Amy Shojai's Blog, page 98

Dog Fears Fireworks? How to Fix Pets Noise Phobias

Dog Fears Fireworks? How to Fix Pets Noise Phobias

Even patriotic pups can be frightened of fireworks. Copr. Lisa Calvert/Flickr

When a dog fears fireworks, it can destroy your fun July 4th celebration, so it’s vital to learn how to calm thunder phobias and noise fear in pets. More cats and dogs–and even livestock like horses–become lost on this day than any other when pets panic, go through windows, break tethers and leap fences.

Even safely contained pets shiver, moan, and feel worse with each noisy boom. You may not see quivering scaredy cats when they dive under the bed, but the stress from noise phobia increases risk of hit-or-miss litter box behavior.

Ideally, pets can be counter-conditioned to the scary noises by exposing the fearful dog or cat to recorded sounds of fireworks played at a very low volume, and rewarding him for staying calm. Gradually, you increase the noise level, to help the pet “get used” to the noise and learn to tolerate it. Desensitization programs can take weeks and sometimes months to work, though. And for many of us, tonight will be the BOOM-ICITY deadline. So what can you do? And how do you know your pets are affected?

Image Copr. Bayassa/Flickr Commons

My mom’s Shelties used to act like furry jello as they quivered and dove for that dark safe spot under the bed. They’d squeeeeze between the sofa and the wall, or push faces into your armpits to hide.

But the Magical-Dawg could care less. Part of that, I think, has to do with the PUPPY-PARTEEEEE! WOW, WAS THAT LOUD, WHAT FUN! reactions I’d offer him each time the thunder boomed during his socialization months. Now, if a particularly loud thunder-clap startles me and I jump, he does look at me with eyebrows raised–ready to get wound up if I so much as “say” he should by my body language.

Karma is a bit different. The first loud thunderstorm we had, he RAN and then slowly ever-so-slowly crept out. And he watched what Magic did–nothing. And what I did–PARTEEEE! and treetz. Today he’s much less reactive.

Pets do read us. You have to be a really good actor around dogs (and cats) because they read our silent language with little effort. Do you speak dog? What do all those tail wags and woofs mean? Do you know what a doggy laugh sounds like? Different dogs “speak” in unique ways–how do your fur-kids tell you what they want?

PHEROMONE HELP

An innovative product designed specifically to help dogs deal with fear—especially noise phobias—employs a natural pheromone that dogs recognize on an instinctive level. Pheromones are chemical substances made by the animal’s body that act as a form of communication that, when inhaled by your pet, talks directly to his brain.

The product Comfort Zone with D.A.P. (dog appeasing pheromone) is an analogue of the pheromone mom-dogs produce to calm nursing puppies. It calms the fears of dogs of any age, from puppy to aging oldster. The veterinary version, Adaptil, is available from your vet while the Comfort Zone can be purchased from local pet product stores or via the Internet. Cats benefit from Comfort Zone with Feliway, an analogue of the cheek pheromone that tells cats their environment and territory is “safe.”

Both products come as plug-ins from pet products stores, but it won’t “drug” your dog or cat into a magic cure. It instead helps put a damper on fear long enough to “think” so that your behavior modification/training techniques can work. You’ll need to have these plugged in for several days in advance for it to offer your dog or cat the best benefits. They also come as a spray or impregnated collars for immediate use, and can be sprayed on bedding, for example

COVER THE NOISE

There are a number of things you can do. Cover up the “BOOM” or the thunder and rain sounds by playing music–harp music actually has a sedative effect (it may put YOU to sleep, too!). Turn the radio to static for white noise. At my house, we could pound the piano or play the cello or …SING and have a howl-along. It’s hard for a pet’s brain to do two things at once–be scared and have fun–so find something your pet loves that has some noise to it. Hey, isn’t a squeaker less obnoxious than hearing your baby-dog whimper and moan?

Magic models Thundershirt…and thankfully, doesn’t need it. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

COMFORT CLOTHES

A number of products are available that are said to help out with fear issues. Thundershirt for dogs is one of the best known and most effective. I also have the Thundershirt for cats and it helps Seren-Kitty enormously during fearful events–like vet visits. Storm Defender Capes are another option, as well as Calming Caps. Some of these products will be available at your local pet products stores.

