Purrfect Pets

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?

Source:

Cat Channel: Top 10 Cat Friendly Cities Named

Robert Utech, repeated cat killer and former police chief in West Concord, MN has been found guilty of two felonies involving cruelty or torture of animals - one felony count involving the reckless discharge of a weapon and one misdemeanor count involving misconduct of a polic officer.

The charges included Utech shooting four cats owned by George Layman, a West Concord resident. Additionally, Utech admitted he killed 20 cats within West Concord city limits with a .22 calliber gun. Supposedly, these cats were, “wild.” He dumped the cats’ bodies into a grain elevator, located approximately one block away from the police station. Utech said he shot the cats because, “I hates them, I shoot them all the time.”

Another former West Concord police officer testified that Utech once chased a cat down the road, and shot at it.

Utech was also accused and charged with misconduct as a police officer. More specifically, he was accused of using a stun gun on an innocent bystander, telling another West Concord police officer not to charge anyone who lived in the city with drunk driving, and messing up an alleged juvenile sexual assault case.

I will keep you updated on this story as it continues to unfold. I honestly do not see how someone could be so cruel to both people and animals. I think the things this man has done are horrific, and I hope justice is served.

Source:

The Cat’s Meow: Police Chief Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty Charges

Owners of 12 or more cats and/or dogs may be required to get an annual license if a newly introduced senate bill passes. The bill, SB 864 by state Senator Sue Madison, would require owners of 12 or more dogs or cats to get an anual license from the Arkansas Agriculture Department.

The senate bill defines an animal owner as having a right of property in a dog or cat, acts as a custodian to a dog or cat, keeps or harbors a dog or cat, or possesses a dog or cat in his or her care. Those who will be exempt from getting an anual license include: a veterinarian or veterinary facility that provides services to animals under the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Practice Act, an entity that is managed or owned by a government or local agency, responsiblit for animal control, a grooming, kennel, or boarding facility that has temporary custodianship of an animal in exchange for compensation, animal research facilities, a government agency acting under its own rules, and a government, state, or county agency or other political subdivision acting under its own rules.

The license will cost $250 for owners of 12-24 cats or dogs. For owners of more than 24 cats and/or dogs, the anual license will cost $1,000.

Source:

Cat Channel: Cat Licenses May Be Required in Arkansas

Pet Sitters International, an educational organization for professional pet sitters, is encouraging dog and cat owners to alert emergency teams that you have a pet at home who needs care in the event that you are in a serious car accident.

The organization has recently unveiled the new vehicle window clings, which are similar to the window stickers you put in your home windows to alert fire fighters that there are pets in the home needing rescued.

The red and white vehicle window clings provide a space for you to put the name and number of an emergency contact who can be reached in case of a serious vehicle accident, so that your pets may receive the care they need at home until you return. The clings are 3 inches square, vinyl, and can be easily removed and reused.

You can get a vehicle window cling by sending $1 and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Pet Sitters International, 201 E. King St., King, NC, 27021.

Source:

Cat Channel: Car Sticker Lets Cat Parents Plan Ahead

The Veterinary Pet Insurance company, based in California, has recently analyzed more than 400 pet poisoning claims they received last year to identify the most commonly ingested plants and plant products that made pets sick in 2008. At the top of the list were grapes and raisins. Grapes can cause kidney failure in cats who ingest them. Other signs your pet has ingested grapes include diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetitie, abdominal pain, and vomiting.

The top 10 plants that caused pets to get sick in 2008 were:
1. Grapes and raisins
2. Mushrooms
3. Marajuana
4. Lily
5. Walnuts
6. Onions
7. Sago palm
8. Macadamia nuts
9. Azalea
10. Hydrangea

The Veterinary Pet Insurance also processed poison claims from: dandelions, tea tree oil, oleander, poison ivy, delphinium, crocus bulbs, almonds, scarlet pimpernel, gladiolus, hemlock, brunfelsia, potpouri, hibiscus, rhododendrons, tabacco, nightshade, pointsettia, and kalanchoe.

Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for Veterinary Pet Insurance asserts most pet plant poisonings can be avoided by keeping poisonous plants out of your pet’s environment. For instance, if you see mushrooms growing in your backyard, pick them so that your pet doesn’t eat them.

You can read more about poisonous plants for pets here.

Source:

Cat Channel: Top 10 Poisoning Claims of 2008 Revealed

The American Humane Association is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Be Kind to Animals Kid contest. You may nominate children and teens in two age categories: ages 6-12 and 13-17.

The contest has been taking place since 1915 and recognizes children and teens who are extraordinarily kind to animals. For instance, last year’s winner, eight-year-old Ian Cahr was recognized for raising over $10,000 to help dogs.

If you know a child or teen who has gone above and beyond to do something extraordinarily kind for animals, you can submit a nomination through the mail. All nominations much be postmarked by April 15, 2009 to be considered for the grand prize. The nomination form as well as all of the rules of the Be Kind to Animals contest are available on the American Humane Association’s website.

The nomination form requires a 300-word description of how the nominee has shown extraordinary kindness to animals. You may also include supporting documentation and up to two photographs of the nominee participating in the kind activity.

Each grand prize winner in each age category will be awarded $1,000. Winners will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week May 3-9, 2009.

Good luck to anyone who decides to enter a child or teen in this contest!

Sources:

Cat Channel: Be Kind to Animals Contest Launching

American Humane Association: Be Kind to Animals Week