Cold Weather Tips For Dog Owners.

Yes I am talking about dogs, as I know some cat people also have dogs as well. What does that make you? Super Pet Parents. Colder weather brings with it the hustle and bustle of the Holidays, between Thanksgiving and New Years. Sometimes we get so busy we forget to take those extra few minutes required to make sure our dogs are cozy and warm when going outside. This is true for those little dogs and shorthaired dogs. Did you know that your dog loses its keen sense of smell during extremely cold weather, if this happens your pet can become lost. Best to have them on a leash. So bundle up and go with. Make sure to wipe paws, legs and stomach when they come in from the snow. Plenty of things stick to paws when they come in from the snow, sleet and ice. These include salt, anti freeze and other yuck. Dogs love to lick their paws and you do not want them licking salt or antifreeze from their paws. This will upset their stomachs and or poison them. Invest in a warm coat for those short haired dogs. You need it to cover from the base of their tail and bellies. Get a good insulated one, not those fancy coats. What dog seriously needs swag to go outside. Insulated is best. Another thing do not leave your dog in a cold car for any length of time. This is as bad as hot weather. The car acts just like an ice box. In the winter you can leave food in your car and it won't spoil, but hey dogs aren't food, so don't leave them in the car while you shop. Quick stop at the gas station okay, but that's it. Well I hope my Dog Lovers enjoy the fact that I have branched out a bit and offered some tips for your Pups. Take care and Sophia says keep your dogs warm. She's my dog lover. Happy Dogs.

Seasonal Pet Health Hazards Associated With Fall.

This article is from Dr. Patrick Mahaney. Although fall has many things that appeal to humans, fall does have potential health hazards for our pets. Decreased Hours of Daylight. Lots of people walk their pets early in the day or evening and with less daylight it can cause potential hazards for you and your pet. Drivers have a harder time seeing you and your pet. If you walk your dog or let your feline out be very observant to prevent them from being hit by a car. Dangers due to Leaves. If you are outside with your pets and using a leaf blower be cautious as it may scare them and they will take off, and leave your property. Additionally gas powered leaf blowers can leak oil or fuel, which creates a source of toxicity should your pet ingest when your pet walks through it and then licks their paws. Leaf piles laying on your lawn can cause problems as well. They can quickly accumulate moisture, which promotes bacterial and mold growth. If your pet ingests these microorganisms, digestive tract upset can occur. Burning leaves also cause smoke and plant based oils, especially if poison ivy is mixed in these can irritate your pets eyes, lungs, nose and throat. Better to leave them inside. Dangers due to Plants and Mushrooms. The Chrysanthemum is a seasonally blooming flower that is commonly associated with fall. Toxicity can occur if your pet ingests the mum's flowers. I have a bad little cat called Jinx, you know her as my editor. She is awful about eating flowers. I have a beautiful African Violet my son got me for Mother's Day that I had to take to work, just so she would leave it alone. It is nice to have there. So the signs of plant ingestion are as follows. 1) Ataxia - Stumbling 2) Dermatitis - Skin Inflammation 3) Ptyalism - Increased Salivation 4) Vomiting 5) Diarrhea. Other Plants include Meadow Saffron/Autumn Crocus, and Clematis. Mushrooms can also occur in mulch and some may not be as toxic as others are so make sure your pets stays from these as well. Other Dangers Include all types of Rat and Mice Poisons. When it gets colder the rodents seek shelter wherever they can. Take care where you place any type of rodent poisons. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned call your Vet or Vet Hospital immediately. These tips are for Dog and Cat lovers alike, so as the year winds down and the cold weather moves in watch for the dangers that the Fall season can bring for your Beloved Pets. Happy Cat.

Ten Ways to Help Shelter Cats.

1) Put a donation box in your work place for food and toys. After you take it down thank your coworkers for their help. 2) Collect old towels and blankets, the cats can use these in their cages to keep warm and cozy. 3) Make some catnip toys, they are really easy and inexpensive to make. 4) Volunteer to play with the kitties, it helps to make them more social, and offer to help clean the cages. 5) Hold a cat toy and food drive. The easiest way to do this is at your next social gathering or family party. 6) Foster a kitty if you can. Foster homes are always in need, when rescue shelters get full. 7) Volunteer for a Trap-Neuter-Release program. Call your local shelter for details. 8) Take photos for shelters if you are good with a camera. It helps when posting details in papers, and on Face Book if the shelter has good pictures. 9) Put your change to work. At the end of the day, stick it in a jar, and every couple months donate it to a rescue. 10)Donate while you shop. Amazon has Amazon Smile which donates a portion of its proceeds to your favorite charity. Another good one is the Greater Goods.com. Whatever you can do is helpful, and even if you can take a bag of food or cat litter to the shelter it is always received by very grateful shelter workers and the Kitties. So this Holiday Season think about shelter animals, and every little bit does help. Thank You from all of us here in the Catdom.

Cat Styled Hair.

I don't know if I am the only person who gets up everyday with hair style by a large black cat. I never know what it will look like. I got up Monday and it was really bad. I looked like he slept on top of my head, my hair was every which way. I wasn't sure if I was going to get it straightened out before I had to leave for work. I got it fixed. Tuesday I did wake up with him on top of my head, and I really didn't look to bad, just a minor fix. Wednesday was a bit crazy but a little hair spray I got it to lay flat. So today I actually had great looking black cat styled hair. I cannot believe that it actually looked good. So tomorrow is Friday, and I really wonder what I will look like. So if you have cats just know this if you wake up with super crazy hair, you probably should blame the cat. Now I know what you are thinking who lets a cat sleep on your head. I don't let them do this on purpose, when I am sleeping I have no idea what the heck they are doing, unless of course they are running around the house and knocking everything off the dresser and the cupboards. Cats are cats, and cats do as they will, so I am okay with that. So I will let you know how my hair turns out on Friday. Happy Cat.

