Jewel - Over the Rainbow Bridge

On Thursday night, we had to help Jewel cross to the Rainbow Bridge.  We are very sad and upset about this.

A memorial post and commentathon will come soon.  It's just too painful right now.

Thank you, Ann from Zoolatry, for making this beautiful graphic of our sweet Jewel.

Jewel Needs Purrs and Prayers

Hi everyone, Mom here.

Our sweet Jewel really needs some purrs and prayers right now.

Ever since her last vet visit, she's been acting differently.  In the past few days, she's gone to eating hardly anything.  I can tell she's losing weight.  She's lighter than she was even a week ago.

She sleeps a lot.  She's been spending a lot more time in her cubes lately, though she is out here in her pink bed right now.

She hasn't even eaten any treats in the past few days.  She used to live for treats.  We've been giving her Reglan and Cyproheptadine, but they don't seem to be having an effect on her.

We will call the vet later to see what they have to say.  I am very worried about her.

Carmine keeps watch over Jewel.

Opt to Adopt will be back next week.

Mancat Monday

Carmine: Me loves sun puddles!

Breed Profile: Ocicat

Ocicats are not only beautifully spotted kitties, they are also intelligent and devoted to their humans.  So how did these cats originate and what makes them so special?  Read on to find out!

History

In 1964, the Ocicat was created by accident when Virginia Daly was trying to create a Siamese cat with Abyssinian points.  In one of the litters, she discovered an ivory kitten containing golden-colored spots.  She named him Tonga, had him neutered, and found him a good home.  Virginia's daughter called him an Ocicat because the kitten resembled the wild Ocelot.  

Geneticist Dr. Clyde Keeler began corresponding with Virginia Daly.  He was interested in developing a cat that resembled the looks of some of the wild cats.  The breeding was repeated, and eventually the American Shorthair was added to the mix to create the Ocicat breed.  

Appearance

Ocicats can be spotted, classic tabby, ticked, solid, or pointed.  They come in 12 colors: brown, chocolate, lilac, blue, fawn, cinnamon, and silver versions of all of these colors.  Spotted Ocicats have spots all over their bodies in a classic bull's eye pattern, according to The International Cat Association (TICA).  

The breed has almond-shaped eyes and short, tight fur coats.  Ociats have an athletic appearance with legs that are medium in length.  In general, full-grown males weigh between nine and 14 pounds while females weigh between six and nine pounds.

Personality Traits

Ocicats are confident, devoted to their humans, and social.  They do not do well being left home alone for extended periods of time.  They are intelligent and can learn to play fetch and do tricks.  They love their toys and may be a little possessive of them.  

Have you ever loved an Ocicat?  What was your experience like with him or her? 

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Last week, I was so tired after getting home from the dentist that I thought I'd have a little nap on the couch.  I saw Jewel on the floor and thought she might like to lay on the couch with me.  She ended up laying on my arm like this for quite a while.  It was so sweet.  I love her so much!

Tonight, she begged for the human dinner, which made me very happy since she hasn't been doing that much lately.  If you missed our update on Jewel, you can read it here.

Opt to Adopt: Benvolio

Benvolio

Cat Care Society, Lakewood, CO

Photo from Benvolio's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Benvolio is a medium hair brown tabby.  He is very sweet, friendly, and affectionate.  He loves being around people and getting pet.  He is good with other cats and dogs.  

Benvolio is 14 years young.  Because of his age, he is eligible for the Perpet-U-Care program, which will pay for a portion of his health care for the rest of his life.  

Benvolio is neutered, litter box trained, and up-to-date on his vaccinations.  You can visit him in the upstairs hallway at Cat Care Society, located at 5787 W. 6th Avenue in Lakewood, CO.  

Mancat Monday and Jewel Update

Hi everyone, Carmine here.

Me knows it's Mancat Monday, but we haven't gotten to tell you how Jewel's last visit to the Stabby Place was, so me wants to give you an update on hers today.

Jewel went to the Stabby Place with mes about two weeks ago.  Hers got an Adequan shot for hers arthritis pain, and they stole hers blood to test hers kidney values.  Theys also took hers blood pressure.

