Amy Shojai's Blog, page 104
March 3, 2014
Monday Mentions: Mind Games, Doggy Brain Scans & ACX Royalty Reduction
Monday Mentions: Mind Games, Doggy Brain Scans & ACX Royalty Reduction
“Yes, I wrote ALL those books,” says Seren. “And NO, Karma, I do NOT want a smooch–you’re covered with dawg spit!” Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Karma continues to woo Seren, and Seren maintains her dignity–and her distance. But small progress is being made. For the past several days now, I’ve been able to work while ALL were out and about. Karma has claimed a couple of fav resting spots, and Seren seems fine with that as long as he doesn’t get chummy with her blue bed.
Next on the to-do list: a halter for Karma, so we can go out when the roses bloom. They’re already sprouting leaves, so flowers can’t be far away.
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. Hopefully I’ll be back up by then.
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Mind Games a great post from Kristen Lamb on how you may sabotage your success
Discoverability: Social Media Part 2
Self Pub Market in India fascinating facts re: demographics and pricing especially
Vaccine for PTSD? it has nothing to do with writing, other than my main character in LOST AND FOUND and HIDE AND SEEK suffer from PTSD and…it’s my blog. 
(no, not the dog…although dogs CAN suffer from PTSD)
Win $2000 Pub Package from Firebrand This is a new company (formed in 2013) so there’s not a big track record but could be a good option for folks wanting a turn-key self pub solution. Some of their fees seem quite reasonable, others not–and of course, execution is the make/break for this. For instance, the ISBN charge of $29 is great (Bowker charges $125), but they charge $79 to copyright, when the US Copyright Office charges $35. The chance for a “free package” though may be worth your while. Deadline 3-10-14.
Amtrak Writer’s Residency wow, I’d go for that!
ACX Royalty Structure Changing from a 50% cut to 40% (still a dang fine percentage, don’t you think?) plus they’re raising the “bounty” from $25 to $50 to the rights holder when their audio book is a first purchase. So …BSP…I just gave away a boatload of audio books via my Pet Peeves newsletter this weekend (you need to subscribe–top right corner of this blog *s*). Check out my nonfiction pet books and HIDE AND SEEK audio titles here!
Author Reaction to ACX Change and here’s insight from the VO Pros on the change
PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF
Squirrel Vs Dog a fun post from Susie Lindau
Allergy-Friendly Pets? I’m not sure that I agree with this list, what about you? where are the Siberians? and Labradors on the list because they “swim more frequently?” Hmnnn.
22 Crazy Animal Laws some of these have got to go in a book plot!
Cats Forecast the Weather, here’s how
When A Rescue Really Isn’t some surprising and shocking info–you need to know this!
Dog Brain Scans Reveal…we’re more alike than we think!
Enjoy this fun video, thanks to GloGirly who shared this on her PAW-some blog.
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!
February 28, 2014
OUCH! Why Do Cats Chase Our Feet?
OUCH! Why Do Cats Chase Our Feet?
Karma-Kitten does this. He even does it to Magical-Dawg. When Seren was young, she also targeted my feet and ankles. Do they really want to maim us, or worse: trip us on the stairway so we’ll break our necks? Do cats have mayhem in mind?
Even when they outgrow the “attack phase” at around 9 months of age that characterizes kitten play aggression (yes, folks, it’s NORMAL!), cats still have an affinity for feet. Recently I had a question from someone asking if our cats tried to “herd” us by winding between our feet as we walked? That gave me visions of packs of Border Collie Kitties. Hmnn, now there’s a project for some ingenious YouTube green screen folks to create!
Do your cats target your feet? What in the kitty-world is going on? No, it’s not malicious or psychotic or vicious or any of those other labels we humans love to attach. Again, it’s normal, and has to do with several things either separately or in combination.
THE HUNTING INSTINCT
As hunters, cats’ hunting behavior evolved to be prompted by different stimuli. That’s a survival mechanism that triggers pounce-and-attack to put food on the feline table. Several things trigger the urge to hunt.
Sound, such as the ultrasonic mouse squeaks can stimulate attack. Scent is also important especially to stimulate appetite, but cats don’t have to be hungry to hunt. They have to take advantage of every opportunity and not give that mousy morsel a pass, just because their tummy is full. So other senses are more important to trigger predatory behaviors. And let’s face it, chasing feet qualifies as prey to kitten-hunters.
