07.29.06
Posted in Cat Articles at 11:31 pm by pawpathblog
Here are some tips to keep us cats stay cool in this heat…
By Leo (that’s me below basking in the afternoon sun)
1. Don’t EVER leave us alone in your car - not even for a minute! Cars can heat up extremely quickly in the sun, and we could die from heat stroke in minutes. Even on a normal summer day, the inside of a closed car can rise to a scorching 200 degrees. If we get heat stroke, we start to breath heavily or pant, stagger, and our tongues and gums get bright red. Take us to a vet or seek medical advice immediately if this happens!
* What to do if a cat has heatstroke: Immediately move any pet exhibiting heatstroke symptoms to a cool, shady spot, and slowly reduce the animal’s temperature by placing its body (not its head) in cool water wrapping the pet in cool, wet towels. Then take it to a veterinarian so that other supportive measures may be undertaken, such as the administration of intravenous fluids (to combat dehydration) and oxygen (to prevent brain damage).
2. Make sure we have a nice and cool place to sleep when it’s hot out, with lots of fresh drinking water we can have whenever we want.
3. We can get sunburnt, too! Cats can get skin cancer from prolonged exposure to sun. We especially get sunburned on our noses and ears, or if we have light colored hair. It is best to protect your cat’s vulnerable bits with a sunscreen containing titanium dioxide, which is insoluble in water and safe for cats. Sun E-45 is non-toxic to cats and offers UVA/UVB protection.
4. Although we groom ourselves a lot, an extra bit of brushing helps a lot. Not only will brushing reduce hairballs, you can check for fleas and ticks.
5. Make sure you close your windows or make them inaccessible to us cats. We’ve been known to scratch at screens and get out, and although we pride ourselves on landing on our feet when we jump, falling from high windows (anything above 2 stories) can cause us serious injuries.
6. When you leave home for the day, make sure to leave the A/C on for us, or at least make sure we have a cool spot to chill in…literally! If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for us!
7. If you leave us outside in an enclosed area, like a deck or enclosed fence, check frequently to make sure we’re not in the direct sun for too long and that we don’t get too hot. Sometimes we don’t realize that we’re starting to overheat, especially us senior cats. Please take us into a cool & shady place. Even if we ask, try not to let us out between 12-3pm when it is very hot out.
8. Protect us against fleas and pests! Fleas, fire ants, bees, and mosquitos are few of the insects that can be very harmful. Read more on msnbc.com.
9. If you let us roam around outside (which I don’t get to do since my family doesn’t recommend it), make sure to remove any harmful plants from the yard. Go here for a list of plants toxic to animals. Also, pleeease make sure we don’t walk on fertilized lawns. Fertilizer can be extremely toxic. I’ve known horrible things that happened to fellow cats that ingested fertilizer or pesticide after licking his paws. Scary! Read an article about pet-proofing your lawn or garden.
10. Summer vacations: if going away, make sure to get a reliable pet sitter for us, or put us into a reputable cat hotel, cattery, or veterinarian’s office that provides boarding. Please make sure that we get some TLC wherever we are, this can be very traumatizing for us! You can find a pet sitter by going to the Pet Sitter Portal. You can also go to Petcenter.com to read tips on boarding your pet.
May you and your feline buddies have a safe & happy summer!
Go to About.Com for some more summer tips for cats
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07.25.06
Posted in Cat Sites - Our Picks at 2:45 pm by pawpathblog
Cats International is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to helping people better understand their feline companions. They offer advice for all of your feline behavior problems and questions absolutely free!
They also have a hotline you can call for behavioral questions, and a great cat article library.
Here is an excerpt of an excellent 2-part article on litter box problems:
The Unabridged Guide to Litterbox Problems –
Part One: How to Prevent Housesoiling Problems
Nothing puts Kitty in the proverbial “doghouse” like a urine spot on the carpeting. Feline behaviorists find that inappropriate elimination problems (i.e. inconsistent litterbox use) top the list of the behavior aberrations with which they deal. It is also a major reason for cats to be surrendered to shelters or pounds. The good news is that housesoiling problems are preventable.
