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Holidays for March
Month
International Rescue Cat Awareness Month
Week
National Animal Poison Prevention Week -
Third Full Week in March
Professional Pet Sitters Week -
First Full Week in March
Day
International Rescue Cat Day - March 2
If Pets had Thumbs Day - March 3
St. Patrick's Day - March 17
Cuddly Kitten Day - March 23
Respect Your Cat Day - March 28
PET FOOD NEWS
Keep up to date on recalls, latest developments (and findings) with pet food:
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Did You Know?
With Easter coming soon (next month), there is always the conversation about toxic plants, most notably lilies. All lilies are toxic to cats...fatal, as a rule. But some house plants are actually safe. So if you like plants in your home, this article may help you choose the best ones:
9 Pet-Friendly Plants That Are Safe for Cats
Although many plants are toxic for cats if eaten, or in some cases just licked, the following houseplants and popular garden additions are safe for cats to be around.
For comparison, the article also includes information about plants that ARE toxic, even deadly.
6 Most Common Cat Health Problems
Cats are good at taking care of themselves, as well as not showing they don't feel well, so we have to be observant and take action when things don't look right.
Play and meaty food reduce hunting by cats
New findings from a study by the University of Exeter in the U.K. reveal that cats with access to the great outdoors hunt wildlife less if their owners spend time playing with them and feeding them an appropriate diet consisting mostly of meat. Cats are obligate carnivores and their digestive systems are not designed to handle carbohydrates, such as grains, used as fillers in most commercial foods.
Therefore, reducing potential harm to wildlife is possible by feeding cats the food they crave, and need, and that is meat. The study also found that including at least five to ten minutes of playtime every day led to significant reductions in the prey brought home by cats who hunted.
"Previous research in this area has focussed on inhibiting cats' ability to hunt, either by keeping them indoors or fitting them with collars, devices and deterrents," said Professor Robbie McDonald, of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210211113943.htm
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Thanks to Paul DeCeglie, an American writer based in Pattaya, Thailand, for providing some great articles for us this month!
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Storms Hammer Much of the U.S.
Animal Organizations Helping Pets and Their Guardians in the Wake of Winter Storms
With the severe winter storms this year, millions of people, especially in Texas, have been heavily impacted with loss of power, water, heat and even shelter. During this state of emergency, the following website has created a list of organizations that are helping people and their pets to stay warm, stay together, obtain food, and survive. Donations to these groups are vital right now.
https://mutts.com/2021/02/25/animal-organizations-helping-pets-and-their-guardians-in-the-wake-of-winter-storms/
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National Wildlife Federation
Announcing the 2021-22 Calendar Cover Winner!
Filled with many pictures of amazing animals, National
Wildlife Federation's calendars are a great reminder of
our shared love for America’s wildlife. But they’re also
a reminder that so many species of wildlife need our help.
Visit their Twitter and/or Facebook sites to see what they
do for wildlife and to donate to the cause as you wish and are able.
https://twitter.com/NWF
https://www.facebook.com/NationalWildlife
Long lost cat reunited with owner after 15 years
Microchips help, but first, someone has to look for them. This cat could have gone home much sooner if a trip to a vet had included a chip scan. We're just thrilled this cat made it home at last! Not many get that lucky.
Indoor cats are safer and live longer. Outdoors they are at risk of trauma from cars, fights with other cats, free-roaming dogs, raccoons, and coyotes--which are known to eat cats. Beyond which, outdoor cats are more likely to become infested with fleas or ticks, and may contract infectious diseases. If you do allow your cat to go outdoors, she or he must wear a safety collar and an ID tag. A safety collar with an elastic panel will allow your cat to break loose if the collar gets caught on something. And for both indoor and outdoor cats, an ID tag or an implanted microchip can help ensure that your cat is returned to you if lost.
https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/indoor-vs-outdoor-cats/
Speaking of lost cats, here's an article about how to find them:
They're probably closer than you think!
https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-safety-tips/how-to-find-a-lost-cat
And now, More on the Indoor-Outdoor Issue: Coyotes!
The first three articles below focus on the same information: that coyotes are more aggressive during mating season, and that the danger is greatest during the winter months.
However, the 4th article questions this information, citing different research. Their conclusion? Coyotes are not any more likely to hunt or attack your pets at any specific time of year. In other words, they may show up at ANY TIME. So, beware and take care, and protect your pets. There apparently is no such thing as a "safe season."
1. Watch Your Pets
"It’s sad but true: coyotes will gladly snack on cats and small-to-medium-sized dogs when the opportunity arises. And, while this is something of a danger year-round, it is especially so January through March which is when coyotes mate and are most aggressive."
https://www.newbernsj.com/story/news/2021/01/21/coyotes-everywhere-and-breeding-season-here-so-watch-your-pets/4227962001/
2. Ohio Department of Wildlife: Beware of coyotes
Just because you haven’t seen a coyote, doesn’t mean they don’t live nearby. Coyotes live in all states, except Hawaii, and can be found in Canada and Mexico. While attacks on humans are rare, the likelihood of a pet being attacked increases during mating season.
https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/coyote-mating-season/
4. Do Coyote Attacks Increase During Mating Season?
The author of this article reviewed the research and reached a different conclusion.
"Overall, researchers found that seasonality was not a good predictor of coyote attacks. More studies found that coyote attacks increased during the pup rearing season rather than the breeding season. However, no reported results were statistically significant."
https://lostpetresearch.com/2020/01/do-coyote-attacks-increase-during-mating-season/
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The Kitty Times is published once a month. Suggestions, questions and articles are welcome at felinehelpline @ live.com
If you're having trouble viewing the newsletter or would like to see previous issues, this link may help:
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