Purrfect Pets

The Cat Care Society is currently offering two kittens for the price of one. The shelter is overloaded with kittens right now and they hope this special deal will encourage people to adopt kittens into good homes.

Kittens at Cat Care Society are available for $90. This fee covers spay/neuter, tests for feline leukemia and FIV, 15-day health/vet care assistance, microchip, a distemper/upper respiratory vaccination, collar and I.D. tag, fecal exam and deworming, and a cardboard cat carrier. Discounts do exist for seniors age 60 years old and older and disabled individuals on fixed incomes.

All potential adopters are screened by the staff at the facility to ensure the cat and the owner will be happy and to ensure the potential adopter can provide adequate care for the cat or kitten.

You may visit the Cat Care Society in order to see the kittens they currently have available for adoption. Because kittens tend to be adopted quickly, the facility does not post their pictures on their website. However, you may find out more information about adopting a cat or kitten from the facility by visiting their website.

Cat Care Society is located at 5787 W. 6th Avenue, Lakewood, CO, 80214, and my be contacted by calling 303-239-9680.

Source:

Cat Care Society

A new study conducted by the Argus Institute at Colorado State University indicates veterinarians communicate differently with clients depending on whether the visit is a problem appointment - one related to a health concern - or a wellness appointment - general check-up.

The Argus Institute found that in wellness appointments, veterinarians focus more on building a relationship with their clients. They try to engage pet owners to take part in their pet’s care and to express their opinions during appointments. Vets also tend to talk in a different tone in these visits with more laughter, compliments, reassurance, and social talk.

During problem appointments, vets tend to focus mainly on medical issues. The tone of the appointment is one of stress as many clients are emotionally distressed and anxious and vets are perceived as being in a hurry.

Additionally, the Argus Institute reports that when vets use a paternal communication style in problem appointments, potential negative consequences could ensue for the pet, the client, and the veterinarian. Specifically, Jane Shaw, DMV, Ph.D., and director of the Argus Institute says, “We know that paternalism is not an effective approach in gaining results. Without engaging the client in a conversation about their pet and obtaining their opinion, they aren’t as likely to follow through with home care. They also are not as likely to build a strong relationship - and subsequent loyalty - to their veterinarian.”

A strong relationship between a client and a veterinarian is important because vets are more likely to get complete and accurate information from clients about their pets and be able to diagnose problems more easily. Clients are more likely to follow at-home care recommendations when vets encourage them to participate in their pet’s care as well.

Dr. Shaw recommends veterinarians ask open-ended questions during appointments to encourage clients to open up about their pets.

Source:

Cat Channel: Vet Communication Style Depends on Visit

Purina has partnered with Susan G. Koman for the Cure for the Purina Cat Chow Connected for the Cause campaign.

Purina, the company that makes Cat Chow cat food plans to donate more than $200,000 to Susan G. Koman for the Cure to help raise awareness about breast cancer. The Purina Cat Chow Connected for the Cause campaign also wants to highlight the companionship and support cats give to women survivors of breast cancer.

In a recent national survey of women survivors of breast cancer conducted by Purina Cat Chow, it was found that 84% of women felt their cats had a calming effect on them during their breast cancer recovery. Additionally, 76% of respondents said they received daily support from their cats during breast cancer treatment.

Finally Purina encourages women to put photos of themselves and their cats up on their website. For each photo uploaded to the site, Purina will donate $1 to Susan G. Koman for the Cure up to $10,000.

Source:

Cat Channel: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Honors Cats

If you live in the Denver area, you may be interested in this. I found a great boarding place, which seems like a better option than other boarding facilities, in my opinion. Evergreen Cat Lodge is a cat-only boarding facility that offers suites - not cages - for cats whose owners who want to board them when they travel.

The Evergreen Cat Lodge offers three types of suites from which cat parents may choose. The Very Important Pet (VIP) suites are large in size and offer large windows that overlook the 9 acre estate. Most of the VIP suites also contain either an electric fireplace or an electric replica of a wood burning stove. VIP suites cost $35 per day.

