The end of October is fast approaching. Soon it will be October 31st and Halloween will be upon us. Read on for my tips and tricks to enjoy a petacular Halloween! Petacular Halloween Costumes This wouldn’t be a proper petacular Halloween post if I didn’t start off with a paragraph about pets in costumes. The resident pets at my house have suffered through a few costumes over the years. Just like harnesses and collars, it is important that costumes fit…
What is the VOHC seal? The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) concept was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Veterinary dentists recognized that there were many products being marketed to improve the dental health of pets. However, there was not an objective means of recognizing which products actually worked. As a result a panel of veterinary dentists and representatives from several veterinary organizations agreed upon a protocol for testing effectiveness of plaque and calculus retardants in dogs. (Note…
The Dreaded Cat Carrier The cat carrier… an item that can strike fear into the hearts of both cats and their owners alike. Most of us have heard the stories (or experienced the sensation ourselves) of attempting to place a normally calm and sweet cat into a carrier, only to find that said cat morphs into an acrobatic, scratching whirlwind upon seeing the carrier. You wouldn’t think that an animal that weighs less than 15 pounds could resist so efficiently….
Pets travel on a regular basis. Whether it is a flight to an international country or a drive across state lines, pets cross borders for a variety of reasons. such as vacations with their human families, shows, trials, hunting, or even to find new homes. Regardless of the reason for travel, it is important to know the rules and regulations that pertain to each trip. In my experience, most pet owners are aware that international travel and anything involving planes…
The life of the domestic housecat has changed significantly over the years. Many cats are living longer, healthier lives as indoor only cats. On average an indoor-only cat lives about 10 years longer than a cat that is outdoors. This is largely due to the risk factors that cats that are allowed to roam outside unattended are exposed to that indoor cats are not. I have seen many cats casually strolling the street and have treated many that have subsequently…
Now that you have read Part 1 – From Birth to 4 Weeks, you know that Elara and Shira’s kittens all successfully made it through their first month without any major setbacks. We left off in part 1 with one month old pictures of Shira’s litter. It only seems fair to start part 2 with 5 week old pictures of Elara’s litter. Remember these adorable sleepy faces? Despite the sleepy photos, by the end of five weeks the kittens are…
As many of my readers already know, I have been a bit of a crazy cat lady this past year and a half. Glia, Frisko and I have welcomed a total of 27 foster cats into our home since March 2016. Most of these cats have been kittens just getting a start in life. Two of these litters were born in my house, bringing with them all the love, joy, mischief, and general chaos that kittens do. During these experiences,…
My personal fostering story started in March of 2016. I purchased a house in June of 2015 and finally had a spare room and the ability to determine how many pets lived in my home (pending city laws of course). When my local humane society started expanding their foster program, I decided it was time to add a few temporary furry household members. So Shira, a beautiful pregnant cat, entered my life. Over the last year, I have had several…