Sunday, July 31, 2011

How to Find a Responsible Breeder

I think some of the most wonderful cats can be found at local shelters, adoption centers, and rescue organizations. They make great companions, and you can form a great bond with a cat you adopt from a local shelter, adoption center, or rescue organization. However, if you have your heart set on getting a purebred kitten, your best bet for finding one is going to be to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Here are some tips on how to find a responsible and caring breeder.

Don't Search the Newspaper or Craigslist: A lot of people don't realize that responsible, caring breeders are not likely to advertise in the newspaper or on Craigslist about their kittens. The individuals who advertise in these places are those who are most likely breeding for profit rather than those who are breeding responsibly, according to the website Breeder Checklist.

Check Breeder's Lists: On the other hand, different organizations keep lists of breeders who may be responsible. Remember, though, that just because an organization has a breeder on its list doesn't mean that the organization endorses that particular breeder. It is still essential that you do your homework before deciding to purchase from a breeder.

The Fanciers Breeder Referral List is one breeder list you can search on-line by breed type or by location. This source lists breeders in not only the United States and Canada, but also in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, China, and Japan.

If you live in the United States, the American Cat Fanciers Association also contains a Breeder Directory you might want to check out.

Attend Cat Shows: Cat shows are a great way to meet breeders and to learn more about the breed in which you are interested. This is a perfect time to ask questions of breeders and even ask about when their next litter might be born. Responsible cat breeders are often involved in the cat community.

You can find information about cat shows on many of the cat registry sites, like the Cat Fanciers Association, American Association of Cat Enthusiasts, and the American Cat Fanciers Association.

Ask for Referrals: If you know anyone with the specific type of cat you want to get, ask him or her for a recommendation to a breeder. Ask about his or her experiences with that breeder. Was he or she happy with the breeder?

Ask Questions: Any responsible and caring breeder will be happy to sit down with you and answer all the questions you have before you decide to purchase a kitten through him or her. Those who are in the business merely for profit will not, may be impatient, or become defensive.

Some questions you may want to ask your potential breeder include, but are not limited to: What is your primary goal in breeding - to achieve conformation (breed standard) or temperament? According to Breeder Checklist, a good and responsible breeder will aim to meet both goals.

Other important questions you may want to ask include: how long have you been involved with this breed? What can you tell me about this breed's history, positive characteristics, and flaws? How old will the kittens be before you sell them? A responsible breeder knows a kitten needs to be with his or her mother for at least eight weeks before he or she can be weaned. Will the kitten receive any vaccinations before I get him or her? What if I buy a kitten from you and it doesn't work out? A good breeder will want you to bring the kitten back to him or her because he or she will care about what happens to all of his or her kittens. Make sure you get all of your questions answered before deciding on whether or not to purchase from any particular breeder.

Finding a responsible, caring breeder will take some work, but it will be worth it when you pick up your new furry friend and bond with him or her over a lifetime.

Source:

Breeder Checklist

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tips for Bringing a New Cat or Kitten Home




Bringing a new cat or kitten home is exciting! However, what some new pet parents don't realize is that the new kitten or cat often needs time to adjust to his or her new home. Using these tips may help your new pet adjust to your home.

Coming Home: When you pick up your new feline from your shelter, adoption center, or breeder, have a carrier ready to take him or her home in. Most shelters and adoption centers will provide cardboard carriers for you to take home your new kitten or cat. Take your new pet directly from the shelter, adoption center, or breeder to your home. Do not stop and visit with anyone else or stop to go shopping. It is always dangerous to leave a kitten or cat in a car alone due to temperatures inside the car at any time of year. Therefore, purchase everything you need for a new cat or kitten ahead of time, if you don't already have a resident cat at home. In addition, if you have children, do not allow them to take your feline out of the carrier while you are in the car. Cats are almost always afraid to ride in the car, and taking your pet out will only cause chaos and more trauma for him or her.

Preparing a Place: New felines tend to be very nervous in new surroundings; moving from one home to another or from the shelter or adoption center to a home is very stressful for them. Thus, it is a great idea to set up a special quiet place for your new pet. This could be a spare room or in your bedroom, for instance. This space should contain a litterbox, food, water, toys, and a comfortable place for your cat to sleep, like a cat bed.

