Monday, December 30, 2019

Upcoming Free Presentation on Disaster Planning for your Pet

We don't like to think about it either but...
will you and your animals evacuate or survive for days or weeks without water and power in a disaster zone?

If you want to get serious about preparing 

for a catastrophic earth quake or other disaster,

Attend an upcoming free presentation: 

Keeping your pets and livestock safe 

on Thursday January 9th, 2020, from 7-9 pm.

at Fire Station 99, 8117 267th St. NW in Stanwood

Byron Wilkes is an experienced first responder who specializes in the search and rescue, evacuation, transport and safe sheltering of people and their pets/livestock in natural and man- made disasters.  His over thirty years of experience includes deployment and responses to floods, mud/landslides, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes/tsunamis worldwide. Mr. Wilkes has a hands-on understanding of the needs of a wide variety of animals. In his presentation, Mr. Wilkes will outline both preparedness processes for you and your animals prior to a disaster, as well as situational challenges you may face. There will plenty of time for questions, plus reference materials will also be available for you to take home.
This free event is sponsored by your North County Community Emergency Response, a group of volunteers local to the Stanwood area who have organized to train and educate within their communities in the event of a disaster. This FEMA-backed course provides training to the general public to assist in recovery after a disaster by giving volunteers basic training in assessing building safety, search and rescue, medical triage and first-aid to help our first responders have a head-start. Check their website for other free programs:

Friday, November 29, 2019

Feeding your Cat

Lottie waits for dinner in the kitchen
Most house cats know that their food comes from the refrigerator or pantry and often they can simply go into the kitchen and food will magically appear (their human is a mind reader!). But think about what a cat in the wild would be eating, a cat in his prime with keen senses and all his teeth. He would hunt and if successful enjoy a mouse, vole, rabbit, or if very successful a small bird. He would consume most of the body, leaving only the truly indigestible parts. Many feral cats probably eat better than our house cats these days.

Grocery store cat food may be "100% nutritionally complete," but it's often filled with carbohydrates, artificial colors, preservatives, and factory farmed meat. I am not a fan of foods sold by veterinarians either (cats often dislike them too). Veterinary formulas work in an acute health crisis, but long term I believe there are better ways to promote a healthy immune system and prevent urinary problems, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. Dry kibble was invented because it is convenient, doesn't require refrigeration, can sit out for days without spoiling, and doesn't make a mess. Give your kitty a raw chicken liver on the other hand, and there will be blood everywhere as he drags it around and gnaws on it. But there is SO much more nutrition in that organ and offal! Your kitty will be satiated for much longer and will probably take a long nap as he digests all the goodness. Liver isn't ideal for every meal of course, but what a great treat and regular supplement for most kitties. The next step might be a raw diet, one that is more balanced than just liver. Or feeding a bit of raw on top of some grain-free canned food, or perhaps canned for breakfast and raw for dinner. Maybe some goat milk or full fat yogurt now and then.

Do you eat the exact same food and quantity for every meal? No animal does. We consider our companion animals to be members of the family, yet do we fully understand their needs? They are obligate carnivores, no matter how cute and cuddly they are with us. I encourage you to do your own research and source foods you can feel good about feeding your kitty. Check out this excellent resource: Feline Nutrtion Read about how the founders at the Big Cat Sanctuary really did their homework and hit upon the right combination of foods to make their resident felines happy and healthy. Visiting the Big Cat Sanctuary and seeing some of their magnificent felines in person sounds like a dream trip to me, but for now I am completely satisfied with the kitties I take care of (and I don't have to make blood popsicles for them).

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Cozy Home Improvements

Just as parents with young children generally have kid paraphernalia in every room, my house is filed with cat "stuff." The kitties have scratchers of course, flat cardboard ones, a very sturdy sisal post, and various carpeted condo styles. Comfy beds, both open and cabana style abound. Chair cushions are covered with fleece kitty blankets, plus step stools are placed in front of these chairs to make it easy for my senior kitties to get into the chair. (One of my kitties who isn't even very old needs steps because she has a BB lodged in her spine and cannot jump.) There is a wicker trunk with a heating pad and kitty bed on top that gets direct sun next to a large window, making this a coveted spot. An iron daybed, also with a heated bed and multiple pillow, is placed under another window. Multiple kitties can enjoy this sunny spot. Heated beds are so important for kitties as they age and often suffer from arthritis and kidney disease, as warmth can make them feel better.

