Amy Shojai's Blog, page 31
October 28, 2022
Catnip: More Than A Treat for National Cat Day
Catnip: More Than A Treat for National Cat Day
Tomorrow is NATIONAL CAT DAY! Why not celebrate with kewl schtuff for the cat...like a catnip treat?
I have no doubt that catnip prompted the Cheshire Cat’s grin. My cat Seren used to wear the same expression when she indulged. NATIONAL CAT DAY is the perfect time to indulge your furry friend.
But why do cats find this nondescript herb so attractive? Is it a kitty aphrodisiac, a harmless pleasure or something more sinister?
What Is Catnip?
Nepeta cataria, or catnip, is a strong-scented mint that contains a volatile oil that’s easily released into the air. Biting or rolling on the plant crushes the leaves and releases the oil so Kitty can get a good sniff. It doesn’t take much. Cats can detect catnip oil in the air at saturation as low as one part per billion.
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 27, 2022
8 Halloween Pet Myths: BUSTED
With Halloween right around the corner, what a good time to share this round up of 8 Halloween myths. What have I missed? Are there other myth-teries you'd like to debunk? Share in the comments!
MYTH. Halloween costumes are fun for everyone. Even some humans find costumes creepy, so it’s no surprise some dogs do, too. Costumes can be frightening or stressful for your pooch. It’s a good idea to keep your dog safely inside and away from the trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
MYTH. Raw pumpkin is always good for pets. Pumpkin can be used to treat . . .
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 12, 2022
Pudgy Pooches & Tubby Tabbies: How to Slim Down Fat Pets
Pudgy Pooches & Tubby Tabbies: How to Slim Down Fat Pets
Do you live with fat pets? Or maybe you struggle with your weight, like me. A couple of my friends look terrific after they've recently lost weight. I found it. *sigh* The problem also affects fat pets, and at my house, that's spelled KARMA-KAT.
Fat Pets & What To Do
Is your pooch pudgy or fat? Are your cats slim athletes or fat cats? Obesity is defined as exceeding ideal body weight by 20 percent, and today about forty percent of pets are considered overweight. If you can't feel the pet's ribs, and/or she has a pendulous or bulging tummy, your pet is too plump. Obesity increases risk for diabetes, and is an aggravating factor in heart problems, arthritis, and skin problems. Puppies are cute when chubby but that puts them at risk as well...
It's not that I don't know how to eat right, I do. It just takes more thought and planning, and I've let a lot of that slide as I tried to meet deadlines. It's a whole lot easier to stay on top of the pet's nutrition and waistline than my own.
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 11, 2022
The Cat In The Christmas Tree, Holiday Anthology Releases!
The Cat In The Christmas Tree, Holiday Anthology Releases!
Looking for a wonderful holiday gift for the cat lovers in your life? I'm pleased to share with you this fun anthology of true Christmas cat-theme stories. And yes, you'll read one of my stories in the book, too. The Cat in the Christmas Tree stories make you smile, laugh out loud, and enjoy that purring mound of fur who shares your life (and probably your pillow!).
Christmas is a time for joy, wonder, and a little bit of mischief. Does any creature manifest these attitudes better than a cat? Their fascination with all those breakable ornaments on the tree and their appreciation of a cozy spot to nap seem made for the season. The way they alternate between calm and crazy echoes the way we all feel at Christmas, doesn't it? And that's just what you get with The Cat in the Christmas Tree...
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 9, 2022
How to Make Pets Vomit
A dog vomits more easily than nearly any other creature. So why in the world would a pet parent want to make pets vomit? When dogs or cats eat the wrong thing that could cause harm, you can save your pets' lives by inducing vomiting.
Pets vomit for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's because of illness, while other times the dog vomiting or cat hairball upchuck is more innocuous. Some pets eat grass to induce vomiting, or they get into dangerous candy that makes them sick. However, sometimes making pets vomit means life or death. That means you need to know how to make pets vomit.
