Her golden eyes beckoned me, like a sultry look from Brigitte Bardot.  I cautiously approached.  She extended a slender front paw between the bars of the cage, as if to shake hands – certainly to vie for my attention. Her round face and lavish, orange and white fur gave her the appearance of royalty.  “You’re a princess,” I murmured as I softly stroked her outstretched leg. I then reached between the cage slates to scratch between her ears and under her chin. The diminutive cat responded with a low purr and a subdued ‘mew.”  She didn’t belong behind those bars, so I paid her bail and took her home. Her previous owners gave her the name “Ama.” No one knew what it meant or had ever heard such a moniker. A unique name for a princess-like cat.  Loving and quiet, Ama settled into her new life with grace and tranquility. Her best friend became a cocker spaniel named Sam, whom I had adopted from the same shelter a year previous. They often cuddled together on the couch by the fireplace. Sam and Ama shared a composed camaraderie, rarely, if ever, spatting over space, food, or attention.  If Garfield and Odie had never quarreled, Ama and Sam could have been their stand-ins.
 
So starts a short story I wrote a few years ago about this sleek, amber-eyed kitty I adopted in 1990; the tale is part of my book Tail Tales. I mentioned Ama in last week’s blog, and since June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, I wanted to talk more about cat adoption and other programs which help cats – and how we can get involved.
 
Why do cats make great companions? Here are a few reasons:

1. Cats are more independent than dogs – they don’t require a person to take them for a walk (although that can be done and does provide both you and your kitty friend some exercise) or a trip to the park to play fetch.
2. Cats can be cuddly – certain breeds/types are more loving and enjoy sitting on laps than others (examples of cuddly kitties include Scottish Fold, Persian, and Ragdoll – Ama was part Ragdoll).
3. They can entertain themselves – toy mice, scratching posts, a window from which to look outdoors: these make great amusements for cats.
4. They don’t bark – so they won’t disturb your neighbors and cause them to call animal control for nuisance complaints.

 
Ama and I shared life for more than 15 years; she passed in 2006 at nearly 19 years of age. Both she and our mutual dog friend Sam came from the Bozeman, Montana humane society, adoptions that strengthened my resolve to always provide a home for rescued pets.
 
Every year, more than three million cats enter animal shelters across America. Many are stray, and sadly, only about 5% are reunited with their owners; nearly 1 million cats that come into shelters are killed due to lack of reclaiming strays and lack of cats adopted. This month shelters and rescues around the United States promote cat adoption and reuniting with owners since June is designated as Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month. In addition to the strays and the owner relinquishments, this time of year is known as “kitten season,” when pet adoption organizations become overwhelmed with mamma cats and their babies. Spaying and neutering are critical to keeping cat populations down. Additionally, the numerous community cat situations (also known as feral cats, those living in cities, suburbs, and rural areas on their own) adding to that feline overpopulation, the need for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs is rampant.
 
There are several ways we can help:

1. Spay/neuter our cats and educate others on cat overpopulation and the tragic statistics.
2. Help your local animal rescue and/or shelter by volunteering, supporting with monetary and/or supply donations, and attending/promoting their events.
3. Sign up to be a foster parent to help the shelter rescue and save more mamma cats and their babies.
4. Assist with a TNR program – if your town doesn’t have one, talk with others about starting one and promote the idea to community leaders (educate people about such programs if needed).

 
By helping organizations and programs that help cats, you are helping kitties in need – and making special friends in the process.

During the past month or two, I’ve honored people in my life who have had birthdays. Friends, colleagues, family – those milestones of years, experiences, and relationships are important, and therefore, should be recognized.
 
My husband's birthday is next month, and my birthday occurred on Sunday. My husband, dogs, and I took an outdoor adventure on Saturday (the nicest weather day of the weekend), traveling nearly 200 miles total to experience the spring migration of sandhill cranes through eastern Wyoming. We also visited Kindness Ranch, a livestock and pet sanctuary for former research animals.  Both were grand experiences!
 
My husband and I don’t just celebrate people’s birthdays. Our springer/cocker mix Mary had her 12th birthday in early February. We celebrated with a cake – white with cream icing. This is a tradition in our household; it began more than 15 years ago with our blind springer, Sage. Greg started the tradition, deciding to purchase a dog-shaped cake to honor Sage’s birth. Such celebrations have been part of our life with canines in our home ever since.
 
We’ve also honored our pets by cooking or buying hamburger and feeding the treat to them, in particular our dogs. For the cats, tuna is the food of choice for their August birthdays.
Various websites provide ideas for celebrating our furry friends’ special day. Some of those thoughts include:
 

1. Creating catnip stuffed toys for your kitty’s birthday gifts.
2. Planning a doggie play-date for your pup and his/her furry friends.
3. Pampering your beloved pet with a spa day (even doing something like this at home to save money, with grooming, bathing, brushing …. Or all three!)
4. Throwing a pet-themed party for both human and animal guests/friends.
5. Going on an outing, to the beach, the mountains, even the dog park.
6. Watching pet-based movies, such as Homeward Bound, Hachi, Milo and Otis, Lady and the Tramp, or Beethoven.

