Amy Shojai's Blog, page 91

Cat Health Featured on Discovery Channel

Image courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

Last week, I received this press release with a request that I share it today–and I’m such a huge fan of the AAFP and anything that will help our cats, that I’m delighted to share this news of a wonderful cat health feature on Discovery Channel. The American Association of Feline Practitioners also just confirmed their sponsorship of a Cat Writers’ Association “Cat Friendly” Award for the 2015 contest to encourage getting the word out about how to help cats get health care they need. Find out more about sponsorship ops here.)

Watching this upcoming TV segment is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about the work that AAFP does on behalf of cats and the people who love them. Hurray for Discovery Channel for making this possible!

Now then, if you love cats, read on–and then share with all the other kitty advocates.

Innovations Series, to Feature American Association of Feline Practitioners

Discovery Channel, April 20, 2015

DMG Productions explores the latest advancements in animal health

Hillsborough, NJ— The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) will be featured on an episode of Innovations with Ed Begley Jr., airing via The Discovery channel Monday, April 20, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. EST / PST.

The AAFP improves the health and welfare of cats by supporting high standards of practice, continuing education for veterinary professionals, and scientific investigation. Scroll down for a video sneak peek of the AAFP’s Discovery Channel debut!

In this segment, Innovations will educate viewers about the AAFP’s dedication to advancing the field of feline care through supporting veterinary professionals in elevating the standard of care for cats. The association also focuses on educating cat owners to increase their understanding of feline behavior, the value of veterinary care, and the need to actively participate in their cats’ individual healthcare plan. The AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice® Program (CFP) designation is a major way the association is innovating the field of feline medicine.

Viewers will learn about the AAFP’s CFP designation, which is a program that provides the tools for veterinary professionals to integrate a feline perspective and embrace the standards needed to elevate care for cats. It equips practices with the tools, resources, and information to improve the treatment, handling, and overall healthcare of cats. The CFP program also focuses on reducing the stress of the veterinary visit for both cats and cat owners.

“The AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice Program is a groundbreaking program in veterinary medicine,”said Susan Little, DVM, DABVP (Feline), 2015 AAFP President. “The time is ripe for a program that helps veterinary practices do the best they can with their feline patients. The CFP program is about setting the standards of care, educating veterinary practices about what their feline patient’s need, about decreasing the stress of the veterinary visit, and it’s about making sure that once the cat is at the veterinary clinic they receive the best quality of care that’s appropriate to the cat.”

In addition, the segment will examine how the AAFP focuses on educating cat owners to increase their understanding of feline behavior, how to reduce the stress of the veterinary visit which actually starts at home before the cat even gets to the clinic, the value of routine veterinary care, and the need to actively participate in their cats’ individual healthcare plan.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring this important information to our viewers,” said Michele Nehls, Producer for the series. “Cat lovers around the world will be amazed by the cutting-edge feline-friendly advancements the AAFP’s Cat Friendly Practice program provides.”

The segment will air Monday, April 20, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. EST/PST via The Discovery Channel and be available to view immediately after at: http://www.catvets.com/cfp/ . Dates and times of additional broadcast airings of the episode are still TBD.

 

About The American Association of Feline Practitioners:

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) improves the health and welfare of cats by supporting high standards of practice, continuing education and scientific investigation. The AAFP has a long-standing reputation and track record in the veterinary community for facilitating high standards of practice and publishes guidelines for practice excellence which are available to veterinarians at the AAFP website. Over the years, the AAFP has encouraged veterinarians to continuously re-evaluate preconceived notions of practice strategies in an effort to advance the quality of feline medicine practiced. The Cat Friendly Practice program is the newest effort created to improve the treatment, handling, and overall healthcare provided to cats. Its purpose is to equip veterinary practices with the tools, resources, and information to elevate the standard of care provided to cats. For more information or to find a Cat Friendly Practice by you, visit: www.catvets.com.

