Month: August 2013

How to Choose the Purr-fect Cat Name

Feline Lifestyle| 21 Comments

Owner hugging her cat

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter, it isn’t just one of your holiday games. – T. S. Elliot

Written by Abigail Beal

T. S. Elliot may have been on to something. If you’ve just brought home an adorable cat or kitten from the local animal shelter, then you know what the next task is: finding a name for him. Maybe your new family member came with a name you don’t like, or that doesn’t suit. Picking a name for your cat can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a serious matter, and you’ll want to spend some time to find that “just right” fit.

The following tips can help you find the purr-fect cat name for your new furry companion.Continue Reading

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A Tribute to Homer, The Blind Wonder Cat

Books| 24 Comments

Homers_Odyssey

I read Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life from a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper a few days after it was first released in 2009. The book debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List at number 14, and has been translated into more than 15 languages since then. This moving, inspirational and often funny story about a blind cat with a huge spirit and an endless capacity for love, joy and a determination to persevere no matter what the obstacles is a wonderful celebration of the bond between a cat and his human and the transformational power of loving an animal.

Homer's_Odyssey_Gwen_Cooper

Gwen Cooper had to let Homer go last Wednesday after a prolonged illness.Continue Reading

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Feline Allergies

Feline Health| 14 Comments

feline_allergies

Allergies are an extreme reaction of the immune system to common substances in a cat’s every day environment. Feline allergies can be a vexing problem for cat guardians and veterinarians. This article provides an overview of allergy symptoms, and of how feline allergies are diagnosed and treated.

Feline allergy symptoms

Allergies can manifest with a wide array of symptoms:

  • Sneezing, coughing and wheezing
  • Itchy skin/increased scratching
  • Itchy, runny eyesContinue Reading

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How to Give Subcutaneous Fluids to A Cat

Feline Health| 60 Comments

giving_subcutaneous_fluids_to_a_cat

Last updated January 19, 2018

Cats with chronic kidney disease pass large amounts of urine and become easily dehydrated. Dehydration can be prevented by feeding canned or raw food, and by encouraging cats to drink. A fountain can be a good option for this. However, frequently, these cats don’t feel well enough to eat or drink enough to combat dehydration, and your veterinarian may prescribe fluid therapy. Fluid therapy also aids in flushing waste products through the kidneys.

Your vet will determine the type of fluid your cat will receive. A veterinary staff member will show you how to administer the fluids to your cat, and you will be able to do this at home. Most cats will tolerate receiving fluids from their guardians. The frequency of fluid administration will be determined by how advanced your cat’s renal disease is and can range from once a week to several times a week.

You will need a fluid bag, tubing, and needles. Fluids are administered under the cat’s skin. The fluids will pool in a little “lump” and will be gradually absorbed by your cat’s body over the course of a few hours.Continue Reading

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Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Now Available for Kindle

Books| 4 Comments

Adventures_in_Veterinary_Medicine

It’s here! I’m super excited to announce that my new book, Adventures in Veterinary Medicine:What Working in Veterinary Hospitals Taught Me About Life, Love, and Myself  is now available for Kindle. If you don’t have a Kindle, don’t worry. You can download a free reading app to read this and other Kindle books on your PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android tablet and smartphone.

The book offers a unique look at what really goes on in a veterinary hospital through the eyes of a former veterinary hospital manager, aka, yours truly. The book provides insight into what makes veterinary medicine such a rewarding profession through a series of stories about some of the pets I connected with during my twelve years working in the field.

Praise for Adventures in Veterinary Medicine

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine has already received advance praise from several high profile veterinarians.Continue Reading

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The World According to Bob by James Bowen (2023 Review)

Books| 7 Comments

the-world-according-to-bob-the-further-adventures-of-one-man-and-his-street-wise-cat

I fell in love with Bob, the ginger (orange) tom cat and his human, James Bowen, when I read A Street Cat Named Bob last spring. The story of a down on his luck street musician who was busking the streets of London with his cat captured my heart – and the hearts of millions of readers around the world. A Street Cat Named Bob became an international bestseller which has been translated into 25 languages. The book debuted in the US last week, and immediately landed on the New York Times Bestseller List.