GIVE DOGS A JOB

Dogs can’t panic when using their brain for something else such as “work.” Drill him on obedience commands and special tricks, or ask him to play fetch and carry around a favorite toy. That engages his brain into productive activity rather than thinking about the scary noises. Giving him treats and positive rewards for remaining calm also reinforces the benefits of controlling his emotions. For instance, puzzle toys stuffed with fun treats the dog–or the cat–must manipulate to get at the goodies can go a long way toward keeping their mind off the fireworks.

Yep, at my house a treat or game of fetch or chase-the-feather goes a long way toward building confidence and rewarding good behavior.

Are your pets fearful of loud noises? What do they do? Have they ever damaged your house–or injured themselves or others during a panic attack? Is there a special way you handle the kitty or doggy panic attacks? Please share! Many more tips on dealing with fear in the books ComPETability (Dogs) as well as ComPETability (Cats).

Being scared kills the fun. Help your pets turn the fearful whimpers and scaredy-cat hisses into joyful purrs and wags, so your whole family (furry and otherwise) enjoy the 4th of July howliday. And have your fur-kids tell thunderstorms to “hiss off!”

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter.

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

I Got Dumped! Puppies.about.com Kicked Out the Door

I Got Dumped! Puppies.about.com Kicked Out the Door

“Where did it go?!”

 

 

It is with shock and deep disappointment that I must inform y’all that my Puppies.About.com contract has been terminated, as of this afternoon. No reason was given, and I’ve been locked out of my site without opportunity to say goodbye to my colleagues.

I’ve since learned that more pet Experts and others from the Home channel also have been terminated. The timing comes just prior to the July launch of a spanking-new About.com redesign which many of us worked tirelessly to facilitate. I wish only the best to those Experts who remain. And I encourage them to watch their backs. *sigh*

I loved writing as the Cats Behavior Expert for the cats.about.com site and then moving on to create Puppies.about.com as the Puppies Expert. And I was honored that my site won two DWAA awards for Best Dog Website. I’m very proud of the work published there, and I thank everyone so much who helped make it a success by visiting and sharing the content. I hope that the puppy-licious info has…and will continue…to help puppy lovers. I have no idea how long, or if, my byline will remain on the site.

This sucketh big time. I’m hurt more by the disrespect than for the loss of the paycheck, frankly. To my writer colleagues, I would urge great caution when dealing with this organization.

Going forward, I’ll concentrate on book-length publishing, work on STRAYS the MUSICAL, and may now have time to post more often here, yay! Heck, I may also have time now to possibly freelance for other select venues.

Every time in my career that a door has slammed shut (sometimes hitting my nose! LOL!), other opportunities appeared that often were much better than I could have planned. So now, I’ll just keep my eyes open and be ready to step into that next chapter!

What sorts of career changes/challenges/surprises have you faced? C’mon, I need some happy stories.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

GOT STRAYS? Celebrating Pets with Musical Info-tainment!

GOT STRAYS? Celebrating Pets with Musical Info-tainment!

I’ve been grinning and doing the HAPPY-DANCE for two days now, ever since Monday night the Sherman Community Players Board voted YES to allow STRAYS, THE MUSICAL be produced as a full-fledged show, November 6-7-8, 2014 at the Honey McGee Playhouse in Sherman, Texas.

YEE-HAW!

My co-author (co-conspirator?) Frank Steele and I began this journey more than two years ago when we conceived the notion of a musical theater show from the cats and dogs point of view. For some of y’all who have read my dog-viewpoint thrillers, this probably sounds familiar. We’re both passionate about proper pet care, and I’ve carved a career out of helping to educate pet lovers.

We wanted STRAYS to be a hopeful and funny show that also shines a spotlight (literally!) on how cats and dogs lose their homes, and celebrate the heroes who make it possible for the lucky ones to be chosen and have forever homes. Our fondest wish is that STRAYS helps rescues, shelters and pet lovers everywhere with info-tainment that inspires, offers hope, and maybe even raises funds for furry causes.

The best way to reach the widest audience is to publish. In theater, publishers require that a script be performed before they’ll even consider it.