With a new puppy in the house, we have to be better about puppy proofing. Shadow-Pup likes to play with cat toys--but they're so small, they present a choking risk for big dog Bravo. When dogs swallow the wrong object, getting rid of it prevents more dangerous risks. Here's how to make dogs vomit...
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 6, 2022
Breaking Bad Mystery & Thrillers & Swag Galore! Booksweeps Giveaway, Emily Kimelman & More!
Breaking Bad Mystery & Thrillers & Swag Galore! Booksweeps Giveaway, Emily Kimelman & More!
👀 I spy a steal…If you haven’t read my first three September & Shadow Thrillers, you can enter to win the trilogy on BookSweeps today — plus 20 exciting Mysteries & Thrillers from the likes of Alex Kava, JT Ellison (and moi), PLUS a boatload of Breaking Bad Swag worth $250+
I’ve teamed up with fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of mysteries and suspense thrillers to 2 lucky winners!
Oh, and did I mention the Grand Prize winner gets one-of-a-kind swag bag? 😁
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 5, 2022
Spook-tacular New Book: Ghost Cats 2 by Dusty Rainbolt
Spook-tacular New Book: Ghost Cats 2 by Dusty Rainbolt
I'm honored to share information about my colleague and good friend Dusty Rainbolt's latest book release. Ghost Cats 2. If you follow my blog, you know that I've covered ghostly pet encounters before when Bravo-Dawg came back.
But Dusty takes it to a whole new level with this fun collection of spirited feline encounters. She's repeating the success of her first collection (Ghost Cats: Human Encounters with Feline Spirits) with this new edition, right in time for Halloween celebrations! She sent me a review copy (SQUEEE!) and it's shivery-good. I couldn't wait to share the info about this title with y'all...
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 4, 2022
National Pet Wellness Month & How Cats And Dogs Impact Our Lives
National Pet Wellness Month & How Cats And Dogs Impact Our Lives
October is National Pet Wellness Month which celebrates caring for our pets. That means you'll want to:
👨⚕️ Schedule a visit with your veterinarian
🆘 Watch your pet's weight
🥎 Don't skip exercise
👌 Keep up-to-date with pet prevention
🐾 Invest in pet insurance
For those who adore cats and dogs or other critters, our animal companions impact us in so many ways we can't imagine living in a world without them. That begs the questions, how (and why) pets are so important to us. I covered this a bit in what makes people happy, but wanted to go beyond that post.
The Love Connection
As social creatures, humans crave companionship. We are tactile beings, relishing contact with others. During the COVID pandemic, with opportunities for human contact curtailed, our pets became even more important. While we couldn't reach out and touch each other, petting a beloved dog or cat, horse or hamster filled up our empty emotional tanks with the love we need to thrive and survive...
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
October 2, 2022
TOP 10 DO’s & DON’Ts WHEN ADOPTING A PET for ADOPT A DOG MONTH
TOP 10 DO’s & DON’Ts WHEN ADOPTING A PET for ADOPT A DOG MONTH
It’s Adopt A Dog Month! If a new fur-kid is in your future, remember that more goes into adopting a dog than picking the “prettiest” or just plopping food in a bowl. I've written about shelter adoptions before, but here are more specific tips. Follow these do’s and don’ts to ensure your furry love connection lasts past the honeymoon and endures for the lifetime of that pet.
10 DO's & DON'Ts for Adopting a Dog (or Cat)
Don’t adopt too early. Kittens and puppies adopted too young bite and claw more than those corrected by Mom and siblings. Wait to adopt furry until they are at least 8-10 weeks old for pups and 12 to 16 weeks for kittens...
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
September 29, 2022
What Makes Humans Happy? And Where Do Pets Fit In?
What Makes Humans Happy? And Where Do Pets Fit In?
When we look at the principles of Positive Psychology (the study of what human wellbeing and fulfillment is made of – including happiness) it’s easy to see why so many of us attribute our happiness and wellness to our pets! I've frequently written about how pets show love, and what dogs want out of life. So why not explore what makes humans happy, too?
Read on to learn about th 5 Elements of Human Well-being According to Positive Psychology...
AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Practical Solutions for Pets Problems & Publishing