Sight rules in terms of kitty attack triggers. Think about it: the motion of our feet walking is at kitty eye level (prey location!), and the continued movement self-rewards the cat’s interaction. Couch Potato Puss has no real prey, so makes do with surrogates. It’s just FUN for the cat to chase/tag/play with our feet and ankles. And the more you squeal and try to shake ‘em off (like prey), the more the cat’s hunting engine revs.
But the behavior can go on for other reasons.
“YOU BELONG TO ME!”
Again, cats are all about territory and location is important. The eye-level location of our ankles/feet as well as what they represent–the human they adore–makes ankles/feet prime kitty marking targets. It’s hard for the cat to reach other body parts with any regularity, but our tootsies are always within paw-and-cheek reach.
Cats mark important owned territory with cheek rubs, body rubs, tail winding, etc. When they wind around our feet and ankles, this leaves scent marks that you are important and owned by them–a huge feline compliment. A common time at our house for both Seren-Kitty and Karma-Kitten to indulge in this body-rub-fest is right after the humans get out of the shower. That makes scent sense because a shower or bath washes off all the important “family smell” that identifies you as safe and known. The cats need to refresh these marks to feel all warm-and-fuzzy-friendly.
IT’S YOUR FAULT…
Hey, the cats made me say that! But there’s truth to the statement. If you hate having the cat(s) constantly underfoot, take a step back (carefully, LOL!) to see what YOU do when this happens. It could be that you’re actually rewarding the behavior and reinforcing it, so the cats continue to target your feet.
Cats are very easily trained. It only takes one or two repetitions for them to connect-the-dots and say, “Hey, if I do THIS, then my human does THAT!” And if your cat happens to like THAT (a scream, you jumping around, picking them up, filling the food bowl, opening the door, giving ATTENTION) that can reward the behavior. Remember that even bad attention is sometimes better than being ignored. (I suspect parents of two-legged kids will agree with that, too.) As I said, cats are very easily trained, but they’re even better trainers of us humans. Ahem.
So how do you manage your ankle-rubbing/biting-kitties? Right now, we’re just watching our step–literally–and stopping in place until Karma moves on. No motion makes feet less attractive and doesn’t reward paw-grapples. Because once the behavior is ingrained, it’s even more difficult to stop.
I’m gonna have to add this section to my ComPETability: Cats book! But there’s lots more fun info and tips for your rambunctious kitties, too (and you can “hear” me in the Audio version. of the book here.)
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!
February 26, 2014
How to Brush Pet’s Teeth & Internet Root Canals
How to Brush Pet’s Teeth & Internet Root Canals
Give ‘em something GOOD to chew–a stick can cause all kinds of health problems if it splinters! Image Copr. EvansPhotoStudio.com/Flickr
How can you brush your pet’s teeth…without pulling back bloody stubs of fingers. *s* This is something veterinarians tell us to do daily for the best effect on our pets’ dental health. And of course, February is National Pet Dental Health Month (yes, I’m squeaking in with only two days to spare). Do you brush your dog and cat’s teeth?
QUICK UPDATE
…and then we’ll get on with the dental post. This post is late and here’s why.
Sometime between 10 pm Sunday night and 6 am Monday morning, my internet connection to this blog and several others (including my Puppies.About.com and personal website) was blocked. At first I thought my server had somehow blocked my IP address, or my computers were infected again, or hijacked or fill-in-the-blank. Contacting the server and the malware peeps who helped last time got me nowhere–turns out it wasn’t their fault but they couldn’t advise me, either.
After much tooth-gnashing angst (see that on-topic toothy reference there? huh, huh? *s*), I contacted my friend Jay Donovan from TechSurgeons.com and he immediately began an emergency transfer of both my shojai.com and amyshojai.com sites to his hosting service. That’s when we discovered it didn’t fix the problem. So Tuesday morning, Jay aka The White Night waved his magic tech wand and spent about an hour poking around long-distance inside my laptop sort of like a dentist probing for problems (ouch!) and he found the cavity. My verizon DSL router for some reason had blocked my own IP address from accessing these websites. Yikes! Weird-icity, huh? Meanwhile, Jay set up a techy work-around, sort of an Internet root canal, to bypass the verizon router until a new one arrives–and that’s why I’m at last able to post again. If you ever need website dental drilling, Jay’s your guy!
So thank you, oh wondrous White Knight, for pulling the fangs on that particular toothache.