About Innovations and DMG Productions:

Innovations, hosted by award winning actor Ed Begley, Jr., is an information-based series geared toward educating the public on the latest breakthroughs in all areas of society. Featuring practical solutions and important issues facing consumers and professionals alike, Innovations focuses on cutting-edge advancements in everything from health and wellness to global business, renewable energy, and more. For more information visit: www.InnovationsTelevision.com, or contact Michele Nehls via phone at (866) 496-4065 x 822 or via email at: Ryann@InnovationsTelevision.com.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!

5 Kinds of Dog Aggression: Get Tough on Dog Fighting

Images courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

April 8th is DOG FIGHTING AWARENESS DAY, and it’s a good time to review the 5 common kinds of dog aggression and what to do. According to the ASPCA, dog fighting happens all over the country and in all kinds of communities–rich, poor, middle class, it doesn’t matter, it’s there festering just beneath the surface. When fight rings are located, cases are built, offenders are prosecuted, and abuse survivors find loving homes. In 2014, the Department Of Justice prosecuted 10 federal dog fighting cases and secured the longest sentence (8 years) ever received in a federal dog fighting case. Learn more here.

Image Courtesy of ASPCA

In an effort to stamp out this cruel “sport” (yes, that’s what proponents call it, can you imagine?!), the #GetTough on Dog Fighting campaign offers free information and ways for all animal lovers to get involved.

Hey, dog fighting isn’t just about one breed. It impacts ALL dog owners–and cat lovers, too, because dogs are trained to fight by “practicing” on other animal victims. Spectators even bring kids to the fights to introduce them to the sport. *wiping eyes* The thought makes me weep with anger. So my next novel SHOW AND TELL shines a light on this dirty practice.

5 Kinds of Dog Aggression

Here’s the deal. Aggression is a NORMAL part of being a dog, and while dog-on-dog aggression is more prevalent in some breeds, ALL dogs have the potential to fight and bite. Aggression can arise out of pain or health issues. Growly dogs believe they have a good reason to aggress (they often do!) whether owners agree or not.

Aggression can be complicated and require professional help, but here’s how to recognize 5 common types and learn how to keep the peace.

Play Aggression looks scary but dogs tell each other it’s just pretend by using gestures like the play bow (butt up, front down). Puppies learn to inhibit bites when they play with other dogs, and owners also can teach limits.

If the mouthing hurts, YELP like another puppy. Whimper and say, “You hurt me.” Immediately after you yelp, give the dog a 10-minute time out—no mouthing allowed—to teach him that hard bites make the fun stop.

Predatory Aggression includes stalking, chasing, catching and biting like in play, but predatory dogs won’t play bow—they’re deadly serious. Joggers, bicyclist, and moving cars and cries of young children, babies and smaller pets can trigger prey drive.

Predatory behavior may go away as the youngster grows up, but keep targets safe with strict supervision. Identify triggers (like joggers) and avoid them. Teach dogs to control natural impulses with obedience drills. A “happy” word the dog can’t resist (ball, cookie, ride) can often change the dog’s attitude and interrupts the behavior.

Fear Aggression results when a dog can’t escape a scary situation. Caged, chained or cornered dogs often bite out of fear. Snarls, growls or bites make the scary “thing” go away, which rewards the dog so she’ll repeat the behavior. Reaching for the scared dog’s collar almost always prompts a bite, because a hand descending toward the head looks threatening.

Avoid petting on the top of the head. Instead, pet the dog’s sides or chest. Don’t stare, which can intensify intimidation. Play builds confidence, so teach “fetch” while avoiding tug-games that can encourage fear biting behavior. Use pheromone therapy such as Comfort Zone with DAP to help calm fears.

Territorial aggression typically involves herding and protection breeds. Dogs bark, lunge and growl at the fence or doorway, and are rewarded when the mailman, new dog, or your fiancé goes away. Conspire with visitors so the outcome changes.

Have the mailman toss treats to the dog, but without making eye contact or saying anything. Once the dog quiets to munch the treat, the mailman can say, “Good Rex!” and walk away. He should NOT walk away as long as the dog barks and lunges. If Rex ignores the treat and continues to bark and lunge, then YOU call the dog and reward him with a treat or toy for coming. The mailman leaves as the dog retreats—so essentially neither won.

