5 Ways to Appreciate Your Cat on National Cat Day

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The social media gurus among us know that Saturdays have permanently been renamed Caturday, but did you know that October 29th is National Cat Day? Yes, it’s true, this entire weekend is all about the cats.

According to NationalDayCalendar.com, National Cat Day was founded to help the public recognize the number of cats that need to be rescued.  It’s also a day for cat lovers to celebrate the cats in their lives for the unconditional love and companionship that they give. Though the kittens in our lives aren’t always the most expressive, we think today is a great day to show them just how much we love them. Here are five ways you can show your cat how much you appreciate him/her.

#1 – Plant a Catnip Garden

Anyone who’s ever owned a cat knows that cats go crazy for catnip. This harmless herb gives our feline friends a pick-me-up and enjoyable “high.” Combine catnip with a special toy and you’ve really ramped up the fun for your pet. Or, if you want something more permanent, plant an indoor or outdoor catnip garden so your feline can have a nip every now and then. Cats will love you back when you shower them with catnip.

#2 – Bird Feeder by the Window

Cats love to watch birds. They also probably wish they could pounce on those birds. Thank your cat for being her sassy self by putting up a bird feeder or bath where your kitty can watch in the window. This way she gets all the enjoyment of bird watching and none of the gore.

#3 -Cats Massage

While cats aren’t known to be as affectionate as their canine counterparts, they still appreciate some loving from their furless pals. Simply stroking your cat, gives an all-over feel-good experience that lowers his blood pressure —your blood pressure will also go down as an added benefit. Pay special attention to the places he likes best, such as the base of the tail and under the cheeks. Touching, petting, and massaging your cat also serve as well-cat checks to find any fur mats, lumps or bumps or sores that need medical attention.

#4 – Outdoor Play Enclosure

Sometimes you kitty may want to give into her wild side and go for a romp outside. She may sit at the window and dream of going on a hunt, but you know it’s not safe, so what do you do? Get your kitty a outside play enclosure as a way of saying thanks for putting up with the required monthly bath.

#5 – Cat Grooming

Cats spend half of their waking hours self-grooming. What can we say, cats like to stay spiffy, they also like to groom their friends as a sign of affection. Not only does the comb/brush feel like an all-over massage, it keeps fur mat-free and skin clean, reduces fur-balls, and enhances the bond between you and the cat. If you really want to amp up the bonding opportunity you can try licking your cat during the grooming session. Don’t worry, we don’t mean literally, but there is a cat brush that is made to simulate a cat tongue — if you’re into that kind of thing.

Displaced Paws Connects Pet Owners Affected By Natural Disasters with Temporary Foster Homes

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The last few weeks have been filled with multiple stories about the wildfires spreading across Northern California and how residents are being affected. Some were heroic, while others tragic, many were about pets. We heard the story about the junior college student who carried her 70lbs. dog in a duffel bag as she rode her bike to safety and watched her entire neighborhood burn down. We read stories stories about cats with singed whiskers and burned paws and horses without barns left to sleep in —and after hearing so many stories, we knew it was time to step in and offer help.

In September, when various parts of the country were being ravaged by hurricanes, Adopt-a-Pet.com launched fosterahurricanepet.org to aid people who needed help finding temporary foster care for their pets as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. In the wake of the massive wildfires that are sweeping The Golden State, we have expanded our emergency pet foster program to assist pet owners in California.

Displaced Paws (www.displacedpaws.org) —renamed to include all types of natural disasters— matches pet owners affected by the fires with local animal lovers who can care for their pets while their families get back on their feet. Whether it’s a need for placement for a few days or a few weeks, Displaced Paws is the first peer-to-peer platform that connects victims of natural disasters with temporary housing for their companion animals as they recover and rebuild their lives.

“The days leading up to and weeks following horrific events, such as the wildfires we are currently experiencing in northern California, can be some of the most traumatic a family will ever encounter,” said David Meyer, Adopt-a-Pet.com CEO and co-founder. “By giving pet owners the ability to find safe and local temporary care for their pets, Displaced Paws gives these victims one less thing to worry about while ensuring beloved family pets aren’t left behind or surrendered to animal shelters.”

Only people local to the areas affected by devastation are being asked to open their homes to foster a pet. Pet lovers in other parts of the country who want to help are encouraged to visit Adopt-a-Pet.com or Petfinder.com to adopt a pet from their local shelter and help make room for homeless pets being moved out of disaster affected areas.  Those who can’t adopt but still want to lend support can make a tax-deductible donation that will entirely be used to cover the costs of foster care for pets affected by natural disaster.

A Safe New Way To Way to Rehome A Pet

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For most pet owners adding a pet to the family is a permanent decision, but there are times when unexpected circumstances can make caring for a pet difficult. At Adopt-a-Pet.com, we believe that every pet deserves a loving home, but we’re realistic that not every home is right for every pet.

Every year, millions of pets find themselves needing new homes. Often times owners find themselves in financial hardship or they are forced to relocate to an area that is not pet friendly. There are many circumstances that lead pet owners to consider rehoming their pet, but safe options for finding their companions a loving new home have been limited. Everyday, we were seeing pets surrendered to overcrowded animal shelters and rescues or posted on dangerous classifieds sites like Craigslist. This had us thinking that there had to be a better alternative. Now, there is!

Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com and the Petco Foundation is the safe, reliable, and free way to find a loving home for your pet. Rehome is a peer-to-peer adoption service that allows pet owners to post pets needing new homes on Adopt-a-Pet.com to be seen by the millions of adopters who visit our site each month. Rehome also provides pet owners with all of the tools and guidance they need to screen applicants and choose the right new family for their pet. We can even help to set up safe meet and greets with potential adopters at well-lit, public places like Petco stores. Additionally, 100% of the adoption fee the new owner pays is donated to a local animal shelter or rescue!

“Adopt-a-Pet.com has extensive experience in helping pets from our network of over 17,000 animal shelters and rescues to find new homes,” said Abbie Moore, Adopt-a-Pet.com Executive Director and Chief Product Officer. “Now, with Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com and the Petco Foundation, we bring our deep knowledge and understanding of the pet adoption process to pet owners in crisis – keeping more pets from entering shelters and giving owners peace of mind that their pets are happily and safely joining new families.”

In addition to guiding users through the process of safely rehoming a pet, Rehome also provides guidance to pet owners who wish to explore solutions that would allow them to keep their pet. For example, users can easily access valuable information around troubleshooting behavioral issues, finding pet friendly housing and accessing affordable veterinary care.

“Rehome is a win for everyone involved, pet owners needing help, pets, adopters and animal shelters throughout the country; and we are proud to join forces with Adopt-a-Pet.com to make this happen,” said Susanne Kogut, Petco Foundation’s Executive Director. “At the Petco Foundation we believe that when we develop innovative solutions and empower communities to participate and help in saving animal lives, we will create life saving communities everywhere and assure that every pet has a loving home.”

For more information on this groundbreaking and innovative service developed in collaboration with the Petco Foundation, visit rehome.adoptapet.com.