Amy Shojai's Blog, page 101
May 7, 2014
National Pet Week!
Well, here at Shojai Central, it’s all about the pets 24/7/365. But in case you needed an excuse, this week has been named in honor of pets. My friends at PET360 have even got a special deal going:
Celebrate National Pet Week!! Get 10% off + FREE SHIPPING on orders over $59. Plus – we’re donating a meal for every order placed to animals in need!
How do you celebrate National Pet Week? I’m curious how many of y’all have what kinds of pets. Could you list ‘em in the comments and let’s get a count. Of course, y’all know that
I’ve got Magical-Dawg, Seren-Kitty and Karma-Kitten.
When I was a kid, I also had Shelties, hamsters, and my brother kept pet mice. We kids also brought in a variety of snakes and toads and frogs and lizards and turned them into pets, and from time to time we also had goldfish.
For a short time, I also had a Spectacle Amazon parrot named Venus, aka “the lil’ green chicken.” She was a rescue and came to me when I worked as a vet tech. Venus had been fed nothing but sunflower seeds and was addicted to the caffeine, mostly bald, and the vets said she wouldn’t live.
She did. And after her feathers returned she was gloriously beautiful–but cared nothing about people. I think she’d been caught as an adult with bird lime (she was missing two toes). So when we moved from Tennessee to Texas, I left her with a parrot expert and breeder who had a wonderful aviary and doted on the smaller parrots. The story THE RISE OF VENUS was my first published pet article.
We never kept rats (for some reason my mom tolerated hamsters and mice, but not rats). I understand they’re extremely intelligent.
Oh, and we lived on the river so there were always diamond back, leather back, and painted turtles (that’s a kid of turtle, not how we decorated them!). One year, my brother found where the baby turtles hatched, and brought home about 40 of the nickle-size hatchlings.
My parents put up with it all, bless their hearts. And as a result I had a childhood filled with wonderful pet memories. How about you?
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
May 5, 2014
Monday Mentions: Authors & Characters, Writer Cons and Blogpaws
Monday Mentions: Authors & Characters, Writer Cons and Blogpaws
Book signing at OWFI Conference with my new doggy candy basket.
I just returned from a fun time at the OWFI Conference in Oklahoma City. This conference is very close to my heart. I’ve been going for more than 20 years, and served as president one year and am an Honorary Lifetime Member. That picture, above, was taken during a book signing event and I’m so pleased that several of my dog-viewpoint thrillers Lost and Found and Hide and Seek were “adopted” by readers. Yay!
I found my agent at this conference, booked writing jobs, and made lifelong friends. Those who aspire to write, I can’t encourage you enough to find a conference to attend. I promise you won’t be sorry.
This week, BlogPaws takes place just outside Las Vegas. Unfortunately I’m not able to be there this year 
but wanted to share this recent Infographic that explains all the ways pet bloggers work for the benefit of our animal companions. Paw-some, right? As “influencers” I and my colleagues take the responsibility very seriously. Good info means help for more pets, keeping cats and dogs in homes where they’re loved and cared for, and in turn, happy people.
My blog covers a number of different categories, providing care and health information, behavior advice, and what I like to call “edu-tainment” that’s just fun. Oh, and cute-icity. 
You’ve also realize that I occasionally work with a select group of brands that I respect and/or use with my own furry crew, and share my opinion with you about their products and causes and events.
Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
ITW Discussion on Characters: I love ITW! And this week thriller writers William P. Wood, Amy Shojai, William Dietrich, Ralph Pezzullo, Gary Kriss, John Lescroart, Thomas M. Malafarina, Rex Burns, Michael Niemann, Ted Scofield, Lisa Von Biela, Bob Walton and Brandon Hebert answer the question on everyone’s mind: “How do you separate the author from your characters?” Join the conversation!
Author Solutions Expands to Africa & Singapore and an update on the Class Action Lawsuit
Artificial Blood Soon a Reality? well…they’ve had it for cats for a while now, so…neat ideas for your thriller (and other) stories.
Inner vs Outer Desire in Character Building
PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF
Do Dogs Show Love? Well….yes, of course they do! In time for Mother’s day…
8 Steps to Easy Puppy Potty Training
RugDoctor Partners with ASPCA to Help Animals
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 30, 2014
Karma Reviews Kong Glide ‘n Seek Cat Toy
Karma Reviews Kong Glide ‘n Seek Cat Toy
I’ll be at the OWFI Writers Conference this weekend so there won’t be a blog on Friday–unless I get really ambitious and work while I’m there. Please say “howdy” and introduce yourself if you’re attending!
