Losing a cat is difficult any time of the year, but when it happens during the holidays, it can complicate your grieving process. I lost Ruby two years ago, a week before Christmas. Buckley died the day after Thanksgiving 2008. As a result, I’ve been through several difficult holiday seasons. Continue Reading
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
The holidays are meant to be a joyful time, but for many of us, they’ve turned into a stressful race to an imaginary finish line. Between parties, baking, shopping, and entertaining, there always seems to be one more thing that needs to get done. And all of this holiday stress affects our cats, too.
Cats are creatures of habit and don’t like to have their routines disrupted. They also pick up on our stress, and your stress can actually make your cat sick. I highly recommend managing your own stress during the holidays and take some time to enjoy the season rather than constantly rushing through the days – your cats will thank you for it.Continue Reading
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
Our cats are lucky. They get spoiled all year long, and especially this time of the year. They live in nice warm homes, sleep in soft beds, and get plenty of love, attention, and toys.  Quite a contrast to the life cats in shelters lead. While more and more shelters are doing the best they can to enrich the environment for shelter cats, funds are low everywhere, and the cats in these shelters need your help.
Yesterday, Robin Olson posted a wonderful suggestion on how to help shelter cats on her blog, Covered in Cat Hair, titled A Christmas Wish for Shelter Cats, and I loved the idea so much that I decided to share it here with you.
Says Robin:Â Â “Life behind bars for any shelter cat is usually flat out miserable. The poor creatures just sit there and wait around, bored, angry, frustrated. Studies show that cats who are active in a cage are much more likely to be adopted than cats who sit there glumly passing time.
This is where Stretch and Scratch comes in.  These cage-size scratchers keep cats exercised and entertained.  They’re a simple and inexpensive way to bring a little holiday joy to shelter cats, and there’s still time to some to have some sent directly to your favorite shelter in time to bring some holiday joy to shelter cats.
The scratchers are $45 for a half case, and $75 for a full case. They’re good quality, sturdy scratchers.  For more information and to order, click here.
To read Robin’s full post about the program, along with some wonderful photos of cats enjoying the scratchers Henry County Care & Control in McDonough, Georgia (and the adorable cats in the photos are all available for adoption!), click here.
Robin Olson is the creator of Covered in Cat Hair. She is a writer, art director, copywriter, and photographer. Robin is the founder of Kitten Associates, a Connecticut based cat rescue. You can learn more about Robin on her blog, and on Covered in Cat Hair’s Facebook page.
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
ASPCA experts offer these tips for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.
Sage Advice
Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delicious, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.
No Bread Dough
Don’t spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal’s body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.
Don’t Let Them Eat Cake
If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs-they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.
Too Much of a Good Thing
A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don’t allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse-an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.
Keeping these tips in mind will ensure a happy and healthy Thanksgiving for all family members, human and furry!
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Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
