Monthly Archives: October 2007

Year Round Gift Donations that Help Cats and Make Humans Feel Good, Too

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Not sure what to get? You need a gift for “someone who has everything”? Your friend said no gift this year? How about donating in their honor to one of these worthy causes.

Petfinder.com you can donate in Honor of or in Memory of someone (human or feline), or sponsor an unadopted pet waiting for a home. They also accept donations for their Disaster Relief Fund and the Animal Shelter Fund (Purina is the corporate co-sponsor).

Purebred Cat Breed Rescue not all abandoned cats are mixed breeds.

Operation Nobel Foster every time reservists and others in the armed forces are called upon to serve overseas, the drop off rate at shelters sky rockets. This group was formed to help prevent such heart wrenching events. Volunteers foster the cats of military personnel so that when they come home, their cats are waiting for them. No matter what your political leanings may be, please consider helping this worthy cause.

Consider your Local Shelter or volunteer adoption groups. Not sure how to find them? See my blog entry on how to find them in your area. They can always use: money, cat food, litter, beds, blankets, paper towels, coupons to pet stores, pet food coupons. Call and ask what they need. then make a donation in someone’s honor. A gift that serves more than one!

Woman Jailed Almost Two Months for Dried Cat Pee

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Jacking in from the Twilight Zone, because it’s probably even too weird for the Weekly World News…but true nonetheless.

Cynthia Hunter, 38, was jailed in Tampa, Florida after being arrested for petty theft from a Wal-Mart. A vial was found in her purse containing a yellow substance, which Hunter claimed was dehydrated cat urine for a science project. Eyes no doubt were rolled when the substance tested positive for methampetamine using a field test kit, so the Florida authorities packed Hunter off to jail.

Imagine their surprise when proper lab tests showed that it was dehydrated cat urine all right! Of course, that was after Hunter had sat in the slammer for 50 days.

There’s a lot about “court appearances” in the original article, but nothing about an actual trial. So we’re not sure how much has changed in Florida since the days of Easy Rider.

A Tail of Two Kitties

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Today at work one of the pet groomers came to me and said she had a small kitten that needed a home, would I like to see her?

I was on lunch break, so I asked her to bring the kitten (who was kenneled in our grooming salon). Everyone at work knows I have cats. OK, read "sucker for hard luck cases" :-) But where did you get her and why can’t you keep her…? Questions and more questions.
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How To Safely Put Your Recalcitrant Cat Into a Carrier

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OK, we all know about cat carriers. Some are collapsible, others are made in various styles and sizes of rigid plastic and metal. We always use one in the car, no matter how much our cat protests. If you don’t, you run the risk of the cat getting under the brake pedal just when you’re coming to a busy intersection…and as any cat lover knows, they have a knack for doing the wrong thing at the worst time! :-)

With most carriers, it’s also possible to guide the shoulder belt through the handle, helping save the cat from becoming airborne if you should actually get into an accident.

One trick we learned is to put the carrier on its end and sort of, well, drop the cat in hind-end first. This works once. Then they get wise to our tactics. Two people and a few scratches later, we try the head first technique, making sure all the legs go in also. Don’t forget the tail — no your head stays in!

Or we spray the carrier with Feliway, wait ten minutes for the alcohol base to evaporate, and then put cat head-first into the carrier. Or a bit of highly desirable wet food on a small plate inside the carrier. Cat is so busy sniffing, it can be easier. A bit easier. All of these variations involve two people and long sleeves for safety.

We have several types of cat carriers and try to alternate which one we use with any particular cat.

Unless you’re planning an 8-hour trip (in which case try to stop somewhere off the highway to let everyone stretch their legs; use a leash and harness), don’t bother trying to put food and water in the carrier; it will just spill. Instead, wait until the cat asks for treats and then feed and water her.

One of our cats is so nervous about traveling in a carrier, we have to put in a piddle pad. We won’t embarrass said cat by mentioning any names. :-)

The newest version of a carrier I have seen is like a child safety seat in that you can permanently attach a base to your car using a seat belt and then click the carrier in (or out). Wow.