An understanding of what Kitty looks for in a desirable toilet area reveals preferences that are not unlike our own. For example, it must be clean, private, and easily accessible. They also have some requirements that are based on innate survival instincts–it must contain an easily-raked substrate and it must offer escape potential. Although our pets live in the safety and comfort of our homes, from their point of view these considerations are still vital to their well-being. This survival know-how is pre-programmed in your cat’s brain just as it was in his ancestor, the North African Wildcat, Felis Silvestris Libica–a cat who had unlimited access to a sandy substrate. By covering his waste he was able to elude detection by prey or potential predators. He was also alert to the danger of being caught in a vulnerable position so escape potential was a life-saving priority.
Read the rest of this article on Cats International >>
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07.24.06
Posted in Cat Trivia at 4:56 pm by pawpathblog
The cats’ tongue is quite amazing…here are some interesting facts…
To help us with grooming, holding food, and struggle with prey, we have numerous knobs called papillae on the surface of our tongues that form backward-facing hooks containing large amounts of keratin, the same material found in human fingernails. These hooks provide the abrasiveness a cat needs for self-grooming.
Studies have shown that we have better taste buds than dogs, specialized to detect amino acids in meats, and our tongues are very sensitive to temperature. Room temperature food only, please!
When we drink water, we form our tongues into a spoon-like shape. And we also lick ourselves to cool off, since we don’t sweat like humans do.
-Bambi
Go to Yahoo! Pets to learn more about our tongues.
Or go to Cats International to read more facts about the amazing feline tongue.
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07.21.06
Posted in Cat News at 5:01 am by pawpathblog
Here are some interesting cat headlines from around the country!
Cat Burglar Really A Cat!
A cat named Willy in Pelham, NY has a penchant for stealing gardening gloves. As the numerous gloves are brought back, his owners have put up a clothesline with the sign “Our cat is a glove snatcher. Please take these if yours.” Read more about this silly feline felon >>
35 People Pay Their Respects At A Cat Memorial
Nearly everyone on La Verne Avenue in Long Beach, California knew and loved Buddy the Cat. He sadly passed away from cancer, but his neighbors showed their love for this phenomenal cat by attending his memorial. Read more >>
Disabled Cat and Speech-Impaired Boy Help Each Other Through Their Loving Bond
Sukie is a 2-year-old male purebred Scottish Fold with a genetic joint deformity, was adopted into a loving him and became best buds with 6-year old Matthew Holloway. Their relationship has helped improve Matthew’s self esteem, and Sukie gets lots of love and attention. Read more of this charming story in the Valley News >>
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07.20.06
Posted in Cat News at 4:48 am by pawpathblog
No Fido or Fluffy left behind
A statewide plan in Louisiana to evacuate pets during hurricanes is being worked out by state and local officials, who are required to map the procedures under a new law enacted to avoid the problems that erupted after Hurricane Katrina struck.
Read the article >>
Help prevent what happened after Katrina from ever happening again in your state as well. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), requires state and local authorities to consider the needs of individuals with pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. You could help save thousands of people and pets from anguish — even loss of life — during the next major disaster.
>> Go to the Humane Society website to fill out a form to ask your U.S. Senators to support this legislation.
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07.16.06
Posted in Store Updates at 4:46 am by pawpathblog
We are proud to announce that we’ve opened our very own cat bookstore as an added feature to the Paw Path™ Litter Mat website. Go there and browse around for books on cat health, nutrition, cat calendars, cat humor, photography, children’s books and everything else about cats. There are even cat book ends and cat games.
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07.12.06
Posted in Cat Trivia at 11:02 pm by pawpathblog
Cats on average will sleep 16-18 hours a day. We spend about 2/3rd of our lives asleep! We say it’s worth it. We know how to nap better than any animal on the planet.
“Go away….give me another 5 minutes….” Leo
———–
It’s a well known fact that cats snooze a lot. Cats sleep more than most mammals. Giraffes only sleep 2 hours a day! Cats are also one of the only mammals that split their sleeping time evenly throughout the day. It is not known exactly why cats need so much sleep. One common theory is that it was a survival tactic to conserve their energy in the wild. Wild cats hunt for short periods during the day and conserve their energy for the rest of the day.
———
To read more about our sleeping patterns, there’s a great article on The Sleep Behavior of Cats on petplace.com.
- Bambi
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Posted in Cat Articles at 1:12 am by pawpathblog
Our featured topic: Support the Truth In Labeling Act of 2006
Take action by contacting your congress person for current animal issues, or donate to a charity now and help some needed animals.
If you are unable to donate money, there are still many things you can do to help stop animal cruelty. Read on.
Currently, cat and dog fur is entering the country illegally as unlabeled fur trim on clothing. Here’s what you can do to stop this atrocity.