So as we wrote the script and score,  with the help of talented local actors, STRAYS took baby paw-steps in a preview performance of sample songs at the national 2013 Cat Writers Association Conference in Dallas. And this past March, we were granted a “staged reading” of the entire show (script/music in hand), thanks to Webster Crocker, administrative director of Sherman Community Players (SCP). He agreed to our request to mount the full show in the fall under the THEATRICKS umbrella (children’s theater program), and June 23, 2014 the SCP Board approved the proposal.

Auditions will happen sometime in September–so if you’d like to “channel your inner cat/dog” please come out! Frank and I can’t wait to work with the Supporting Cast members, the young thespians who participate in Theatricks programs. But there are parts for singers, dancers, and actors of every age and type because, after all, cats and dogs are as unique as snowflakes, too. Wouldn’t it be PAW-some to have whole families perform in the show together?

You can learn more about our STRAYS journey on the Strays Page by clicking here, see video of the CWA preview performance, and links to the Cast Recording of the 12 songs.

And I’ve created a Facebook Group Page for STRAYS Fans here, to stay up to date on auditions, songs, and more. Please join our furry throng and spread the news!

Did I mention….YEE-HAW!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

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

Book Thrills, Summer Reads & Pet Safety

Book Thrills, Summer Reads & Pet Safety

New meaning to “paper trained…” So, what’s on YOUR summer reading list? Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

It’s been a way-busy week and I have a lot to share to catch up with all the “doings.” This week there were six stops on the HIDE AND SEEK blog tour.

WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF!

The Book Divas Read shared an EXCERPT from the thriller, click here to read.

Dakota’s Den posted a PAW-SOME review of the book. “…For me, Hide and Seek was more than just a book, it was an experience. If I used stars for ratings, it would receive the highest number of stars that I could assign to it.“

Meee-WOW! that makes me purr and my virtual tail wag. Read the entire post by clicking here. And if you’re of the cat-purr-suasion, you can also read the review by clicking here at Cat Chat with Caren & Cody.

Hotchpotch also posted a lovely review. “A compelling story with a dog as a hero, written by a specialist in animal behavior, with a dash of intrigue and a splash of suspense, some dead bodies and a lot of hiding and seeking. All ingredients that make for a very enjoyable read!” Be sure to visit the blog to read the book excerpt by clicking here.

CMash Reads interviewed me about writing the HIDE AND SEEK story, my writing schedule, and even asked for a sneak peek about the next book in the series SHOW AND TELL. You can read the whole interview by clicking here.

Thoughts In Progress posted another interview today with me, asking about the pros and cons of including so much “animal” characters and plot in my thrillers. What do you think? Is there such a thing as too much animals? What’s the downside? You can read my take on the issue by clicking here.

Finally, I had a lovely surprise–not scheduled–when I discovered that Ingrid King’s Conscious Cat blog included HIDE AND SEEK in a roundup of recommended summer reads. Wow! You’ll want to check out some of the other paw-some books, too. Click here for the whole post.

Okay, now I’m gonna step outside my comfort zone and ASK you — if you’ve not already done so — to purchase (or recommend to a friend) a copy of HIDE AND SEEK and/or the first book in the series LOST AND FOUND. Both books are available in print and all Ebook versions, and LOST AND FOUND also is available as an audio book.

It may seem silly to ask for reviews–why should anyone care what you think? But other readers DO care, and in addition, the places you buy books (amazon, B&N, iTunes/Apple, Audible and more) pay attention to reviews. Books that have lots of good reviews get shared by these companies, so please help out the authors you know (not just me!) by leaving your comments on the book pages.

Find buy-links to HIDE AND SEEK by clicking here.

And find buy-links to LOST AND FOUND by clicking here.

(DRUM ROLL PLEASE…..)

I’M A PANEL MASTER FOR NYC THRILLERFEST!

“WHAT MAKES AN ENDING UNFORGETTABLE?”

with Panelists Donald Bain, Ward Larsen,

Sean Lynch, J.F. Penn, and Tom Young

BOOK SIGNING TO FOLLOW

If you’re there, please stop and say hello…and if you can’t come, please post YOUR answers to the question and I’ll get ‘em included in the discussion. Thrillerfest is always a terrific educational and social networking party. Yes, I’ll again be wearing my #1 Rhinestone B*tch Pin as well as my bunny-slippers-with-fangs. How else would anyone recognize me? *batting eyes all innocent-like*

PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF

Today is TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY! This is an annual event. You can click here to read more about what’s involved and tips to convince your boss to allow pets at work.

