Articles this month:
1. Escaping Ukraine
2. Common Cat Behaviors
3. Separation Anxiety
4, Scratching
5. Declawing to be banned
6. Build a Catio
7. Avoid poisoning your pet
8. Fun Cat Vocabulary
PET FOOD NEWS
Suggested for you:
Download this free ebook on feeding your cat,
by Dr. Lisa Pierson, at catinfo.org
The link is on the first page of the website.
Despite an abundance of information about feline nutrition, some people
still insist on making their cats vegans or vegetarians. Here's why that's not a good idea:
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About the Newsletter
We would love to hear from you!
Published on the first of the month. Submissions, stories, comments and questions are welcome.
hi_paws @ yahoo.com
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Natural Pet Care
For a comprehensive care regimen for your pets, this website contains information, educational courses (many are free), and product advice to help you treat your pet naturally.
https://vitalanimal.com
8. Fun Cat Vocabulary
Here are a few terms to get started:
Beans - Cat toes (aka toe beans)
Blep - showing a little bit of tongue.
Chonky - an affectionate way to say a pet is slightly overweight.
Heckin - emphasizes an action (the "heckin zoomies")
Kitty Glitter - cat hair on clothes or furniture
Mlem - the noise made when licking
Murder Mittens - paws with claws out (aka mean beans)
Pirate - cat with one eye
Screm - to meow in dismay
Snout Sprouts - whiskers
Sploot - stretched out on stomach with legs splayed out behind
Troublepuffs - the "package" on the back end of a male cat
Zoomies - when a cat races around the house (usually at night when you want to sleep)
For a comprehensive list of more fun terms for our "cattos" visit:
https://cat-world.com/cattolingo-a-guide-to-the-internets-favorite-language/
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In the News
1. Escaping Ukraine With Their Pets
As much as we may try to avoid the sad and gruesome news out of Ukraine, stories and images plaster most media. Perhaps none is as heart-wrenching as tearful tales of refugees who are forced to leave their pets behind. One bright light is reported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which says that a number of key countries bordering Ukraine — and other countries in Europe — have made it easier for Ukrainian families to enter with their pets. The organization also provides helpful information for people fleeing with their pets.
https://www.aol.com/news/photos-ukrainians-flee-cats-dogs-162309431.html
Behavior
2. Common Cat Behaviors
https://www.facebook.com/1051206153/posts/10225059439207085/
3. Cats get separation anxiety, too
It's not just about dogs. Our cats can miss us so terribly they react similarly to dogs' behavior when we're not around. They can become destructive or depressed or downright fearful and hide for long periods.
https://mashable.com/article/cat-separation-anxiety-tips-resources
4. Scratching
Having cats as roommates, you no doubt know that scratching is a normal, instinctive cat behavior. Cats need to scratch. They do it to express emotions like excitement or stress, to mark objects with their scent (they have scent glands in their paws), to remove the dead part of their nails and, often, just to get a good stretch.
Yes, your furry friend can be taught not to scratch the furniture (see https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/cats-destructive-scratching), but the procedure is time-consuming and the results do not come with a guarantee for life…or even a few days.
The (not-so-desirable) alternative is to wrap all surfaces in aluminum foil, or you can choose to furnish your home with items made from fabrics cats don’t like to scratch. Some that look great yet work well for cat parents include microfiber, faux suede, denim, or synthetics such as polyester, rayon, nylon or acrylic. In the end, it's best for your cat's well-being to avoid declawing. If one feels the furniture is more important, they should not have have cats.
5. Maryland to Ban Declawing
Maryland lawmakers are reportedly working to make it the second state to ban declawing cats. It is already outlawed in American cities such as Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Austin, Denver, Beverly Hills and Berkeley. New York state banned the practice in 2019, while many other states are also considering prohibiting such practices. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/maryland-us-declawing-cats-ban-b2032824.html
6. Build a Catio!
If your cat would enjoy some safe, outside time, consider building an enclosure.
An online search for "catio" will bring up many websites with plenty of photos, where to buy one, and even instructions on building your own. Here's just one video that demonstrates how doable this project can be:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN_GQYkBxjo
Short on space? Here are a few examples suitable for apartment or condo dwellers:
https://catioworld.com/balcony-catios/
https://youtu.be/67_R9O1FLrA
https://www.omlet.us/shop/cat_products/cat_balcony_enclosure/
Consider how cats live in the wild when creating your cat's living environment. Outdoor cats can be seen climbing trees, running along fences or sitting in high places so they can keep an eye on their territory. You can mimic these conditions inside your home or in an outdoor enclosure by simply moving furniture around, installing window perches, buying or building cat trees and creating climbing systems.
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Happy Easter!
7. Avoid Poisoning Your Pet
Easter is April 17 and many websites already have published warnings about the dangers of certain houseplants, notably those in the lily family. Lilies, popular at Easter, are exceptionally toxic to cats and should be kept out of the house. Even the pollen from a lily can be fatal within hours, whether eaten or sniffed.
Here are ten common toxins to avoid:
https://blog.petwellbeing.com/10-of-the-most-common-toxins-for-cats-and-dogs
Just as a matter of preparedness, pet parents should always and at least keep the phone numbers of poison control centers handy. Here are a couple:
Animal Poison Control | (888) 426-4435 | ASPCA (Available 24/7. Fee may apply.)
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661.
https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com
On another note, poisoning often happens throughout the year when well-meaning pet parents opt to use toxic products to treat for fleas. There are many natural and safe options, but certain flea meds are the worst and can quickly kill your beloved pet. Read more:
Beware of Seresto
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2022/03/24/epa-questions-ability-regulate-flea-tick-seresto/7144877001/
Also avoid Cheristin for cats (and the similar drug for dogs, Trifexis).
http://cathealthproblems.blogspot.com/2016/07/flea-control-products-are-they-safe.html
After some research for a friend who lost a very special kitten, I learned something you may need to know, and it's not being taught in vet schools anymore. A retired veterinarian with many years in practice verified this for me. Just remember this motto:
White Feet, Don't Treat
It has to do with a genetic marker in cats that happen to have white feet! They are more sensitive to these chemicals than other cats. It used to be listed in the safety data sheets that come with the products, too. If you confront some vets about this, be prepared for an angry reaction and denial. If you care about your cat, ignore them and deny the treatment. As I said, there are many safer options to remove fleas.
See: https://www.onlynaturalpet.com/
(No, we don't get a commission if you buy anything. We are more concerned with saving pets' lives!)
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Thanks to Paul DeCeglie, an American writer now based in Pattaya, Thailand, for submitting articles for the newsletter.
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