The fine folks at KONG sent me one of their new “Glide ‘n Seek” cat toys for Karma to try. It comes with two feather “toys” that have soft plastic round “feet” and a tuft of feather stuck on top. The hard plastic case — red over blue — is sturdy, attractive, and entices even when no toy is present. Karma had great fun just sniffing it and paw-poking into the various size holes.
Two AA batteries run the toy and fit in the bottom. A simple push button on-off switch on the side sets the toy in motion. I suspect there’s a magnet on a movable piece hidden in the base, and that draws the magnet-base of the feather toy around inside the case. It moves and rattles in an unpredictable pattern that really catches kitty attention!
I have two “nits” with the toy. It can be a bit noisy, but the sound of the rattling is enough to signal the cat to come running. Second and more serious is–at least with Karma–it’s too easy for the cat to capture and pull the toy out. One of the two toys has already been chewed and the feather is gone. I suspect that Karma got the toy out and Magical-Dawg stole it–I found it soaking wet and luckily only the feather portion was eaten. Right now, I don’t believe replacement toys are available, so be sure to safeguard these from furry miscreants.
Use the toy under supervision especially if your cats are munchers or you have a dog-thief in the house. I remove the toy and stash it in a kitty-proof area when not in use. Oh, and the plastic case also works well to drop hard kitty treats or other cat toys inside for feline fishing games, so the toy has dual purpose.
I was provided the The Kong Glide ‘n Seek in exchange for a fair and honest review. The toy costs about $32.00 ($23.00 at amazon.com).
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 28, 2014
Monday Mentions: Sleepy Cats & Quick Links
Monday Mentions: Sleepy Cats & Quick Links
It’s a sleepy day…and today’s blog is short as a result. I just signed my new contract for Puppies.About.com and have lots of puppy-licious schtuff to do today. So forgive the brevity…and enjoy the “cute” on the cat side.
Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the *yawn* cute video below, too! For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Cyber-Security matters to everyone!
Quantity Plus Quality = Success
Do You Google+ (here’s mine, join my “circles”)
Of Fish Heads & Bad Writing a great post from Kristen Lamb
PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF
Soothing Herbs for Cats (but do they inhale? )
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 25, 2014
10 Tips to Shoo Cats Away
“Can I bring all my friends, too?” Image Copr. Maria Magnus/Flickr
How do you shoo unwanted cats out of your back yard? With spring weather, lots of folks now find that community cats, strays or even feral felines have decided to make themselves at home in unwanted places.
KEEP CATS AWAY? Why would anyone want to do that? Well, some folks just aren’t quite as enlightened as the cat-loving feline savvy folks who read this blog. Others perhaps like cats—just not pooping in their garden, spraying the front steps, clawing the trees or lounging on the tops of cars. And frankly, it can be a real problem when strays or the neighbor’s kitty comes to your house to visit and the indoor cats take offense with (ahem) baptizing walls to make their point. Indoor cats get their tails in a twist over just seeing or smelling these trespassing feline, and our first responsibility must be to our own felines.
Anyway, I’ve read a number of “how-to” articles over the years about ways to shoo cats away. We need kitty kryptonite! Many suggestions resort to what I’d consider inhumane methods. Those who read this blog LOVE cats! We don’t want to shock them with electric fences, or poison them with toxic materials (as sometimes suggested).Yikes!
My top 10 list for keeping cats at bay include:
Talk to the owner
Manage ferals
Rehome strays
Wash away Pee-mail invitations
Booby trap likely targets (sprinklers on timers or motion detectors)
Eliminate the smorgasbord (clear up brush that attracts critters)
Deny digging ops
Use stickers in mulch
Invest in commercial repellants
Landscape with cats in mind
Lots more details are in this humane “shoo-kitty” tips article. How do you deal with the problem? Any suggestions to add? Of course, one alternative is to adopt the lil’ interloper and solve the outdoor trespass problem altogether. (That’s what happened with Karma-Kitten.)
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 23, 2014
Hairball Prevention, Not Just For Cats!
Hairball Prevention, Not Just For Cats!
Pomeranians may develop hairballs, too. Image Copr. RickieB20/Flickr
Hairballs are the bane of cat owners but hairballs can also affect dogs. How many of y’all have discovered Fluffy’s “gift” by walking barefoot late at night? That cigar-shaped slick nasty “squish” disgusts pet owners, and though it’s quite common for cats to urk up the occasional hairball–it is NOT normal.
