My Missy Fluffs has come to have diabetes. She was a bit on the pudgy side when I rescued her, having lived in a cage for the first 2 years of her life. I've slimmed her down with exercise, but she's always had a very healthy appetite.
Recently, she began drinking a lot of water. I knew something was up, and then she vomited all over my house - got several rooms, and there were no hairballs in it. So, time to change the food and start monitoring her.
The monitoring isn't so bad, really, just a prick in her ear and take a drop of blood on my glucose meter. The same ones used for people can be used on cats. Just be sure you are looking at the correct range of blood values.
For food, the crunchies are hard to eliminate. Bugsy still eats nothing but crunchies, and the others supplement caloric intake with free-feeding all day. I'm getting some special food, Young Again Pet Food, Cat, Diabetic formula...
http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/YoungAgain-Food-D
I'm also using some Instinct dehydrated raw food and adding some vitamins. That makes up a kind of gruel when mixed with hot water (thereby cooking the meat). They look at me like "what is this?" instead of eating it.
http://www.for-the-love-of-cats.com/RawInstinct-Food
Princess seems to love it. Beasley will eventually put his nose to the bowl, Fluffy and Queenie just go hungry, and poor little Bugsie doesn't know what to do with it.
I'm currently feeding the Lamb formula, and will switch to the Venison later this week. I find it takes 3 mini-patties per feeding for 5 cats. I could probably do 5 of the patties, but right now this is working. Once they are all eating it, I will increase.
I'm adding a taurine supplement, since there is no taurine listed in the ingredients on the label. Cats must have that added to their food. Since the food is used for both cats and dogs, there are no additives of any kind. Pretty good stuff, actually!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Some new internships for veterinary students!
Veterinary Medicine Student Internships – http://1.usa.gov/zMwW61
Thursday, February 02, 2012
There was a dog food recall today!
The US Government published a dog food recall today:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm290117.htm?source=govdelivery
Advanced Animal Nutrition Recalls Dog Power Dry Dog Food
Click on the link to get the lot numbers.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm290117.htm?source=govdelivery
Advanced Animal Nutrition Recalls Dog Power Dry Dog Food
Click on the link to get the lot numbers.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, January 09, 2012
What Does a Cat Whisperer Do?
A cat whisperer - or cat trainer - can help with a troubled cat and human relationship. We can help the cat to adjust to changes around the home.
This includes helping a cat to accept other cats or dogs, a new baby, spouse, or partner. We can help the cat to feel comfortable in a new home, including a feral or rescue cat. Not that the cat will like it, but we can help the owner (or foster home) to make the cat more comfortable by their actions.
I work with shelters, foster families, folks who want to feed the feral cats in the neighborhood, and new parents; to help their cats feel more comfortable, adjust to the vagaries of life, and be more friendly.
There are times when a cat will mark it's territory, or bite and scratch for no apparent reason. I work with the humans to identify the issues, and adjust the cat's behavior accordingly.
Some cats seem hopeless and helpless. There is no bad cat. There is no hopeless cat. All the cat wants is to feel safe and eat it's fill. It wants to sleep in the sun and chase mice or birds. We, as humans, can help cats to feel safe and secure, to chase toys instead of live animals, and we do that by our actions.
I also talk a lot about a cat's diet. A cat has to eat healthy food and since we tend to keep cats in our homes, that means we have to provide that healthy food. Not all cat food is good for cats. I test foods, read labels, and keep on top of the additives and recalls that affect our furry friends. If I find something you, the owner, needs to know about, I pass it on as fast as I can.
I hope I can build trust with you, and you will learn to rely on me a little bit.
Best purrs and scratches...
This includes helping a cat to accept other cats or dogs, a new baby, spouse, or partner. We can help the cat to feel comfortable in a new home, including a feral or rescue cat. Not that the cat will like it, but we can help the owner (or foster home) to make the cat more comfortable by their actions.
I work with shelters, foster families, folks who want to feed the feral cats in the neighborhood, and new parents; to help their cats feel more comfortable, adjust to the vagaries of life, and be more friendly.
There are times when a cat will mark it's territory, or bite and scratch for no apparent reason. I work with the humans to identify the issues, and adjust the cat's behavior accordingly.
Some cats seem hopeless and helpless. There is no bad cat. There is no hopeless cat. All the cat wants is to feel safe and eat it's fill. It wants to sleep in the sun and chase mice or birds. We, as humans, can help cats to feel safe and secure, to chase toys instead of live animals, and we do that by our actions.
I also talk a lot about a cat's diet. A cat has to eat healthy food and since we tend to keep cats in our homes, that means we have to provide that healthy food. Not all cat food is good for cats. I test foods, read labels, and keep on top of the additives and recalls that affect our furry friends. If I find something you, the owner, needs to know about, I pass it on as fast as I can.