BACK TO DENTAL ISSUES
By age four, most cats and dogs have some degree of dental disease. Yikes! And the top symptom is yucky breath. Do you want that stinky kiss slurped across your face? Besides the halitosis, keeping pets’ mouths healthy impacts the rest of their health, too.
Honestly, it is much easier to brush your puppy’s teeth than to attempt this with adult dogs, or with cats of any age. Oh, it is do-able. And I have a step-by-step how to brush puppy teeth here.
The key to brushing a pet’s teeth is to make it pleasant with good tasting schtuff, introduce the concept slowly, and make it a part of the normal routine. Make it a benefit for the dog or cat to put up with the process.
One trick is to hold the pup’s mouth slightly open by placing a chew-toy in his jaws first and then gently closing his mouth around the toy. That gives you the ability to brush the OUTSIDE of his toothies with a doggy dental brush, gauze sponge, finger brush or other pet product help. Don’t worry about the inside surfaces, the pet’s tongue takes care of that. Be sure to use dog (or cat) tooth paste, too. Pets don’t spit, and the flavor and foam is off-putting while the fluoride could prove dangerous in large quantities. NOTE: Use the pet tooth paste (chicken or beef or malt flavor, yum!) as a treat and even if you don’t brush, the enzymatic action benefits the teeth.
So…do I brush my pets’ teeth? Guilty confession here–nope. I did brush my first dog’s teeth and even scaled them at home (not recommended!). He also was a blood donor at the clinic where I worked, and in exchange got regular pro-veterinary dentals for free. I’m fortunate that Seren-Kitty has great “tooth genes” (yep, the tendency is heritable), so even at 17 has very good teeth with almost no calculus. She’s had one pro-dentistry for cleaning ten years ago.
Karma-Kitten is still young enough to have sparkly-white teeth. Putting anything in his mouth at this point is invitation for the kitten to bite-play.
Magic at age 7 has not yet had a professional cleaning, and he does have a tendency for calculus buildup. But so far, the veterinarian has said there’s no need for a cleaning because we’re keeping them clean other ways. How, you ask?
Both Seren and Magic eat mostly dry food. Granted, that helps at most to reduce food accumulation by about 10 percent, but that’s a start.
All three fur-kids get some human food. Magic loves veggies and that has some detergent action when he chews. They also get some lean meat, especially the cats, so they have to gnaw/chew.
I use the pet tooth paste as a treat. I also offer “dental treats” which do double duty as rewards for good behavior and training, and also to reduce dental problems. My crew loves the Greenies products, which have the VOHC seal of approval–that’s Veterinary Oral Health Council. Look for this on any product that claims to help your pet’s dental health, to ensure the claims have been proven by independent tests. There also are “dental foods” that have the VOHC approval. Such products may have ingredients or formulations that “scrub” teeth, help prevent or reduce plaque formation, and/or its attachment to the teeth.
Chew ops are important especially for dogs’ oral health. Right now, all the bitey-kitten-antics also help Karma keep his teeth clean, since he chomps down on stuffed toys during play (and even Magic’s “dental rope” toy. Magic has a number of chew options, and with supervision, he also gets raw knuckle bones a couple of times a year. That helps enormously to clean off any calculus. Be very careful of some hard chew objects like chew hooves and hard plastic since they can break teeth. You also can find “sterilized” prepared doggy bone chews that may be helpful. Moderation and supervision is key.
So what are some of your techniques for keeping your pets’ teeth healthy? or for solving tooth-gnashing angst-icty with the Internet? 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!
February 24, 2014
Monday Mentions: Blog Suckisity Angst
Monday Mentions: Blog Suckisity Angst
This is a first. I’m typing from my phone because my server has blocked my computer access to this blog…they don’t know how or why and tell me all is well from their side. Well alrighty then–makes me feel all warm and sparkly.
I just figured out how to do this from my phone. So forgive the delay and any typos and the less than finished look of the post. *s*
Check out the Authorgraph above. That’s a neato way to get EBooks signed. Lots of great links today too. Oh, and just to make me feel better could ya share your bad luck blog/net stories (with happy endings would be nifty ! )
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 fun video at the bottom, 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. Hopefully I’ll be back up by then.
WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF
Kindle-ization for Writers my popular online webinar happens again March 15 (use the GO INDIE code for $10 off!)
James Patterson Gives Loans to Bookstores so that literature won’t die….uhm, ‘scuse me?
