Amy Shojai's Blog, page 112

Lighten The Load: Reduced Weight Litter Helps Humans

I was sent an advance sample of a new version of Tidy Cats litter to try out with my Seren-Kitty. While the product I received was free, I was not compensated for my honest review and all comments in this blog are my opinions alone.

Those who follow this blog know that I rarely review products, so it has to be pretty special for me to take the time to do so. I was curious, though, having used the Tidy Cats products for many years. Recently after reviewing a number of cat box substrates, I was curious about the “lightweight” claim.

Since I only have one tiny (6-pound) cat, litter lasts a good long time at my house. But households that have multiple cats must lug massive amounts of litter box filler. A couple of years ago when I hurt my back, there was no way I could schlep a single jug-o-litter. The weight is a big issue for many cat lovers–and Tidy Cats LightWeight version answers that challenge.

It is HALF THE WEIGHT of a comparable amount of clumping litter. No joke! The jug I was sent weighs 8.5 pounds while the same amount of a clay clumping litter in that same size jug weighs 20 pounds. PAW-some!

Tidy Cats LightWeight also is a clay clumping product. The ingredients list says “natural clay and mineral product with deodorizing system.” Seren acts like it’s no different than what she’s always used. After a bit over a week’s use, I find the clumping works as well or better than the clay clumping brand I used before, and the dust level isn’t as great. Even the tracking has been reduced–yay!

My only nit is that the odor control aroma seems a bit pungent for my tastes and I worry that some cats might find that off-putting. I asked and was told the suggested retail price is $12.99 while a 20-pound “regular” Tidy Cats clumping costs about $8.50 so the Tidy Cats LightWeight costs more–but for lightening the load, it may indeed be worth it. This reduced-weight product will be released into stores sometime this fall.

Would you choose a litter half the weight of your regular litter, even if it’s a bit pricier? Is the weight, dust, tracking and/or odor control the most important aspect of choosing litter? For me, it’s whether “herself” likes the litter–and fortunately, Seren seemed to think this was the same-old-same-old as before (win-win for me!).

Along the same lines, some cats get so confused they try to “cover” when they’re outside the box. Here’s an Ask Amy that answers the why behind the behavior.

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!

Woof Wednesday: What Is Old & Fetching Fools

My Facebook friend (and real life friend, too!) Elaine replied yesterday when I asked for suggestions for future blog topics. “How to care for an elderly dog. Our dog Goober will be 19 in November,” she said.

Wow, Magic just turned seven. Seren is 16. One is middle aged and the other considered geriatric, and a lot of it has to do with the size of the pet. When our furry friends reach a “certain age” it becomes much more important to stay on top of changes, and just keep ‘em comfy during their golden years.

How Old is “Old?”

What is considered “old?” There are individual differences between pets, just as there are for people. While one person may act, look and feel “old” at fifty-five, another fifty-five-year-old remains active with a youthful attitude and appearance. Aging is influenced by a combination of genetics, environment, and health care over a lifetime. The oldest dog on record was an Australian Cattle Dog who lived for twenty-nine years and five months.

A good definition of old age for an animal is the last 25 percent of her life. However, we can’t accurately predict what an individual pet’s life span will be, so pinpointing when old age begins is tough. Ask the breeder about the life span of your pet’s parents and grandparents. That’s a good predictor of how long you could expect your cat or dog to live. Mixed-ancestry pets are more difficult to predict, but you can make a few generalities.

Extended Lifespan

In the past fifty years, the average life span of small dogs has tripled. They used to live to be only six or seven years old, but today it’s not unusual for your Chihuahua to live into late teens or early twenties. With an average potential life span of fifteen to seventeen years, onset of old age—when a little dog becomes “senior”—would be about age eleven to thirteen.

Even large-breed dogs, which age more quickly, commonly reach ten to thirteen years of age—double the life span of the past few decades. They would therefore be considered old starting at about seven years.

Giant breed dogs (those weighing over eighty pounds or so) tend to age more quickly than smaller pets. Great Danes, for example, are considered “senior” at age five, and typically live only seven to nine years. There are exceptions, of course, with some very large dogs living healthy, happy lives well into their teens.

Sniffing ability is maintained longer than eyesight or hearing–use it!

Youthful Doggedness?

So you have an old fogey doggy–how do you keep him youthful? What happens when that go-go-go puppy attitude turns into a yen for snoozing the day away? Dogs can become frustrated when their youthful abilities fade away and they’re no longer able to leap tall buildings–or onto sofas–with a single bound, or chase the Frisbee and catch it without effort.

