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June is Cat Adoption Month! (No, I'm not making this up...)

6/24/2011

From the PetMD website...

I’m big on this. Really big. Finding homes for in-need cats and kittens is a never ending battle I’ve long since sworn to fight into perpetuity. As should you … if you love cats, that is. And the rest of you? I’m not sure I believe you aren’t secretly smitten. Because who can’t find a soft spot for an animal so fiercely … well … feline?

So now that June is coming to a close, I figure I’ve got to make good on my perennial promise to contribute to the kitten-homing, cat-evangelizing religion I so fervently practice (well, I try, but I don’t always succeed).

To that end, I’ve come up with a few choice tips for all you novice cat rescuers and kitten homers (I can’t teach the pros anything), or anyone else looking to disseminate felinity far and wide. Because getting felids placed is an art, for sure, but it’s also a sales job.

Cats are best homed in twos and threes! That’s right, you heard it definitively here. Cats love company — kittens, especially. How else to save yourself the stress and pain of needless adolescent play-inflicted claw marks? Kittens LOVE one another. Never again will you need to ask, "Should I get her a playmate?" And, of course, this trick gets the little ones homed two or three times as fast — that is, if you’re good at the up-sell.
Cats are the perfect starter pet! I do actually believe this, heart and soul. It’s especially true for those who are either very young or very old and haven’t yet experienced the joys of pet-keeping. The right cat — and I almost always recommend docile adult cats here — is the perfect addition to any pet-curious household.
What’s one more cat? This is an especially responsible sell to someone who only has one or two cats. Whether it’s a one-cat scenario in which the incumbent’s getting fat and sleepy, or in any two cat household where the relationship isn’t what it should be, adding a relaxed cat to the mix might be just what the doctor ordered (and indeed, I do.)

Those are my favorites. Now it’s time for the professionals to chime in. How do you get your forever homes to open their doors just a little wider?

Dr. Patty Khuly

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Cat Saves Woman's Life!

6/17/2011

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Cat Credited With Saving Woman's Life

READING, Pa. -- Cats may have nine lives, but humans have only one.

Claire Nelson of Reading is crediting her 10-year-old cat, Rusty, with saving her life.

Nelson, a retired nurse, said she was experiencing chest pains on June 8 when Rusty sensed something was wrong.

"Rusty kept following me around, no matter where I was standing or sitting, and jumping up on me with his front paws, letting out these guttural meows," said Nelson.

Nelson, 66, said her 22 pound cat usually has a relaxed and laid back personality, so she knew the way he was acting that morning was not normal.

"Finally, I said, 'Oh darn. Maybe this cat knows something I don't,'" said Nelson, who added that Rusty's behavior prompted her to take the bus to visit her doctor.

As time passed, Nelson said her condition grew worse. While at the bus terminal in downtown Reading, Nelson called 911 and was rushed to St. Joseph Medical Center.

Nelson said results of an EKG prompted doctors to rush her to the operating room because she was having a heart attack. Surgeons opened a blocked coronary artery.

"After the whole thing was over, I found out my right coronary artery was completely occluded. They also had to put two stents in," said Nelson, who spent three days in the hospital.

A friend took care of Rusty while Nelson was hospitalized.

Nelson adopted Rusty two years ago from the Humane Society of Berks County.

"I thought I was rescuing him," said Nelson. "I didn't know that he would be rescuing me in the long run."

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Indoor Cats

6/2/2011

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A lot of people believe that cats can't be happy if they are kept strictly indoors. It's true that cats are curious by nature and love to explore. But any environment can be a great adventure, especially with a few additions to your home.

Here are a few suggestions to keep your indoor cat happy:

·         A scratching post or cat tree can provide hours of entertainment.

·         Ping Pong balls, fake mice, balls with bells are all safe and fun.

·         A window perch provides a view of the birds and sunny, quiet sleeping spot.

·         Empty paper bags or cardboard boxes are always appreciated by felines.

·         Even if you don't want the expense or effort of a fish tank, you can always get the video version for your cat's amusement.

·         Toys attached to a pole with string and/or feather sticks are feline favorites.

·         Brushing your cat helps cut down on shedding and most cats love the extra attention.

·         Cats love to chase. Lasers and flashlights make the perfect toys. Just be careful to NEVER shine the light in or near a cat's eyes.

·         Kitty containment systems are great devices that allow your cat to explore outdoors safely. Screened porches make excellent play areas, too.

·         Your cat may enjoy snuggling or sleeping with a soft toy or stuffed animal. Better yet, adopt a rescue cat as a companion!

Many cats are actually unprepared for outdoor life. If they have lived indoors, been fed daily, and never faced a predator, they will be in danger if exposed to any of the following hazards:

·         Traffic

·         Wild or stray animals

·         Poison - many household/lawn care/automobile products are lethal to pets

·         Cruel people

·         Weather conditions

·         Disease

·         Parasites

·         Illness

·         Starvation

Healthy indoor cats may live into their twenties. Outdoor cats often don't survive past one year of age. Give your beloved pet a chance to experience a long, happy life…keep him/her indoors!

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June is Cat Adoption Month! (No, I'm not making this up...)

Cat Saves Woman's Life!

Indoor Cats

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