Guarding Food, Toys, Furniture are all part of dominance aggression. These dogs often object to being restrained—as for nail trims—and the aggression can gets worse with punishment or confrontation. They’re often young intact male dogs who want to call the shots with people, but then tremble or seem to act “remorseful” afterwards. An argument over toys or mealtime that prompts a first instinctive snarl teaches the dog that aggression keeps others a safe distance from important resources.

Dominance aggression can be complicated and dangerous to solve and usually requires a professional. Neutering the dog and managing resources can help. If the dog protects toys, remove them so he has nothing to guard. Require the dog to “earn” privileges by paying with good behavior. For instance, ask him to “sit” (he sits), which earns him what he wants (attention/food bowl/open door/verbal praise). He should get NOTHING unless he earns it by responding in a positive way to your command.

Are dog fights a problem in your community? Have you ever had an issue with aggression in your dogs or in a dog that belongs to someone else? How did you handle it?

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Cat Falls? How Do Cats Land On Their Feet

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Ever wonder how do cats land on their feet? How do they escape injury–or do they? Legends and myths sometimes arise out of a misunderstood truth, and kitty-correct four-paw landings are one such behavior.

Yes, cats have an uncanny ability to fall safely from sometimes death-defying heights and land on their feet, which perhaps gave birth to the “nine lives” legend. After all, if cats could fall from great distances and survive, they must have a spare life or two more than “normal” beings, right?

When I worked as a vet tech, though, we saw countless cases of cats injured from falls. I still wince thinking about the kitties with split palates and broken jaws or worse. Because those landings aren’t always soft!

When Seren was a kitten, she squeezed between the rails of our second-story landing, and slipped off to fall–and land–on the hardwood floor below. Yep, she did land on her feet–and thank the cat gods kittens bounce!

But do cats always land on their feet? And how do they do it?

How Cats Land On Their Feet

Paw-perfect landings result from the cat’s intricate balance sense. The vestibular organ deep inside the cat’s ears keeps kitty informed about which way is up or down, even if you try to confuse and make him dizzy first. In fact, people have done some crazy experiments, everything from blindfolding Kitty to putting cats in bags or boxes and spinning them around before “test dropping” to see if the the righting mechanism still works.

It does. This specialized organ also allows the cat to instantly determine acceleration as she falls.

The vestibular organ contains tiny fluid filled tubes and structures called the semicircular canals plus the utricle and saccule, each lined with millions of microscopic hairs. Fluid in the utricle and saccule also contain tiny particles of chalk that float and move with every motion. Whenever the cat’s head moves, the fluid is set in motion, and the floating chalk touches against the hairs. The hair movement, like teeny kitty antennae, relay information to the brain about body position, and speed of movement.

The balance mechanism can’t do it alone, though. Once partnered with the yoga-like muscle control of a Houdini master contortionist, the cat twists from side to side during a fall, to right herself.

Do Cats Ever Miss?

Ear infections can affect the cat’s balance so she misjudges height or positioning. Tiny kittens can be injured in falls that might not hurt an adult cat, so kitten-proofing balconies and keeping baby cats “grounded” can help keep them safe. Yes, I learned my lesson with Seren!

Falls from short distances—like from a child’s arms—may not allow enough time for the righting mechanism to work. Landing on her feet does not prevent Kitty from sustaining serious injuries during falls. In fact, because cats adore heights and often look for the tallest perch, fall injuries are not at all uncommon. When the weather turns warm, window-perching cats can be at increased risk.

High Rise Syndrome & Surviving Dangerous Falls

High rise syndrome refers to cats who fall great distances out of windows, balconies or open doors. Often the cat lounges on a favorite windowsill, and accidentally pushes window screens out and falls.