Clueless Wannabe Agent Jane Dowry? Ya gotta laugh but only if it’s not you taken in
Indie ReCon Free Online Conference TOMORROW!
Salt Cay Writers Retreat Merit Scholarship Contest
The Business Rusch & Social Media Discoverability
Hugh Howey’s AuthorEarnings Project if you haven’t read this, you should
Why Trad-Publishing Should Surrender an answer to the AuthorEarnings discussions *s*
Voicing Nonfiction this is a GREAT entertining how-to for authors wanting to record their books
PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF
I’m a new Brand Ambassador for The Honest Kitchen! Karma’s delighted because that’s the very first meal he had were free samples of the food when he showed up on the back patio…Purr-haps that’s why he decided to stay! *s* Get your own free dog or cat samples here.
Dogs Listen To Us?! Rumpy Dog tells all…and Karyl shared the science behind it.
Challenges for Kitty Caregivers from my colleague and terrific writer Sally Bahner
Psycho Kitty TV Program with the terrific Pam Johnson-Bennett
Do you want to learn more about blogging and social networking with a furry twist? Check out the BlogPaws conference, coming in May! I’ve got my reservations and…unless something comes up…I’ll be going.
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!
February 21, 2014
Pros & Cons of Neutering–Really? there are Cons?
Pros & Cons of Neutering–Really? there are Cons?
Puppies rely on us to make informed decisions. Image Copr. Fernanda Cerioni/Flickr
Yes, actually, there are and that may surprise you. It did me. After all, we’ve heard from animal welfare advocates for years preaching the gospel of spay/neuter. Heck, I preached this myself and for the majority of dogs and cats (ESPECIALLY cats!), “the big fix” is the best thing that ever happens to them.
There’s new evidence, though, that for dogs at least the pros and cons are not so black and white. While the University of Georgia’s sample of 40,139 canine death records from the Veterinary Medical Database from 1984-2004 concluded that neutered dogs could be expected to live a year and a half longer (on average) than intact dogs, other studies point out potential increases in hip dysplasia or cancer. Oy.
So what’s a responsible pet parent to do? One possible solution is a new non-surgical sterilization technique called Zeuterin from Ark Sciences, that renders the boy dogs incapable of fathering puppies but let’s them keep about 50 percent of their testosterone that makes a beneficial health difference especially in certain breeds.
Read my newest article of Zeuterin and Pros/Cons of Neutering here. My best recommendation is to find out everything you can, consult with your vet, and only then make an informed decision. What do you think? Go ahead and comment–let ‘er rip! *s*
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!
February 19, 2014
STRAYS, THE MUSICAL!
Today’s blog is late because honestly, I didn’t know this news would come so quickly and I wasn’t prepared. Karma thinks he should be our spokes-cat.
I’m so very pleased to announce that our next show STRAYS, THE MUSICAL is ready!
As some of y’all will recall, our preview cast presented several of the songs in a 20-minute sampling at the 20th Annual Cat Writers Association Conference last fall in Dallas. Now the script is finished, more songs added, and the full orchestration complete. We’ve lined up a stellar cast to present the complete script and songs for the first time in a Table Read–that’s with script and music in hand.
Thank you to Webster Crocker, the Administrative Director of Sherman Community Players and director of the Theatricks program. He’s opened up the calendar to give this original show its debut. Who knows? We may even get to mount the full show sometime in the future.
A table read allows the writers and cast to figure out, with the help of the audience, what works and what needs finagling, so the show can be improved when it’s finally performed. That means YOU can be a part of the process. Besides that, it’s free!
And all the actors are cats or dogs. What’s not to love?
The fully mounted show likely will include a much larger cast including a chorus, and is appropriate for any age actor (or audience). For the table read, you’re invited to join Frank Steele, Amy Shojai, Gil Nelson, Johnny Flowers, Diana and Aaron Adair on Saturday evening March 22 at 7 pm at the Honey McGee Playhouse, 313 West Mulberry Street, in Sherman, TX.
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? 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!