The lodge also offers Deluxe suites for $29 per day. Most of these rooms are as large as the VIP suites and most also contain windows.

Economy suites are availabe for $22 per day and are smaller rooms that still offer the comfort of home.

All of the suites at the Evergreen Cat Lodge contain things that might be seen in a home to offer a more comfortable atmosphere for your kitty. All the rooms also have a glass door so that cats can be checked on without disturbing them.

Litter and water are cleaned and changed at least twice each day. Additionally, liquid and pill medication can be given to your kitty at no extra charge. All kitties also get individual attention while they stay at the facility. As to not disturb cat’s feeding schedules, cats can be fed once, twice, or three times a day or free fed. While the lodge does provide cat food at no extra charge, cat parents are encouraged to bring their cat’s regular food as to not disturb their diet.

All cats are required to be up-to-date on their FVRCP vaccine and cats who spend time outdoors are also required to be up-to-date on their rabies vaccines.

The Evergreen Cat Lodge offers the comfort of home to your cats while you are away. To learn more information about this facility, please visit their website or give them a call at: 303-679-1245.

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine will be hosting their first bike-a-thon, “Pedal for Pets,” on May 2. The bike-a-thon was organized by the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the benefits will go to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals.

The bike-a-thon will have two courses for adults to choose from: a 33 mile course with few hills and a longer 53 mile course, which is more challenging. Pedal for Pets will also have a junior bike-a-thon for younger family members. The junior bike-a-thon will include relay races, obstacle courses, bike safety and pet information, and interactive games.

Registration will be held in the B parking lot on the Cornell University campus, and will begin at 9am on May 2.

If you decide to go to Pedal for Pets, I hope you have a great time!

Source:

CatChannel: Bike-a-Thon for Cornell’s Animal Hospital

Easter is this Sunday, and as with all holidays, Easter brings its own set of risks and dangers to your cat.

Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to your cat. Keep all chocolate away from your cat at all times. Put your Easter baskets up high or in another safe place where your cat cannot access it. If you start a piece of chocolate candy, be sure to wrap it up again if you want to save the rest for later.

Symptoms that can occur as a result of chocolate poisoning in cats include: hyperactivity, muscle tremors, coma, restelessness, diarrhea, frequent urination, seizures, vomiting, and death. If you suspect or know your cat has ingested chocolate, call your veterinarian or a local veterinary hospital for assistance.

Easter Grass: Easter grass poses a danger to your cat as well. Cats seem to love to play with plastic Easter grass. If your cat eats Easter grass, it could cause intestinal blockage or other problems. If you see your cat eating Easter grass and it is already halfway down his or her throat, DO NOT try to pull it out. Pulling on the Easter grass could cut the intestines. Instead, call your veterinarian for assistance.

Small Candy: Small candy, such as jellybeans can also be dangerous to your cat. If your cat attempts to swallow small pieces of candy, the candy could get lodged in your cat’s throat causing him or her to choke. Keep all candies up high or in another place your cat cannot easily access.

Lillies: Lillies are flowers that are toxic to cats. Lillies can begin to cause kidney failure 24-72 hours after ingestion. Symptoms of kidney failure may include increased thirst, lethargy, loss of appetite/not eating, increased urination, dehydration, and vomiting. If you like flowers at Easter time, get flowers that are not poisonous to cats.

I hope you and your furry friend enjoy a safe and happy Easter.

Source:

Cat’s Meow: Top 5 Easter Dangers

The BDVM Mac Lean Clinic, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Chicago, Illinois, is set to open its doors for service in late May. The clinic will aim to provide 5,000 spay and neuter surgeries to cats and dogs in its first year of service and wants to gradually increase that number annually as its facility will allow. The clinic will also provide vaccinations and parasite treatments to cats and dogs. The clinic will offer a sliding-fee scale, based on a pet owner’s income and subsidized rates for practitioners of trap-neuter-return programs and low-income individuals.

The clinic was named after long-time donors Sabrina Mac Lean and William Wheeldon.

