Denise Brixey's Blog, page 2

The Cat Kingdom

I’ve been working on the third book of the Harry the Wonder Cat Series. A lot of you have been introduced to the Cat Kingdom, where the Cat King resides. Of course, he rules all cats. This is who gave Harry his task of guarding the Johnson family for eternity.

I’m going to take you on a tour of the kingdom. The first thing you need to know is that no one actually knows where the Cat Kingdom is. To get there, you must be escorted by an official messenger of the Cat King. You simple touch his back, close your eyes and when the official tells you, open them to a brand new world.

The scent is unlike any other you have known in the human realm of existence.   It’s indescribable really, but if one were to try, it’s a cross of cotton candy, chocolate, and the sweet smell of jasmine. 

Then you will notice the glitter everywhere, on the ground, statues of regal cats, even the castle itself.  The sky is raining down these sparkly, golden pieces of tiny substance nonstop, night and day. The next thing you may notice is the sound of sweet, melodious music.  This music has never been heard before and won’t be heard outside of the kingdom. Any guest of the king can look up to the sky and see a rainbow shoot an arc over the castle.

Speaking of the castle, it has a gatehouse where two cat guards stand tall to greet you into the castle grounds.  The courtyard is expansive.  It, too, is covered in golden glitter that sparkled in the sunshine.  The colors of the rainbow are brighter than colors are in the human realm. At the castle door there are two more cats to greet you.

Once inside you will find yourself in a great hall surrounded by portraits of the most regal cats that ruled the kingdom hanging on the walls.  At the end of the hall is an extraordinary room with a golden, bejeweled throne in it and a red carpet leading up to it.  This is, of course, where you will find the king.

Well, that’s it.  The Cat Kingdom in a nutshell.  I hope that you’ve enjoyed my little tour.

What Dangers Are Lurking In the Garage?

When the weather changes from warm to cold, our cats are in danger of becoming fatally ill. To be a responsible guardian, we need to be aware of their surroundings and make them totally safe for our furry friends.

Anti-freeze is one danger that can be deadly to our cats due to the chemical, ethylene glycol. Since cats have a keen sense of smell and curiosity in abundance, they are attracted to the scent of the poison. Once they have found the deadly liquid, they are tempted to sample it and find that it is enticingly sweet. Before we know it, we have a very sick cat on our hands.

So, we might think that it would be perfectly safe if the container has the cap on, right? Wrong! What if a tiny bit dripped down the side of the container? That small drip might be enough to attract him to it and, after a lick or two, we might find ourself rushing our little darling to the vet. If our baby found a puddle of the sweet-smelling stuff under a car and drank it, chances are much more likely that the poison substance would kill him.

There is another type of anti-freeze that contains propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. This chemical is touted as completely safe for consumption. While it is safer than its counterpart, it still is dangerous and should be treated with the same care as anti-freeze containing ethylene glycol.

If you think that your cat might have consumed anti-freeze or any other poison, please contact the Pet Poison Hotline at  (855) 764-7661.

Our thanks go out to:

Animal Kind

Pet Poison Helpline

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNSpjdrBjR11GnXHRgTclK89wXXX-Q:1578598800983&q=antifreeze+without+bittering+agent&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjI05nmovfmAhWBGM0KHfX4ChYQ1QIoA3oECA0QBA&biw=1420&bih=657

Harry’s New Year’s Resolutions

It’s that time of year where everyone makes unnecessary demands on themselves, just to trying to make others happy.  Okay, this year I’ve decided to make some changes of my own.  I’ve listed them below not necessarily in any order.

I will cut down the number of trips to the Magic Cupboard (where my treats can be found).I will stop laying around like an old slug all the time.I will quit expecting everybody to do my bidding.I will quit procrastinating.

When do I have to change?  Now? I can’t.  I’m busy laying around the fireplace, getting my guardian to get me treats (and anything else I need).

Oh, heck. Who needs to change?  I’m purrfect as I am.

What You Need to Know About Christmas Trees and Your Cat

It’s that time of year when people all over the world decorate for the holidays. Many people adorn a tree for the season. A few years ago, I learned the real dangers of these trees and ornaments.

I was astonished to learn the statistics regarding Christmas trees.  According to National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 350 million Christmas trees planted by farmers in the U.S. alone. Of those 350 million, 25-30 million are sold. These numbers pale compared to people who buy artificial trees, which amounts to 80% of those who decorate Christmas trees.

You may be wondering what Christmas trees have to do with your cat.

The obvious answer is that if your cat is prone to climbing, or as I like to put it, be a “tree baby” (pun intended), there is a chance for injury. There are other reasons, too.

The sap from the tree is toxic to your cat. The sap can be found not only on the tree and needles themselves, but in the water that the tree stands in.  Along with pine poisoning, comes the threat of the pesticides and fertilizers used in growing the tree, and chemicals that are used to enhance the look of it. These can cause kidney and/or liver failure, muscle weakness, labored breathing and digestive issues. There is another danger with the needles of the tree. These needles could easily become lodged in the cat’s throat, or rip her intestines, etc.The ornamentation of the tree adds to the problem..  Tinsel and those shiny bulbs look like cat toys and are a huge temptation for the cat. If she chews on the tinsel, chances are that she will swallow it and it may wrap itself around the cat’s intestines. Some of the ornaments used on the tree are made from breakable material and can cause damage to the cat’s paws if stepped on and, of course, cut internal organs if swallowed.

Unfortunately, with the exception of the sap poisoning, artificial trees have the same dangers as do their live counterparts.

Solution: Raise your tree off the ground and out of reach of your little ones. You may think that it takes away from the beauty of the season, but better that than spending hundreds of dollars in vet bills, or take the possibilty of a beloved family member dying..

