Amy Shojai's Blog, page 17

Amy Shojai Appearances: Come & Say Howdy!

Amy Shojai Appearances: Come & Say Howdy!

My calendar this Spring continues to fill, with all kinds of fun writer-icity and creative endeavors. I hadn't updated y'all for a while, and wanted to also share that the blog posts may slow down a bit (because...busy).

Read on to learn about book club appearances, book signings, and speaking engagements you may want to attend!

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

Cat Litter Box Problems? 9 Reasons Cats Snub the Box & What To Do

Cat Litter Box Problems? 9 Reasons Cats Snub the Box & What To Do

Cat litter box problems pose the number one reason cats lose their homes and end up in animal shelters. That's also the top reason an adopted kitten or cat gets returned. How sad! It's important to keep in mind ways to prevent litter box problems from the moment you bring home the new kitten.

People want cats to stop peeing on the carpet, pooping outside the litter box, and spraying urine -- especially peeing on your bed! But there is no single reason for hit-or-miss potty problems, and therefore, no single "cure" for bad behavior, but you can find out what to do with these common reasons cats snub the box. Note: I added one, in honor of Shadow-Pup!

Folks generally assume that any litter box issue is due to a behavior problem, but you CANNOT separate health from behavior. The two go together like ... like... laps and cats, or kittens and toys. Here are a few of the many reasons cats snub the litter box and develop litter box problems.

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

How to Stop MEOWING! 6 Ways to Silence Loud Mouth Cats

How to Stop MEOWING! 6 Ways to Silence Loud Mouth Cats

Is a new cat in your future? Each spring and fall, kitten season may bless you with a new feline friend. But can you predict talkative cats? You wonder, why does my cat meow so much? Heck, cat meowing may be one way cats show love. My Siamese wannabe Seren lived to be 21 years old, and she talked constantly. We relished her kitty conversations, but some cats over-indulge, and pet parents want to stop cat meowing.

Karma-Kat rarely talks unless we address him and doesn't randomly meow. Mostly, Karma comments center around FOOD and TREATS. He also meows at Shadow--thank goodness the noise doesn't scare him! Yes, he understands the words, and his "meow" is typically a "yes, please" answer to our questions. Oh, and Karma "announces" when he uses the (ahem) facilities. Trinity-Kitten meows LOUDLY anytime food enters the picture. What about your cats?

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

Audio Books on Chirp $1 Day Sale!

Audio Books on Chirp $1 Day Sale!

Get 100 books for $1 each! You choose your pick of the litter-ati, and enjoy your new favorite audiobooks!

Yes, my first-in-series thriller LOST AND FOUND is part of the deal. To celebrate, I've also discounted the rest of the audiobooks in the series on Chirp.

Don't wait--this sale only lasts TWO DAYS!

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

Pet Poison Alert! 199 Poison Pet Plants & What to Do

Pet Poison Alert! 199 Poison Pet Plants & What to Do

This month, we celebrate Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month. Here in Texas, many folks spend this time of year preparing for spring gardens. I just spent several hours preparing a flower bed and seeding with wildflowers. And we continue to update our rose garden after we had to dig out old roses (many infected with rose rosetta disease, arg!), and continue to plant new ones. My jonquils, and other bulb plants now poke shy heads above the mulch, ready for a burst of color.

Shadow-Pup helped! And Karma-Kat will enjoy any cut flowers I bring in later. That's why I'm so careful about exactly what we plant, and the kinds brought inside for our own and pet enjoyment. I had some lovely patio container plants last fall and wanted to bring them inside for the winter. Unfortunately, I couldn't risk plants toxic to pets.

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

Opt for a Chocolate Easter Bunny Instead of Adopting One!

Opt for a Chocolate Easter Bunny Instead of Adopting One!

Easter bunny, anyone? Awwww...nothing sweeter than baby bunnies. Well, baby anything, right? Our "Cottontail Mountain" home already has rabbits everywhere, especially in our garden. Shadow-Pup, sadly, wants to hunt them so we must monitor him as the babies appear Easter bunnies appear.

Karma-Kat loves watching "bunny TV" out the back patio windows. I think he'd love to have one come inside to *ahem* cuddle and play. NOT! Just like other animal companions, it takes more than admiration to make bunny love positive for everyone.

Easter is not the time for a spur of the moment furry gift. People purchased chicks and ducklings and baby bunnies by the score each year, some dyed in ridiculous colors, almost as gag gifts although they are living creatures with very specific care needs. A rabbit is more than an Easter bunny joke. Here's what you need to know when considering a bunny as a pet.

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

Yale Vaccine Improves Bone Cancer Survivability

Yale Vaccine Improves Bone Cancer Survivability

This past week, I received a press release from Yale (copied in part, below) sharing hopeful information about a new vaccine to treat osteosarcoma. As many readers know, we lost our Bravo-Dawg to that horrible disease. After amputation of his leg, and successful chemotherapy, he ultimately died of another cancer (hemangiosarcoma). So anytime I receive good news about these horrible diseases, I'm eager to share.

You'll want to watch the video that profiles Hunter, a SAR dog that received this diagnosis. Because of his owner's prompt attention and insistence and outreach to Yale, the Golden Retriever received the experimental treatment developed by Yale researcher Mark Mamula, and has enjoyed a survival time double that of most dogs with this diagnosis. Read more about this hopeful advance in the blog!

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

Dog Digging Disasters: Why Do Dogs Dig Holes & How to Stop Excavations

Dog Digging Disasters: Why Do Dogs Dig Holes & How to Stop Excavations

Dogs excavate for a variety of reasons. Dog digging is a natural canine behavior that developed as a means of survival. With spring coming soon, and digging gardens in my future, my Shadow-Pup wants to help digging and kicking up dirt. Some dog breeds dig holes more than others do, so read on for more details if you have a digging dog.

Learn more about why dogs dig, and how you can manage this normal canine behavior.

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

Easter Dangers for Pets: Toxic Lilies, Chocolate, and Bunnies

Easter Dangers for Pets: Toxic Lilies, Chocolate, and Bunnies

It occurred to me a roundup blog post made the most sense to put important information about Easter dangers for pets in one, easy-to-find location. I'm sure most dog and cat lovers know the basics. But this way, if y'all need to share information with new pet adopters, you'll have one link. What do you think?

This includes all the must knows about Easter lilies pet danger, Easter candy dangers like chocolate poisoning, and even concerns about Easter bunnies. Read on!

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

Litter Box Training: How to Potty Train Cats & Kittens

Litter Box Training: How to Potty Train Cats & Kittens

Kitten litter box training tops the list for frequently asked questions from new kitten owners. Planning ahead can save cat lovers lots of heartache by preventing litter box problems before they happen with kitten potty training..

Cats are very smart. They usually teach US rather than the other way around. Here's how to trick train your tabby.

Whenever new kittens come to your home, it's important to figure out what they know, plus help them learn the new rules of the house. When you have other cats (after proper cat introductions, of course!) the older felines can help teach the youngsters the rules. How to train cats to the litter box usually comes naturally, but these tips can help with potty training your cat.

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