Be Patient: New feline owners must realize that when a cat moves into a new (or different, if previously owned) forever home, he or she needs time to adjust to his or her surroundings. Give your cat at least one month to adjust to your home. If he or she is hiding, simply let him or her be until your pet is ready to come out and explore. However, if your feline isn't drinking, eating, or toileting, it is time to call or visit your veterinarian.

Spend Time With Your New Feline: It is advisable to get your cat or kitten on a day when you can be at home with him or her, such as a weekend. Once you take your new feline out of his or her carrier, immediately show him or her where the litterbox is and provide a bowl of water. PAWS recommends waiting an hour to provide your new companion food.

Throughout the day, spend a lot of time with your new pet, talking calmly and softly to him or her and playing if he or she is interested in doing so. Supervise all visits children have with your new companion and remind them to treat the kitty with tenderness. PAWS also advises keeping children's visits to a minimum as to not overwhelm your new furry friend.

It is also common for felines to exhibit behavior problems in the first few days or weeks after moving into a new home. These problems often go away as your new pet adjusts to your home. Remember to give your kitty a month to adjust to your home before becoming concerned about any behavioral issues. If your pet is still exhibiting behavior problems after a month has passed, your veterinarian or vet behaviorist should be able to help you and your cat through the problem.

Additionally, it is quite common for a cat or kitten to hide in his or her new environment or for adult cats to jump up onto high furniture. Don't panic if your new cat or kitten does this. He or she will come out of hiding or down from the furniture when he or she is ready. Simply continue to talk calmly and gently to your feline.

Finally, find out what type of litter and food your cat or kitten was using before you bring him or her home. Continue to utilize the same litter and food your kitty was using previously to decrease the number of changes your new companion must cope with at once.

Bringing a new feline into your home is certainly exciting. Following these tips and being patient with your new companion will help you develop a loving, lasting bond with him or her.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Free First Cat Exam at VCA Hospitals

Now through August 31, 2011 you can get a free first-time cat exam at any VCA Hospital. In addition, VCA Hospitals are giving special offers on Hills cat food and free first dose of cat heartworm prevention when you purchase six doses.

You can get your coupon for the free first exam for your cat here. You can find VCA Hospital locations here. VCA Hospitals are located in nearly every state within the United States.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Milita's Birthday!


Milita is 8 years old! It's hard to believe she's 8 already. I've had her since she was less than a year old.

The summer before I came out to Colorado to go to graduate school, I lived with my dad. I knew I would be pretty lonely out here, halfway across the country from my family and friends so I planned on bringing a kitty with me. My dad suggested that I bring Milita because she was the most friendly of all the cats we had. Milita was certainly friendly, but I found that she was also a little pushy, literally shoving her brothers and sisters aside to get the most love from me when I sat down to pet them.

Milita traveled here with me, and quickly became my best friend. Between graduate school classes, my internship, and studying, I was easily spending 60-70 hours a week on schoolwork. I didn't have much time for a social life. Milita was my ever-present comfort. She would lay on the back of the couch and listen to the textbooks on tape with me. She would sit by my computer and help me write my papers. She'd come sit by me while I ate every night. And at the end of the day, she would curl up and sleep with me on my bed.

Milita is not only a very sweet and loving cat, she is also very intelligent, all traits the Siamese (Milita is a lynx-point Siamese mix). She has eye medication that she will hide from us if we do not put it in the medicine cabinet. She can open cabinet doors and regular doors if they aren't shut completely.

I have spent 7 wonderful years with my Milita and I hope to have many, many more. I love her and Carmine and Jewel so very much - I'm sure all of the proud pet parents know what I'm talking about :)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

1-800-PetMeds Searches for America's Next Pet TV Star

I thought I'd pass this along to all the proud pet parents. :)

The company, 1-800-PetMeds, is hosting, "America's Next Pet TV Star," contest with the grand prize being an opportunity for one feline or dog to star in 1-800-PetMeds' next television commercial. The grand prize winner will also receive a 4 day, 3 night all-expenses paid trip to Fort Lauderdale, FL where 1-800-PetMeds' headquarters is located, and $1,000 spending cash. The trip includes economy airfare for the winner and one guest as well as round trip transportation on Pet Airways for the winning pet.

