Amy Shojai's Blog, page 10

How Cats See: Do Cats See In Color

How Cats See: Do Cats See In Color

Cat vision and how cats see directly relates to the position of feline eyes. Situated at the front of the cat's face, the design helps cats to hunt in low light.

While cat eyes work similarly to human eyes, feline vision evolved to make the most use of available light and tiny movements. Vision brings the cat a finely tuned understanding of spatial relationships, and that coupled with superb motor skills—as well as hearing and scent sense—make Kitty an exceptional hunter. How cats see and feline eyes also play an important role in silent feline communication. But...how do they see? Can they see color? Yes--and take a look at the video that shows color perception in cats AND in dogs!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

Counting Thanksgiving Blessings, the Pet Writer Way in 2024

Counting Thanksgiving Blessings, the Pet Writer Way in 2024

Time for my annual Count My Blessings post. The past year has meant change, change, and more change, and that's good and also challenging. But some things never change...I’m thankful to you—yes, those who read this blog, the cat book lovers, and the dog book lovers, and folks who have “adopted” my thriller series. And those who offered awesome applause and support any of the other venues mentioned...

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

3 Favorite Cat Treats & Dog Treats

3 Favorite Cat Treats & Dog Treats

Karma-Kat, Shadow-Pup, and Trinity-Kitten have distinct preferences and personalities. Yes, I'm one of those hoomins who turns healthy table food into dog treats and cat treats. Interestingly enough, though, my three furry stooges actually have three favorite pet treats. In no particular order, here's what turns on the wags and purrs at our house!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

Revolutionary Cat Care: LoftyLoo™—ADA-Accessible Raised Litter Box

Revolutionary Cat Care: LoftyLoo™—ADA-Accessible Raised Litter Box

In this time of giving thanks, I know many people who cherish their pets as part of the family. I've often written about caring for senior pets, but have perhaps been remiss in addressing the other end of the equation: aging pet lovers. Recently, I met Amy Leiker online and her product offered a "doh...but of course!" moment. When her niece Jody cared for a neighbor's cat during their hospitalization, she reached out to Amy to brainstorm how to help simplify the cat's care for when the neighbor returned. Caring for cats of any age means helping make the care easier for the human.

Enter, the LoftyLoo, a US-made product designed as an ADA-accessible option for cat lovers who either are unable, or have difficulty, taking care of kitty potty duty. I'm please to share more information about this innovative product. Sometimes I discover great SCHTUFF that I just gotta shout about!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

How to Prepare If Cats & Dogs Outlive You

How to Prepare If Cats & Dogs Outlive You

We often lament the fact that dogs and cats don't live as long as we do. But what about the reverse—what if your pets live longer than you do? Are there legal protections you can take in planning for when your pets outlive you? We loved them dearly while alive, and must also care for them when we're gone with proper plans. And yes, it can happen totally out of the blue.

The unthinkable happens, even to animal professionals. Back in 2014, in the same week, our pet community felt rocked by the tragic and sudden deaths of two heroes, animal behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin and Cat Writers Association president Dr. Lorie Huston. Dr. Yin left behind her beloved dog Jonesy, while my friend Lorie left six special needs rescue cats. CWA members networked to re-home Lorie's cats. More recently, the Cat Writers' Association again lost a beloved leader when president Paula Gregg passed away suddenly. She had time to make plans for her beloved Persian cats, Truffle and Brulee.

None of these wonderful pet lovers expected to have their pets outlive them. Do you have plans for your special pets? Here are tips for planning for when your pets outlive you.

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

Trinity-Kitten #Reviews the Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder

Trinity-Kitten #Reviews the Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder

Check out this review of the Pawsync Smart Pet Feeder...find out why Trinity-Kitten gives it 4 paws up (and it'll work for your small doggies, too!).

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

THRILLER LARGE PRINT FORMATS ARE HERE!

THRILLER LARGE PRINT FORMATS ARE HERE!

Now available, large print editions of the September & Shadow Thrillers. You can get these in paperback or hardcover, at a deep discount, from Amy's store. Or... learn how to get them into your library! Read on...

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

Shojai Releases Thriller #8: PLAY OR PAY

Shojai Releases Thriller #8: PLAY OR PAY

RELEASE DAY for Play Or Pay... now available on all Ebook platforms, and in paperback and hardcover. YEE-HAW!

Read more for the discount links and to learn more about the exciting story.

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

National Pet Wellness Month & How Cats And Dogs Impact Our Lives

National Pet Wellness Month & How Cats And Dogs Impact Our Lives

October is National Pet Wellness Month which celebrates caring for our pets. That means you'll want to:

👨‍⚕️ Schedule a visit with your veterinarian
🆘 Watch your pet's weight
🥎 Don't skip exercise
👌 Keep up-to-date with pet prevention
🐾 Invest in pet insurance

For those who adore cats and dogs or other critters, our animal companions impact us in so many ways we can't imagine living in a world without them. That begs the questions, how (and why) pets are so important to us. I covered this a bit in what makes people happy, but wanted to go beyond that post.

The Love Connection

As social creatures, humans crave companionship. We are tactile beings, relishing contact with others. During the COVID pandemic, with opportunities for human contact curtailed, our pets became even more important. While we couldn't reach out and touch each other, petting a beloved dog or cat, horse or hamster filled up our empty emotional tanks with the love we need to thrive and survive...

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing

Shojai Preorder Release Thriller #8: PLAY OR PAY

Shojai Preorder Release Thriller #8: PLAY OR PAY

I've set up Ebook preorder opportunities for y'all on all the regular vendors, PLUS... AUDIOBOOK PREORDER (early early early)... so if you want to get the preorder early, read on!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing