Amy Shojai's Blog, page 141

Woof Wednesday: Christmas Tree Doggy Safety

"Oh no, he's EATING SANTA!"

Have you decked the halls yet with your howl-iday decor? What do the dogs think? Have they joined in the spirit of ho-ho-ho and wreaked havoc? Or do they ignore the festivities?

"You want me to wear what? Why?"

I have to admit that when our Magical-Dawg first arrived, his teeth made their mark on anything that didn't move faster than he did. The baseboards still need touching up, and even the wall next to the kitchen pet-door could do with some new plaster. There are even toothy paw-tograph remains in the spool-shaped spindles on the base of the pine coffee table in the living room. BAD owner for not watching, BAD owner!

Magic was born in July, and he came to live with us in early October. So when it came time to put up that year's tree, I weenied out. We didn't put up a tree until two years ago when he was three years old and had sorta-kinda-in-a-way learned to control himself. I already had practice from dealing with the Seren-kitty's tree love affair (you'll see more about THAT on the Feline Friday blog).

So how do you handle doggy interest in your yule plans? Are your puppies ho-hum or holiday happy over the change in scenery? For puppies, the Christmas season can be a challenge for owners. Your puppy may believe the Christmas tree is a special gift just for his entertainment. The attraction is natural, with puppies wanting to chew branches, pull off decorations, or worse. The result is a holiday that's anything but merry.

Puppies turn everything into a toy. The branches beneath the tree create a great puppy hideout. Tree ornaments that move or make noises lure puppies to grab and chase, garland offers a great game of tug-o'-war, and the twinkling lights draw them to investigate or even chew. That can lead to electrical shock that might even require rescue breathing to save the pup's life. Trees end up toppled, presents and decorations damaged, and sometimes pets are hurt. My latest article offers you 14 tips for Christmas tree safety for dogs and they apply to any age canine.

LAST DAY TO GET IN ON FREE BOOK DRAWING!

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too! Get your comments in TODAY (on any of November's blogs) and I'll draw names and announce on Friday.

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Woof Wednesdays Tagged: Amy Shojai, cat books, Christmas tree dog safety, dog books, dog training, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, pet books, puppies.About.com, puppy care, puppy safety

Monday Mentions: Awards, Mentoring, Pets & Writing

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Thanksgiving weekend was a time of catch-up, too much food, and playing with the fur-kids so there aren't quite as many links as usual. There ARE some fun videos at the end, and don't forget to comment to get in on the book give-away (only three more days!).

I have to take a moment to  thank everyone who made the recent Cat Writers Association event such a stunning success, and all who have worked publicly and behind the scenes for the past 19 years. One of those CWA heroes was Michael Brim, a cat lover and feline advocate, brilliant communicator and tireless cheerleader for cats, and for the CWA. When he died way too early, the organization created a memorial award in his name and he was the first recipient last year of the Michael Brim Distinguished Service Award. This award goes to those who have made a positive difference in the lives of cats through their work.

In past year's I've been very fortunate to have my work recognized by my peers. As writers and communicators everyone relishes–in fact thrives–on receiving an "atta-boy/girl" now and then. But I don't think I've ever been so moved as when I received Michael's namesake award. He had some very large paw-steps to fill and I'm humbled to be considered for this honor. That's the plaque on the right–but my name will also be added to the wall plaque at the Cat Fanciers Association headquarters, along with Michael's. Wow.

A big part of the original CWA vision of the founders was to create a place for experienced and beginning writers to gather and share their love of cats while supporting each other's writing success. If you come from the world of either "cats" or "dogs" or "animal welfare" or any of the other labels used today, you'll realize how divisive it sometimes can be. Heck, put three dog trainers in one room and you'll get 5 opinions on the RIGHT way to train. Place three cat lovers in a room and you'll get that many and more opinions about breeds, animal welfare, showing, ferals and on and on and on. So the CWA from the beginning was designed to be ALL-INCLUSIVE' and to foster an atmosphere of mentoring. And to recognize how important that concept is to me personally, each year  the SHOJAI MENTORING AWARD recognizes the CWA member that by word, action and/or deed has made a positive difference in another's professional cat writing life. The plaque features a pair of hands giving a kitty a boost up to reach that star hanging from the moon. This year's winner is Dr. Debra Eldredge–she was nominated by three different individuals, all who purrred her praises as a helper, guide and mentor on their cat-writing journey.

Do you have a mentor? Who has helped you succeed and reach your writing (or other) dreams? Maybe it was someone's quiet comment of praise on your WIP or another's suggestion about improving a query, or just a friend who took the time to listen. Please share!

PET SCHTUFF

Remember the PetNet promotion a couple weeks ago? I received word just before Thanksgiving from Petside.com that this year's Pet 'Net event has resulted in the donation of 41,450 bowls of food from Iams to local pet shelters. Bravo!

Kristl and Lee Franklin have just opened a new boarding and doggy daycare facility Camp Bow Wow in The Woodlands, Texas (outside of Houston). I met Kristl at a writers conference–hey, pets and writing just seems to go together. *s* Unfortunately that's a bit of a commute for me but from what I've seen at the website, my Magical-Dawg would be in canine heaven. I wish them all the best on the new business.

Airline traveling with your pet over the holidays? Stacy Mantle has some great tips here. You can find some tips for car travel with puppies here.

Great Dog of the White Man, a blog from Judy Ridgley all about horses–for writers who write about riding. Terrific history and info, check it out.

Have you seen the new Animal Planet show SAVED? From these excerpts, looks like a winner.

Cat-mas Cards for the Holidays from Jane, creater of "The Pride" cartoon. I hear-tell there's a new series of the 12 Cats of Christmas, what feline fun.

More holiday cards from MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION, and an opportunity to donate to worthy animal causes.

Can't be destroyed--or is that a challenge YOUR dog wants to take?

Chelsey's Toys (above) for the dog who destroys everything. Go over to Chelsey's facebook page and tell Chelsey you heard about her toy here. *s*

WRITING & PUBLISHING SCHTUFF

Jodie Renner: Essential Elements of a Bestselling Thriller from D.P. Lyle's "The Writer's Forensics Blog–bookmark this site, you won't be sorry.

Kristen Lamb's  Novel Structure Series–Balancing Scenes, the yin & yang (or in pet-speak, the Push-Me, Pull-Me of scene structure). Awesome info.

Learn More about SEO –search engine optimization and all that hoo-haw important stuff, from the cat-tastic folks over at MouseBreath (cat bloggers unite!)

Using Internet Images–the low-down on the copyright, fair use and more on online images (you'll be surprised–and not in a GOOD way).

Messages from the Beyond–really? from the Boomers & Books Blog–you have got to see this video, with ways to thumb your nose (or send your love) from beyond the grave.

The perfect gift for your dog–well, maybe. Are they kidding? Actually they're not kidding. And I have to give a shout out to Piper Bayard who finds some of the kewlest videos around.

And below that first one, two more videos that are the REAL present your pet wants this holiday season.

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THREE MORE DAYS UNTIL FREE BOOK DRAWING!

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Howls & Hisses, Monday Mentions, Video, Wags & Purrs, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, cat books, cat writers association, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, Michael Brim Award, puppies.About.com, Shojai Mentor Award, video, writers

Feline Friday: Copy Cat & Socializing Kittens

Squeeeeee, kittens!

It's Black Friday–and the cats don't care, unless you're in the market for another feline. Some time ago one of my feline followers ask about kitty copy cat behavior (asked and answered in today's ASK AMY video, below). And with the holidays off to a purring start, and some folks likely to add to their cat quotient, today's blog addresses feline socialization.

Copy cat behavior begins with watching--cats pay exquisite attention to the world around them.

Dog people seem better at this. If you've adopted a new puppy, this article offers 10 ways to socialize puppies. But with kittens, the prime socialization period comes much, much earlier–age TWO TO SEVEN WEEKS!

WHAT IS SOCIALIZATION?

To be good pets, all kittens require early-age socialization. That's a fancy way of describing how they learn to interact with the world around them.

You can use natural kitten curiosity to teach confidence–a confident kitten is more emotionally healthy than a shrinking-violet-cat.

"Watch me, Junior, and I'll show you where they hide the tuna."

Cats can be trained (yes, they can!) at any age, and continue to learn throughout their lives. But kittens are furry sponges that absorb lessons, both good and bad, at an incredible pace. This prime kitten socialization period is a narrow window during babyhood when learning the "wrong" lessons can emotionally cripple the cat. For example, kittens not exposed to positive experiences with humans during this period will be wild (feral) critters and never accept people.

Proper socialization teaches a cat how to be a cat, proper feline manners, how to communicate with other felines, and who the cat's friends and enemies are. Read more about 8 reasons to socialize kittens here. Of course, if you have a new kitten or plan to adopt soon, I'd strongly urge you to prepare by reading my COMPLETE KITTEN CARE book–the pictures in today's blog are just a few from that book, available in print and/or all Ebook formats.

What about older cats? Can they be socialized? Do kitties copy the behaviors of adult cats? Do yours? What many folks may not realize is that the copied behavior can be either a good one (learning "clicker training" by watching your other pets), or a bad one (figuring out how to swipe turkey from the frig). What are some things YOUR cats have learned from other pets? C'mon, you know you want to share! Do tell!

SPECIAL THANKS

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Feline Fridays, Video Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, cat books, Complete Kitten Care, cute kitten pictures, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, kittens, pet books, puppies, socialization, training, video

Thoughty Thursday: Thanksgiving & Rainbow Pets

Happy Thanksgiving! After a whirlwind trip last weekend to New York and back, I'm grateful to be home safe again. The Cat Writers' Association conference has been good to me, and this year was no exception. While I'm thankful for the business opportunities and awards bestowed, those pale compared to the friendships developed through my work. I am honored to be in the company of these wonderful, dedicated professionals.

I'm thankful to be home with my family—furry and human—rather than on the bumpy road and bumpier plane. I'm thankful my human family, though miles away, remain close-nit and loving. And I'm thankful all remain healthy.

I'm thankful for veterinarians who make life better for the pets we adore. I'm thankful for researchers who work to find diagnoses, treatments, and cures for our ailments, both for pets and for people. I'm thankful for the animal welfare volunteers who do the work of the angels when others somehow let pets down.

I'm thankful that I have the best job in the world, sharing information about the cats and dogs that have become so important to our emotional and physical health. I'm thankful for publishers, editors, magazines, newspapers, TV and radio shows, websites, bloggers and email lists that share these important resources to benefit cats and dogs and the people who love them. And I'm thankful to writing organizations, teachers, agents and all those who promote the craft of good communication and help others pursue this rewarding craft.

I'm thankful that I found a dumped kitten fifteen years ago and brought her into my home and heart. I'm thankful that Seren-kitty still acts like a kitten and stays so healthy. I'm sure my veterinarian also is thankful Seren remains spry, since she is not a happy patient and the clinic staff likes to keep their fingers intact. I'm thankful Seren only rarely presents a hairball "gift" and that I've not found it barefooted at 3 a.m. for many months. I'm thankful she's given up playing "gravity experiments" with my fine breakables, and has decided it's okay to nap on my lap now and then. I'm also thankful that she's decided the dog is a boob and great fun to torment, rather than spending all of her time sequestered upstairs.

I'm thankful for responsible breeders who ensure purebred dogs and pedigreed cats have a healthy paw-start in life. I'm thankful that Magic-dawg at age five has become a bit…just a bit…less driven. I'm thankful for water hoses, and tennis balls, stuffed teddy bears and Frisbees that wear Magic out without exhausting me at the same time. I'm thankful my roughneck dawg hasn't had any injury or digestive "whoops" this year. I'm thankful Magic is smart, funny, a comedian, and a wonder to train—and doesn't argue but has accepted that the cat is the boss of him.

I'm thankful that although he never grew up with pets, my husband loves Seren and Magic as much as I do. I'm even more thankful they adore him back (that could get awkward!). I'm thankful for my church family—pet lovers or not—who also support my furry notions. I'm particularly thankful to the Cuchara Gang (you know who you are) who lift me up with friendship and love.

I'm thankful for music that has always been so much a part of my life. I'm thankful for theater that feeds my soul. And I'm thankful my co-author helps me combine music, writing, theater  and pets into exciting new possibilities–see the sample in video, below. Note that all the CUTE DOG AND CAT PICTURES are in the video. *s*

Finally, I'm thankful to you—yes, those who read this blog or any of the other writer-icity hangouts I frequent. Without you, I would not have a career, and my life's passion would remain unfulfilled. Without you, your pets wouldn't have the wonderful love and care you provide. Without you, there wouldn't be any reason for this heartfelt—THANK YOU.

RAINBOW PETS

Black and white, brindle or tabby,

Merle or brown, sable, Abby,

Persian, Collie, whole or fixed,

Rainbow pets a perfect mix.

I was young, I was old.

I was rescued, I was sold.

I was sick, and you were kind.

By some mystic Master's design

Can't you see, meant to be

You will always be mine.

Whoops or planned, shown or banned,

Shelter, rescue, foster, pound,

Bottle babies, purebred ladies,

Perfect, damaged, all are found.

You were clueless, so were we.

Lessons learned don't come for free.

Can't go back, regrets define.

By some mystic Master's design

Shed no tear, have no fear,

Pay it forward in kind.

Blond or blue, calico, curly,

Pointed, smooth, wirehair, surly,

Sweetheart, bold, or shy thereof,

Rainbow pets—we're yours to love.

Love me now, love me then,

Love me when we meet again

At the bridge, the rainbow shines

By some mystic Master's design

In its light, Ever bright,

You will always be mine.

Filed under: Thoughtful Thursdays, Video, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, cats, cute pictures, dogs, kittens, music, puppies, Rainbow Pets, singing, Thanksgiving, theater, video, www.amyshojai.com

Woof Wednesday: National Dog Show & Ask Amy Grooming

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and everyone knows what that means–NATIONAL DOG SHOW! The Kennel Club of Philadelphia for the past several years have held this show the weekend before Thanksgiving, and then NBC televised the production after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's become an annual favorite of dog people. And because I'm at the Cat Writers Association Annual Conference during the actual event, I'm pleased to see the show up-close-and-personal courtesy of Purina sponsorship.

My colleague David Frei is a longtime breeder, exhibitor and dog expert/author who co-hosts the show with dog lover, author and actor John O'Hurley. Interestingly, the inspiration for televising the show can from a tongue-in-furry-cheek movie fave of dog people everywhere titled 'Best In Show.' The two-hour special offers over 160-plus breeds and crowns a Best in Show champion before football takes over the day.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has sanctioned six new breeds for 2011 and they will be introduced to America in their national television debuts on Thanksgiving Day during the show. Thanks to the National Dog Show, you'll get a sneak peak, below.

And don't miss the ASK AMY video at the bottom of the blog with some comments about dog show grooming.

American English Coonhound

AMERICAN ENGLISH COONHOUND

The American English Coonhound evolved from Virginia Hounds, descendants of English Foxhounds. Originally these hounds were used to hunt fox by day and raccoons by night and were named the English Fox and Coonhound. Today's American English Coonhound is a wide-ranging hunter that possesses tremendous speed and endurance, and excellent voice. A strong and graceful athlete, he needs regular exercise to stay in peak shape. The breed's hard, protective coat is of medium length and can be red and white ticked, blue and white ticked, tri-colored with ticking, red and white, and white and black. The breed is pleasant, alert, confident and sociable with both humans and dogs.

Search on Facebook:  American English Coonhound Association

Cesky Terrier

CESKY TERRIER

The Cesky Terrier was developed to be a well-muscled, short legged and well-pigmented hunting terrier that could be worked in packs. The Cesky Terrier has natural drop ears and a natural tail. The Cesky is longer than it is tall and has a topline that rises slightly higher over the loin and rump. It sports a soft, long, silky coat in shades of gray from Charcoal to Platinum. The correct coat is clipped to emphasize a slim impression. The hallmarks of the breed should be unique unto itself with a lean body and graceful movement. They are reserved towards strangers, loyal to their owners, but ever keen and alert during the hunt.

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

ENTLEBUCHER MOUNTAIN DOG 

The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is a native of Switzerland, and the smallest of the four Swiss breeds.  A medium-sized drover, he has a short, tri-colored coat with symmetrical markings. Purpose and heritage have resulted in an unusually intense bonding between the Entlebucher and his master.  Prized for his work ethic and ease of training, he can transform from a high-spirited playmate to a serious, self-assured dog of commanding presence. The Entlebucher should not be considered a breed for the casual owner. The guardian traits of this breed require thorough socialization, and he will remain an active, energetic dog for his entire lifetime.

Finnish Lapphund

FINNISH LAPPHUND

The Finnish Lapphund is a reindeer herding dog from the northern parts of Scandinavia.  The breed is thought to have existed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, as the helper dog of the native tribes.  In modern day, Lapphunds are popular as family pets in their native Finland.  They are devoted to their family, friendly with all people, highly intelligent and eager to learn.  The dogs have a thick, dense coat that comes in a variety of colors and beautiful, soft, expressive faces.  They are strong but very agile.

Norwegian Lundehund

NORWEGIAN LUNDEHUND

The Norwegian Lundehund – or Puffin Dog — spent centuries on the rocky cliffs and high fields of arctic Norway hunting and retrieving puffin birds, an important meat and feather crop to local farmers. Uniquely equipped for their task, this little Spitz-type dog has at least six toes on each foot for stability in the near vertical environs where puffins nest. A flexible skeletal structure enables the dog to squirm out of tight spots or spread-eagle to prevent slips and falls. Lundehunds have a protective double coat, reddish-brown, often with white collar and feet and a white tip on the tail. Today puffin birds are protected and the puffin dog has taken up its new role as an alert, cheerful and somewhat mischievous companion.

Xoloitzcuintli

XOLOITZCUINTLI (show-low-itz-quint-lee)

The Xoloitzcuintli – "show-low" as it is commonly called – is the national dog of Mexico.  Previously known as the Mexican Hairless, it comes in three sizes as well as a coated version – seen in the show ring only in the US and Canada.  These dogs descend from hairless dogs prized by the Aztecs and revered as guardians of the dead.  Over 400 years later, these dogs were still to be found in the Mexican jungles.  Shaped by the environment rather than by man, their keen intelligence, trainability and natural cleanliness have made them a unique and valued pet today.

BIG HAIRY DEAL & MOVING TOPIARY?

So what's up with all the special grooming that show dogs endure–or do they like it? What do YOU think? Do you share your life with a show dog, or maybe a hunting companion? How do you handle their coat care? Does your Cock-a-dach-a-poo get a Poodle cut? Or does the Lab prefer a regular hosing off?

Do you have a show dog? Have you ever attended a dog show–you gotta do it! The best dog of all, of course, paws down–whether they have ribbons or not–is the canine companion who shares your heart.

SPECIAL THANKS

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Video, Woof Wednesdays Tagged: American English Coonhound, Ask Amy, cat books, Cesky Terrier, David Frei, dog books, dog grooming, Entlebucher Mountain Dog, Finnish Lapphund, http://www.amyshojai.com, John O'Hurley, National Dog Show, Norwegian Lundehund, Purina, show dogs, Xoloitzcuintli

Monday Mentions: Cats, Dogs, Writing & CWA

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. This past weekend I've been at the Cat Writers' Association 18th Annual Conference–woot!

In fact, you can check out the video at the end of today's blog that has lots of photos and video clips from both the conference and the cat show. I'm writing this blog from the hotel lobby and won't be home until late tonight (Sunday actually), so later in the week I'll post a text recap of the experience.

PET SCHTUFF

Wonderful World of Cats Poster--4th Edition

The Fourth Edition of "The Wonderful World of Cats" poster came off the press July 2011 with a very limited edition of 3,000 posters offered to all cat lovers! This comes from my friend and colleague, CWA and DWAA member Patie Ventrie, and is considered a work of art by many feline fanciers–me, too! It has been produced in full color with 47 vibrant cat illustrations on an intentionally subdued blue/grey color background that enhances the beauty of the cat drawings.  Stunning, fascinating, and informatinve! Patie sent complimentary copies to attendees at this year's CWA Conference and I can attest to the lovely work. She also donates a percentage of sales to Cat Fanciers Association, where you can order one or multiple posters.

Cat Heroes of War — Last week's Monday Mentions included a link to war dog heroes so it's only fair that this week we honor CATS!

Another friend and colleague you'll recognize if you've ever seen the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, or the National Dog Show Presented by Purina (this coming Thanksgiving day broadcast, watch for it!). David Frei has been "in dogs" for likely more years that he wants to count. I had the distinct pleasure to interview him a couple of years ago for my very first Pet Peeves Radio Show about dog shows. At that time he was very active with the Angel On A Leash dog visitation programs into hospitals and more–and now he's written a book on the subject. Full disclosure–I received a copy of the book literally as I prepared to board a plane, so I've not yet read it. So a review will come later–but I wanted to give David a shout-out AND point you to the National Dog Show this Thursday. Watch for more info on Woof Wednesday. And check out what promises to be a touching, moving and educational look at therapy dogs with Angel On a Leash.

Help A Pet, Give A Gift–Symbolically! Do you have a pet-loving friend who has everything? The ASPCA offers a brilliant solution for those hard-to-decide gifts. It's a way to give a donation in a friend's name to the cause of your choice–from "symbolic grooming" to "disaster transport." Check it out!

Winners of ASPCA's Humane Awards Seven outstanding animals and people—including a badly burned cat who refused to abandon her kittens and a six-year-old boy who raised more than $28,000 for his local animal shelter—were honored at this year's ASPCA Humane Awards Luncheon. The link includes an awesome video of some of the recipients.

UC Davis Alumni Achievement Award, you can vote for your fav veterinary grad from this school.

WRITER-ICITY

What NOT to Blog About from agent Rachelle Gardner

Thriller Thursday Guest Blogger Allison Brennan, another great post from Stacy Green–and I have to second Stacy's note about what a terrific and approachable and thoroughly NICE (plus great writer) Allison is. My first year attending Thrillerfest we met and … guess what? She's got a kitty AND a doggy, too. *s*

Gene Lempp's Blog Treasures Mash Up has an incredible array this week of writing and other fun schtuff (even a couple of my kitty-flavored offerings!)

Self Pub-ing Lessons from David Gaughran's terrific blog with guest Mainak Dhar

Taking Your Novel from Good to Great from Kristen Lamb's guest poster Danielle Poiesz, the Book Country Editorial Coordinator.

KEWL "WHO KNEW?" SCHTUFF

Pole Dancing Dolly–Huh??? from Manic Monday blogger Stacy Green, about all the lively educational toys your daughters can enjoy (NOT!)

Packing for Baby Disasters  at Jenny Hansen's Risky Business blog, for that delivery-day preparation. Hey, I never had a two-legged so this is fascinating to me! (and great info for those expectant parents)

Tiffany A White's OOOO Factor, all about Thanksgiving faves and great yummy recipes.

I was not able to capture every moment with my camera. Frankly, when you attend the CWA conference folks get caught up in the fun and camaraderie and forget to get it on film. Several photographers shot images, though, especially of the awards and (I understand) of Susan Logan and I doing our singin' gig on Friday night, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, here's a small taste of what happened. One of the "kittens" (first time attendee) has already posted that she landed an agent while here!

Plan for next year–start saving nickels and dimes now. The 19th Annual Conference also will be CWA's 20th Birthday Celebration, in LA and some very special events will take place! Until next year, be good to yourself, feed your furry muses, and celebrate your own and colleague's successes. Oh, and pet your pets and thank 'em for trusting us to be their voice.

THANKS!

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Monday Mentions, Video, Writing Tips Tagged: Amy Shojai, ASPCA, cat books, cat writers association, Danielle Poiesz, David Frei, David Gaughran, dog books, Gene Lempp, Jenny Hansen, Kristen Lamb, Pattie Ventrie, Pet Peeves radio, Stacy Green, Tiffany A White, writers conference, writing

Feline Friday: Cat Baths–Are you INSANE?!

Persian show cats get bathed a LOT!

Tomorrow I get to attend the Westchester Annual Cat Show and schmooze with AMAZING pedigree kitties plus rescue felines needing homes. SQUEEE! The intro of kittens playing in the Ask Amy (below) comes from video taken at last year's event. And the question for today's Ask Amy seems quite relevant–cat baths–since show cats get dunked on a routine basis.

Why Bathe Cats?

Lick-and-a-promise Mom-cats who allow themselves to get dingy offer a poor role model and their kittens also will be less fastidious. Illness, poor grooming habits, parasite infestation, or simply getting themselves dingy may require more help than a brush can handle–as with the poor rescue kitty in the video. A bath stimulates the skin and removes excess oil, dander, and shed hair. But bathing too often can dry the skin. As a good rule of "paw" bathe shorthaired cats no oftener than every six weeks; two to three times a year during shedding season should suffice unless Kitty gets really grubby, or is a show cat. Longhaired cats benefit from more frequent baths, and felines appearing in shows learn as kittens to accept baths.

Should you decide to take the plunge–pun intended–your cat should be thoroughly brushed and/or combed ahead of time. All mats must be removed before bathing, because water will just cement mats in place. Be sure to clip claws as well or risk having your clothes and skin shredded as Sheba tries to escape. In fact, to keep your reluctant kitty from figuring out the score and disappearing, perform the brushing routine and claw clipping the day before.

The bath area should be warm and draft free. The bathtub will do, but your knees will thank you for using a waist-high sink. Move all breakables out of reach, and push drapes or shower curtains out of the way or they may spook your cat and end up shredded. For routine cleaning, you only need a simple grooming shampoo labeled specifically for cats. Human baby shampoo or dog products can be too harsh and dry the skin or in some cases prove toxic.

Assemble your shampoo, several towels, and washcloth near the sink or tub, and run warm water (about 102 degrees, or cat body temperature) before you bring in the cat. Some cats like the Turkish Van actually enjoy water, but no cat wants to be forced to do something. Don't torture Sheba and make her watch your preparations. Instead, save bath time as a (hopefully) pleasant surprise.

Dunking is less stressful than the sprayer.

Cats hate the insecure footing of the slippery surfaces so place a towel or rubber mat in the bottom of your tub or sink. That does wonders for cat confidence and often reduces yowls and struggles by half. Or, try standing the cat on a plastic milk crate, which gives him something to clutch with his paws, while allowing you to rinse him on top and underneath without turning him upside down.

Wear old clothes. Expect to get wet. Seren clutches my shirt, pressing her face to me as I wet and soap the rest of her. She makes sure I get as wet as she does. Also, close the door to the bathing area, or you risk having a soapy cat escape and leave suds and a wet cat print trail throughout your spanking-clean house.

For small cats or kittens, the bucket method of bathing often works best. Use the double sink in the kitchen, two or more large roasting pans, or a couple of buckets or wastebaskets set in the bathtub. Fill each with warm water, then gently lower your cat (one hand supporting her bottom, the other beneath the chest) into the first container to get her wet.

Cruel and unusual punishment?

Don't dunk Sheba's face or splash water on her; that's what gets cats upset. Let your kitty stand on her hind legs and clutch the edge of the container as you thoroughly wet the fur. Then lift her out onto one of your towels, and apply the shampoo, using the washcloth to clean her face. After lathering, dip the cat back into the first container to rinse. Get as much soap off as possible before removing and sluice off excess water before rinsing in subsequent containers of clean water.

Adult cats may object to being dunked, and running water can be scary. Instead, you can use a ladle to dip water. If you have a spray nozzle from the sink, use a low force, with the nozzle close to the fur so kitty doesn't see the spray. Use the washrag to wet, soap and rinse the face area. Keep one hand on the cat at all times to prevent escapes. Rinse beginning at the neck and down Sheba's back; don't neglect beneath the tail or tummy. When the water finally runs clear and you know she's clean, rinse once more just to be sure. Don't forget to remove the cotton from the cat's ears.

Don't let the cat catch a chill!

Wrap the squeaky-clean cat in a dry towel. Shorthaired cats dry quickly, but longhaired felines may need two or more towels to blot away most of the water. If your cat tolerates or enjoys the blow dryer, use only the lowest setting to avoid burning the cat. Combing long fur as you blow dry will give "oomph" to the longhaired coat.

Do you bathe your cats? What does he think of it? What are some tips for keeping the blood-letting to a minimum (yours, not the cats!).

SPECIAL THANKS

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Ask Amy, Bling Alert!, Feline Fridays, Video Tagged: Amy Shojai, Ask Amy, cat bath, cat behavior, cat books, cat health, cat training, cat writers association, how to bathe a cat, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com

Whisker Wednesday: Pet 'Net & Cat Intros

Adoption love...a beautiful thing! (photo courtesy of Maria Magnus)

Yes, it's time for the 4th Annual Pet 'Net Event, yee-haw! And this year we're re-visiting the first topic, and a fav of one and all–PET ADOPTIONS!

Pet 'Net 2011 joins pet bloggers (including me!) all across the country to spread the furry word on November 16 about the many advantages of pet adoption. There are even ways you can donate and help promote all adoptions.



Since November is also National Adopted A Senior Pet Month, I've already blogged aboutpuppy-to-senior-dog-adoptions at my Puppies Site. That means today's Woof Wednesday blog has been hijacked by the kitties. Mee-wow!

Kitten to Old Fogey Cat Intros

Cat lovers often decide to adopt a new pet without consulting the old-fogey feline. Maybe you've recently lost a beloved old cat and believe the surviving feline is lonely, or perhaps you worry that the singleton kitty is bored without companionship.

Maybe. Or maybe not.

Here's the deal–would you want to have a funny-smelling stranger come into your home, sleep in your bed, eat from your place, poop in your toilet (without flushing!) and go cheek-to-cheek with your beloved? Proper intros work wonders to smooth the hissy fits.

Kittens Don't Count

Well, they do, but not so much in terms of social standing. Your senior citizen kitty already "owns" your pillow, the top of the TV, the litter box and food bowl–and your heart. A kitten due to age won't challenge the older cat's authority nearly as much as an in-her-prime adult feline. So when thinking about adopting a new furry wonder, a baby cat won't be as big of a threat or challenge to your resident feline's status quo.

Shelter kittens smell like...well, shelters.

Stranger Danger

Getting hissy with strange cats is a NORMAL cat behavior. In the wild, the feline that's too friendly with a weird interloper risks getting eaten. Cats identify safe people (or other pets) by their familiar smell. A fresh-from-the-shelter a new pet that hasn't been kitty-groomed by the group with licks and cheek rubs might as well be Frankenstein-Cat.

Tolerate THIS!

The sight, sound, and smell of a strange cat pushes kitty buttons to extreme. But blocking one sense (sight of each other for example) reduces arousal. That helps enormously during cat-to-cat intros, which is one reason my must-do list includes initially separating the cats. That also allows your older cat to maintain run of the house and ownership of all the prime kitty real estate.

Shut The Door

Confine the new kitten in a single "safe room" so the resident cat understands only part of his territory has been invaded. Young kittens that haven't a clue anyway won't care. But if they're the least shy, being sequestered offers a safe, soothing retreat with a litter box, food and water bowls, toys, scratch post and other kitty paraphernalia. Being the "new kid" can be stressful for shrinking violet kittens so build the baby's confidence with a room of his or her own before the whisker-to-whisker meeting.

Keep the solid door closed for at least a week before risking a face-to-face. Watch for your resident cat's reaction. Hisses are normal. Trust me on this! It may take more than three weeks before those growly-sounds fade.

See, if you try to intro them too soon and the fur flies, the cats will remember that AWFUL-NASTY-TURRIBLE-DEVIL and bring a bad c'attitude to future meetings. It's better to take it slow and avoid having the kitties practice bad behavior. They'll have a lifetime together so what's a delay of a few days or weeks?

Feed the cats on opposite sides of the door, to associate each other's smell with good things. After each cat has had a meal, switch out the plates temporarily so that they can sniff the bowls and become even more familiar with each other. It's even better when a bit of food is left, because that helps the cats identify good stuff—food—with the other animal.

Try some playtime on opposite sides of the door, too. Have another family member deal with the kitten while you (or whoever your aging kitty ADORES THE MOST) interacts with the resident feline. Catnip could be helpful–sure, get the old guy drunk. If he sniffs the kitten and gets a bit of a buzz, that could be a very positive association.

Sniffing and paw pats underneath the door are positive signs. The cats should "know" each other by scent before they ever set eyes on each other. Expect normal posturing, fluffed fur and hissing and when that begins to fade, you're ready for the next step.

Trading Spaces

Swap out the cats after a few days. That gives the old cat a chance to get up close and personal sniffing where the devil new cat has been. And it allows the newly adopted baby to scope out the environment.Kitties have no interest in meeting new people or pets unless they feel comfortable with their environment.

Reduce any potential kitty controversy by creating a house of plenty. Your home should have so much good-kitty-stuff that there's no need for the kitten and old cat to argue over it.

Place multiple litter boxes and feeding stations in different locations so that one cat can't own and "guard" the facilities. Increase territory with cat trees, shelves to lounge, tunnels and boxes to hide, and toys galore. It doesn't have to break the bank, either. Cheap thrills like empty paper bags or wads of paper serve as irresistible toys that often appeal more than the high dollar versions. Cardboard boxes, a cleared shelf on the bookcase, or a soft blanket under a lamp really get the purr-motor rumbling.

Nose-To-Nose At Last

Once the BIG DAY arrives, just open the "safe room" door, stand back, and let the cat's meet. Supervise, of course, but don't force interaction. You can feed them on opposite sides of the room or play interactive games at a distance to smooth this first meeting. The cats may ignore each other for hours or days and that's fine, too.

A bit of posturing with hisses, cautionary swats and other snark-icity is to be expected. Do stop the interactions if growls start rumbling. You may want to replace the closed door with a baby gate so the cats can sniff and meet through the safety of a barrier but still be segregated. Until you're sure the old cat won't mangle the baby, or the baby won't terrorize the oldster, supervise or keep the new kitten segregated when you can't. It can be love at first sight, or may take weeks or months to accept somebody new into the family.

For all you new kitten adopters out there–conCATulations! You'll find many more kitten-specific tips in my Complete Kitten Care book.

SPECIAL THANKS

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Feline Fridays, Uncategorized, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, cats, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, introductions, kittens, Pet Net, petfinder.com, petside.com

Tuesday Tips: Safety for Doggy Table Moochers

"Can I have a taste?"

Tuesday Tips has been the day for everything from cat and dog quick advice to writerly series on everything from Indy Kindle publishing and advice from best-selling authors to Media Training. This week I prepare to attend the Cat Writers' Association Conference and also have a few timely topical posts (see tomorrow's Pet 'Net Event!). So since the Woof Wednesday blog got hijacked by the cats, it's only fair that today's Tuesday Tips goes to the dawgs. And the topic is one of my fur-family's favorites.

FOOD.

But first you have to get to the treat party.

Holiday Travel

Will you travel to a relative's home for the upcoming holiday events? My Magic wants to remind you–DON'T FORGET THE DOG! They're part of the family, too. And unlike cats who often despise new places/people/pets–more on that on tomorrow's blog–dogs seem to relish family gatherings. For those with canines who have problems with car rides, you can start training now with these car ride tips for dogs and he'll be ready to roll by Thanksgiving. And yes, you'll see the Magical-Dawg in the article's picture in HIS car!

Dogs perfect the "I'm starving!" look.

It doesn't have to be the holidays for us to want to treat our dogs. Magic has three favorites in his life–car rides, Frisbee and TREATS. We love to indulge ourselves-and them-and are careful to avoid poisoning pets with high-risk foods like chocolate, macadamia nuts, avocados, or raisons/grapes. Artificial sweeteners keep owners lean, but any goodies sweetened with Xylitol could cause canine liver failure. There also are some people foods that we relish that can land our dogs in the hospital–or worse! Some table food can actually KILL your fur-kid. Learn about the high-risk treats here, along with some first-aid tips just in case.

Why is it that dogs beg? Are they really all that hungry? Heck, Magic even begs for green beans and then spits them out. Puppies are notorious moochers so if you have a new fur-kid, take a moment to read these puppy-specific tips on why puppies beg. Learn ways to safely treat puppies without turning them into begging fools.

When the aroma of baking and roasting turns on the doggy drool, what human foods are safe for dogs to snack on? Actually, dogs have been eating the same foods people do for centuries and not only live to tell about it, they thrive. And holistic vets often recommend some of these foods for a more natural way to treat your doggy best friend. The latest Paw Nation article explains about 10 Healthy Table Foods your dog can eat–right in time for the howl-lidays!

Helping the Medicine Go Down

You can find out even more "natural remedies" for your fur-kids in my book New Choices in Natural Healing for Dogs & Cats–I just found out it's available on Kindle, too. And on a related note, if you have a pet that needs medicine, there's a nifty way to help the medicine go down–with veterinary compounding. I just interviewed a very kewl pharmacist who has all sorts of Pupcicles with pain and antibiotics combined, peanut-flavored treatments for parrots, and transdermal (through the skin) ointments so you don't have to pill your cat. You can listen on my latest Pet Peeves radio show Helping The Medicine Go Down.

Have happy–and SAFE–holiday meals for your entire family, furry and otherwise.

SPECIAL THANKS

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter @amyshojai and @About_Puppies are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

Filed under: Tuesday Tips, Wags & Purrs Tagged: Amy Shojai, compounded medicine for pets, dog books, dog training, dogs, http://www.amyshojai.com, http://www.shojai.com, human foods, PawNation.com, puppies, puppies.About.com, travel with dogs, treats

Monday Mentions: Cats, Dogs, Writing & Cute Kitten Videos

Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. This past weekend I've managed to finish two new puppy articles on hypothermia and frostbite first aid, edit/upload a new video (see below, SQUEEEE!), and edit several more fiction chapters. Oh, and I've written (in advance) all the blogs for this week. Whew!

That's because I leave for the Cat Writers' Association annual conference this Thursday and will present the Shojai Mentor Award at the banquet. Friday evening I partner with Susan Logan, editor of Cat Fancy Magazine, as the entertainment for the event. We've had some challenges putting together the musical accompaniment, but I think finally the orchestration (on CD) is ready. I hope to see y'all there!

CAT SCHTUFF

Kitty Ball Bed–buy a raffle ticket, win a fashionable snooze spot for your feline, AND benefit Floppy Cats. Oh, a "floppy cat" is a Ragdoll kitty, a stunning breed, and this raffle item from The Refined Feline benefits Ragdoll Cat Rescue.