With summer heat upon us, I’ve been updating a lot of hot-weather tips at my puppies.about.com site (you may notice a bunch of SQUEE! new pictures, too!). Here’s some tips and suggestions for keeping your puppies–and adult dogs–happy and safe during the dog days of summer.

Hot Weather Games for Puppies–Click here!

Click Here for Fun Ways to Keep Dogs Cool

Swimming Safety For Your DOgs (works for cats too) right here

This fall, I’ll be at the CWA conference in Atlanta at MEOWWORLD, speaking about how to put together Ebooks. You’ll get all the must-knows for writers and bloggers. Where else can you get great writer-ly advice while surrounded by all-things-pets? Hope to see you there at the Cat Writers conference! 

And if you write and publish about cats (including blogs) don’t forget to enter the CWA Contest, with thousands of $$$ in prizes and more. Click here for more information–deadline to enter is July 1.

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

When Losing Means Winning–Pets Gain Health With #HillsPet

When Losing Means Winning–Pets Gain Health With #HillsPet

Chuy at 6 weeks old and less than a pound in weight! Image Copr. Irresistible Pets.com

When we first adopt a new puppy (or kitten) it’s hard to imagine that he or she might eventually grow into an overweight dog or require cat weight loss when that “fluffy” look is more than just fur. Thankfully, today there are diets for dog weight loss and overweight cats that are not only effective, but easy to use. Over the past several months I’ve written about Hill’s® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution several times, including how the diet works to change your pet’s metabolism to turn him into a fat-burner, ways weight gain (and loss) impact your pet relationship, and including love in the weight loss equation. This food helps 88% of pets achieve an ideal weight, without strict protocols or precise measuring. Today, you get to put a furry face on the the whole Hill’s Metabolic Diet experience.

Meet Chuy. My blogging colleague Aimee Beltrain (yes! another Aimee!) adopted this cute little guy when Chuy was only 6 weeks old. “He could fit in the palm of my hand and weighed less than a pound,” she says. (That’s him in the pictures at the top.)

Fast forward four years (say that fast three times!) to December 2013 and Chuy is a wee bit pudgy. The veterinarian informed Aimee that little Chuy needed to slim down. “He weighed in at 12.6 pounds and the vet said for a Chihuahua of his size, he should weigh around 9-10 pounds.”

Two or three pounds may not seem like much, but in human perspective, that’s about a 20% weight loss–the equivalent of a 170-pound person needing to lose 34 pounds! Toy breed dogs as well as cats can pack on the pudge very quickly, almost without you noticing.

“The weather gets too cold or too hot, and you skip those daily walks,” says Aimee, “and they look at you with those irresistible little faces.” It’s hard not to love our pets with too much food and treats. With Hill’s Metabolic, though, the weight comes off even if you don’t have time for an exercise regimen, and you don’t have to deny your cat or dog their treats.

Aimee had never tried a reducing diet for Chuy, until the opportunity came to try Hill’s Metabolic for Dogs. “It was the first food our vet recommended, and it’s working,” she says. “Previously he would pick at his old food and never seemed very interested in it. Chuy actually loves his new food and eats every single kibble in one sitting.”

Karma’s already got some tummy muscle. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

Chuy has always been an energetic little guy and loves to play outside now that the weather is good. Partnering a reducing diet with exercise speeds up the weight loss, of course. But another major change Aimee says had great effect was to establish a regular mealtime routine, feeding twice a day at 8 am and 5 pm. Oh, and if he’s still a bit hungry, he’s allowed to munch one of the Metabolic treats a day, too.

Magic has as much energy today as when he was a young whipper snapper. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

 

 

I need to do that meal-schedule more religiously with my Karma-Kitten; he’s almost a year old and I may need to get him the Hill’s Metabolic for Cats since he’s developed quite a muffin-tummy. That’s due in part from cleaning up after Seren-kitty’s meals. Seren is teeny at 6 pounds and needs to eat many times a day to get enough nutrition, and Karma (and Magical-Dawg) both feel deprived if they don’t also get a taste. Thank goodness, Magic at almost 8 years old is still at an ideal weight and continues to be very active.