Falls from the first through fourth floors are least dangerous because the cat can “right” herself and doesn’t have time to reach top speed of 60 miles per hour—terminal velocity. She won’t fall any faster, no matter the distance. This speed is reached during any fall from higher than the fifth floor. However, these cats can still end up cracking their chin when they land.

Falls from the fifth through ninth floor are the most dangerous and result in the worst injuries. The cat falls with legs braced in front of him, and lands rigid. His legs hit first, then his head, and both can suffer terrible bone-shattering injury.

Cats survive falls from higher than nine stories with fewer injuries. Falls from these heights apparently allow the cat time to relax, empty the bladder and “parachute” the legs outward so that the wind catches the loose skin in the thighs and armpits and slows the fall sort of like a flying squirrel that glides. Landing spread-eagle allows the chest and abdomen to absorb most of the shock, rather than the head and legs. These falls can still cause bruised or ruptured internal organs.

Keep open windows and balconies off limits to cats. Remember that screens are designed to keep bugs out, not keep cats inside. So protect your cats and windows with secured screens or pet-safe barriers.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Do You Speak Cat? Learn How in This Webinar

Image courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

Hey there Sweet Peeps! Thanks to the great folks at Pet Healthy Store, I’ll present a fun AND FREE! webinar this Thursday April 2 (3:30 EDT).

SAY, WHAT? How Learning
“Cat-Speak” Solves Your Pet Peeves

This is based on the information from my ComPETability(Cats) book, and is so important I wanted to share these basics for free. You will learn:

3 ways cats communicate.
How to “listen” to what your cat says.
Ways to purr-suade cats to behave.
Quick fixes for “bad” (aka NORMAL) behaviors.

SIGN UP AT THIS LINK!

Q&A to follow so bring your fun kitty questions to Ask Amy.

And yes…did you notice the neato-torpedo new COVER for the book? I am PURRRRRING over that!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Cats & Easter Lilies, A Deadly Combo!

What’s WRONG with this picture??? Image Courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

This is a repeat of a column I write nearly every year to warn pet lovers and especially those with cats. The gorgeous lily makes its appearance each Easter, decorating church, home, and garden. I can’t have them in my house, though. I won’t to risk having an Easter lily anywhere near my cats Seren and Karma or for Magical-Dog. For cats especially, the fragrant blooms can mean death.

Don’t get me wrong, I love lilies. They’re gorgeous. And I love flowers–our house is surrounded by about 500 rose bushes getting ready to bloom this spring. But my Seren-kitty likes to munch any plant I bring into the house and Karma will play with anything.

Image courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

Many lilies are lethal to cats. Easter lilies, stargazer lilies, and Asiatic lilies are the most dangerous, and different cats react in various ways. The plants contain a chemical that can damage the kidneys, and kill your cat. Dogs often gnaw leaves, dig up the plant, or eat the whole thing.

Felines more often paw-pat and shred leaves and stems during play, and may be poisoned when they later lick and clean their paws and claws. Just biting a leaf or petal can be enough to cause serious kidney disease. Hopefully that picture, above, used fake blooms to stage the image–YIKES!

CATS CAN BE POISONED BY DRINKING THE WATER FROM THE VASE!

SIGNS OF LILY POISONING

Cats poisoned by lily toxin typically suffer kidney failure within 36 to 72 hours. Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy or loss of appetite. Some cats suffer permanent kidney damage and lose their lives, while others can recover if treated in time with dialysis that gives the organs enough time to heal.

Roses can injure cats if they bite thorns, but aren’t toxic and actually are edible…according to Seren!

The easiest way to protect your cats is to keep toxic plants out of reach—or out of your house altogether. Besides lilies, other potential harmful plants include rhododendron, sago palm, kalanchoe and schefflera. Azalea can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coma and death. Eating or chewing caladium, dieffenbachia or philodendron makes the tongue and throat swell up so breathing is difficult. Mother-in-law’s tongue (snake plant) causes everything from mouth irritation to collapse. Crown of thorns and English ivy will prompt thirst, vomiting and diarrhea, stomach pain, and death in one to two days. Holly also causes stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

You can keep your pet family members safe and sound by choosing only pet-friendly safe varieties for your garden and home. Calla lilies and peace lilies, which don’t belong to the Lilium genus, are harmless to cats.

