Marie Belew Wheatley, president and CEO said, “Kindness toward animals is a building block of a humane and compassionate society.”  “We celebrate and encourage that all year long,” she said.

Not that we need a designated time of year to do this, in honor of Be Kind to Animals Week, here are some tips on how you can show your appreciation for animals:

Speak out for animals
Get informed about policies and legislation that can impact the animals in your community and throughout the country. Also, register to receive Action Alerts from American Humane — you’ll be able to speak out for animals with just the click of a mouse. Advocacy for animals can make a huge difference in their safety and well-being.www.americanhumane.org.

Report animal abuse
Animal cruelty and abuse is not only tragic for animals, but also an indicator that other forms of abuse such as domestic violence could be happening. If you see something that looks suspicious — a dog chained in your neighbor’s yard that looks underfed, a child putting a cat in a box and kicking it around the yard –  please don’t hesitate.  Let your local animal control, humane society or animal shelters know.

Appreciate wildlife
All animals deserve to be treated humanly — family pets and animals in the wild. Create an inviting space in your yard and garden for butterflies, hummingbirds and other creatures. If wildlife comes too close to home, look for ways to coexist with animals or to protect your property humanely. Teach children to appreciate animals and wildlife. Lead by example and demonstrate how we can make a difference in the lives of all animals.

Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue
Every year, an estimated 3.7 million animals must be euthanized at our nation’s shelters because they could not be adopted into loving homes. Help animals find a second chance at happiness by adopting your next pet from your local shelter or rescue group. American Humane has tips to find the animal companion that’s right for you and develop a bond that will last a lifetime.

Take care of your pet
Pets are like children who never grow up. Along with love, they need you to help keep them healthy and safe throughout their lives.  Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly. Keep your animal’s vaccinations up-to-date. Make sure he’s wearing proper identification and/or get them microchipped.  Know what it takes to be a responsible pet owner.

For more resources, visit http://americanhumane.org.

Litter Box and Litter Mat Experiment with different litter boxes to find out which kind your cat likes better — some prefer a covered environment while others, an open one. You might even get a mat to place right outside the litter box to ensure that your cat doesn’t track excess litter throughout your home. Make sure the opening to the litter box is nice and large so even a larger cat can get in easily. A cat should not have to struggle to fit into the litter box — if your cat can’t fit inside the box, it will surely find somewhere else in your house to do its business. Covered boxes are great if you have dogs in the house, who often consider cat poop attractive. It’s also important to use one litter box per cat — they, like humans, prefer privacy when using the facilities.

Litter It’s important to keep your cat’s litter box as clean and odor-free as possible. If your cat’s litter box is not pleasant to the cat, it could lead to house soiling, which is a leading cause of cats being returned to shelters. There are lots of different litters on the market — some are clumping (also known as “scoopable”), and some are non-clumping. It is important to find a litter that controls odor, like Fresh Step, which contains carbon. Carbon works to continuously eliminate odors, helping to keep your cat happy and your litter box smelling fresher. Scoop litter daily. For more information, visit freshstep.com.

Scratching Post Cats need to scratch! It’s a natural instinct to them. When a cat scratches, its old outer nail sheath is pulled off, and the sharp, smooth claws underneath are exposed. Provide a sturdy scratching post, at least 3 feet high, which will allow your cat to stretch completely when scratching. The post should also be stable enough that it won’t wobble during use, and should be covered with rough material such as sisal, burlap, or tree bark. Many cats also like scratching pads. A sprinkle of catnip once or twice a month will keep your cat interested in her post or pad. It’s also important to cut your cat’s nails every two to three weeks so they will be relatively blunt and less likely to harm the arms of both humans and furniture.

Climbing Tree Similar to a scratching post, a cat climbing tree can be a great source of enjoyment for your cat. Cat trees usually include several resting platforms atop the “trunks” and can be covered in tree bark or carpeted. Placement near a sunny window or patio door guarantees enjoyment.

Catnip Toys Cats love catnip — more than 50 percent of felines go wild when they smell it. Catnip comes from the leaves of the Nepeta Cataria plant, and even scientists don’t fully understand why felines respond to it the way they do. What they do know is that the reaction is caused by a chemical in the herb called transnepetalactone. A sprinkle of catnip once or twice a month will also keep your cat interested in his scratching post or climbing tree.

The video is long because Steve and I are new at this and don’t know how to edit yet. You wont be sorry though, Keep watching so you can see another of Lucien’s favorite things; getting his little kitty but spanked!

Two Valentine hazards to be aware of are chocolate and lilies. In the week prior to Valentine’s Day 2008, cases involving chocolate ingestion increased by 74%—a number comparable only to cases seen during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Here are some helpful tips I got of the ASPCA website.

- When sending a floral arrangement, request that it contain no lilies, as all species within the plant genera Lilium are toxic to cats. And please de-thorn your roses, as their sharp, woody spines can hurt your pet if chewed, stepped on or swallowed.

- Stow chocolates (any candy) in paw-proof drawers and cabinets. The darker the chocolate, the more likely a pet who’s ingested it will suffer vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and an elevated heart rate.

- Spilled wine is nothing to cry over—until a curious pet laps it up. Because animals are smaller than humans, a little bit of alcohol can do a lot of harm, causing vomiting, lack of coordination, difficulty breathing and even coma.

- Gather up tape, ribbons, cellophane and balloons after you open presents—long, stringy and “fun-to-chew” items can get lodged in your pet’s throat or digestive tract.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, contact your veterinarian or the APCC’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435.

Who ever said Christmas was just for kids, does not know what they are talking about. Just ask my kids, err I mean cats.

Lucien VS Nip Cane

SantaClaws

Pandora VS Nip Cane

For us?

I

Boy loves his Nip Cane

My cats are asking that you PLEASE choose AniMeals of Missoula Montana.

**The last contest ended November 1, 2008. The lucky winner was Independent Animal Rescue, Inc (IAR) of Durham, NC  www.animalrescue.net

CONGRATULATIONS!! w00t w00t!

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food.  Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.  This includes cat hair. I’ve grown used to the taste so that trick wont work anymore.

The stairway/hallway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed.  I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort.  Cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep.  It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible.  I also know that sticking tails straight to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom.  If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, howl, meow, and try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge to try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered.   Also, I have been using the bathroom for years–canine or feline attendance is not required.

The proper order is to kiss me, then clean your butt. I cannot stress this enough!

Love always,

Meowmie

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don’t.

2. If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That’s why they call it “fur”niture.

3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, they are an animal.  To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short,      hairy, walks on all fours and doesn’t speak clearly.

Remember: Cats are better than kids because they:

1.   Eat less
2.  Don’t ask for money all the time
3.  They are easier to train.  
5.  Never ask to drive the car
6.  Don’t hang out with drug-using friends
7.  Don’t smoke or drink
8.  Don’t have to buy the latest fashions
9.  Don’t want to wear your clothes
10.  Don’t need a gazillion dollars for college, and..
11.  If they get pregnant, you can sell their children!

I think I’m one of the few that disagrees with this. Who would clean their cat box and feed them if I died? I’m in denial OK! I know they’d off me if they had the chance!

BTW I am not artistic or clever enough to come up with this. I found it at http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com

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