The Mom says Jewel's blood pressure tested "borderline high" so the vet said to keep giving Jewel 1/2 a tablet of Amlodipine twice a day.  

The next day, the Mom gotted the results of Jewel's tests, and hers was very confused!  Jewel's BUN is now 32 (compared to 64 in April) and hers creatinine is now 2.3 (compared to 2.9 in April).  Hers urine specific gravity stayed at 1014.  The Mom didn't think hers BUN and creatinine could go down that much at this stage of the disease.  The Amlodipine must be helping Jewel's kidneys somehows!  

But the Mom says Jewel has been acting strange ever since the vet visit, and hers is worried about hers.  Me will let the Mom explain about that, though.

The Mom here: Ever since we got home from the vet two weeks ago, Jewel has been acting somewhat differently, and it concerns me.  

She has started to lay on the floor to eat her kibbles instead of sitting/squatting to eat them.  She's also defecated outside the box in the living room and bedroom several times.  She has always defecated outside the box occasionally, but she used to make it to the bathroom before.  I've also noticed that there are some nights Jewel doesn't beg for the human dinner, which is very unusual for her.  She used to beg for our food every night and would even get excited about it, sitting by the coffee table meowing for us to give her some before it was even ready.  

I don't know if she's in pain or if the chronic renal failure is finally starting to take its toll on my little baby.  Either way can't get her and Carmine to the vet again until the first of September, so some purrs and prayers for both of them would be appreciated - Carmine just has to go back for a weight check.  You can read his update here.  

Black Cat Appreciation Day

Today is Black Cat Appreciation Day!!  

Did you know that black cats are less likely to get adopted from shelters than their more colorful friends?  We don't understand why; black kitties make wonderful companions!  

To celebrate Black Cat Appreciation Day, we'd like to tell you about a few of our special friends at Cat Care Society in hopes that these wonderful black kitties will find the purrfect home.  

Cairo

Photo from Cairo's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Whenever I visit Cat Care Society, I really enjoy spending time with Cairo.  She's a very sweet, beautiful black lady cat.  She enjoys being pet and brushed.  She also likes playing with toys when you drag them on the ground for her.  

Cairo is 13 years young.  Her age qualifies her for the Perpet-U-Care program, which will pay for a portion of her medical care for the rest of her life.  She came to the shelter when her human passed away and would love to find another great home.  She is spayed, litter box trained, and up-to-date on her vaccinations.  You can find her in the upstairs hallway at the shelter.

Brietta

Photo from Brietta's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Brietta is a very sweet and friendly black lady cat.  She can be nervous at first, but once she gets to know you, she is very affectionate.  Sometimes she'll even sit in your lap.  

Brietta is a special needs cat.  I know she has arthritis, but I'm not sure if she has any other medical conditions.  She is 13 years young and also qualifies for the Perpet-U-Care program.  She is already spayed, litter box trained, and up-to-date on her vaccinations.  You can also find her in the upstairs hallway at the shelter.

Tara

Photo from Tara's Adopt a Pet profile page. 

Tara is an affectionate medium hair black lady cat.  She is active and likes catnip and playing with toys.  She doesn't really enjoy being picked up, but she'll sit right next to you, and sometimes she'll even jump into your lap.  

Tara is 14 years young, which means she qualifies for the Perpet-U-Care program.  She is spayed, litter box trained, and up-to-date on her vaccinations.  She prefers a home without dogs.  You can find her in the upstairs hallway at Cat Care Society.

Cat Care Society is located at 5787 W. 6th Avenue.  

Cairo, Brietta, and Tara will make someone fantastic companions.  If you have room in your heart and home for any of these loving kitties, please visit or call the shelter to learn more about them.  You can visit Cat Care's website here.  

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Milita: Mom, I'm trying to get my beauty sleep.

Update on the Mom: The Mom has started antibiotics for her sinus infection, but she still feels pretty bad.  

Opt to Adopt: Catarina

Catarina

Cat Care Society, Lakewood, CO

Catarina is a beautiful two-year-old black and white domestic short hair.  She came to the shelter when someone abandoned her and her kittens there.  She took good care of her babies until they could be adopted into their own forever homes.  