There are many other plants that prompt mild problems, such as excess salivation or mouth discomfort. Keeping these out of reach of curious paws may be sufficient to protect your animals. But pet lovers should steer clear of the worst plant offenders, both inside and out. If you see your pet with one or more of these signs, particularly if a suspect plant is within reach, get help immediately! First aid can save the cat or dog’s life. Then take the pet to see the veterinarian as quickly as possible.

FIRST AID FOR PLANT POISONING

Different poisons require very specific first aid. Usually that will be either 1) induce vomiting, (cats do this on their own very well–but never when you want them to!) or 2) give milk or water to wash out the mouth and dilute the poison. Making the pet vomit the wrong poisonous plant, though, could make a serious situation even more deadly, so you MUST know what to do for each type of plant.

Detailed advice for dealing with the most common plant poisoning is available in the book The First-Aid Companion for Dogs and Cats. The ASPCA Animal Poison-Control Center is available for telephone consultations (1-888-426-4435) in case of poisoning emergency.

What cat-safe plants do you have in your home? How do you keep the cat from destroying/eating them? Have you ever had a kitty-plant encounter of the dangerous kind?

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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–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Do You Speak Dog? Learn How in This Webinar

Do You Speak Dog? Learn How in This Webinar

Image courtesy DepositPhotos.com

Hey there Sweet Peeps! Thanks to the great folks at Pet Healthy Store, I’ll present a fun AND FREE! webinar this Thursday March 26 (3:30 EDT).

SAY, WHAT? How Learning
“Dog-Speak” Solves Your Pet Peeves

This is based on the information from my ComPETability(Dogs) book, and is so important I wanted to share these basics for free. You will learn :

Three ways dogs communicate.
How to “listen” to what your dog says.
Ways to “talk” so your dog WANTS to understand.
How dogs learn, & quick fixes for obnoxious behaviors.

SIGN UP AT THIS LINK

Q&A to follow so bring your fun doggy questions to Ask Amy.

And yes…did you notice the neato-torpedo new COVER for the book? I am wagging my virtual tail!

Stay tuned–next week we’ll have the CAT WEBINAR and learn how to “speak cat.” Hey, the fur-kids demand equal time!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!

Cat Nutrition & Animal Shelter Adoptions: #FoodShelterLove

Cat Nutrition & Animal Shelter Adoptions: #FoodShelterLove

Karma loves his Perfect Weight food. Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® and Food, Shelter & Love™ Program, but BLING, BITCHES & BLOOD BLOG only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Image Courtesy of Hill’s Pet Nutrition

I wasn’t planning an animal shelter adoption when a kitten showed up on my patio just over a year ago. Karma-Kat acted starved for attention–and also food–and immediately purred his way into our hearts. Yet integrating a new cat into our household proved challenging on several levels, especially cat nutrition issues. In fact, if he’d been at the shelter, Karma’s food-obsession and subsequent weight gain could have kept him from being adopted, because Karma wanted to eat EVERYTHING.

Why Cats Steal Food

Cats that have had to fend for themselves as strays may be more prone to food obsession–yes, food actually can affect kitty mood. Karma was about 8 months old and weighed 8 pounds when he arrived. He probably hadn’t been out on his own very long, but long enough to figure out that you better EAT whenever/wherever you find it. So once the prelim intros were done between him and the 18-year-old Seren-Kitty and 8-year-old Magical-Dawg, we discovered just how much of a foodie he was.

Karma ate Magic’s food (thank goodness Magic was tolerant!), not just from his bowl–Karma snuck into the pantry and chewed holes in Magic’s dog food bag. Karma cruised countertops and absconded with hubby’s bag of doughnuts. Karma pushed Seren aside and ate her therapeutic kidney diet food. And Karma swiped a kabob from my husband’s plate.

