Category: Cats

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My “Fishing Trip” with Nebraska’s TNR Groups

Allison

In a Trap-Neuter-Return program, community cats are humanely trapped, brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, eartipped, and then returned to their outdoor home. —Alley Cat Allies A managed Trap-Neuter-Return colony has a caregiver who monitors the cats, captures any that need veterinary care, and traps any newcomers to be sterilized and vaccinated. A properly managed colony is a health, stable colony in which no kittens are born. —Husker Cats I believe Trap-Neuter-Return is the current best solution to cat homelessness. For that reason, I consider TNR groups an integral member of the animal welfare village, and … Continue reading My “Fishing Trip” with Nebraska’s TNR Groups

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How Important is Heartworm Prevention?

Allison

All dogs and cats should be on a heartworm prevention. Unfortunately, according to the American Heartworm Society, 75% of veterinarians report positive cases of heartworm in their practices. Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal but preventable disease. According to Dr. Jody Jones-Skibinski of Cotner-Superior Pet Care, heartworm disease can cause organ damage leading to heart failure and death. “Even with treatment,” she noted, “there are long-term consequences including chronic coughing, and a less active and shorter life span.” Heartworm disease is spread through the bite of a mosquito. The AHS website explains: Adult female heartworms living in an infected animal … Continue reading How Important is Heartworm Prevention?

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The Vaccinations Your Pets Must Have

Allison

Dogs and cats need regular vaccinations. According to Dr. Jody Jones-Skibinski of Cotner-Superior Pet Care, “Vaccines stimulate the immune system, which in turn creates antibodies towards the disease. If an animal comes into contact with the disease, antibodies are able to kill the virus, preventing the illness.” She explained that if vaccinations are not given, pets are at risk for infections when they come into contact with the disease and put other animals at risk for contracting the illness. Core vaccinations target diseases that are the most contagious and severe. The rabies vaccination is core for both dogs and cats. … Continue reading The Vaccinations Your Pets Must Have

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Why Pets Should Have Annual Wellness Exams

Allison

Every pet should have a wellness exam. This routine physical is aimed at ensuring good health through early disease prevention and early disease detection. A wellness exam can reveal subtle changes in young pets such as weight gain or loss and an early onset of disease especially in older pets. A wellness exam should be conducted once a year; twice for senior pets. Dr. Jody Jones-Skibinski of Cotner-Superior Pet Care said, “Animals may have an abnormality or illness but are often ‘stoic’ and so pet owners don’t notice symptoms. Vets notice a lot of differences that can be corrected.” In … Continue reading Why Pets Should Have Annual Wellness Exams

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Review: Two Books About Animal Rescuers

Allison

I enjoy reading books about animal rescue. Me, My Ferals, and I by Christine Booras is a heartfelt story about community cats, while Dogtripping by David Rosenfelt is a humorous story about shelter dogs. Both will resonate with anyone who cares about the plight of homeless pets. You might also pick practical tips on what to do, should you be inspired to become an animal welfare advocate. October 2008, Christine Booras saw a stealthy shadow moving, small and dark, and peering through the door of her Tai Chi studio. That glimpse, which turned out to be a confident cat, changed … Continue reading Review: Two Books About Animal Rescuers

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Review: Cats on the Job

Allison

Before I started to blog, if you had asked me to name jobs that pets do, I could have named several … and all of them would have been related to dogs. Should I have even thought of cats, I might have pointed out their ability to catch rodent. Yet cats are much more clever and versatile that most of us give them credit. You just need to read Lisa Rogak’s Cats on the Job to discover not just one or ten but fifty ways that cats purr, mouse, and even sing for their supper. In her colorful and photo-rich … Continue reading Review: Cats on the Job

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Review: Three Cat Cozy Mysteries

Allison

A while ago, I treated myself to three cat cozy mysteries. I picked random titles by two authors with whose names I have long heard of (Lillian Jackson Braun and Rite Mae Brown) and the first title in a series by an author (Sofie Kelly) whose books I discovered at a library book sale. My interest in The Cat Who mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun books comes from my mother-in-law having a dozen of them on her shelves. The series contains thirty titles and features journalist James Qwilleran and his two Siamese cats Yum Yum and Koko. In The Cat … Continue reading Review: Three Cat Cozy Mysteries

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Review: Jenny and the Cat Club

Allison

A cat acquaintance of mine recommended Jenny and the Cat Club by Esther Averill to me. She and her children find it their favorite book about cats. After realizing that Averill was the author of the I Can Read picture book The Fire Cat, I bought a copy of Jenny and the Cat Club for myself and another cat friend. Since then, I have come to adore this series of stories about a cute black kitty and hope you will too. Jenny Linsky is a shy cat. This is my number one reason for liking Averill’s stories. The literary world … Continue reading Review: Jenny and the Cat Club