The clinic held an open house for the public to preview the facility on April 4; however, you can still schedule a time to view the facility before it opens its doors. To schedule a time to see the clinic, please contact Jenny Schlueter at 773-784-5488 ext. 231 or e-mail her at jenny@treehouseanimals.org.

Sources:

CatChannel: Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic to Open in Chicago: http://www.catchannel.com/news/2009/04/03/low-cost-spay-neuter-clinic-to-open-in-chicago.aspx

Tree House Humane Society: Presenting the Tree House BDVM Mac Lean Clinic: http://www.treehouseanimals.org/Appeals/Bucktown08/Bucktown.htm

Can your cat do a trick? If so, upload a video of your cat doing his or her trick to CatChannel.com and you could win the Cat Tricks Video Contest.

When you upload a video of your cat doing a trick to CatChannel.com, you will receive 1,000 Club Cat points. You can upload as many videos of your cat doing different tricks as you like, but you will only be rewarded 1,000 Cat Club point total for uploading videos.

The editors of CatChannel.com will reviews all of the video submissions and choose a winner. The winner of the contest will receive 5,000 additional Cat Club points as well as a year-long subscription or a renewal subscription to CAT FANCY magazine.

You can upload your cat videos here. Be sure to fill out all of the required information on the form. The deadline for submission is April 11, 2009.

A while back I posted about the Biggest Losers Contest where owners of obese cats were encouraged to help them lose weight on a veterinary approved diet. The results and winners of the contest were recently published in the May edition of CAT FANCY magazine.

The first place winner is Pumpkin, a 13-year-old cat who weighed 30 pounds before he began his weight-loss journey. At 30 pounds, Pumpkin’s owners, Kathryn Maxwell and Elizabeth Bible, said he didn’t move anymore than he had to. They did not force him to exercise, but began to feed him a recommended amount of weight management cat food every morning and evening. He began his weight loss journey in July 2007, and by January 2009, he weighed 14 pounds. His owners say he now plays and runs with the other cats, is much happier, and can groom his entire body.

The second place winner in the Biggest Losers Contest is Serendipity, a nine-year-old cat, who weighed 23 pounds when he began his weight-loss journey. His owner, Marian Kaplan, gives him a little less than 1/8 cup of diabetes food every morning. She tosses it piece by piece down the hall to give Serendipity some exercise and to keep him from snarfing his food, then stealing the other cats’ food. In mid-morning, Serendipity receives four dental treats, tossed as well. Ten pieces of diabetic food are then tossed to him mid-day. In late afternoon, he is served 1/4 of a small can of wet cat food in a bowl with three posts, which makes him work for his food. Finally, before bed, he gets 10 more pieces of diabetic food tossed to him.

Serendipity now weighs 11 pounds.

The third place winner in this contest is Baron, an eight-year-old cat who weighed 22 pounds at the beginning of his weight-loss journey. Baron’s owner, Nan Schaeffer said when Baron was rescued he was malnourished and gained weight too quickly, which led to him becoming obese. Baron has been eating four controlled meals each day and must jump up to his table in order to eat them. Baron now weighs 13 pounds, and enjoys running and playing.

The CATalyst Council has recently conducted a survey and determined the top 10 cat friendly cities in the United States. They announced their results at the American Animal Hospital Association conference on Friday.

The CATalyst Council based its top 10 list off of the cat population in each city, the number of American Association of Feline Practitioners members in the city, the percentage of microchipped cats in the city, and the number of CAT FANCY magazine subscribers in the city. Additionally, points were awarded to cities whose mayors owned a cat and for local cat-friendly ordinances.

The top 10 cat friendly cities in the United States are as follows:

1. Tampa, Florida
2. Phoenix
3. San Francisco
4. Portland, Oregon
5. Denver
6. Boston
7. Seattle
8. San Diego
9. Atlanta
10. Minneapolis

Do you live in one of the most cat friendly cities?

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Cat Channel: Top 10 Cat Friendly Cities Named