“I love cat food, too!” Dogs often relish cat food–Karma isn’t sharing! Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

I know, I know! Magic and Seren’s food isn’t appropriate for a growing kitten (GROWING was the operative word, LOL!). Generally I recommend growing kittens be fed all they want of an appropriate kitten-specific ration but Karma really seemed to pack on the pudge doing this. While it only hurt Magic’s feelings to have his food stolen, 6-pound Seren needs every bit of her own food, and the added stress of guarding food bowls also impacts cats health.

The answer in Karma’s case was two-fold. 1) Manage the meals. 2) Feed Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight.

Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love Program Saves Cat Lives

The sad truth is that cats languish in shelters at this time of year, especially if they’re not a cute kitten. Hanging out in a cage all day gives little opportunity to stay a healthy, svelt weight and obese cats are less likely to get adopted.

That’s the impetus behind the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love Program, which offers shelters the opportunity to offer quality nutrition to their resident cats and kittens. The Perfect Weight Diet helps slim down tubby tabbies to make them MORE adoptable by creating a weight loss system that new owners can then easily continue in the new home.

Karma’s tummy pudge has reduced since transitioning to Hill’s Perfect Weight food. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

I’d be a fan of this program anyway–Hill’s has provided over $240 million worth of food to nearly 1,000 shelters…and counting. But my personal experience with Karma tells me cats love the food, the program is easy to use and it works. In fact, over 70% of cats in this program lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this diet.

Find a shelter near you that participates in this plan.  Scroll down to see the video about Stoli the kitty who has benefit from this program.

So do you have a pudgy kitty? Or do you have several pets that all need to eat different kinds of food? Maybe the tips that helped me will help you, too.

6 Tips to Manage Meals in MultiPet Homes

Your pets’ personalities, social interactions, and health issues impact appetite, diet and feeding schedule and how to manage your multi-pet household. If you’re lucky, all the cats can eat the same food but in many cases you’ll have pets of different ages or health status (or species!) that require very specific nutrition unique to their situation.

Image Courtesy of Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Last summer, I received a free sample of the Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight food as a Klout Perk. Karma had just turned a year old, and I’d grown more concerned about his burgeoning tummy. The sample came with measuring cups and feeding recommendations and–Karma LOVED the food! Well, so did Magic and Seren, so then I had that to contend with.

Choosing the right food is just the first step.When you share your home and heart with multiple pets, managing mealtime takes planning but it can be done. I’ve written about this in my ComPETability book series, and put it to work with Karma. Use one or more of the steps, below, to keep your pets munching from the right bowl.

No rule says all the pets must all be fed at once. Staggered feedings even 10 minutes apart may allow you to supervise each meal, and “ride herd” on the kitties who shouldn’t nibble from a particular formula.
Move bowls a safe distance apart. Eating near each other can create a positive association (other cat presence=yummy food). But if a cat stops chewing to stare at another feline, move the bowls further apart.
Cats that guard feeding stations or act fearful to eat in another pets’ present require separate times/areas/rooms to eat. Countertops, tables, various levels on the cat tree, or book shelves all offer valuable kitty real estate for individual feeding locations each cat can “own.” In our case, Seren-Kitty eats her meals on the dining room table next to her bed, while Karma-Kat’s feeding station is in the master bathroom clear across the house.
A pet or baby gate can segregate feeding stations by allowing only the more nimble cats to pass through or jump over. Our kitchen pet-gates control access to where Magic is fed. Neither Magic or Karma can get through these gates, but Seren is so tiny she gets to come and go. Hey, she’s the QUEEN and so has access to everything–but never has had interest in dog food.
Cats like Karma love to scrounge, “hunt” or swipe food, so give these cat burglars a legal outlet. Treat balls dispense a single meal to one cat, or treats to a group so as the cat plays, the dry food inserted into the ball or toy dispenses a kibble at a time. That keeps Kitty fed and entertained, and out of another feline’s bowl.
When cats of different sizes must eat two specific diets, such as a weight-reducing food for the big guy and a regular food for the little one, separate cats during meals in different rooms or create a ‘boxed lunch.’ Cut a tiny cat-size opening in a cardboard or transparent plastic storage box to fit the smaller cat, and place the small cat’s food bowl inside the box, where he can access and nibble at his leisure.