Darlene Arden's PerPETually Speaking Blog offers a lovely post on Adopting Older Pets

Lisa Mac's shares tender remembrances of a brown spotted tabby in Across the Rainbow Bridge

Last winter Christine Davis lost two very special fur-kids. This always leaves a hole in a pet parent's life. But when your livelihood also is intrinsically linked to the furry loves in your life, every waking moment (and even when you sleep at night) you are reminded of that absence.  But Christine did something about her pain and the result is FOREVER PAWS, a gentle and tender fable that comforts those who hurt while celebrating our cherished relationship.

I don't have children, don't understand 'em, can't write for 'em (they scare me!) and almost NEVER review kid books. Although this small gift book is appropriate for children (I think–what do I know?),  it strikes a chord with this adult. I was already a fan of Christine's other books–but this one is extreeee spashul. I hope you won't lose the furry love of your life for a long, long time. But when it happens, Christine's book FOREVER PAWS will help.

WRITING SCHTUFF

Cat Writers Association Annual Conference in White Plains, New York, November 17-19. Yes, folks that's THIS COMING WEEKEND! Currently there are 11 editors/agents scheduled for one-on-one appointments, over a dozen seminars, sparkle-icity during the awards and receptions, and–oh yes–a nearby cat show. Lots of dog-centric folks and just dang fine writers of all stripes will be there.

When Can A Young Child Testify? from Dr. Doug Lyle's forensics blog and guest blogger Leslie Budewitz

Bloody Good-And She BITES! another from Doug's awesome blog about a woman who truly believes she's a vampire (and sets out to prove it, ew!)

Build Tension With Physical Intimacy–In your novel, of course! Great info in time for the Na-No…aka Nonny-Nonny-BooBoo novel writing month. But seriously, Jenny Hansen nails it again.

A Sure Thing–Not! from Dystel & Goderich Literary Agency (prepare to gnash dentures)

10 Absolutely Fantastic Intensifiers You Should Really Avoid–awesome, dude!

In early November I received a delightful note from Darlene Jones, thanking me for the Tuesday Tips series on Kindle-ization. She says the tips helped her through the process publishing her novel EMBATTLED which has already garnered a positive review. Congrats, Darlene! May your book be read and enjoyed by many, and your royalty statements have commas!

KOBO (an Ebook Platform) sold to Japan's Rakuten for $315 million. And they say there's no money in Ebooks. Pshfffft.

Beware The Social Media Snuggie from Kristen Lamb–she knows this schtuff! And she's funny, too. *s*

Gene Lempp has an incredible blog and each Saturday his mashup of awesomeness lists some of the best blog-icity on the planet, including priceless info for writers. Here's the most recent blog treasures post–you'll want to bookmark this.

DOG SCHTUFF

Dog Seminars Directory A site that lists a variety of dog-centric seminars scheduled around the world.

Awesome dog writer Caroline Coile has launched a new blog–yay!–and you MUST read this very kewl post about 11 Famous Canine War Veterans.  The second on the list, Sgt Stubby, probably wouldn't be welcome in many circles today. *huge sigh*

Nominate A Dog Hero  for the 2012 Dog Hero Awards through The American Humane. Categories include police, military, service, therapy, guide, and search and rescue dogs.

Susan McCullough, another talented dog writer/author, blogs over at the Northern Virginia Dog Blog about her "Nine, Going On Two" senior dog. Lovely post.

November is National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month with some great info from the experts at VCA Animal Hospitals, check it out! Since diabetes is often a disease of aging pets, it's appropriate to learn about this the same month we're encouraging "aging pet" adoptions. Learn about doggy diabetes here, and for the kitties you can learn about feline diabetes here. 

Jake the Dog Daily Blog, the life and times of a yellow lab.

I-DO-THIS-FOR-A-LIVING SCHTUFF

How'd I get so lucky, eh? This past week a bunch of us behavior consultant types gathered together for a very tough assignment. Seems my colleague Dr. Amanda Florsheim took in a feral kitty who was "too preggers" to fix. The resulting four babies currently are about 6-7 weeks old by the time you read this. Our fantastic fun evening arduous task was to help socialize them. You can tell from the video it was a harrowing experience.

Prime kitten socialization period is 2-7 weeks so Amanda has exposed the babies to friendly dogs, kids, many adults, different locations–and scary-R-us behavior consultants. Once the pizza arrived the kits turned into cheese-heads. I still have my fingers so the bite inhibition training has worked very well.

Please contact me if you fall in furry love with one of these babies and I can arrange an intro–although I hope you'll consider adopting a senior kitty, doggy or other fur-love in your own locale.

THANKS!

This month as a special "thank you" to all my furry-fantastic-followers, I'll give away a paw-tographed copy of Complete Care for Your Aging Cat and Complete Care for Your Aging Dog. To get in the running, simply post a comment in the blog about your special pet (old fogey or not) and I'll draw two names at the end of the month. You can use these award-winning updated books as a resource for yourself or wrap up for a pet-friendly holiday gift to a fur-loving friend. And as an EXTRA-special incentive–and to encourage all of y'all to mentor each other and spread the blogging/twitter/Facebook love–the two winners get to name one purr-son who gives them wags of support and deserves a book, too!

#AskAmy Sweet Tweets

Folks who "follow" me on Twitter are the most awesome Sweet Tweets around–they love #cats and #dogs and #pets, many #amwriting. We've become a great community including those in the #MyWANA social network twibe hosted by the awesome @KristenLambTX.  So I'm stealing borrowing Kristen's methods and creating my own hashtag. Just follow and include the #AskAmy in your tweets if'n you're interested in pithy links to articles, books, blogs, experts, fictioning and sparkle-icity!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you'd like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, "like" me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

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