I have one word for you: ACCOMMODATION.

Enrich the dog’s environment and make accommodations for his new skill set. Agility dogs can still perform all those tricks of fetch and vault, just lower the bar a bit. For blind dogs, put a bell inside the ball or scent with liverwurst so his nose knows where to find it. For deaf dogs, you can use hand signals and replace the clicker with a flashlight beam flicking on and off. Those links go to the puppies.about.com site but they apply to adult and older dogs, too–and even cats. Seren is now pretty deaf, so I stomp a foot to warn her before I pet so she’s not startled.

I have a boatload of more tips and advice in the book Complete Care for Your Aging Dog.

Today’s Ask Amy strikes close to home because my Magical-Dawg is a fetching fool. Currently he’s in his prime and has no problem chasing and leaping until  his tongue drags the ground. But since this is Magic’s all-time-favorite-of-them-all (excluding car rides!), I know that FETCH will be a game that helps keep him young even when he’s an old fogey.

Do you have a fetching fool? What about your old dogs–what games do they love? Have you made accommodations for their aging abilities? Please share!

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!

Monday Mentions: Cougars, Detours & Barely Bear-able

Have you ever taken a wrong turn and gotten lost? How did you find your way back? Use a road map, or simply wander around a bit…and discover worthy sights?

On the drive home from Colorado, we missed an exit–lucky for us! Otherwise we never would have stumbled upon that outrageous life size bronze of a cougar. There’s a reason my cat is named Serendipity–I’ve learned to embrace life’s happy accidents and mine such things for the gold I might otherwise never see.

For instance, several years ago a door closed on my writing and a window opened with an opportunity to teach music. Although I soon returned to the writing path, that side trip whetted my appetite for composing. I probably wouldn’t be writing music today if not for that glorious/awful/soul-searing/awesome experience.

Writing is like that, too. Those of us who write talk about “pantsers” vs “plotters” which simply means those who write by the seat-of-their-ass-ets or the writers who plan each plot point before they sit down to write. I do a lot of planning, but have learned to loosen the reins a bit to allow for those unexpected mind-burps that may be more than indigestion. Today’s post is brief (again! sorry…) because I can’t wait to get back to the fiction-icity world of HIDE AND SEEK. My characters have taken me on a few unplanned side trips that turned out to be the RIGHT path after all.

What kinds of unexpected gloriosity has life/writing/the world thrown your way? How did it change you–or did it? Do tell!

Meanwhile, here are pictures of a few more “unexpecteds” that happend in Colorado. We couldn’t plan for this, and it was not at all pleasant while it happened. But DANG, it’ll make a good story. After all, everything’s material!

Baby bear has 2 strikes with those ear tags…another one sends him to Rainbow Bridge, so we shooed him away anytime we saw him. Poor baby…just hungry, due to the drought.

The result of a much BIGGER bear visit…he broke through the garage, ate an entire bag of garbage and (we hope) will sleep it off for a few months. Yes, the garage door had to be replaced.

One reason we go to Colorado…the view from the deck where we write. *sigh*

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 THRILLERFEST 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

 Why Trust Your Gut?

Where & What Readers Read a very interesting survey that may surprise you (note, this is from a UK blog…is the US different?)

Gene Lempp’s Writing Resources Roundup he does this every Saturday–bookmark it, you won’t be sorry!

Are You An Introvert? 6 things people misunderstand

New Beach Library how cool is that?!

 Smashwords Makes PreOrders Available

 Apple Price Fixing Court Decisions

Lamp Post Voting …nope, not explaining more than that, you’ll have to read this hilarious post from Piper Bayard’s blog.

PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF

Carolina Dogs DNA Study these are some of the earliest canines around! Fascinating

Thrillefest Science Panel

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!

Pets, Theater & Music, Oh My!

Last night I attended the SCP Volunteer Appreciating Dinner and Preview Performance of the annual fundraiser show. This year, it starred four local vocalists, the extremely talented Paul Jordan, Nick Timmerman, Aaron Adair and Blake Rice in FOREVER PLAID, directed by Nikki Silva. The show runs this weekend and next, August 2-11, at the Honey McGee Playhouse in Sherman, TX.

Run, do not walk, to get your tickets!