Have a happy and safe holiday!

National Christmas Tree Association

Boston CBS Local

Pets on Mom.ME

Greece Anyone?

Yes, I am still looking for cats to co-star in book three of the Harry the Wonder Cat series. If you haven’t yet sent pictures and one personality trait, please do, and your cat will be famous.

[image error]Flea

The next two cats that I want to introduce you to are Flea and her brother, Whiskey.

Flea is a bundle of energy, and she loves to play. Like Ollie (from the first book), she also likes to snuggle. Harry will have to rein her in because she is also a little pyscho.

[image error]Whiskey

Whiskey was a singer in a rock band until he started biting the audience if they didn’t like the song that he was singing. The other cats couldn’t stand for that, and after three warnings, Whiskey was thrown out of the band. Harry will find a place on his team for this rejected boy.

Who Else Wants to Go to Greece With Harry?

I have introduced five cats who are lucky enough to be joining Harry on his adventure in Greece. I have a lot more applications to go through. Please take a gander at the following contestants.

Dewey

The next cat co-star is Dewey. You may remember Dewey from Book 1, The Legend of the Pink Diamond. He’s the only co-star who gets to appear in more than one book. Harry needs this lightning-fast, feisty feline to help him maneuver around the Greek Island of Syros. Of course, the cats from the sanctuary will be there to lend a hand, too.

Rosie is the second one that I’ll introduce you to this week. She has an exceptional talent; she can moonwalk, which will come in handy when Harry needs a feline to creep silently on window ledges.

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Next week, I’ll be bringing more cats along for the ride.

How Do Heatwaves Effect Our Pets?

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In this national heatwave that we are all experiencing right now, we must all be mindful of our animals. We need to keep our pets indoors with fresh water and a cool place for them to hang out. You might even add a few ice cubes in their water. It serves two purposes, to cool the water down, and it gives them something to play with.

I researched heatwaves and how they can affect our precious pets. Just as humans can get heatstroke, so can cats and dogs. 

The signs to watch for are:

1. If your dog is panting excessively or your cat is open-mouth breathing or panting

2. If the color of your dog’s or your cat’s gums change to brick-red and blue-purple

3. If your dog or cat is drooling more than usual

4. If your dog or cat is lethargic or if they collapse

5. If your dog or cat is going into seizures

If they are experiencing any of these signs, call your vet immediately.

We also need to be mindful of leaving your animal in a locked car. On a day where the temperature is 90 degrees, the inside of a vehicle can reach 138 degrees! Please do not take your dog or cat out in a car, just to leave him sitting while you do your errands. Think about how you would feel in 138 degrees. 

In a nutshell, we need to be thoughtful and loving towards our pets. After all, they are part of our family.

Harry’s Helpers in Greece

As I told you last week, I’m looking for cats to play parts in my next Harry the Wonder Cat book. This book is set in Greece, and I need lots of cats to fill the parts of the cats in the sanctuary. You have already met Loki and Lyla May, this week I want to introduce you to three more famous cats.

 

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Charlie is a loveable cat, which will come in handy when Harry needs a distraction.

 

[image error] Reginald

Midnight [image error]

Both Reginald and Midnight love watching TV. Will Harry train them to be his lookouts?

 

I have a lot more cats to introduce you to. See ya next week.

Remember, if your cat wants to join Harry and his Greek gang, post a picture with the name of your cat. Please include one personality trait. It promises to be an exciting trip.

 

Harry the Wonder Cat ~ Book 3

I am finishing up the Harry the Wonder Cat Series with Book 3. Harry and his charge, Nikki, and their roommate, Heather, are going to Greece. Someone is out to kill them for the Pink Diamond, and Harry and his Greek gang will have their paws full keeping Nikki and Heather safe.

I am calling for all of the cats who want to go to Greece with Harry. They will be cast as the cats Harry and Luna meet in the Greek Cat Sanctuary. Harry will enlist them to help to find the crooks.

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing all of the co-stars that have signed up so far.

This week, I am introducing two very special cats, Loki and Lyla May.

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Loki is the king of the street thugs. He is a tough, no-nonsense cat.

                                                                       [image error]

Lyla May is a quiet cat, and you know what they say about the silent type. She is one sleuth that doesn’t mess around.

 

If your cat wants to join Harry and his Greek gang, post a picture with the name of your cat. Please include one personality trait. It promises to be an exciting trip.

The Inspiration For Harry the Wonder Cat

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Monkeyface

 

When I decided to create the character for Harry the Wonder Cat, I had to look no further than my Monkeyface, the first cat I ever had.  Twenty years ago, Monkey and I met and it was love at first sight. The big Maine Coon was the gentlest creature that I’ve ever known.  He was fiercely loyal to me and protected me from the people that he considered bad. (Cats are like that…they can smell trouble a mile off.) I, in turn, protected him from everything from the rustling of a paper bag (he hated paper bags) to the loud claps of thunder in the mountain sky.

Now, I know you’ll think that Harry doesn’t sound at all like Monkeyface, and you would be right when it comes down to fears.  After all, Harry isn’t afraid of anything. You must remember, however, Monkeyface didn’t have the powers that Harry has.

Other than being fiercely protective of their person, Maine Coons are among the largest domestic cat, (the biggest was a cat named Stewie,  who grew to be a whopping 48.5 inches. Harry’s 38 inches seem small next to him.)

While Harry grew to weigh over 30 pounds, Monkeyface weighed a mere 25 pounds. Maine Coons are known as the Gentle Giants of the cat world, but sometimes Harry uses his size to intimidate enemies.

I chose the Maine Coon breed for Harry the Wonder Cat in memory of my lovable Monkeyface who, in my mind, will always be my Wonder Cat.