The Cheetah is Racing for Survival
Cheetah photographed in Namibia by Joanne McGonagle
Alley Cat Allies Hope for Community Cats
December 2, 2013 by 11 Comments
The Cat Signal!
Walking into the Alley Cat Allies Conference in Washington D.C. last month, the first thing I saw was the lighted image that represents Alley Cat Allies. The beautiful image led the way up the stairs to the conference where over 350 people caring about community cats had gathered to learn what we all can do to better the lives of cats.
Cats and Christmas Trees How to Keep Both Safe
December 1, 2013 by 7 Comments
Years ago we had live Christmas trees. When Hazel came to live with us, we decided after the tree came tumbling down that perhaps an artificial tree might be a better solution. Not only for our ornamnets’ sake but to keep her safe too. Pine needles are quite sharp and might even cause internal injuries if ingested and they are potentially toxic to cats. The tree water is also dangerous for cats to drink because it is full of pine resin and possibly flame retardant chemicals. You can wrap aluminum foil around the tree trunk to keep your cat from scratching or climbing and out of the water but we decided it was too stressful worrying about Hazel and opted for an artificial tree.
Switching to an artificial tree eliminated the tree water but there are still other dangers lurking for your cat. Your cat may still try to climb the artificial tree, chew on the light cords, and possibly step on broken ornaments. And your cat might decide to chew on the branches of your artificial tree too.
What is a cat parent to do when it comes to the Christmas tree?
Maggie Moves On To a New Home
November 30, 2013 by 12 Comments
We tried our best to provide Maggie with a good home but it was not to be. Maggie was accustomed to being the only cat in her home with Marie and she just didn’t seem to accept being around Annie and Eddie. At first we thought she was just afraid and that in time and after a very slow introduction she might be able to live a happy life here with us.
Grumpy Cat Odor Eliminator and George W. Bush The Artist
November 26, 2013 by 1 Comment
It seems almost every day something curious about cats pops up in the news. I often find myself reading the cat news and wondering what you might think about some of the interesting new products, trends and ideas that surface on the internet. So we started the Reader Opinion Poll where post a couple of cat topics and then we can all weigh in with what we think about them.
At the end of each topic summary, there is a poll that asks you to vote by selecting Purr, meaning you like this idea, Hiss, meaning you don’t like this idea. and Yawn, meaning you are indifferent; you neither like nor dislike the idea. Here is the first topic.
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Cats Love Calvin Klein Cologne Cat News Reader Opinion Poll
November 19, 2013 by 2 Comments
Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men is the Cat’s Meow!
Calvin Klein’s Obsession for Men is the fragrance used to lure cats to remote cameras in the jungle. Footage released by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) shows an African golden cat checking out a camera trap in a protected rainforest in Uganda. WCS scientists say they drew the cat out with Obsession for Men, which is commonly used in the field.
Scientific American also reported on the Obsession phenomenon, claiming that biologists use the fragrance to attract jaguars in Nicaragua. The cologne is said to contain civetone, which is from the scent glands of a nocturnal animal called civets. The civetone is what gives Obsession for Men its musky note, but the scent is similar to a territorial marking, piquing the jaguars’ curiosity and encouraging them to leave their own scent
First Snow Without You Our Message to Gracey After 6 Months
November 16, 2013 by 16 Comments
It snowed overnight Monday. Not much, just a couple of inches. Enough to cover the ground and the golden blanket of ginkgo leaves that danced to the ground over the weekend. I missed the leaves falling this year and that was fine with me. You weren’t here to watch with us and that was one of our favorite things to do in November. Your dad said the leaves fell so quickly that even though he was home he missed them too. I think that might have been on purpose.
Paul and Gracey waiting for the ginkgo leaves to dance last year.
I went to Washington D.C. for the Alley Cat Allies conference. I learned a lot about community cats and what we can all do to help them coexist with humans. When Becky Robinson, the founder of Alley Cat Allies, asked me how I came to be a cat advocate, I told her your story of how we found you after being dumped at the dog pound and that I bottle fed you and hoped you would grow strong and thrive. I told her your story and she smiled and said, how amazing it is that many people become cat advocates because of rescuing one special kitten.
Later I thought about how you fit in the palm of my hand and I used to put you under my coat, zip it up and you would ride there, snug and warm. I think of you every day. Six months since you’ve been gone. Six months without you.
Your video The Tiniest Tiger’s Snow Adventure won the CatVenture category at The Friskies. This was an amazing surprise. After I returned to my seat from accepting the award your video was shown to the audience. Your dad and I weren’t expecting to be hit so hard with sadness seeing you up on that big screen. I had watched that video many times at home, but during the video when you climb back into your heated thinking circle and the words Home Sweet Home were displayed, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I looked at your dad and he just shook his head no, like don’t look at me because I understand and feel the same way.
Ideal Balance Crunchy Naturals Cat Treats
November 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Ideal Balance Crunchy Naturals
Gracey had food allergies and that made it difficult to find special treats for her to enjoy. We were in that mind set for so long, now that Annie and Eddie are 
here we realized that we could look for a teat for them to enjoy. We are still skittish about what to feed our cats because we want to make sure that they not only enjoy their treats but that the treats are good and safe for them too.
Ideal Balance created Crunchy Naturals for dogs and cats to meet the needs of pet parents that want the best in what they choose to give to their loved one. I like the window on the bag that allows me to see the treats inside the bag too. The treats stay fresh even after opening because the treat bag has a zip loc closure that seals tight. In fact, the treat bag stayed closed even after Annie batted it off the counter onto the floor thinking she would be able to get a few extra treats.
All Natural Ingredients and Grain Free
Ideal Balance treats are made with all-natural ingredients like real chicken and they are grain-free too. There is no corn, wheat, soy, added artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. All of the Hill’s Ideal Balance treats are manufactured locally, in the United States.
Zero Tolerance for Salmonella
Cat Health Depends on a Balanced Diet
November 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Balanced nutrition is the key to your cats good health
How often have we heard that for the best in life, we need to keep everything in balance. Work and family life balance, exercise and rest and of course eating a balanced diet. When I was in Kenya, I saw the limitations on the availability of clean water. I have not been able to turn on the water at home without thinking about how precious this resource is and how fortunate those of us are that take clean water for granted every day.
We know we need water and we also need to eat a balanced diet to maintain our health and this is easier said than done at times. We can select our food choices but our cats rely on us to choose for them and this can be daunting at times.
Eco-Friendly BambuBowl Giveaway
November 14, 2013 by 18 Comments
BambùBowl Eco-Friendly Cat Bowl
This heart shaped bowl by Loving Pets is made from bamboo and corn starch, 100% renewable and sustainable resources. These bowls are durable and dishwasher safe and feature anti-skid feet to prevent spills and slippage. BambùBowls also have cutouts on the side which allow them to be lifted off the ground with ease. The bowls are also wide enough to not cause whisker stress for your cat.
- Made from 100% renewable & sustainable resources
- Durable & dishwasher safe
- Easily lifts with side cutouts
Loving Pets Heart Shaped Bambu Bowl