February 17, 2014
Monday Mentions: Church Dogs, Werewolf Cats & Troll-ology
Monday Mentions: Church Dogs, Werewolf Cats & Troll-ology
Les Castro of Faithful Friend Ministry visits Trinity Lutheran Church in Sherman with his canine partner Pepper. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Yesterday I made a point to get to church an hour earlier than usual, because I knew that Pepper would attend. Oh yeah, so would Pepper’s human partner, Les Castro, the founder of Faithful Friend Ministry. The room was packed! Makes you wonder how many more folks might peek through the church doors if dogs were always allowed, LOL! In fact, Les and Pepper make a point of going places most of us avoid–like jail, to speak with youthful offenders. In fact, our Grayson County area is blessed (yep, I used the B-word!) that a K9 Program has been launched to teach these kids how to train dogs for our veterans suffering from PTSD. PAW-some! More about Les Castro and his program in the future, but I had to share this picture and a teaser-preview. BTW, to get off the furry ground, donations would be welcome.
Now, I wonder how I can get Magical-Dawg and/or Karma-Kitten invited to church. Seren sleeps in on Sundays.
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 fun video at the bottom, 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
Author Solutions, One Victory (more needed)
An Entertaining Read from JA Konrath (Again)
WANACon, the online writers conference, is this coming Friday and Saturay–NO hotel expense, NO travel cost, and lots of great info. The sessions this time focus on romantical-schtuff (in honor of V-day) for writers wanting to take that next step with their writing career.
Blogs, Etc. from The Business Rusch, always a must-read!
Studying Internet Trolls oh my goodness…I think that I’ve got a profile for my next bad guy!
Copy Edits & Style Sheets who gets final say?
PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF
A new breed…the Werewolf Cat. Like it? hate it? Do tell! Click the image for more info. Image courtesy of Lykoi Cat Facebook Page
Kitty Urethral Bypass Surgery saves cat’s life, wow!
Pet First Aid Classes mark your calendars for March 8, 9 or 15 (in DALLAS) for hands-on certification class in first aid from Arden Moore.
Valentines for Pets & People my guest blog last Friday 
DON’T LET YOUR CAT SEE THIS! or s/he’ll want the same thing, LOL!
The Dog Decoder App a way to learn canine behavior, looks like fun!
2nd EDITION of PARENTING WITH PETS just released, I read and loved the first edition. If you have both the two-legged and four-legged kiddos, check out this book.
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? 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!
February 14, 2014
Celebrating Valentines the Furry Way
Celebrating Valentines the Furry Way
Seren rarely plays anymore and instead prefers to sun worship. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Happy Valentines Day! Do you have anything special planned–for the cats and dogs, that is? What do they have planned for you? How do your pets show love?
I get a boatload of pet products at various events, conferences and through the mail from folks who ask me to try them out. I’m very grateful, even if I’m not always able to review them–it’s best NOT to send unless you ask first. At times it looks like a pet toy box exploded at our house.
Sort of embarrassing but Magic almost prefers dirty laundry to high dollar toys, Seren loves to play “hide the kitty” under silky scarves and used paper bags, and Karma thinks the 15-year-old Ping Pong ball in the bathroom is da bomb. Cheap thrills, right? Pets don’t care what you spend, as long as it’s TIME with them!
We don’t wait around each year to have a special day to gift Magical-Dawg or Seren-Kitty…and won’t with Karma-Kitten, either. The storehouse of cat toys that Seren has ignored for 17 years has become a treasure trove for Karma, and Magic thinks it’s keen to steal cat toys. So I’ll be watching out for sparkle-ball doggy poop once again, and pet-proofing to run interference for death-defying kittens. That’s one way Valentines Love is shown at our house. What about you?
I’ve written before about how cats show love and how dogs show love. But how do you return the favor?
For the furry-centric folks, I suspect every day is Valentines Day, and showing the love is returned by the pets. In no particular order, here are some ways that the Shojai’s show Valentine’s Love all year long to the pets, and how Magic, Seren and Karma reciprocate.
AMY’S (incomplete…) LIST
Nutritious food for Seren’s kidney health, Magic the aging athlete and Karma’s kitten energy
Yummy treats for after Karma’s medication, Magic’s prompt trick, and Seren’s URI (L-Lysine)
Grooming for good health and feel-good scritches
Vet care for routine, preventative and even ER visits (dang those pesky bug sting reactions!)
Exercise, aka PLAYTIME with Frisbees, stuffed squeakies, catnip, feather wands, paper bags, Ping Pong balls and more
Adopting two furry waifs-on-the-doorstep, and researching/planning/waiting-2-years for the third
Schmooze time…the best of all!