So how did little Chuy do on his diet? Check out the before and after pictures–He’s down to 10 pounds and still loving the food, exercise and meal schedule! What’s really cool is Chuy can stay on the food for life, and it’ll maintain his ideal body weight.

Thanks to Aimee for sharing pictures and her story–read more about Chuy on IrresistiblePets.com. So now it’s your turn–has your dog (or cat) pudged up a bit? How have you managed weight loss or maintaining best body condition? Do tell!

 

This post is sponsored by Hill’s and the Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Food, but Amy Shojai’s Bling, Bitches & Blood Blog only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

Doggy Sunburn, Bug Bites and Hot Spots First Aid Tips

Doggy Sunburn, Bug Bites and Hot Spots First Aid Tips

Magic loves games of hose-tag! Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

School’s out! Dog playtime is here with sunburn, bug bites and hot spots on the menu! Dogs want to play games and have a wonderful time during vacation, just as much as you do. Of course, they don’t always look before they leap, and can get into trouble. Not every “boo-boo” requires a vet visit but you need to know the difference–and what you can do–to keep your dog healthy, happy and ready for more fun. Today’s post offers some help and how to deal with common “ouchies.” Scroll down for first aid help.

I also have some fun UPDATES on the writing front:

My HIDE AND SEEK Blog Tour continues to garner great reviews–now 21 starred reviews!

“Hide and Seek is a story full of surprises and I’m looking forward to spending much more time with this little family in the next book and all that will follow.” Read the rest of the glowing review here.

“Hide And Seek” is very exciting and quite a page-turner.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series…” Read the rest of the review here.

“…a story of nonstop action and unbelievable plot changes…” The rest of the review is here.

You can follow along with the next stops on the tour, posted at my website.

Also, I just turned in the manuscript for my next nonfiction pet book–here’s the COVER REVEAL! Now, it’s back to fictioning, and moving forward with my next thriller SHOW AND TELL.

BUG BITES AND STINGS

Magic has had his share of stings. He’s allergic, and develops hives that turn him into an itchy checkerboard dog. Puppies have great fun chasing butterflies and other fun bugs. For the most part, these are harmless games, but when a wasp or fire ant is involved, your baby dog could end up with a painful bite or sting or even an allergic reaction. Read this article to know the signs and what you can do.

Seren follows those puddles of sunshine. Image Copr. Amy Shojai, CABC

SUNBURN SOLUTION

Sun worship isn’t reserved for cats. Many pups love dozing under the bright rays, or playing for hours in the sun. Light colored pups, though, can get burned. Relieve the burn with these home remedies.

HOT SPOTS

 A single bug bite or other irritation could be the start of a hot spot–a painful bacterial skin infection that may seem overwhelming. Thank goodness, Magic hasn’t had to deal with hot spots! But if your dog is prone to these sores, home treatments help you get ahead of the burn and stop the infection from spreading. Learn more here.

Finally, just for fun–something that I found to be very inspiring this week. Enjoy!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

Adopt A Shelter Cat Month

Adopt A Shelter Cat Month

Spring has sprung, and the birds and bees (and other critters) celebrate this time of year in typical creative fashion. It’s a national epidemic and North Texas isn’t immune. Area shelters overflow especially with kittens this time of year. My Karma-Kitten is a product of this “littering” problem, and I’m sure you’ve seen other needy waifs around town. June is the purr-fect time to celebrate national Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month.

YOU SEXY KITTEN!

Boy or girl? Fluffy longhaired or short-and-svelte coat? Does color matter? What about age? Today there are cats available to suit every taste and circumstance.

While kittens can be non-stop fun, they’re also works-in-progress–and you cannot accurately predict adult temperament. Most kittens love to lap-sit, but many outgrow this behavior. So if you want a lifelong feline lap-snuggler, choose an adult cat with an established personality so you know what you’re getting. You’ll already know that the cat likes or dislikes dogs, other cats, children, lap-sitting, and playing.