Make a difference now. Urge your representative to support the Truth In Labeling Act of 2006, “which would close a loophole that allows garments featuring fur valued at less than $150 to be sold without identifying it as animal fur or specifying the species of animal or country of origin. Without proper labeling, consumers can’t always tell if an item contains real fur or faux fur — and today’s processing techniques make it nearly impossible for consumers to tell the difference.” - quoted from hsus.org
This act, if passed, will only add correct labels to clothing under $150, but will not actually put a stop to other kinds of fur that is commonly used. The endangered lynx in Montana are being slaughtered due to a higher demand for fur. Do your part by signing a petition pledging that you choose compassion as your fashion, and that you will never wear fur.
You can also visit PETA online and see what current campaigns you can help with, or visit Fur Free Action.
A note from Bambi & Leo:
To Humans: If you love the look of fur, we don’t blame you. Fur looks beautiful on us cats and we understand your envy. But if you must wear anything fuzzy, please make sure it’s faux. It looks just as pretty and no innocent animal had to suffer or be killed for the sake of fashion. Loud purrs to Ralph Lauren, who recently announced that he will no longer be using fur in his designs. You can write to him at customerassistance@polo.com to thank him for his compassion. -Leo & Bambi
For a helpful list of charities who have exceptional organization (this means your donations actually go to the cause you’re supporting and not to administrative expenses), please see our Guide to Charities on our main page. You can also check out charities and non-profits before you give on the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator, or Guide Star.
Thanks for reading and remember, one cat or person CAN make a difference.
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07.10.06
Posted in Just For Fun at 4:05 am by pawpathblog
I loooove to talk and I’m very good at it. I have things to say all day and sometimes all night, and I have a vocal range any crooner would be proud of! While I was surfing the net, I was happy to see that there are other cats like me out there. Check out this very funny video with vocally gifted cats like yours truly. - Leo
Talking cats on google video
p.s. I don’t make human-sounds on request like these guys, but I’m sure I can beat them on variety of sounds I can make!
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07.09.06
Posted in Cat News at 1:23 am by pawpathblog
Hot off the wires! Here’s a summary of cats in the news this week from around the globe.
A step towards halting the fur trade. The endangered lynx has been hunted for its fur, and the Humane Society of the United States filed a lawsuit on July 5, 2006 against the Minnesota fur trapping program, which has allowed people to kill the lynx, of which fewer than 100 remain in Minnesota. Please read more about the cruelties of the fur trade and what you can do to help.
It’s the third annual Cat Independence Days at the Kansas Humane Society, where cuddly kittens can be adopted for only $17.76. Read the article on the Wichita Eagle.
Chipper the cat, who miraculously survived a run in with a wood chipper, is bravely fighting for his life. He is under the care of 10th Life Sanctuary in Boca Raton, Florida. Make a donation to 10th Life Sanctuary, or read the article about Chipper on local 10.com
Montana, a cat in Delaware who was mangled while sleeping in under the hood of a school bus, is now happy and plump, thanks to the kind-hearted school bus driver named Mike Dinsmore and his wife who saved him. Montana’s medical bills ran over $2000, and community of Tatnall helped raise most of the cost. Dinsmore has six cats including Montana, and often saves other animals in need. Read more of this heartwarming story on Delaware Online.
A psychic in North Wales, UK searches for a flat-eared Siamese cat named Leo who went missing 4 months ago. Read the story in the Daily Post about this animal psychic for hire.
Speaking of psychics…are cats clairvoyant? Can they predict the future, or does their hypersensitive hearing seem to predict events such as earthquakes. Some remain convinced of their supernatural powers. Read more about psychic cats in OhmyNews.
A Portland, Oregon woman files a 1.4 million dollar suit against a neighbor for the death of her cat. Read the article on katu.com.
A cat literally stops traffic on westbound US 278 in South Carolina, as truckers and concerned citizens stopped to find a cat who jumped onto the wheel well of a stopped vehicle. The cat seemed to have escaped uninjured, but backed up motorists for miles. Read more on The Island Packet
A Tennessee couple faces misdeanor charges for a combined 33 counts of animal cruelty when dozens of cats were found dead in their home. Animal rights activists blame Tennessee’s lax animal cruelty laws for not elevating the charges for this serious crime. Read more about this cat cruelty case in court.
Firefighters in Cincinnati, Ohio rescue a scared kitten from a construction pipe. Read how he was coaxed out.
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