At his kitty wellness check two weeks ago, Karma weighed 13.2 pounds. He’s still a bit on the large size but his food obsession has waned. Now that he gets plenty of tasty food and doesn’t worry about going hungry, he’s relaxed around food (his own and others).

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!

Benefits Of Blogging? Authors Dish About Blogging

Benefits Of Blogging? Authors Dish About Blogging

How kewl is this? I was interviewed for Susan Gilbert’s website where top authors give advice about blogging, and now have become part of this neato-torpedo infographic! There’s more about the interview at her site so please do check it out.

And for those who have landed here as a result of reading the interview, WELCOME! And I’d love to point you to some sample chapters of my September Day thriller series that (yes, indeed!) includes a dog viewpoint character and a trained cat. *s*

Read samples from the first book LOST AND FOUND here.

Read samples from the sequel HIDE AND SEEK here.

Hope you’ll return time and again for SQUEEE-licious pet care info, writer-icity fun and more.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!

St. Patricks Day, Cats & Dogs: Playing Green

St. Patricks Day, Cats & Dogs: Playing Green

Image courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Even though my pets are not of the Irish purr-suasion, they’ve got into the holiday fun.

Magic is ROCKIN’ his green tie. Image copr Amy Shojai, CABC

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seren’s not interested in green, unless it involves treats. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

Even Karma’s tag is green! Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

“Green, schmean, just THROW THE BALL!” Image copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

How do your pets celebrate the day? Green toys? I think later today the kitties will vote for some extra-green ‘nip!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!

10 Kitten Adoption Do’s & Don’ts

10 Kitten Adoption Do’s & Don’ts

Image courtesy of DepositPhotos.com

It’s kitten season! Is a new fur-kid in your future? You’d think kitten care would be easy–just love ‘em and feed ‘em and listen to ‘em purr, right? But more goes into proper care than plopping food in a bowl and setting up a litter box.

Kittens adopted too early often bite and claw more than those who have been kitty-corrected by Mom and siblings. They also may be fearful or less tolerant of other cats, because they don’t understand all the proper feline etiquette of the social structure.

WHAT IS KITTEN SOCIALIZATION?

Dog people know about socialization of puppies, but kittens also benefit from socialization–except it comes WAY EARLIER in cat babies. The prime kitten socialization period falls between 2-7 weeks (yikes!) which means rescuers, shelter personnel and breeders are vital to the future well being of cats and how they look at their world. Socialization teaches kittens that people (and other cats, dogs, VETERINARIANS, carriers, cars, etc) are safe, positive normal parts of their lives, and also teaches what should be feared.

Proper socialization not only includes interaction with other cats, but positive handling by people during this critical period. That ensures the baby is well adjusted, confident, and emotionally healthy. I’ve got all the kitten must-knows in my COMPLETE KITTEN CARE, but you don’t need the book to get started. Before you adopt, review these 10 do’s and don’ts to ensure your kitten love lasts a lifetime.

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10 DO’s & DON’Ts OF KITTEN ADOPTION

1. Don’t adopt too early. Kittens adopted too young bite and claw more than those corrected by Mom and siblings. They also may be fearful or less tolerant of other cats because they don’t understand proper feline etiquette. Cat babies should stay with siblings and Mom for at least 12 to 16 weeks. That’s not always possible, though, and if you find yourself in that situation, it means you must be “cat-mom” and teach Junior claw, potty and other manners. It can help enormously to adopt two kittens at once, so they teach each other bite limits and target each other in play instead of your ankles.

2. Do see a vet ASAP. Kittens seem indestructible but get sick easily. A vet’s early diagnosis improves the chances of a speedy recovery. Screening tests and preventive care — vaccinations, flea prevention, worm medications — save lives and ensure your kitten grows to healthy adulthood.