This Friday is National Hairball Awareness Day, and Dr. Jane Brunt of the Catalyst Council offers some good advice. “The cat has developed a digestive tract that, when it is healthy and working correctly, can handle normal amounts of fur without problem. Even long haired cats should not develop more than one or two hairballs a year,” says Dr. Brunt. “There have been a lot of recent scientific studies about vomiting in cats and that it may be an indication of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, which can progress to cancer.”
Yikes! Hear more from
Persians potentially have more coat to choke on…but even the shorthair beauties can develop hairballs. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Cats groom themselves, of course, by lick-lick-licking and subsequently swallowing some of the fur. This time of year when shedding takes place, there’s more fur to swallow. When it doesn’t make its way out the normal method and end up in the litter box, fur collects inside the cat and causes irritation and sometimes constipation and blockage. The lucky cats get rid of the mass (technically called a bezoar). It’s more than a nasty nuisance, so as Dr. Jane Brunt says, get your cat checked if your kitty’s “urking” more than normal.
This time of year, dogs also “blow coat” and end up shedding great wads of fuzz. Learn more about shedding here. With my black German Shepherd, Magic, we typically have drifts of dark fuzz left in hunks here and there. It must be itchy, too, because Magic does quite a lot more self-grooming through scratching and nibbling. While big dogs don’t typically hark up hairballs, smaller pooches with thick coats–like Pomeranians–can develop hairballs and either vomit them up or become constipated or even blocked.
So what can you do? With either dogs or cats, good grooming strips away the loose fur as it’s shed. That prevents it being swallowed, developing into painful mats, and helps keep your carpet (relatively) fur free. My fav grooming tool for both cats and dogs is the Furminator. Seren loves getting combed with this, and Magical-Dawg with his longer coat can lose half his body mass with one session! (Not really, but it does look like that…)
What are some of your grooming tips to prevent hairballs, mats and other “big hairy deals” in your pets? Do tell!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 21, 2014
Monday Mentions: Odd Couples & Bloomin’ Creativity!
Monday Mentions: Odd Couples & Bloomin’ Creativity!
Robin Hood pink clusters on each side of the overgrown path offer contrast to the Martha Gonzales crimson in front. Even the weeds look good! Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
That picture is from last year’s garden, but this year promises to be even more spectacular. The roses have just now begun to bloom, and the wildflowers–blue bonnets and paintbrush–cover the banks along highways. All of Mom-Nature’s creativity has me inspired to create, too. How about you?
Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the amazing videos below, too! For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Writer Beware: Kerry Jacobson this so-called “book publicist” has stolen from lots of writers!
Open Letter to My Boobs just a wonderful post by a gifted (and brave) blogger
Misadventures in Research from Robert Liparulo, a fun (and scary!) quick read
Writer Beware: Silver Publishing Gone
PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF
CAT RABIES VACCINE ALERT! Production of Merial’s PureVax Feline Rabies vaccine has been put on hold due to a manufacturing discrepancy. The dry material of the vaccine comes in tiny vials that must be reconstituted (liquified) before injection, and some of these instead turn into a gel-like consistency or include precipitates (floating solid material). These vaccines should NOT be used–your veterinarian will have been advised about the issue. However, since PureVax is the only non-adjuvant “recombinant DNA” vaccine (in other words, one that greatly reduces the chance of injection-site sarcomas in cats) it’s often the vaccine of choice for our kitties. That’s the only one I want my cats to get. The vaccine is on backorder for 6-8 weeks probably until mid-summer. So check with your vet about alternatives to be sure your cats are protected, since rabies vaccination is often a matter of state and/or local law.
Bark & Paws 2014 in Denison Texas bring your pooch for this all day fun event!
Stem Cell Therapy for Feline Stomatitis
Unite To Fight Pet Cancer from the awesome Morris Animal Foundation–honor your cats and dogs and save the life of future pets. Blue Buffalo will match funds for the “virtual walk” up to $50,000–see the video, below.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 18, 2014
Real Easter Bunnies Need Care, Time & Love
Real Easter Bunnies Need Care, Time & Love
‘Tis the season for Easter bunnies…real ones need lots of love, attention and proper care, and are not stuffed toys! Image Copr. Audrey/Flickr Creative Commons
Awwww…nothing sweeter than baby bunnies. Well, baby anything, right?
But Easter is not the time for a spur of the moment furry gift. Chicks and ducklings and baby bunnies by the score are purchased each year, some dyed in ridiculous colors, almost as gag gifts despite the fact they are living creatures with very specific care needs.