I've put some thought into creating areas kitties will be able to lounge in comfort. It so satisfying to see happy kitties! I'm certainly not alone in "catifying" a space. I've seen so many ingenious ideas for kitties who like to get up high, hide in cozy caves, or simply have a small area all to themselves - like their own little clubhouse. Just pay attention to where your cat wants to be - it may be the busiest area of the house so they can be involved, or it may be a "panopticon" position where they can observe everything, such as the top of the refrigerator.

 My decorating style is more shabby/flea market/granny chic, however I was excited to learn that IKEA has a whole new line of dog and cat related furniture items. Of course it's a well known fact that cats love plain cardboard boxes, but with items this cute and reasonably priced you can splurge. No matter what your style, there are cool ways to make your home more fun for your kitty. Your feline is a member of your family, so embrace cat stuff!

Sidney snoozing in his armchair

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

How to have an Old (& Happy) Kitty

It's been said that getting old is not for sissies. Your eyesight and hearing diminish, your joints hurt, your digestion can suffer... you get the picture. As your kitty's guardian however, there are many things you can do to help him or her age gracefully. Keep in mind, I am not a veterinarian and your cat's doctor may or may not agree with my (free) advice. 

1. Feed your cat a high protein/high moisture diet. Yes, some veterinarians still subscribe to the lower protein prescription diet they can sell you. They might truly believe this is an ideal way to ease the burden on senior kidneys (and they also make money selling you this food). I think that belief is fortunately not as popular now, since most cats I met who had to eat that food really hated it. I advocate a raw food diet for cats who enjoy it and can digest it. If your cat won't touch it or vomits it up, stick to canned food and supplement with digestive enzymes and probiotics. Canned, grain free food is always preferable over dry food since your kitty needs the moisture to keep this kidneys hydrated. Adding extra water to make the food as soupy as they will tolerate is helpful too.

2. Build your kitty a catio! My darling orange tabby Roy was the last free-roaming cat I will ever have. He joined our household when he was about 9 months old and even though he was neutered, he acted like a Tom cat. He was very unhappy staying inside and I didn't have a catio at the time. When I later had a catio, other cats he disliked occupied it most of the time. My point is that I worried about Roy every single day he went outside. He always came in at dusk, except the first warm night of spring every year. When he was diagnosed with diabetes during the last year of his life, he would run inside at "shot time" because he knew I was taking care of him. Roy passed away at 17 1/2 YO from the pancreatitis which caused his diabetes. We were very lucky he was never hit by a car or attacked by a dog or shot at, or any of the horrible things that can happen to a cat alone outside. Now we have several catios that are basically bear/eagle/coyote/human proof. I don't have to worry about the kitties getting the sunshine and fresh air they need.

3. Rethink annual vaccinations. There is a ton of information on the Internet about the dangers of vaccinating animals every year. I personally know cats who got cancer and had to have amputations, or suffered twitching/tumors forever after, and most commonly, are sick for days afterwards when they ere perfectly healthy before the shots. Obviously if you have a kitty who is outside a lot, such as a barn cat, you would want an initial rabies vaccination. But for a cat who lives a strictly indoor life, consider the risks of vaccinating once they are grown. And never vaccinate a cat who is already sick (yes, I once a vet try to do this on a kitty with a high fever).

4. Choose a "Muttigree." Purebred cats have more health issues, from my experience. 

5. Sadly, cancer is a common killer in companion animals and we don't really know the role chemicals have in contributing to different cancers. Avoid as many chemicals in your home as possible, such as scented litter, fabric softeners and air fresheners. Your kitty is likely in your home 24/7 and breathing those chemicals into his tiny little body at a much higher concentration than the average human. If your cat's litter box stinks, chances are it needs to be cleaned! There are many good natural and clay-free litters available now. Buy a scoop for each box, keep a little covered waste can, whatever you need to make it EASY to clean a few times a day. Also, open the windows to ventilate as often as possible and keep healthy houseplants that filter the air.