 
According to the UK’s Daily Mail, nearly 75 percent of pet owners celebrate their furry family member’s birthday. Do you? If so, how do you celebrate?
 
PersonalCreations.com provides a guide and some recipes on cakes that are edible for dogs and cats (the meat cake is thought to be best for cats; but, there are many varieties of special treats which pets can enjoy). Visit their website for ideas: https://www.personalcreations.com/blog/dog-cake-recipes. Writers for this site also give thought to what types of foods are NOT good for our animal pals, which is also important information. Check it out.
 
Happy Spring, and Happy Birthday to you and your pets!
 

Last week I wrote about loss of hearing and deafness in dogs. This week, we’ll explore the same afflictions in cats.
 
I have two cats. My husband and I adopted these sisters more than a decade ago. Always curious, they have brought us great joy. This summer they will be 13 years old and have slowed down since becoming seniors. I once had a cat who lived to be almost 19; in fact, cats 20 years and older are not uncommon. However, with age, just as with humans and canines, come health issues. One of those concerns is loss of hearing, even deafness.

Feline Hearing Loss
According to VetWest.com, an Australian veterinary clinic, hearing loss in older cats occurs “as a result of damage to the ear system and nerves. Normally sound waves vibrate the ear drum between the outer and middle ear. The tiny bones in the middle ear transfer the vibrations into nerve impulses within the inner ear. When any portion of this system is damaged hearing will be affected.”
 
According to veterinarians at Cornell University, there are a variety of reasons for loss of hearing in cats, in additional to aging. Those include: tumors, polyps, and other growths in the ear canal; hypothyroidism; medications, including antibiotics; infestations of yeast, bacteria, and ear mites; and household chemicals that are ingested or somehow seep into the ear. Additionally, hearing loss and deafness is hereditary, especially in white cats with blue eyes.  In fact, researchers believe 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with two blue eyes are born deaf, or at least become totally deaf as young kittens, and white cats with one blue eye generally have a 40 percent chance of being deaf.
 
How You and Your Cat Can Cope
As a cat owner, there are some things you can do to help both you and your cat adjust to hearing loss and deafness.
​

1. Don’t walk up from behind and startle your cat. Instead, approach your feline friend from the front so she will see you.
2. Consider communicating with your cat with your own eyes. According to a writer at Petful.com, “slow blinking” is a communication tactic that cats use when they feel comfortable with someone. Just as people who flirt with one another with a wink, we can “blink” our affection with our kitties, says this writer. The online magazine Catser and cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy agree: slow blinking is a why a cat conveys its love and comfort. So, use the slow blink with your feline friend, especially if s/he is deaf.
3. Use light to signal key stints during the day, such as feeding time. Turn a light switch on and off or use a flashlight as a signal.
4. Most deaf cats respond well to stroking and handling, which can be used to reinforce new commands or signals.
5. Teach your cat sign language. Just as dogs can be taught commands via sign, so can many cats.
6. Don’t let a deaf cat outdoors – there are too many dangers s/he will not hear, including cars on the street.
7. Encourage your cat to play by engaging her with feather and other types of toys.

 
Learn more about deaf cats and how to help and communicate with them at these websites:
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/living-with-a-deaf-cat
http://pawesomecats.com/2016/09/02/living-with-deaf-cat/
 
Living with a deaf or hard of hearing cat presents challenges, but nothing that a loving pet parent can’t handle. With plenty of patience and positive resources, including tips from your veterinarian, you and your feline friend can enjoy many happy years together.
​

Last week a friend of mine lost her dog. The black pug escaped out of a backyard gate that hadn’t been latched correctly. Her case is not unusual. Dogs frequently escape. Some dig. Some jump. Some look for those unlatched gates. And some dogs are just prone to wander. For example, the working breeds, from hunters like retrievers to herders like heelers, these types of dogs are bred for different jobs… and they may go looking for that work.

Cats also are known to roam. Many people don’t like to keep their cat “cooped up,” recognizing a feline’s instinct for hunting. However, whether cat or dog, a loose pet can be a dead pet. Every day, dogs and cats are hit by cars. Sometimes they’re caught in traps. Maybe shot, stolen, or fall prey to predators like owls, hawks, foxes, and coyotes. Therefore, the best idea is keep your pet at home. Cats can easily become indoor pets. Between carpeted towers, windows to look out of, toys that engage their stalking and hunting instincts, and healthy food, a cat will find contentment inside her home.

However, should your pet escape the house or yard, there are ways to increase its chances of returning home. A collar with id tags is very helpful. For those concerned that a collar will hang up on a fence, or for some other reason not a collar on your pet, then please consider a microchip. It's an easy procedure done by your vet; and sometimes shelters offer microchip clinics for reduced fees. iThat way, no matter what happens to the collar (perhaps someone takes it off or the pet slips out of it), you have another way for someone to help your pet get home. Many animal shelters have a microchip scanner and will check stray animals for a chip. Both id tags and microchips need to have up-to-date information – people can’t return your pet if the address and phone number are no longer valid.