The second place winner will be given a lifetime supply of flea and tick medication for one pet. Third prize constitutes the owner's choice of pet gear.

You can enter a photo of your pet until 11:59pm PDT on July 31. You can enter your cat or dog's photo into the contest by visiting the PetMeds Facebook page. Ask your friends and family to vote on your pet's photo from August 1 through August 14 at 12AM. Contest winners will be announced on August 22.

The contest is open to all legal residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older. You can read all of the official contest rules here.

Good luck to anyone who decides to enter!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Toxic Foods to Cats - Part 2




In my last post, I began a list of foods that are toxic to cats. The following foods are also toxic to cats. Remember to seek veterinary attention right away if you believe your pet has ingested or come in contact with a poisonous food or plant.

Onions: If your feline ingests onion, he or she may experience vomiting, panting, gastrointestinal discomfort, a drop in red blood cells (hemolytic anemia or Heinz body anemia), weakness, high heart rate, and/or blood in his or her urine.

Rhubarb: Cats who ingest rhubarb may have severe reactions such as salivation, tremors, and/or kidney failure.

Oranges: Vomiting, possible photosensitivity, diarrhea, and depression may occur if your feline eats orange. The essential oils and psoralens found in oranges are toxic to cats.

Tomato: Tomatoes are another food that can cause some pretty severe symptoms for felines who ingest them. These may include: loss of appetite, weakness, dilated pupils, hypersalivation, behavior changes, drowsiness, slow heartbeat, and central nervous system depression.

Raw fish: Feeding your cat raw fish may result in a thiamine (a type of B vitamin) deficiency, which may also lead to seizures and a loss of appetite. In severe cases, the thiamine deficiency can result in death.

Dog food: According to Entirely Pets, if your feline accidentally eats dog food, it should not cause problems. However, if you are feeding your cat dog food on a regular basis, your pet may begin suffering from malnutrition and may develop different types of heart disease.

Milk: Believe it or not, most adult cats are lactose intolerant. Giving your feline milk may result in gastrointestinal distress in the form of vomiting or diarrhea. If you want to give your kitty milk, try Whiskas Cat Milk or CatSip, which are both lactose-free.

Liver: You can feed your feline a little liver without harming him or her, but feeding too much liver can lead to vitamin A toxicity. Signs of vitamin A toxicity include bone growths on the spine and/or elbows, osteoporosis, and bone deformities. Vitamin A toxicity can also lead to death.

Raisins: Raisins can lead to hyperactivity, repeated vomiting, and kidney failure if ingested by your pet.

Caffeine: Caffeine toxicity is a serious problem for cats. Rapid breathing, muscle tremors, heart palpitations, and restlessness are signs of caffeine toxicity. In severe cases, caffeine toxicity is fatal to cats. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, energy drinks, and cocoa.

Chocolate: Chocolate is one of the most dangerous human foods cats can ingest. Ingesting chocolate may lead to seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, and death. The toxic chemical found in all types of chocolate is theobromine.

Baked goods, gum, and candy: According to WebMD, these human foods contain Xylitol, which can lead to an increase in the amount of insulin in your kitty's body. Initial symptoms of poisoning may include loss of coordination, vomiting, and lethargy. Seizures may also occur soon after Xylitol is ingested. Liver failure can occur within a mere few days of consumption.

Raw eggs: In addition to the possibility of raw eggs containing salmonella, they block the B vitamin biotin from being absorbed in a cat's body, which can lead to coat and skin problems.

Obviously, there are many human foods toxic to cats. If you believe your cat has eaten or come into contact with a poisonous food or plant, please seek veterinary care right away by going to your vet, local veterinary hospital, or calling the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Please be advised that the ASPCA National Poison Control Center may charge a $65 fee to your credit card for a consultation. Remember, this is not a complete list of toxic foods to cats. If you are ever in doubt about whether or not to feed your feline something, don't, until you've talked to your veterinarian about it.


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Foods Toxic to Cats - Part 1

Veterinarians always encourage pet owners not to feet their cats food from the table. This is partly because a lot of the food we consume is toxic to cats. These are some known foods that are toxic to felines and how your kitty may react if he or she ingests them. Please do not use this list as a complete list of toxic foods to your pet.