If you love music, if you love comedy, if you love theater–this is the show for you and the whole family. The four characters, wannabe 1950s songsters, missed their chance at stardom when nearly 50 years ago they were T-boned by a school bus and died–and have now come back from the grave for a one night performance. The close harmony is spot-on, the patter funny, the reactions subtle–and deadpan hilarious–and choreography so campy the audience doesn’t know whether to groan or give a standing-O. The elevated set, a bandstand that seems to hover amidst the clouds, makes the most of the available space while the onstage keyboard and bass player give all the support needed. Deceptively simple lighting and sound enhance the experience, and the costumes–white dinner jackets and later their namesake plaid tuxedos–stay with the theme of a low-rent concert. The crooning to Perry Como’s golden sweater will make you swoon. The featured solos (each actor gets several opportunities) literally rock the house!

Full disclosure–I know the guys in the show and would expect no less, and I also know the talented director. Having never seen the show, I’d suspected it would be a fun night with a thoroughly forgettable script. But this is one you’ll be buzzing about for weeks to come–and kicking yourself if you don’t go. Call for tickets now, the seats won’t last long, I guarantee. Here’s the number…903-892-7652…and learn more about the theater here.

I was invited to the Volunteer Dinner because last season I played cello as a volunteer orchestra member in the production of SEUSSICAL, and also volunteered as an usher. Many of y’all know that I perform now and then as well.

I love music and so do pets. Couldn’t get away from music during my growing-up years, since my Dad was a music teacher. Piano lessons started in second grade and our Sheltie used to rest underneath the piano when I practiced. Cello lessons in fifth grade, and I found my “major” instrument (voice) in high school. Yep, I was a music major in college–sang opera, among other things.

And then I ended up with a career writing about cats and dogs. Funny how that happens. Today I also write music (never saw THAT coming!) and just invested in some new Bose computer speakers after my CD player died. After not being able to listen to some of my favs in many months, it’s a joy to finally be surrounded by music once again. Oh, and in my thriller series, the main character plays cello. I’ve not yet decided how her cat Macy and dog Shadow should react–maybe some of your comments from your own pets will give me some inspiration, so do tell!

I do find some music distracting, though, and must be very selective about type of music when I write. As much as I loved FOREVER PLAID I couldn’t listen to them while working. I’d end up singing along and never get any writing done, or imagine the way certain pieces are arranged. Do you listen to music while you work? What kind is best for your favorite activity? Does it help or hinder your inspiration?

Our animal companions also have a relationship to music. That can be good–or bad, depending on if your pets have the same taste as you.

Magical-Dawg howls along if I happen to sing above a certain range. Everyone’s a critic–I guess it’s good that I chose writing as my work. Dogs (and coyotes) answer sirens with howls, and probably think human singers are simply inept at howling. Ahem.

Seren-kitty turns on her lion cough…ACK-ACK-ACK-ACK…when I play certain notes on my cello. I can’t wait to hear what she thinks of the violin if/when my husband finally gets around to taking lessons.

On a more practical note (pun intended), music can be a therapeutic tool in your pet’s home health care kit. Pleasant music can mask scary noises like thunder or New Year’s fireworks, or upsetting sounds like barking neighbor or raccoon scrabbling in the back yard. But more than that, the cadence of certain sounds influences the body’s natural rhythms and can speed them up and energize the listener, or slow them down to calm him.

So, does your dog or cat appreciate music? what kind gets his woofer working and purrs bubbling? Here’s an article with more details about how you can make music work for your dogs (hint: it helps cats, too!).

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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!

Pet Passions & Channeling My “Inner Dog” (and Cat)

I’m feeling a bit philosophical these days, as I continue to swim the fiction waters of the HIDE AND SEEK thriller sequel, once again with dog viewpoint and cat-astic plot points. Between the puppies.about.com nonfiction postings, this blog and the weekly newspaper columns, my work–and life–revolves around pets. For more than twenty years, I’ve puzzled over their actions, behaviors, motivations and care, nearly 24/7. Pets rule. That’s who I am.

Some folks write to change the world. They do so with passion, dedication, and great skill, and I admire them greatly. I also write to make a difference. Sometimes manage to save lives.  I rarely know what impact the work has, though, because those who most benefit from my writing never read it. I blogged about how cats read a couple of weeks ago, but some critters skip the reading and instead probably baptize it. Please don’t leave my newspaper columns on the floor. It’s disheartening.

After decades puzzling about P’ETiQuette and studying furry foibles, I’m channeling my “inner dog” with the current thriller to extrapolate what pets think–and specifically, what Shadow (the hero service dog) wants out of life in general and this adventure in particular. Macy the Maine Coon in the story has a much bigger role this time around, and I’m having a ball as his feline character develops.