Magic loves cat toys–and here, brings one to offer his new buddy Karma. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
MAGIC’S LIST
Barking–at strangers, strange noises, the new cat, for treats, during vet visits–all to protect his people
Sniffing–to protect his people from dangerous coyotes, rats, bunnies, cats and dirty socks
Peeing & poop marking–to warn away dangerous coyotes, rats, bunnies, cats and dirty socks
Playing fetch and tug–to teach his people how to have fun by sharing joy with slimy balls and tattered stuffed toys
Killing squeakies–to demonstrate a good-dog’s ferocious ability to protect
Sleeping with his people
SEREN’S LIST
Meowing–at Magic and her people, to continue the conversation and get the last meow-word
Cheek rubbing–to protect her people and the house from (hiss! spit!) interlopers
Hissing & growling–at Karma to drive the dangerous critter away from her house and people
Lap sitting–to make her humans smell better, the way a cat should, and to guard the lap from (hiss! spit!) Karma and nosy Magic
Head butting–to declare and mark her humans “owned” and to show trust
Purring–to sing of cat love, devotion and declare “I am yours and no threat.”
Karma doesn’t “lap sit.” He “body lounges.” Bliss! Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
KARMA’S LIST
Teeny-soft-mews–at Magic and his new people, to get attention and admiring glances
Scratching cat trees–to tell the world he’s home
Playing with Magic–to declare his trust and affection
Chasing–toys, feet, dog tails, anything, to show what joy looks like
Following Seren–to convince her to like him back
Snuggling with purrs & paw-neck-hugs–so his people won’t ever dump him again
Sleeping with Magic and his people–knowing he’s safe and loved
Now, add YOUR list in the comments!
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? 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!
February 12, 2014
Balancing Act: New Fur Kid, New Schedule
Balancing Act: New Fur Kid, New Schedule
Valentine’s Day is Friday, so love is in the air, right?
Right???
*sigh*
I’m used to how Magic and Seren get along–or at least, respect each other. Sure, it took Seren a few years to learn to tolerate the Magical-Dawg, and it took hard-headed Magic the same length of time to stop testing her “boss-icity.”
Now a new clueless fur-kid has joined the family. That’s thrown both pets for a loop. And they’re not the only ones having to adjust. Oh, I’m in love all right, and Magic is smitten and the kitten is gloating and Seren is hissed off. And MY schedule’s in tatters and likely will remain so for the foreseeable future.
Bliss!
Magic can’t get enough sniffs…and Karma seems to enjoy the game. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
Balancing the needs and demands of Karma with what the resident pets have come to expect takes skill and patience. Probably it’s good for me. I need to be more flexible but in reality I’m much more like Seren-Kitty and love routine.
Magic, on the other paw, enjoys having something new and exciting to break up the day, so he’s enjoying kitten antics. When Magic first arrived, we had to set waste baskets on countertops to keep him from grazing the soiled tissues and shredding or scattering other “fun” edibles from the trash.
Countertops don’t stop Karma. It’s actually sort of fun trying to guess what new trouble he’ll find. When I lecture about cat personalities I like to describe the broad types as “Shrinking Violet” and “Christopher Columbus” cats. Before now, I thought of Seren as the Border Collie of cats, always busy and finding things to do.
Karma trumped her antics. He steals the dog’s toys. And he has the gumption to invite Magic to play and then flop on his back and paw-smack the dog’s paws to get a rise out of him. Oh please help me…My to-do list has become the to-don’t list, or maybe the “Deal-With-Karma-Then-To-Do List.”
Seren remains watchful, and above it all. That’s as it should be for the Queen, don’t you think? Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC
No doubt about it, Seren comes first and then Magic. It’s not that I have favorites, it comes down to individual critter needs. Simply put, Seren’s old and takes coddling. Magic is potentially lethal–even if he is a teddy bear behind that ferocious 91-pound body–and he was here first.
Pet world is not a democracy. People make mistakes trying to treat their fur kids equally. Karma needs to understand his place in the household not just to keep the peace with the other pets, but to protect him–and them.
Karma is like the Nermal character in Garfield.But cute will wear off as he becomes a mature, handsome fellow. Adult pets like Magic and Seren do often seem to recognize baby-behaviors and make allowances. Once Karma is grown up, everyone needs to respect each other, though, because I want this fur-gang to be together and get along for years to come.