Short fur sheds just as much as the long fluffy kind, but won’t tangle or require as much care on your part. Those longhaired beauties like Persians need combing every single day.

All kinds of speculation abound regarding behaviors associated with coat color or pattern. None of it has been proven one way or another. However, it is a cat “rule” that dark fur lands on light-colored clothing while light fur magnetically attaches to dark trousers. When a cat has both light and dark fur, like my Seren, owners learn to live with hair and consider it a condiment.

Boy cats tend to grow bigger than girl cats, but as long as they’re spayed or neutered (you’ll want to do this!), the behaviors tend to be similar. Intact males want to baptize everything with sprays of urine, and intact girl cats bring more furry babies into this world after yowling and pestering owners to death.

MATURE CAT VS KITTEN DELINQUENT

Age matters. While space concerns force shelters to adopt out kittens as early as possible, a cat will have far fewer behavior problems if he stays with mom-cat and siblings until at least twelve weeks old. If you adopt a kitten younger than this, you should either have a friendly adult cat in the house prepared to teach Junior how to be a proper cat–or you yourself must attempt to give these lessons. Cats learn from watching other cats how to groom themselves, use the litter box, scratch the right object, and inhibit clawing and biting during play. Humans fall short as teachers.

Lovely adult cats often get overlooked, but they’ve already learned these basic lessons and make outstanding pets. Due to the overload of animals, too many shelters have arbitrary age limits for euthanasia. Cats aged five and above may be euthanized automatically, even though they could be expected to provide a decade or more of companionship to a loving human owner.

Older cats tend to be more sedate than kittens, and less inclined to climb curtains, attack toes, or conduct gravity experiments by knocking breakables off high spots. My Seren-kitty rarely plays “gravity experiments” any more, thank goodness!

At the shelter, don’t expect adult cats to “sell themselves” the way a kitten would. Remember that they’ve likely just lost their home, are scared and sad, and wondering what they did to make a beloved human go away. They need people to take a second look.

Last Christmas, I received emails and phone calls from folks looking for holiday kittens–at a time of year when furry babies are scarce. Now’s the time to look since a bumper crop abounds and you’ll be saving a life by adopting a cat.

You don’t need to wait for Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month. Wonderful candidates of all shapes, ages, and sizes wait for you at area shelters all year long. Seventeen years ago, my cat Seren(dipity) showed up on a friend’s back porch, and purred her way into my heart. And only a few weeks ago, Karma-Kitten made his grand entrance into my world. May you be so lucky as to find the cat of your dreams!

New to kittens? Never fear! You can find all the must-know info on caring for a new furry wonder in my book COMPLETE KITTEN CARE!

I think that September Day (my animal behaviorist main character) and her dog Shadow may need to adopt another “furry waif” in the next book SHOW AND TELL. What do you think? The next stop on my HIDE AND SEEK Bog Tour features a Guest Post at the Writers & Authors Blog, covering the how-to’s of writing animal point-of-view characters, enjoy!

 

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

Hide and Seek Blog Tour!

Hide and Seek Blog Tour!

The next two months (yes, that’s SIXTY DAYS, YIKES!) I’m on a virtual tour, spreading the thrilling (and furry-licious) news about HIDE AND SEEK, the second book in my September Day dog viewpoint thriller series. *whispering* There are some opportunities for free books along the way…

Those who read the first book in the series LOST AND FOUND demanded to know what happened in September’s past — you ask, I listened, and the result is the new roller coaster ride with even more intrigue and mayhem. If you read this blog regularly you already know how the canine hero character Shadow was inspire by my own Magical-Dawg, and that the Maine Coon character’s traits and challenges mirror that of many felines that we love. I hope y’all continue to enjoy this series.

I’ve scaled back posting on the blog (sorry…) to have more time to write the NEXT book in the series, SHOW AND TELL. Over the next several weeks, I’ll post links to each stop of the blog tour so that you can find out more about my writing process, what furry details inspire my work (and my life), and more.

If you want to get a jump on the schedule, my website homepage lists current and upcoming posts here.

Yesterday I was the guest on Suspense Radio One On One with John Raab, and–with the magic of the Internet–you can hear the 20-minute podcast at your leisure right here. Fun stuff…we laughed. A lot! Check it out here.