Catarina is friendly and affectionate.  She's a quiet cat, and I can often find her hanging out on a shelf, watching the rest of the kitties in the room from above.  In my opinion, she seems like an elegant kitty.  

If you are interested in learning more about Catarina, you can visit her Adopt a Pet profile or stop by Cat Care Society, located at 5787 W. 6th Avenue in Lakewood, CO.  You can find her in the red room.  

Mancat Monday: Carmine Update

Hi everyone, Carmine here.

Last week, the Mom took mes and Jewel to the stabby place together.  

After the vet lady got done poking at Jewel in the back, it was mes turn, and of course, mes was very scared brave.  

The vet lady was asking the Mom all kinds of questions about mes, and the Mom told hers how good mes is doing and how hers hasn't given mes any Cyproheptadine for mes appetite the whole month.  So when mes went on the scale, everybody was surprised that mes lost 4 ounces!!  

The Mom here: We have no idea why Carmine lost weight again.  The vet wants to weigh him again in two more weeks, and if he's lost more, then she wants to put him back on B12 shots every two weeks instead of every month and/or raise his Prednisone dose again. :(

I'm going to order some probiotics to see if that helps Carmine with his IBD (which is what the Prednisone and B12 shots are being used to treat).

It's me, Carmine, again: The Mom says mes should eat more kibbles and more wet noms, but so far, mes is not doing it.  MOL!  

The Mom has not been feeling well over the weekend.  Hers says hers has a sinus infection and plans to call her allergist later to see if hers will give the Mom some medicine to help the infection go away.  

We hope you all had a great weekend!

Preparing Your Cat for a New Baby

Bringing home a new baby is exciting for you, but it can be quite confusing for your kitty.  That's why it's important to not only prepare yourself and your home for your new baby, it's important to prepare your cat for the new arrival as well. 

Photo credit: Brad Brundage

Keep a Schedule: Cats are creatures of habit and don't like change.  Create a schedule before the baby comes that you'll be able to keep.  Gradually move your cat's feedings, playtime, and cuddles to the new schedule so he will be accustomed to it by the time you bring home your new baby.  Don't give your kitty a lot of extra attention before the birth of the baby.  Instead, gradually give your cat less attention outside of his scheduled play and cuddle time so he won't feel ignored when you're busy taking care of the baby.

Getting Kitties Used to Baby Sounds: You can help your kitty adjust to all the strange sounds that will inevitably come into the home with a new baby.  Purchase a CD of a baby crying.  Begin by playing the CD at a very low volume while your cat enjoys mealtime or engages in interactive play with you.  You want to ensure that your kitty associates a baby's cry with positive experiences.  Gradually raise the volume of the CD over several days or weeks until you have reached a realistic volume.  Be sure to go at your cat's pace; don't increase the volume of the crying baby until she is comfortable.  

Photo credit: Daniel Guumaraes

Baby toys and equipment also make noises your cat won't be used to.  If at all possible, buy and set up baby equipment well ahead of time.  Turn on the baby swing, and reward your cat if she decides to get near it.  Likewise, get out new baby toys, turn them on, and allow your cat to check them out.  Reward her for approaching or getting near them.  Never force your kitty to get near baby toys or equipment.  Remember, you want your cat to have positive experiences around the baby's things.

Helping Your Cat Adjust to New Smells: Use baby powder, baby oil, baby shampoo, and baby lotion on yourself so your cat can begin to get used to these new scents.  

The Baby's Room: Decide whether your cat will be allowed in the baby's room well before the arrival of the infant.  

If the Room Will be Off-Limits: Take any furniture your cat loves out of the baby's room so that he can continue to have access to it.  Put a cat tree or bed just outside the baby's room.  Install a tall baby gate in the doorway to get your kitty used to being restricted from the room.  Aytime you go into the baby's room, put a couple of treats on your cat's tree or in his bed.  

Once the baby comes home, give your kitty treats when you're feeding or rocking the baby in its room.  This will help your kitty associate the baby with something positive while rewarding him for staying out of the room.  

If your cat sneaks into the baby's room, gently put him outside the door.  Do not scold or punish him.