Apples, apricots, peaches, cherries and plums: If your kitty ingests apples, crab apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, or plums, he or she may experience panting, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, and/or panting.

Avocado: The fruit, seeds, bark, and leaves of avocados are all likely toxic to pets. If your pet ingests any part of an avocado, he or she may vomit and/or have diarrhea.

Garlic and leeks: Garlic and leeks can cause serious symptoms if ingested by your cat. These include: the breakdown of red blood cells (which may result in Heinz body anemia or hemolytic anemia), vomiting, panting, a high heart rate, blood in the urine, and/or weakness.

Corn plant and cornstalk plant: Corn plant and cornstalk plant are both toxic to kitties as well. If your pet ingests these planets, he or she may experience vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, depression, excessive salivation and/or dilated pupils.

Fig: If ingested, your pet may salivate, vomit, or experience irritation in his or her mouth. If your pet's skin comes in contact with fig, he or she may develop dermatitis.

Chamomile: Chamomile can cause contact dermatitis where your cat's skin came in contact with the plant. If your feline ingests chamomile, he or she may experience an allergic reaction, loss of appetite, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

Coffee: Coffee can increase a cat's heart and respiratory rates, can affect the central nervous system, and cause restlessness.

Grapefruit, lemon, and lime: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and possible photosensitivity are the clinical signs you may notice if your kitty has ingested grapefruit, lemon, or lime.

Grapes: diarrhea, lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, lethargy, and kidney damage may all occur as a result of your kitty ingesting grapes.

If you believe your cat has been in contact with or has ingested a toxic food or plant, please call your veterinarian, local veterinary/animal hospital, or the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away. It is important to note that a $65 fee may be charged to your credit card for utilizing the ASPCA's National Animal Poison Control Center.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Strangers in the House!

On Thursday, mama woke up early to get ready to go somewhere, but I didn't know where she was going. I followed her around like I do most mornings. Then came a knock on the door and that dog who belongs to the man who lives downstairs (one of mama's roommates) started barking. I don't like it when that dog barks so I went and hid.

I heard strangers in the house talking to my mama and I wondered why they were here! Mama started looking for me, but I did not come out. Finally, she found me in our room and picked me up. I didn't try to run away though because I know mama would not take me to meet mean people.

Mama carried me out to the kitchen and a lady let me smell her before she pet me. Then a strange man (mama says he is my grandpa) started petting me. I was a little scared, but not too much. Mama brought Milita out, too, and she was more scared than I was even though she lived with grandpa for a year before they moved to Colorado (before I was born).

Then mama put me back in our room and they all left somewhere and Milita, Jewel, and I enjoyed some peace in the house.

They all came back later and mama brought me back to grandpa and that strange lady (mama says she is grandpa's girlfriend). The lady smelled nice, but she kept flashing the camera at me and I don't like the flash too much, but I was patient because I know mama loves me and I wanted her to be happy.

After mama set me down on the floor, I ran off and sat in the hallway and let everyone admire how cute I am from a distance. I kept watching them to see what they were doing. Then the strangers left and mama gave me and Milita a lot of love and cuddles!

~Carmine

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Dry Cat Food Recall

Nestle Purina PetCare Company in St. Louis is recalling nearly 900 bags of dry cat food due to concerns of potential Salmonella.

Nestle Purina PetCare Company is recalling approximately 870 bags of dry cat food that were originally shipped to cat food customers in Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho. However, these customers may have distributed the product to other Western states as well.

The company is recalling 6.3-pound bags of Cat Chow Natural Dry Cat Food with UPC 17800 and 3.15 and 16-pound bags of Friskies Grillers Blend Dry Cat Food with UPC 50000. All bags of recalled food have a "Best By" date of AUG 2012. The date and production codes on recalled bags are "10331083 13" or "10331083 06." All of this information can be located on the back of the cat food bag.

The company is encouraging anyone who has a bag of recalled cat food to throw it away and contact them by phone 800-982-6559 or via their website for a refund.

Source:

CatChannel: Some Dry Cat Foods Recalled Due to Salmonella Concern