There are some clueless humans, too, that September and her fur-kids must deal with. I get to speculate what exactly pets see in humans that allows them to put up with clueless folks who seem scent-blind and hearing-stupid toward all the clear-as-crystal animal talk being sent our way.

So I accept that I’m different. Pets are my obsession, my fixation, my passion in life. My true readership will never ask for a pawtograph, or care if I have initials after my name. But they will do back-flips for the right treat, and wag and purr with delight should a human finally understand that tail-talk.

But until my audience comes out from under the bed, or tires from dog-earing one of my books and actually SPEAKS in language most owners understand–and puts me gloriously, wonderfully out of business–I’ll keep typing, blogging, and fiction-ing away.

So now it’s your turn. Listen to your inner “pet” and please share–what do you think your dog or cat (or both) want their clueless humans to understand? Maybe it’ll go in the HIDE AND SEEK book, too!

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!

Monday Mentions: Dolphins, Parakeets, Thrillers & Bears

Fancy writing footgear: unicorns, flamingos, bunnies-with-pointy-teeth, Freudian slippers, zombies and angry bird.

More of the same…plus BEAR slippers (very appropriate after this past week!).

I’ve just returned from a week-long writer retreat in the mountains. Oh, the hummingbirds, the squirrels, the deer–the bear! and just the view proved inspiring. I managed to get more fictioning done over the past week than in the entire previous month, woot! I may have to write bear-able prose into the book after one midnight marauder tore off half the garage door. And then, the night before we left, he got inside my friend’s CAR! Luckily he butt-honked the horn before more than a box of cereal was victimized, and the car escaped any damage. Who knew bears could open car doors? I’ll share more pictures and maybe even video soon.

My friends and I have made this an annual trip for the past 20 years. Not all of us can go every year, but we’re all there in spirit.This year in honor of the bunny-slippers-with-teeth, I wanted to share the fun and so got each of my writer friends an appropriate pair of writerly foot-gear. You’ll have to check out both pictures, since somehow I missed getting ALL the slippers into a single image.

We dream about this trip all year long, and once we arrive, the time speeds by. Much of our time is spent out on the deck with a view of the mountains and within earshot of rushing streams. The fresh air, sublime food (picnic beside a rushing stream!), and even better company cast away the every day stresses. It’s sort of an emotional re-boot.

Do you and your family or group of friends have a similar go-to spot? How does that help you 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 SQUEEE! cute pet-astic videos at the bottom, too. It’s fascinating to think how dolphins communicate–and compare it to they parakeet chatter. I’ve also included another Thrillerfest video from the awesome MEDICAL THRILLER panel. 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

Could Chocolate Save Bookstores?

CJ Lyons, Does Free Still Work?

5 Ways to Fix Publishing from The Daily Beast, a long but good article

How to Write Historical Novels

Publisher Stealing Series?  oh my goodness…actually I once submitted a proposal my editor declined and then later saw that same book written by someone else published by the same house. Ulterior motive? or great minds thinking alike?

What’s In Store for Penguin Random House the new guy in charge speaks

Stephen King on First Sentences

Misery Molecule neat info for possible plot point?

B&N Can Thrive…IF! a great piece on how to resurrect this great store

Spy Stuff–CIA Museum

PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF

Interview with New AVMA President the first woman in this position!

How to Give Nebulizer Treatment to Asthmatic Cat

Cat Exhibit in Brooklyn Museum

CreditCare Called Into Question is the interest too high?

Wigglebutt 2014 Fundraiser fun stuff! on the furry heels of the Wigglebutt Wedding, this is the next incarnation.

20-Year-Old Dog Schoep Passed Away

Fostering Love of Animals a quick tip article from BecomeANanny, do you agree with the advice?

Your email:

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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!

Catnip Clues & STARE-’o-DEATH!

Okay, my blog “burped” last Saturday…and posted this blog early. So if you already read it, sorry about that.

I’m repeating this blog covering catnip and why dogs stare from 2011 because…well, I’ve got a whole bunch new followers, AND the schedule for fiction-ing leaves me little time these days. Besides, it’s my blog and I make up the rules as I go along. So there! Also, I figured the blog needed a serious influsion of sparkle-icity to keep with the “bling” theme. I’ve not posted any “new” Ask Amy videos in a while but that’s on my to-do list so please offer suggestions for topics in the comments.

To start things out on the right paw, today I’ve posted two. Here’s one about cats and catnip:

And just to offer equal fair play, here’s an Ask Amy about doggy eyeball communication:

Please share–do your cats carry the “catnip gene?” How often do they get a kitty fix? Did you get ‘em on film? *snicker*

And for the dog-matic followers, have you ever experienced the canine stare-’o-death? Of course my Magical-dawg also stares at me when he wants me to read his mind….  “Time for a car ride, yes yes yes???!”