Today’s stop is at Laurie’s Thoughts And Reviews where you’ll find a fun interview with me about the book, how it came to be, and some advice to writers. Oh…and an excerpt from the book, too, if you’re not too sure about reading it and want a teaser. Go to the blog here.

Backstage at the show…and yes, that’s all my own jewelry. Ahem.

IN OTHER NEWS…SHAKESPEARE IN THE GROVE!

My current “brain candy” is preforming in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and we just finished our first weekend of 3 performances, with nearly 700 in attendance. Wow! The man still has an awesome fan base. *s* You’ll remember that last week Karma-Kitten interviewed the dog actor Benedick here. Now you can view a TV interview about the show (and yes, that’s me in the bling, go figure!). Check out the KXII-TV video here.

Later this week, look for more furry-licious content–after all, June is ADOPT A SHELTER CAT MONTH so Seren-Kitty and Karma-Kitten have some suggestions for choosing your next furry wonder. Maybe that’s why COMPLETE KITTEN CARE book has been in the top 3 Amazon best sellers list the past week, yay!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

Shakespeare Goes to the Dogs

Shakespeare Goes to the Dogs

“Seren, I can be a GREAT lion. Wanna hear me roar? Do ya, huh, huh, huh?”

Karma has been miffed he’s been left home in the evenings while I rehearse for the first annual Shakespeare In The Grove production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It’s free to the public and performed at 7:30 pm outdoors at Pecan Grove Park these next two weekends, May 30, 31, June 1, 6, 7, 8.

Other than vet visits, Karma has only been outside one time since he showed up on our back patio, and he trembled and became so upset that I’ve not taken him out since. So I reminded him of that fact. But Karma wanted to know more.

Karma: Magical-Dawg goes Outside. He likes playing Outside, I watch from the window. Does he get to go with you to see that Spear-guy shake? Does he shake his spear cuz he’s scared of Outside, too?

Amy: William Shakespeare doesn’t shake, that’s his name. He wrote the play, he’s not IN the play. Only actors are IN the play. Actors pretend to be romantic and confused lovers, or magic fairies and sprites with wings, or actors entertaining royalty who pretend to be lions, and there’s even a dog…

Karma: I can be an actor! I pretend to attack Magical-Dawg all the time. I can shakee my spear-like claws and roar. Let me play the lion. I will roar so good everyone will say ‘Let him roar again, let him roar again!’ Does the lion get to chase fairy wings? Do sprites taste like chicken? (Pause) Wait. There’s an actor dog? Why does Magic get to go and I don’t?

Amy: This is another dog . . . maybe it’d be better for you to talk to him and he can explain everything. You can interview him about being an actor dog and appearing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Karma: Oh look, there he is! Gee, he’s not near as big as Magical-Dawg. And he’s mostly white. Wow, he sure moves fast and jumps nearly as high as me. Didja see that back-flip and high five…I mean, high four?

Amy: Karma, be polite. Should I call Seren to do the interview instead?

Karma: I can do this! (clearing kitty throat) Mr. Dog, your poochy honor, your canine-icity …uhm…What do I call you?

Benedick: Senior Benedick and I am delighted to be here. You may call me Ben but I won’t answer. I go by Benedick. If you are too lazy to say that then Dick will do.

Karma: I’m not lazy. All cats sleep a lot, it’s our nature. You should see how much Seren-kitty sleeps. (whispering) She’s reeeeely old, like seventeen-eleventy years or something. And my best dog friend is three times as big as you. Why do you look so different? How old are you, Dick?

Benedick: I am a Jack Russell Terrier. What’s my age! What’s yours?

Karma: (puffing up) I’m almost a whole year old! I’m not a kitten anymore, can’t you tell?

Benedick: Fine, I am twelve-years-young, but I can still play a six-year-old character. It’s my good English Genes I got from my father. He immigrated to America from England.

Karma: Wow. Did he dog paddle all the way? Was he an actor, too? Amy says I can’t come to the Shakee Spears show, so how come you’re such a lucky dog?

Benedick: I was born a Thespian and have been preparing for the stage my entire life! I was last seen playing Crab the Dog in the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival’s production of Two Gentleman of Verona.

