or bacterial infections, and it can’t get hit by a car or attacked by wild animals. Chances are, it won’t pick up any fleas or ticks, either.

Ultimately, an indoor cat’s biggest problem may be boredom, so give your bundle of fur plenty of toys, perches, and scratching posts, and play with him often. When it’s fun to be inside, many indoor cats who finally do go out want to come right back in.

Planting a custom cat garden for your kitty will make all of the other neighborhood cats green with envy. But what type of greens will your cat enjoy? As you might guess, no cat garden can be complete without a planting of catnip or cat mint. But that’s just for starters.

Let your garden double as a salad bar by adding wheat grass or oat grass to the mix. Some experts recommend planting cat thyme, also in the mint family, as well as valerian. Valerian makes people sleepy, but cats can get a lift from it.

As your cat garden grows, consider rounding it out with kitty-safe ornamental plants—creeping rosemary, alyssum, and heather are popular choices.

If you’re going out of town and have hired a pet sitter, you’ll need to hand over more than the keys.

Start by making a list of pertinent contact information including the names and numbers of your veterinarian, an after-hours emergency service; and a family member or friend you trust. Leave copies of your pet’s medical and vaccination records, too.

It’s also critical to write down explicit instructions for the type, frequency, and amount of food that each pet eats, as well as any medication that is needed. The more details you can leave about the pet’s daily routine, the better. This information will help the pet-sitter keep the environment consistent, so your precious bundle of fur says stress-free in your absence.

If you’re considering a cute, cuddly kitten companion, think about the commitment you’ll be making… for the next fifteen to twenty years.

Can you afford high quality food, litter, vaccinations, and annual veterinarian visits? Consider your lifestyle and travel routine, too. Kittens are cute…but they are also mischievous; you’ll need to kitten-proof your home, and spend time to teach some rules.

Cleaning and grooming are also part of cat keeping – not to mention the fact that you’ll need to spend quality playtime with your pet! And don’t forget – your chore list will need to include vacuuming hair and cleaning the litter box.

So before getting a new cat, consider the responsibilities. Then, if you’re ready, jump in with all four paws!

Here are some normal behaviors for each cat life stage:

Birth to 16 weeks

Just learning her way around, your kitten may be playful, but most likely shy. Click here for more information on how to care for your new kitten.

16 weeks to 1 year

Your kitten will likely still be very playful and spunky. At approximately six months old, you should spay or neuter if you are not planning to breed your cat.

1 to 8 years

Your young cat is in her prime. Remember your annual visits to the veterinarian.

8 to 12 years

Your pre-geriatric cat may begin to slow down, but her behavior shouldn’t change much.

12+ years

Your cat is entering old age. You may begin to notice some health problems. Your cat will move slower if her joints begin to stiffen. She may also become easily irritated.

Final Thought

In any health-related issue, whenever you have concerns about your cat, consult your veterinarian. He or she is familiar with your cat and her medical history and has the professional skill and knowledge to identify and treat whatever might be the problem.