3. Don’t bathe a kitten until it is at least 4 weeks old (12 to 16 weeks is better). Very young kittens can’t regulate body temperature and can become chilled from a bath. When you do bathe the kitten, use only kitten-safe products — adult cat or dog products can be toxic. Introduce combs and brushes immediately to longhair kittens to prevent grooming problems later on.

4. Do get kittens fixed. Spaying and neutering prevents pregnancy, urine spraying and health issues such as breast cancer. Female kittens can get pregnant as early as 4 months old, so don’t delay. Many shelters and professional breeders spay or neuter kittens at 8 to 12 weeks old (or once they weigh 2 lbs.) because babies recover more quickly than older cats.

5. Don’t rush introductions. Tiny kittens get lost or find trouble if not confined to a kitten-safe room. Let the new baby get used to one room so he knows the location of his litter box, bed, scratch objects, food bowl and toys. When you can’t watch him, confine him in his safe room. Even healthy-looking kittens could be contagious and the vet may recommend quarantine for up to 30 days. Resident pets accept new ones more quickly when only part of the house has been “invaded.” They can meet with sniffs and paw pats under the door until it’s safe for a nose-to-nose greeting.

6. Do kitten-proof the house. Kittens explore with paw pats, licking and biting. Chomping or clawing electrical cords or poisonous plants, swallowing string toys or hiding inside the clothes dryer can be deadly. Invest in knee pads and crawl around on your hands and knees for a kitten’s-eye view of potential dangers.

7. Don’t feed kittens milk, as it can cause diarrhea. Queen-replacement milk is available, but most babies eat solid food by 4 weeks old. Tiny tummies can’t eat enough to sustain in one meal, so feed three or four small meals daily until the kitten is 6 months old and twice daily thereafter. Monitor your kitten for a healthy appetite.

8. Do train your kitten. Routinely handle her ears, paws and mouth so she learns it’s not scary from you or the veterinarian. Make carriers fun playpens by tossing toys inside or turn them into napping spots so she’ll accept being in the carrier for visits to the vet or grandma’s.

9. Don’t declaw. Instead, train from the beginning with lots of legal scratch objects. Catch her in the act of scratching the right objects and reward with praise, treats or toys. Start trimming claws when you first get your kitten — one nail a day with your own clippers is fine — so she knows this is normal. That way if she forgets claw-training, she won’t damage property or skin with blunt claws.

10. Don’t let kittens outside until they’ve received all preventive vaccinations, microchip identification and parasite treatments — and you have a safe outdoor sanctuary. It’s nearly impossible to kitten-proof the great outdoors. Instead, leash-train your kitten to keep her safe and/or make the indoors so interesting with toys, cat trees and your love that the kitten never misses going out.

(Bonus) 11. Do let the kitten pick YOU! My Facebook friend Eliyahu offered this great comment and gave me permission to add to the list: “Don’t pick out the kitten. Let it pick you. It’s easy to be attracted to the one you think is the cutest or the prettiest, but that may not be the right one for you. I’ve always gone to the shelter with a couple hours free time when getting a kitten or cat. Our shelter back in Washington had a big cat room with all the cats together. I’d sit in a chair and let the kittens come to me, then see how each interacted with me and which one wanted the most to be with me. Here, there isn’t a cat room, so I had the worker bring kittens one at a time and played with them. The prettiest one turned out to be skittish around people, another just sat in the corner and stared. Finally, about eight kittens later, she brought one in that walked up, sniffed at me, climbed up on my lap and made it clear to us that she’d chosen me to be her human. A year later, Cenerentola still spends much of her time climbing on my lap and shoulders or sleeping by my feet when she’s not playing with the other cat.

What else have I missed? Are there other DO’s and DON’Ts that are important to include when planning your new kitten’s gotcha day? Please share!

All the kitten must-knows!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–lick the banner, above. Be sure to visit my PetHealthyStore for paw-some products for your furry wonders! Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and get a FREE BOOK when you sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways, kewl product offers, and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

AMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - Pet-centric Writer-icity & Thrillers With BITE!