Hello Cat Lover!
Here's what's in this issue:
Can a cat smother the baby?
Separation anxiety affects cats, too.
Obesity in pets can mirror our own lives.
Cat Trivia
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NEWS FOR CAT LOVERS
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Well for goodness' sake... people are still arguing about
whether cats kill babies. At least there is some agreement
that cats do NOT suck the breath out of them; however,
now some doctors claim that cats can SMOTHER an infant
sleeping in a crib.
Oh, what will it take to exonerate the poor cat?
Cats have been blamed for just about everything throughout time.
While it may be POSSIBLE to smother a baby in the crib,
there have been absolutely NO cases reported. Smotherings
have occurred, but those cases involved pillows, too much
bedding that rumpled up around the infant's face, or someone
larger sleeping in the same bed and rolling onto them. But it was
NOT the cat. If anything, it works just the opposite. In fact, I talked to
a woman this week who told me how her little boy smushed
the cat in bed during his nap. Yes, the cat died.
So, its' a good idea to supervise pets and kids and never leave
them alone together.... but it may be more for the pet's well
being than the kid's!
Here are 2 articles on this subject:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6245009.html
http://www.slate.com/id/2210500/?GT1=38001
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Separation Anxiety... It's not just for dogs. Did you know that
cats can get it, too? Cats are very sociable animals and bond
on a much deeper level with their people than most of us realize.
The "aloof cat" is just a myth. Once they are comfortable in your
home and feel that special closeness with you, they can become
extremely stressed and lonely when they are left alone.
Granted, they are not as open about showing their feelings as
dogs, but this doesn't mean they don't *have* feelings.
Here are some signs of separation anxiety:
Hiding, grooming constantly, whining or crying or just meowing
a lot, being destructive, wanting to be on you all the time, or
peeing where they shouldn't. And if they look depressed,
they probably are.
What to do? Well, first, a vet visit is a good idea, to rule out
medical problems such as a bladder infection or urinary tract
blockage. You'd hate to punish your sweetie for a health problem
he can't help.
But if it's found to be mostly an emotional problem, you can work it out.
1. If you've been gone, then spend more time with him for a while.
2. If the problem is severe, talk with your vet. A relaxant may help
reduce or eliminate the feelings of stress.
3. Better yet, offer your cat some catnip. While it's not a tranquilizer,
it is a way to destress and allows your cat to relax mentally and
helps him to feel good around you.
4. Talk to your cat. They may not understand the words, but they
"get it" that you are addressing them. This calms many cats.
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PET FOOD NEWS
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China finally admitted to using melamine in their pet food products,
but now they say, "So what?" claiming it isn't harmful anyway.
(PetfoodIndustry.com)
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Check my blog for comments about pet food:
http://loveablecat.blogspot.com
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As some of us become overweight, so might our pets. Since we
tend to equate well being and consideration for others with food,
or use food to demonstrate these feelings, it's easy to see why
we might over-feed our pets as well as ourselves and our families.
Last year, statistics on pets showed just under half of dogs
and just over half of cats were over their normal weights.
Since increased weight leads to sluggishness, it becomes
that much more difficult to get them out to exercise.
Hmmm... just like us.
Weight gain has nothing to do with spaying and neutering, as
many believe, but rather, with overeating and lack of exercise.
One may lead to the other, but it is not directly related to the altering.
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8915234
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WEB SITES to explore
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http://www.7stepsto9lives.com
http://www.myhappycats.com/letsmove/
http://www.thebestcatfurniture.com
http://www.everypetmatters.com
http://www.catmassagesecrets.com
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A SMILE FOR YOU (MORE CAT TRIVIA)
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Cats are so good at adopting and raising orphans of other
species, they are often used by zoos, shelters, and breeders.
Some cats have even nurtured orphaned mice and rats, but
continued to hunt the wild ones outdoors.
~^^~
If you've ever rubbed a cat and gotten a slight shock, it's
real electricity, all right. An unknown engineer calculated
that it would take 9,000 million strokes to create enough
current to light a 75 watt bulb for one minute.
~^^~
Cat "speech" in different languages:
English: Meow or Mew
Indian: Myaus
Chinese: Mio
Arab: Naoua
Egyptian: Mau
-------------------------- LATEST VIDEO -------------------
Check out the video on my website, at the bottom of the page.
This time, it's the Ninja Kitty!
http://www.theproblemcat.com
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Do you have any interesting stories to share about your
cats? Send them in and I'll put them here in
this newsletter. (Include your name and website
if you have one, and I'll give you a "plug" for
your website. Or, anonymous is OK, too. It's
up to you.)
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https://www.ymlp.com/pubarchive.php?catsgalore
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