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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!

What Is Alternative Pet Care?

This gorgeous pup has fun in the “natural” undergrowth…but poison mushrooms are natural, too! Image Copr. D. Garding/Flickr

Many pet products companies have joined the “natural” revolution but is this because they truly feel that’s better for our cats and dogs–or is it simply a marketing ploy? And how can pet parents decide what’s best for their cats and dogs, and see through all the hand-waving hype?

Some year’s ago I wrote a book for Rodale Press titled New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs & Cats which I believe now is out of print. Before that assignment I really didn’t know a lot–or think very much of–the “natural” wave of pet care since I’m a prove-it-to-me-with-science kind of person. But after interviewing dozens and dozens of scientific-type researchers and veterinarians who embraced some or all of these new-but-old-fashioned modalities, I not only learned a lot but began to respect the alternative viewpoint.

As with any trend, though, there are those who take advantage and dish up quackery alongside the quality options, so it’s still very much up to us to “vet” our pet care. The same is true for conventional medicine, too. There’s a reason they call it the PRACTICE of medicine–it is as much an art as a science, and what’s the best choice for my animal companions may be the wrong one for yours.

To offer an overview of some of the big-picture ideas in holistic/alternative pet care, I posted several new articles to my puppies.about.com site. Find out more about:

What Is Holistic & Alternative Veterinary Medicine

Herbal Remedies for Pets

Veterinary Acupuncture Answers

What Is Veterinary Homeopathy?

What kinds of “natural” care do you use for your fur kids? Why did you choose to go natural–or do you ascribe to the best-of-both-worlds with “integrated” veterinary medicine approach? How do you work with your veterinarian to give your pets perfect care choices for your situation? The affiliate link (below) offers holistic, homeopathic and other “natural” pet care products.

Dognition celebrates National Hot Dog Day (yesterday!) by offering 50% off their dog personality test through the end of the month. Customers just need to use code HOTDOG during check out.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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!

Monday Mentions: Thrillerfest Debuts, Videos & Pet-astic Links!

Here’s the Thrillerfest Debut Authors after the breakfast–Image copr. Alan Jacobson

I’m head-down in the midst of writer-icity, working on the sequel to my thriller, HIDE AND SEEK so this will be a brief check in. I’ll catch y’all on Facebook and Twitter throughout this week but plan to be scarce everywhere but inside my head, LOL!

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 awesome videos from Thrillerfest 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

Thriller Awards! Here are the winners

More Thriller-icity from August McLaughlin

Exploitation via Penguin Random House Merger a well researched blog by the savvy David Gaughran

Tips from Bob Mayer for Authors

Rowling Undercover so what do you think? Was pub’ing as an “unknown” her idea (“it was liberating!”) or a nifty marketing ploy?

 Sleuthfest 2014 Feb 27-Mar 4

How To Get Reviewed DO and DON’T tips from a reviewer

10 Tips for Great Critique Partnerships from the always awesome Jenny Hansen

Building Mail Lists One Reader At A Time

PET-CENTRIC SCHTUFF

Morris Animal Foundation Cat Heart Disease Study

Bear Cam! Live video feed of bears and salmon fishing and here’s one of Mom-Bear protecting 3 cute cubs!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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!

Cooling Kitten Play Aggression

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Even sweet kittens develop “the crazies” …they just cain’t hep it! Image Copr Maria Magnus/Flickr

It never fails when a new kitten arrives. We oooooh and ahhh and the lil’ snuggle baby seduces us with purrs and sweet whisker kisses, and looks so darned innocent when she falls asleep on our lap.

And then that wide eyed wonder turns into the DEVIL CAT with claws out ambushing ankles and launching from hidden spots. When Seren was a baby (gosh, that was 16 years ago!) she used my legs as move-able scratching posts. Ouch!

The spring crop of kittens by now has reached the age when kitten play aggression takes over. If you don’t have other cats for her to learn better claw-and-teeth manners, you’re in for a rough few weeks. But she WILL outgrow the behavior. Meanwhile, the Ask Amy tips below will help you keep your sanity.

I’ve lots more kitten care tips in the book Complete Kitten Care as well as the ComPETability: Cats behavior book. Your turn. I know a number of very cat-savvy folks follow this blog. What tips can you share about managing the kitten’s juvenile delinquent behavior? Do tell!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? 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!