Holidays for November
Month:
Adopt a Senior Pet Month
National Pet Awareness Month
National Senior Pet Month
Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Pet Diabetes Month
Wishbones for Pets Month
Weeks:
National Animal Shelter and
Rescue Appreciation Week -
First Full Week of November
National Cat Week -
First Full Week of November
Days:
National Cook for Your Pets Day Nov 1
National Black Cat Day - Nov 17
Humane Society Anniversary Day Nov 22
PET FOOD NEWS
What is "ingredient splitting?"
This article is about deceptive marketing of dog food, but be aware that this happens with cat food, too.
Keep up to date on recalls, latest developments (and
findings) with pet food:
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About the Newsletter
We would love to hear from you!
Published on the first of the month. Submissions, stories, suggestions and questions are welcome.
hi_paws @ yahoo.com
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Here at the Kitty times and The Problem Cat, we do not share, rent, or sell your personal data with any person or company, and do not save any personal data if you purchase anything. Proceeds, if any, go to feeding the shelter pets.
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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
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Did You Know?
Cat Memory
Cats have both short term and long term memory, so they can remember, short term, up to 16 hours ago. Yet they tend to be more selective compared to dogs. Meaning they only remember what is beneficial to them. And while cats are seen as having a lower social IQ then dogs, they can solve much more difficult cognitive problems.
(But only when they feel like it.)
Vocabulary Builder (VoCATulary Builder?)
*A kindle isn’t just an e-reader—it’s also a word that’s used to describe a group of kittens born to one mama cat.
*A group of full-grown cats is called a clowder.
*An ailurohile is a cat lover. The word is derived from the Greek word for cat, ailouros, and the suffix -phile, meaning lover. Conversely, the word ailurophobe—a combination of ailouros plus phobe—describes someone who fears or dislikes cats.
*Some of history's most notable figures hated cats? Such ailurophobes included
Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Kahn, Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, King Louis XlV, Napoleon, Isadora Duncan, Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Dwight Eisenhower, and three Popes -- Gregory IX, Innocent Vll, and Innocent VIII.
Why cats love boxes
Animal experts think that the enclosed spaces make felines feel more protected, secure, and important—kind of like they’re back in the womb. Researchers found that when shelter cats are provided with boxes to cuddle up in, they adjust faster and are less stressed than kitties that aren't given boxes. Also, sleeping in a box might help cats retain more body heat so they stay nice and toasty, and therefore relaxed.
12 Things Cats Hate
https://youtu.be/INhgQKMB1cU
And to offset that info:
11 Things Cats Love Most
https://youtu.be/iX3TGPNXnPk
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Thanks to Paul DeCeglie for submitting articles used in this month's newsletter. An American writer now based in Thailand, he has three gorgeous black cats he rescued from the indifferent streets of the city.
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The Feral Cats of Disneyland
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Happy November
Are Cats Lazy?
A new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine showed most domestic cats choose not to contrafreeload. The study found that cats would rather eat from a tray of easily available food rather than work out a simple puzzle to get their food.
"There is an entire body of research that shows that most species, including birds, rodents, wolves, primates -- even giraffes -- prefer to work for their food," said lead author Mikel Delgado, a cat behaviorist and research affiliate at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "What's surprising is out of all these species, cats seem to be the only ones that showed no strong tendency to contrafreeload."
In the study, Delgado, along with co-authors Melissa Bain and Brandon Han of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, provided 17 cats a food puzzle and a tray of food. The puzzle allowed the cats to easily see the food but required some manipulation to extract it. Some of the cats even had food puzzle experience.
"It wasn't that cats never used the food puzzle, but cats ate more food from the tray, spent more time at the tray and made more first choices to approach and eat from the tray rather than the puzzle," said Delgado.
Cats aren't actually lazy.
Cats that were part of the study wore activity monitors. The study found that even cats that were more active still chose the freely available food. Delgado said the study should not be taken as a dismissal of food puzzles. She said just because they don't prefer it, doesn't mean they don't like it. Delgado's previous research shows puzzles can be an important enrichment activity for cats.
Why cats prefer to freeload is also unclear. Delgado said the food puzzles used in the study may not have stimulated their natural hunting behavior, which usually involves ambushing their prey.
The research was supported by Maddie's Fund and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210813100338.htm
Where Do Cats Come From?
According to a Jewish legend, God created cats in response to Noah praying for help to protect stored food on the Ark from being eaten by rats. To that end, God made a lion sneeze and out came a pair of cats.
As we all know, ancient Egyptians venerated cats. Not only were they considered an icon for Bast, the Goddess of Protection, they also were prized for keeping rats at bay. Society saw that as a vital service and, consequently, made it illegal to kill cats--the penalty for which often was death.
Meanwhile, there is a Buddhist belief that cats are temporary resting places for powerful and very spiritual people. And in Japan, some contend that cats have the power to turn into super spirits when they die.
Health
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) has always been a death sentence for cats and is one of the most upsetting and heartbreaking diseases that can affect them. There has never been a cure, or even any effective treatment, but that could change soon.
Now there is a new drug with some promise, but it's only available on the black market. The issues involved with "unlegal" products, drugs or treatments include availability, how to obtain them, how to deal with the legalities, finding the truth about them, and whether you are willing to take the risks.
One drug currently under study involves the use of 80% hydrochloric acid in the injections. This is very painful and can burn the cat as well as the handler. You have to decide what you feel is right, for you and/or for your cat. Discuss this with your vet, for example.
Find out the name (it's a number, actually) of the drug and read discussions about the issues mentioned above, at this website: https://fiptreatmentnews.com/
Do Something Nice for Your Cat Friends
Things
we can do to help animals:
Sign petitions, write to your legislators
and local officials, check local shelters to learn their needs and how
you can help.
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