The House Rabbit Society has lots of great information about caring for a bunny. They do make wonderful pets–but you have to want them for more than a couple of weeks, or until the “cute” wears off.
Did you know that bunnies mark territory? Chew all kinds of stuff? (even more than dogs!). And unless you “fix” your bunny friend, aggression can become a problem. I wrote all about it here.
At my house, Magic already has his paws full playing with Karma. I hate to think what Seren would think were I to bring a bunny into the house–although cats do seem to get along well with rabbits when they’re raised together, introduced properly and socialized.
What about you? Have you ever had a bunny pet? We did when I was a child, but made lots of mistakes. *sigh*
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 16, 2014
Beware Easter Lily–And Other Seasonal Poisons
Beware Easter Lily–And Other Seasonal Poisons
Easter Lilies are highly toxic to pets. Image Copr. Joe deSousa/Flickr Creative Commons
Easter is next Sunday, and with the season comes all kinds of wonderful traditions. Some of these, though, like Easter Lilies and chocolate eggs, can prove toxic to our pets.
Cats don’t tend to munch inedibles nearly as often as dogs do, in part because–well, dogs will eat anything! Heck, they drink out of the toilet and snack from the litter box, for gosh sake. But if it’s sweet, like chocolate, so much the better from the pup’s viewpoint. Dogs evolved to detect sweet, which helps detect ripeness in fruits and veggies (since they are, after all, omnivores).
While cats don’t have a “sweet tooth” per se (as carnivores they prefer the meaty tastes and just don’t have the taste buds to detect sweet), kitties can get in trouble with toxic targets, too. Cats that paw-play or claw the leaves of toxic plants can get the poison on their claws or fur, and become poisoned when they groom themselves. Simply drinking from the water in the lily vase can poison a cat. Believe me, if a delinquent cat (like Karma!) can get in trouble, he will.
So at my house, there are no indoor plants, period, not even the harmless ones. Oh, once the roses start blooming, I’ll bring some of those blossoms inside (roses actually are edible and with thorns removed they’re safe for both people and pets).
Learn more about toxic plants and first aid for poisoning here as well as more info on chocolate poisoning here. How are you protecting your cats and dogs this Easter?
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
April 14, 2014
Monday Mentions: Creative Birds, Thriller Inspiration & Pet-astic Links
Monday Mentions: Creative Birds, Thriller Inspiration & Pet-astic Links
Last week I got a good start on the new thriller SHOW AND TELL, but then was sidetracked by STRAYS and getting the cast recording finished (you can listen to it here). I find, though, that any kind of artistic endeavor seems to whet my creative appetite. Whether I’m writing music or prose, cutting glass or carving wood, they all seem to make me hungry to make something happen.
My office is filled with whimsy, pieces of art and crappiocca and fun stuff that makes me smile or lights a fuse on my imagination. I’ve got a dragon, Bast statue, rooster who thinks he’s a parrot (with flapping wings and real feathers), carved wooden screen, green frog that thinks he’s a toad, bouquet of cat teases, cat-sculpted vase, and…Pink Floyd the Flamingo (above). Some or all of them may make an appearance in a future book. They’re my inspiration and a bit of a touchstone for me when I know they’re the “real” in my imaginary thrilling and sometimes scary world.
Do you have favorite items in your workplace, maybe that look like nothing special to others but mean the world to you? Is it because of where you got it, or was it a gift, or reminds of you of a time in your life? Do tell!
Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Check out the great video below, too, from Stephen King! For new followers to the blog, welcome! and you can expect more cat and dog specific schtuff later in the week on Wednesday and Friday.
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Writers, Stand Up for Yourself! know when (and how) to say NO
Comprehension: Paper vs Screens yes, they are different–are you a “slow reader” able to savor?
PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF
P&G Selling Pet Food Brands to Mars
Veterinarians & Suicide when empathy becomes too much?
Chimera R Us! it’s not just for pets anymore…writers will like this!
Lawn Chemicals and Cats some good info and cautions
Mudslide Dog Reunited with Family
Dog Performs Heimlich, Saves Human’s Life well…not really a Heimlich but impressive nonetheless!
Doggy “Cleft Palate Gene Mutation” Identified
International Conference on Feline Health this looks PAW-some!
Diamond Pet Food Lawsuit Settlement
Only Natural Pet all-natural pet products sold exclusively at Pet360.com – introductory savings of up to 15%
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen and you can get FREE samples here, check it out! (Karma loves this!). Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!