6. Help your kitty with extra steps/ramps and rubber backed throw rugs if he has trouble getting up on furniture or slips on the floor. Keep heated beds in multiple locations to soothe his aching joints (kidney kitties also seek heat to help themselves feel better). Don't let your cat become obese in middle age, which may later translate into joint problems. Keep your senior kitty's nails trimmed so the nails don't grow into the pads or cause his gait to be off. Help him stay groomed with brushing or combing more frequently, since older cats often don't groom themselves as frequently. 

Sure, young kitties are cute but I enjoy meeting senior kitties, who often have unique preferences. If we are lucky, we all get to grow old. 
Lottie (left) and Paddy (right) enjoying an after breakfast sun bath

Hannah sitting in her zen pose.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Free Feline Behavior/Enrichment Class!


Saturday, April 13th, 2019 1-3pm 
NOAH Events Center
31300 Brandstrom Rd
Stanwood, WA 98292



Sunday, February 3, 2019

Transporting your Kitty

We recently had two kitties who required surgery; Ally had a dental procedure with six extractions and Coco had a mass removed from her eyelid. Thankfully, they are both recovering fine. The multiple trips to the veterinarian were probably the most stressful factor for all of us, humans and kitties alike. There are ways to reduce your cat's anxiety, motion sickness, and reluctance to even allow you to place her in a carrier. While not every trick will help every kitty, hopefully you can find a combination of measures that help calm your kitty and make traveling a bit more pleasant.

1. Use the right carrier for your cat. A top and front loading crate will make it easier if your cat uses her legs to brace herself when you attempt to put her into the carrier. Rigid plastic is easy to clean if your kitty is a nervous pee-er or a senior kitty who cannot always hold her urine. A soft carrier, such as a Sherpa brand, often has a full zip top. This means you can totally unzip it, nudge your slightly suspicious kitty onto the soft "bed," and then rapidly zip the top with your hand on her back to hold her there. Because these type of carriers cannot be cleaned very well, I recommend putting piddle pads inside under a towel in case of accidents. Bring a plastic bag and extra blankets in case there is a #2 accident and you need to pull over (been there). 

2. Spray the carrier and blankets with Feliway Comfort Zone an hour before loading kitty. Spray your car a bit too. 

3. Try Rescue Remedy flower essences on your kitty's temples before the trip. The formula made for animals doesn't have alcohol in it so they won't even smell it. 

4. If you have a kitty who was/is somewhat feral or works herself up by howling for the entire trip (been there too!), resort to Gabapentin. Your veterinarian can prescribe this and it's inexpensive. You can even get it compounded if you have better luck with liquid meds. My tabby twins will usually eat something tasty such as baby food with a capsule mixed in and not notice it. Note that this drug often needs at least two hours to reach a noticeable effect. CBD may also help if you wish to experiment with the variety of products made specifically for pets.

5. Since I moved to a colder climate and my kitties are mostly geriatric, we use a cuddle disc under the blankets inside the crate. Alternatively, you could warm blankets in the drier before placing them in the crate (NEVER use drier sheets with fragrances and chemicals around cats).

6. Always cover the carrier when walking to and from the car, to reduce the feeling of being exposed and unprotected. If you go to a veterinarian that also sees dogs, keep the crate covered until you are bot in the exam room. Obviously if it is very warm out, use common sense and make sure your cat doesn't get overheated. 

I've read that the safest place to put your crated kitty while driving is on the floor of the back seat. My car doesn't allow for this so I put the crates in the back seat area where the kitties can both see and hear me talking to them. Some newer carriers can be secured with the seatbelt, such as SleepyPod brands. If I had to purchase a carrier for air travel or wanted to splurge on a luxury carrier, these would be my choice. Safe travels!

Our favorite carriers