To help find your lost pet, here are a few other ideas to consider:

1. Post flyers in your community, especially in the area where your pet was last seen.
2. Knock on neighbor’s doors and tell them about your lost furry friend.
3. Visit your local animal shelter several times; don’t just call and see if you’re pet has shown up and don’t rely on the workers to see the exact color you describe – you know your pet best, therefore, make frequent walk-throughs at the shelter.
4. Post your pet’s picture on a Pets Lost and Found Facebook page if one exists for your community.
5. Run a lost and found ad in your local newspaper.
6. Continue looking and ask family and friends to keep looking – don’t give up! Some animals have been safely returned weeks, even months, after the pet has gone missing.

 
Before you find yourself in my friend’s situation with a lost pet, take proactive steps, such as collar and id tags, microchip, and regularly checking your gates and fences for closure and holes. Also, be vigilant when opening the doors of your home as well as the gates in your yard. And, if your pet does go missing, do everything you can, employ all types of actions, to get your furry friend back home.

For many people, pets are family, and when the holiday season rolls around, they purchase Christmas gifts for their furry companions. So, what gifts can you give your furry family members? Here are four ideas:

1. Toys – from rubber balls and Kong® toys to catnip mice and hamster wheels, there are a variety of toys for pets and the various species of animals that reside in homes.
2. Clothing – many pet parents purchase clothing items for their furry family members, such as sweaters, coats, boots, dresses, and bowties. Smaller dogs can get chilled easily during inclement weather, therefore coats and sweaters are not a stretch, and boots protect animals’ feet from ice and poisons such as antifreeze.
3. Treats – cats and dogs, rabbits and birds, all enjoy a tasty treat now and then, just like people. Ask your veterinarian or the local pet supply store manager for ideas if the task appears overwhelming (and there is truly a plethora of treat options!) or if your animal has food allergies or is elderly.
4. Beds and Blankets – a soft, cushy bed helps a pet stay warm during the cold, winter months. Beds also help animals who suffer from arthritis, and a soft blanket on the couch keeps both pet and pet parent warm and snuggly together.

 
“Stockings hung by the chimney with care…” Treats, toys, collars, and other items can be slipped into a stocking for Fido and Fluffy just like candy is given to human children. Even wrapped gifts, like sweaters, beds, books, or large rawhide bones, can be found under Christmas trees with the pet’s name on the gift tag. I had a dog more than 20 years ago who loved tearing into his Christmas present under the tree – it was fun to watch him “open” his special gift!

A recent article in Woman's Day provided gift ideas under $50 for the pet in your life. Read the article by clicking on this link: http://www.womansday.com/life/pet-care/g946/pet-gifts/.

Most pet-lovers I know give their furry friends Christmas gifts (some also provide birthday presents and parties for their special fur-balls) -- how about you? Do you give gifts to your animals during the holiday season?

In about a week the goblins and zombies will take to the streets. It’s the spookiest of holidays, and Americans love to spend money on their kids – including their furry ones. According to the National Retail Federation, the average amount spent on Halloween is about $75, on candy, decorations, and costumes.

Halloween Express lists the top 10 pet costumes. Those include Superman, Ghostbusters, bees, spiders, and lions. The NRF estimates people spend about $350 million on pet costumes, spending $1 for every $3 spent on children’s outfits.

According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent more than $60 billion on their furry friends last year, and will likely spend more than that in 2016. From sweaters and raincoats to sporting team t-shirts and holiday costumes, pet clothing is big business. Practical wear is just as important as fashionista statement, maybe more so. Booties to keep paws clear of snow and ice and life jackets for outings on the boat, clothing and outdoor wear
For a fun, informative article on pet fashion, visit http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/fashion/dog-fashion-moves-novelty-sweaters-practical-outfits-article-1.2048335.

For a look at some cute pets in interesting Halloween costumes, see http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g1784/popular-pet-halloween-costumes/.

The ASPCA offers some important Halloween holiday pet safety tips. See this list at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/halloween-safety-tips.

I once dressed my cocker spaniel as a fireman for Halloween, complete with a red hat. He wasn’t terribly thrilled, but he sure looked cute!

Pets may not be very cooperative for playing dress-up. If you plan to take your dog trick-or-treating or have your cat participate in your Halloween party, make sure you “practice” prior to the big night. Also, make sure the costume properly fits your pet, and consider breed, weight, and measurements before purchasing, and ensure your pet can see, breathe, and drink normally with the outfit on.

Some people create their own pet costumes. For ideas, visit this HGTV website: http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/15-diy-pet-costumes-for-halloween-pictures.

Have you ever dressed your pet for Halloween? Do your furry friends regularly wear clothing?