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.

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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.

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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.

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Cat Channel: Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign Honors Cats

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!

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Cat Channel: Top 10 Poisoning Claims of 2008 Revealed