Karma: That Shakee Spear guy sure gets around. Oh, Amy wants me to ask if you consider Shakee Spear to be your forte? I don’t know what that means but Amy’s the boss…

Benedick: I don’t consider Shakespeare to be my forte. I consider it my fortissimo! I sing, I dance, I even used to do a magic show with my pet human.

Karma: How did you get the part? Was tryouts scary? Did the Director bark and hiss at you?

Benedick: Darling, when you’re as well versed in Shakespeare, the Director auditions for you.

Karma: How do you learn your lines? Are you a method actor?

Benedick: I am, I don’t like doing the same thing every time. I like to be spontaneous and keep those human actors on their toes! I am a firm believer in positive reinforcement clicker training and repetition.

Amy: Excuse me Karma, but I have to ask. Senior Benedick, how do you feel about the characters in the show heaping so much praise on the Hounds of Sparta, with nary a mention of the merit of holy terriers such as yourself?

Benedick: Well, my dear, you must first consider when it was written! Jack Russells weren’t around till the 1800s. It’s like seeing an old movie that talks about how amazing and convenient the new telephone booths are at the train station! It might be archaic NOW but then…well…it’s all they had.

Karma: Do you get paid in treats? Clicker training is paw-some! I think bacon would be a great payday. How are the two-legged actors to work with?

Benedick: Well I’ve had to give a few acting suggestions here and there, but overall I think it will be a fine show. Bacon! With this figure, I think not. I only accept homemade whole grain peanut butter biscuits when I am in a show. It’s in my rider.

Karma: What can everyone expect of your performance in the show?

Benedick: Perfection

Join Senior Benedick and the rest of the human cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Pecan Grove Park, 3200 Canyon Creek Drive in Sherman. Learn more about this family friendly free production at ShakespeareIntheGrove.com

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

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

Bra Klepto Cat!

Bra Klepto Cat!

Karma has a new toy. I’ve already told you about his shoe fetish. But now he’s discovered my bras and become a bra thief. Is there such a thing as an underwear fetish in cats?

He waits until I’m in the shower, having set out clean clothes, and then performs a grab-and-dash, carrying the prize away with high held head. I should be glad, I suppose, that he’s not stashed it under the bed out of reach. Yet. And also that he only targets brassieres that aren’t being worn. Ahem. Tiny tooth punctures in the delicate fabric, and tug-games with elastic bits, seem to be the allure.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Magic targets my husband’s socks and carries them around like a child with a blanket. Lots of dogs target undies. And Seren loves to lounge in fresh-from-the-dryer laundry and will un-fold clothes given half the chance to sneak into the wardrobe.

Karma has just taken it to the next level. I hate to think what’s next. It can’t be on the same level as my friend Jenny Hansen’s Undie Chronicles (for some insanely funny reading you should check that out!).

Do your pets target your unmentionables? Do tell!

WEEKLY UPDATES

Thanks again to all my Sweet Peeps and Sweet Tweets for the support and encouragement to take some “Amy Time” away from blogging. This the first of what I plan to make a weekly update/post and from time to time will include what I used to call “Monday Mentions” roundup.

PUPPY-LICIOUS! The About.com group of 800+ sites will soon launch an update to the design. So for the past month I’ve spent lots of time updating my puppies.about.com articles (about 400 or so) with the new requirements which include SQUEEE! even bigger, more scrumptious cute puppy pictures. Oh, there’s lots of other “hidden” updates on the back end that have to do with SEO schtuff, too. One ongoing project is an alpha-list of puppy breeds-at-a-glance! I’ve finished the “A” puppy breeds and the “B” puppy breeds and have begun the “C” list. Let me know if you have a darling doggy pix you’d like included of your fav breed!

SHAKESPEARE IN THE GROVE I’m having a ball rehearsing (pix here!) for the first annual Shakespeare In The Grove production in Sherman, Texas. This first show is a favorite for adults and kids alike–A Midsummer’s Night Dream. And get this…my character, as an Amazon Queen, Hippolyta, I get to wear BLING! Hope to see y’all there, we open next Friday and it’s FREE FREE FREE to the public!

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered–post in the comments. Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

 

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