Isn't it to early for "Cabin Fever"?

I think cabin fever has already struck my house. The cats are crabby, not much sun to speak of so the house is dreary. I believe that they are thinking all day about how they are going to make me crazy when I get home. Of course you all know I take care of their needs when I get here and then sit down to relax for a few minutes. Not today. I was busy with something after I fed them and then they just went nuts. Like crazy nuts. Like squirrels would take them and hide them for the winter nuts. So do you get the picture? If not this is what it was like. Phantom was stalking Jezz and she was hissing and running away trying to find a safe spot, and stalk her he did. I had to pick him up and move him to another room. He didn't stay and ran after her again until I cornered him, and then he just looked at me like WHAT? Jekyll chased Jinx around and she gets all scatter brained and starts flying through the house, with her tail fluffed three times its size, she ran up the counter onto the top of the cupboards, back down across the bed and then landed on the computer. Sophia's eyes where bugged out of her head and ears flattened to her head just waiting for the action to head her way. Unfortunately she didn't have to worry, I decided I had enough of the caterwauling. At times like this I really wonder what I was thinking, you know five cats. But then again I wouldn't know what do without them. So for now everyone has picked a spot and are being perfect peaceful little kitties. So Happy Momma.

Revisiting Pumpkin for your Pets.

This article was found on Petplace.com. I know we talked about pumpkin some time ago for pets but this article is more informative. Also as usual I will have my own personal both input at the end. 1)Combating Dehydration. Pumpkin flesh is 90% water. If you top dry cat or dog food which is moisture deficient it will help combat dehydration. I recommend about a teaspoon, every few days. 2)Helping with Constipation. Fiber from pumpkin works in pets the same way it does humans. A tablespoon or two can resolve the symptoms in a few days. Some cats can develop decreased colon activity as they age. So the added fiber is good to help things along. Please do not over do it though. 3)Reducing Hairballs. By increasing the volume of waste in the intestines, pumpkin can help your cat digest and eliminate fur swallowed during grooming. This can reduce or even prevent the formation of "hairballs" that are eventually thrown up. 4)Resolving Diarrhea. Yes it works in both ways! Pumpkin can soothe constipation but diarrhea can also be remedied with the addition of pumpkin to a dog or cats food. All it takes is 1 teaspoon for small dogs and cats, and medium to large dogs about 1 tablespoon. 5)Boosting Weight Loss. With 3 grams of fiber per cup pumpkin can help in weight loss in both dogs and cats. This is so they feel fuller and eat less. Do not give them a cup at a time though, and always check with your vet on the proper amount to feed. 6)Supplementing Nutrition. One of the biggest benefits of pumpkin to pets and humans is its wealth of nutrition. Pumpkins carry a variety of vitamins and minerals. Do not over load your pet on pumpkin, to much isn't good. I suggest about a teaspoon a week. 7)Adding Antioxidants. Pumpkins contain antioxidants which help moisturize skin, helping your pet maintain a healthy coat and skin. Ladies this may also be good for us. I might just give it a try. 8)Providing Essential Fatty Acids. Pumpkin seeds contain essential fatty acids. You should only use fresh roasted seeds. Lightly coat with cooking oil and spread on a cookie sheet, roast at 375 degrees for about 5 to 10 minutes. No salt! Either store in an airtight container or freeze. Freezing is better. Small pets need them ground up so as not to have a large piece get caught in the intestines and are easily to digest. Once a week should be good. Use just a small amount maybe 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. 9)Controlling Parasites. Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitacin a possible anthelmintc that eliminates tape and roundworms. Additionally the seeds may inhibit the formation of kidney and bladder stones. The seeds should be ground up and poured over the food. Again only a small amount. The best pet safe sources for cats and dogs is fresh cooked pumpkin. Small pie pumpkins would be best. Check a cookbook or online on how to prepare pumpkin to cook, or ask your granny. After cooking package in an airtight container and freeze in small batches. No spies are added to this. Opt for only pure pumpkin that is canned not the type for pumpkin pie. Also do plan on putting canned pumpkin in the freezer as it only will last for a week refrigerated. I have found this article to be very informative. So as you can see pumpkin is a great food, and not just for Halloween to carve or for pies. Happy Cat.

Good Morning From The Catdom.

Well good morning everyone. I hope your Halloween was fun, and no one played any tricks on you. I see that Sophia wrote the blog for me last night, such a clever girl. Must be I have magical cats as a couple of them can crack the passwords on the computer and have learned to type. I always wondered why they liked to watch when I do the blog it was so they could write their own stories. Very helpful I must say. I woke up to Jekyll chewing on my hair and licking my arm. This means one of two things, I want you to wake up or feed me. It was just wake up you've slept long enough. That was okay as I have a lot to do today. But my hair now looks frightful, I wish he could of done that last night so I could scare the kids. I checked the weather and that is frightening as well, it is cold and may rain or snow mix today. I am glad my furry babies will be snug a bug in a rug in the house. The wind has died down it was really windy last night as well. We will see you later today with more news from the world of cats. Have a splendid day. Happy Cats.