THE NEW REALITY
Karma touched my heart in a very different way than the other two. While Seren is prim and proper, Magic is a play-focused bruiser. Karma is all juvenile delinquent but so dang cute you can’t stay mad at him. My three furry stooges each bring me joy in a very different way and I find myself laughing more watching their interaction and growing relationship.
I’d forgotten just how active youngsters can be. Seren used to chew up paper from my fax machine and answer the phone, and at least he’s not learned to do that yet.
Karma weighs a bit over eight pounds and really makes the stairway thunder when he tornadoes up and down with the “zoomies.” He’s discovered the joys of attacking the roll of toilet paper. And he’s a bottomless pit eager to munch anything that smells like food–even Seren’s kidney diet (she is NOT amused) and including Magic’s kibble (he’s been tolerant, surprisingly so.) I need to get a picture of Karma STANDING in the dog’s water bowl while drinking.
WHAT’S WORK GOT TO DO WITH IT?
At this point, I can’t leave the three alone together. Supervision is a must, but I can’t work and run interference with the furry crew at the same time. So my schedule had to change.
Now I spend the night with Karma and Magic. After we wake up and take care of the business of Karma-Kitten’s food, potty and exercise, the rest of the morning belongs to Seren and Magic. I read the paper and we all eat breakfast, before I start the work day–and Karma spends time alone in “his” room. Break time during the day for Magical-Dawg is another good time to check on Karma and allow some free-run playtime. Usually Seren continues to sleep. And then back to work for another few hours before shutting down work for the evening and riding herd on ALL the pets out at once.
Eventually my schedule will change again, once all three have accepted (or at least learned to tolerate) the new reality. For now, we’re taking it very slow. Seren’s a bit more active these days, watching for that “evil interloper” and (dare I suggest?) enjoying the opportunity to school the new kid.
Personally, I’m having a ball.
How have you handled introductions of new pets in your home? Did the resident critters fall head over heels in love–or hate? Do tell!
By the way, today is the LAST DAY to nominate blogs (maybe even this one? )for the Nose to Nose Awards. Details here (hint-hint!).
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? 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!
February 10, 2014
Monday Mentions: How’s Trix & Writer-icity Schtuff
Monday Mentions: How’s Trix & Writer-icity Schtuff
Trixie won the NAME THAT DOG contest…well actually Kristi Brashier won the contest with Trixie’s name. So Trixie came to visit at the book signing event and I think wonders why HER picture isn’t on the cover! (She’s in the book, though…)
I had a PAW-some time this past Saturday at the Sherman Petco. After several days of bad weather, folks were ready to get out and about with their pets, and there was a crowd of two-legged and four-legged folks. It was great fun meeting some of my Facebook Sweet Peeps.
The lovely folks at Petco have invited me to come back to do another talk and signing–maybe I’ll even do some cat-training demons, what do you think? The new Karma-Kitty could be up for some face time by then. (If Seren-Kitty lets him live, LOL!). Stay tuned for more Karma, Seren & Magical-Dawg adventures in the future.
OMG–LAST MINUTE UPDATE! I’m up late reading with the fur-kids beside me and decided to check Facebook. And a colleague posted congratulations for a DWAA award. What? Well, the Dog Writers Association of America’s Awards Banquet takes place the Sunday night before Westminster Dog Show each year. I knew that two of my pieces had been nominated but–well, the other nominees are so outstanding, I didn’t honestly think mine had a chance. Low and behold, this year I won TWO DWAA Maxwell Medallions, one for my Herald Democrat PETiQuette newspaper column, and the other for a tongue-in-cheek humor piece Dogs vs Cats: 10 Reasons Puppies Are Better (don’t tell the cats!). Congrats to all the nominees and winners!
Oh, and on that note…only TWO MORE DAYS to nominate blogs for the Nose to Nose Awards. Details here (hint-hint!).
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
Amy’s Self Pub’ing Advice for Nonfiction Authors yes I wrote a guest blog here, what do you think?
he’s changed his name but not his evil ways…
Ways Pinterest Helps Indie Authors
PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF
H1N1 Flu Virus Killed a Cat?! it appears so…here’s a plot for a thriller
Kids Reading To Cats A Win-Win
CatDance Film Festival this looks PAW-some!
Prevent Kitty Infections When You Rescue this is timely advice with my new kitten invader! (Oh, and some of the pictures are mine!)
Cutting-Edge Pet Care wow medicine at it’s finest! Would you do this for your pet? Looks like I may need to update my cutting edge pet book
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? 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!