I have been following James and Bob on their Facebook page, and I was thrilled to find out that a second book was in the works. I pre-ordered The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Street-wise Cat as soon as it showed up on Amazon. And like the first book, I couldn’t put this one down.Continue Reading

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Iams Recalls Multiple Lots of Dry Cat Food

Feline Nutrition| 9 Comments

iams_recall_2013

Note: This article covers a recall that occurred in 2013. For up-to-date information on current pet food recalls, please visit the FDA’s recall website.

In 2013, the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) recalled specific lots of dry pet food due to possible salmonella contamination. These products were distributed to retailers in the United States.

The following products and lot numbers were affected:Continue Reading

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Could Your Cat Be a Therapy Cat? Certification Process & Tips

Feline Lifestyle| 10 Comments

young woman with her pet cat outdoors

On Monday, we introduced you to some very special therapy cats who share their gift of purring with nursing home and other facility residents. Today, we’re looking at what it takes for a cat to be able to do this kind of work.

If your cat is a mellow, laid back lap cat, she may just be the purr-fect candidate to be a therapy cat.

Therapy cats need to be gentle and calm. They have to be open to new experiences. Socialization to people of all genders, ages and ethnic backgrounds is important. Therapy cats have to be able to tolerate strange noises, smells and sights. They need to be comfortable with being handled and held by a variety of people. They are required to be in good health and current on their vaccinations. Good grooming and short nails are a must. Cats need to be leash trained so that their handler can keep control of them at all times.Continue Reading

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How Therapy Cats Make a Difference: Facts & Heartwarming Stories

Feline Lifestyle| 8 Comments

Happy senior woman with cat resting in bed at home.

Research has shown that cats have healing powers. Not only does petting a cat lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack, the cat’s purr can actually heal muscles, tendons and bones. Those of us who share our lives with cats don’t need research studies to prove that a purring cat in our lap or by our side can make all the world’s problems seem a little bit less daunting.

Therapy cats share these healing powers with a wider audience than just their human family members. They bring comfort and joy to nursing home residents and others who are unable to keep their own pets. They provide a much needed break in the daily routine for facility residents and staff alike, along with the special kind of love that can only come from a cat.Continue Reading

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Exclusive Interview With James Bowen, Author of A Street Cat Named Bob

Books| 57 Comments

James-Bowen-Street-Cat-Bob

I have been in love with Bob ever since I read the British edition of A Street Cat Named Bob back in April of last year. The book was released in the US  last week, and is already climbing the bestseller lists. It will debut at #7 on the New York Times Bestseller List next week. I’ve been following James and Bob on their Facebook page for the past year, and I am thrilled for the incredible success they’ve been experiencing. As far as life changing cats go, Bob is in a category of his own.

I was delighted when the US publisher offered me the opportunity to send a few questions across the Atlantic to James Bowen.

James, when we last “spoke” via email in May of last year, I asked you how your life had changed since the book came out in the UK. Continue Reading

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Review and Giveaway: Cat in an Alien X-Ray by Carole Nelson Douglas

Books| 23 Comments

cat_in_an_alien_x-ray

Carole Nelson Douglas’ Midnight Louie series, set in the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas and featuring feline detective Louie and his human, public relations specialist Temple Barr, is one of the longest running and best known feline mystery series. This four-footed sleuth has been solving mysteries since 1990!

In Cat in an Alien X-Ray, the 25th book in the series, Carole Nelson Douglas takes the reader on a wild ride as Louie and company encounter science fiction fans, UFO enthusiasts, and bizarre conspiracy theorists. Temple’s newest PR client is opening an “Area 51” attraction (the  code name for a military base in Nevada which has been the subject of conspiracy theories and rumors about UFO research) and wants Temple’s help to promote his new venture. When two bodies are discovered on the site, it is up to Midnight Louie and crew to unravel the multiple mysteries.Continue Reading

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