Photo credit: Trevor Leyenhorst

If the Baby's Room Will Not be Off-Limits: Put a cat tree or bed inside the baby's room.  Aytime you enter the baby's room, reward your cat with treats in her bed or on her tree.  After the baby arrives, give your cat treats in her bed or on her tree when you are feeding or rocking the baby to reward her for being near the baby.  

To train kitty not to jump into the crib, place some soda cans filled with pennies on the crib's rim.  If your cat tries to jump into the crib, the noisy soda cans should deter her.  Alternatively, you can use a crib tent to keep your kitty out of the crib.

When Baby Arrives: Be calm when you introduce your cat to the baby.  Talk to him in a soothing tone.  Reward him for getting near or approaching the baby and for positive interactions with the infant. 

Cats can happily coexist with new babies.  These tips should help your cat adjust to the arrival of a new family member.  

Have you ever introduced a cat to a new baby?  What tips can you share with expecting parents?

Opt to Adopt: Wakko

Wakko

Cat Care Society, Lakewood, CO

Photo taken from Wakko's Adopt a Pet profile page.

Wakko is one-year old, and he is a very cute gray and white mancat.  He and his siblings were abandoned at the shelter, and while all of his siblings have found homes, Wakko is still waiting to find his perfect forever home.  

Wakko is very affectionate; he enjoys cuddling and sitting in laps.  He's a very sweet boy and loves to play.  Last week, I spent some quality time playing with Wakko, and I could tell that he loved it!  

Wakko is a special needs kitty.  He has a nose that isn't shaped properly, so he has a chronically runny nose.  Because of his runny nose, he has been placed on the Perpet-U-Care program, which will pay for a portion of his veterinary care for the rest of his life.  

Please don't let Wakko's runny nose stop you from getting to know this incredible cat!  He gets along well with other kitties, and I know he will make someone the perfect companion.

You can meet Wakko at Cat Care Society, located at 5787 W. 6th Avenue in Lakewood, CO.  

Carmine and Jewel are going to the vet later today (Tuesday).  Jewel is getting her kidney values checked, and we are all a little nervous about it.

Mancat Monday and Giveaway Winner

Hi everyone, Carmine here.

Yesterday, the Mom went and met Mom Paula from Sweet Purrfections.  The Mom says Mom Paula is really nice, and she had lots of fun chatting with hers about all their fur babies......including mes!

Remember Milita's Birthday Giveaway?  We have a winner!

The winner is......

Jan from Jan's Funny Farm!

Congratulations, Jan!!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered our giveaway!  We hope you had as much fun with it as we did!

Feline Hypertension

Hypertension, high blood pressure, in cats can cause damage to the eyes, heart, nervous system, and kidneys.

Causes

Hypertension in cats most often occurs as a secondary condition.  Hypertension is most common in cats with kidney disease; however, it can also occur with hyperthyroidism, heart disease, and tumors.  Though hypertension is typically associated with another condition, it can occur by itself as well.  

Symptoms

Unfortunately, hypertension may not present any symptoms until the condition is severe or has been around a while.  

Vision changes are usually the first sign of high blood pressure in cats.  You might notice that your kitty bumps into things or hugs the wall so she can use her whiskers to find her way around.  Blindness occurs when hypertension in the eye leads to the retina detaching.  Your cat may also have dilated pupils that don't contract with light and/or blood in the front chamber of the eye.  

Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn

Stroke, heart murmur, blood clots, and lethargy may also indicate that your kitty is suffering from high blood pressure.  

A cat's risk of developing hypertension increases with age.  Thus, it is recommended that senior kitties get regular blood pressure checks as part of their examinations.  Additionally, any cat with kidney disease or hyperthyroidism should have her blood pressure checked regularly.

Diagnosis

While there are different ways vets can measure a cat's blood pressure, most veterinarians use a machine much like the one used to measure human blood pressure.  A tiny cuff is placed around the kitty's tail or leg.  It's common for vets to take a cat's blood pressure a few times in a row and to average the numbers to get a more accurate blood pressure reading.

Photo Credit: Keith Ramsey

Treatment

Medications like amlodipine and benazepril are used to treat the condition.  Additionally, veterinarians should do tests to determine if the hypertension has an underlying cause, such as chronic renal failure or hyperthyroidism.  If an underlying cause is found, this will also need to be treated.