I hope I can build trust with you, and you will learn to rely on me a little bit.
Best purrs and scratches...
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Holidays are Over!
Thank goodness the holidays are over! Still a little lingering stuff to handle, like putting the Christmas decorations away, and taking down the Christmas cards from my display. But for the most part, stuff is all done. No leftovers in the fridge, no food to tempt me.
The cats are also on a diet. I realized I was feeding them 1/2 can a day plus dry food. I had to cut them back to 1/4 can a day, and sometimes, that means 1/8 of a can in the morning, and the rest at night.
The bad part about this is that Princess doesn't need to be on a diet. I wish I could get her to eat better. She continues to lose weight, and her bones are sticking out. There is nothing to be done, but make her comfortable. She sometimes has a little pain, a creaking in her joints, and she gets irritable with the other cats. Any of the other cats. She just wants what she wants when she wants it, too. She cuddles a bit, on my lap. She can be really insistent about that...
Beasley is the greatest complainer, of course. He wants all the food in the house in his bowl. He will eat his and everyone elses' food, if I let him. At least he's stopped vomiting up his food as soon as he's eaten. He is keeping it down.
I wormed them a few weeks ago, then added some edible diatomaceous earth to their food for a week after that. Any little worms left in their guts were shredded and no longer exist.
The fleas are also much better - more due to the cold weather than any action on my part. I still comb regularly and administer the flea drops. I haven't had to spray, but come spring, if the carpet isn't all out of here, there will be another infestation.
Otherwise, Queenie is a little distant, but she checks in with me at least once a day - right in my face, getting snuggles. Bugs is cuddly and filling out her personality a little more. She was so two-dimensional for so long, it's nice to see her realize that she's more than enough cat for anyone. And Fluffy, who never liked to see a brush or comb, is now coming to me and asking for them! She loves to sit on my lap as long as she can, and get mommy-time.
Beasley has been relegated to the top of the chair, and pouts a lot. But he knows he's my boy. At bedtime, he has dibs on the "next to the pillow" spot and gets to even put his nose on the pillow if he wants to.
The birds are coming by regularly, and I changed the seed mix so we get some really nice little songbirds, now. I have to put up another suet cake today. The cats need a few perches in front of the window. There just doesn't seem to be enough seating for them all.
Well, Happy New Year, friends. I hope your holidays were good, and your cats were healthy through it all. I miss tinsel. I never liked angel hair, so I went to tinsel. But it isn't safe for them. Ah, well... One day, maybe. If I ever get down to only one cat and can keep track of him or her enough to keep it out of the tree.
The cats are also on a diet. I realized I was feeding them 1/2 can a day plus dry food. I had to cut them back to 1/4 can a day, and sometimes, that means 1/8 of a can in the morning, and the rest at night.
The bad part about this is that Princess doesn't need to be on a diet. I wish I could get her to eat better. She continues to lose weight, and her bones are sticking out. There is nothing to be done, but make her comfortable. She sometimes has a little pain, a creaking in her joints, and she gets irritable with the other cats. Any of the other cats. She just wants what she wants when she wants it, too. She cuddles a bit, on my lap. She can be really insistent about that...
Beasley is the greatest complainer, of course. He wants all the food in the house in his bowl. He will eat his and everyone elses' food, if I let him. At least he's stopped vomiting up his food as soon as he's eaten. He is keeping it down.
I wormed them a few weeks ago, then added some edible diatomaceous earth to their food for a week after that. Any little worms left in their guts were shredded and no longer exist.
The fleas are also much better - more due to the cold weather than any action on my part. I still comb regularly and administer the flea drops. I haven't had to spray, but come spring, if the carpet isn't all out of here, there will be another infestation.
Otherwise, Queenie is a little distant, but she checks in with me at least once a day - right in my face, getting snuggles. Bugs is cuddly and filling out her personality a little more. She was so two-dimensional for so long, it's nice to see her realize that she's more than enough cat for anyone. And Fluffy, who never liked to see a brush or comb, is now coming to me and asking for them! She loves to sit on my lap as long as she can, and get mommy-time.
Beasley has been relegated to the top of the chair, and pouts a lot. But he knows he's my boy. At bedtime, he has dibs on the "next to the pillow" spot and gets to even put his nose on the pillow if he wants to.
The birds are coming by regularly, and I changed the seed mix so we get some really nice little songbirds, now. I have to put up another suet cake today. The cats need a few perches in front of the window. There just doesn't seem to be enough seating for them all.
Well, Happy New Year, friends. I hope your holidays were good, and your cats were healthy through it all. I miss tinsel. I never liked angel hair, so I went to tinsel. But it isn't safe for them. Ah, well... One day, maybe. If I ever get down to only one cat and can keep track of him or her enough to keep it out of the tree.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Does Your Cat Caress You?
Does your cat caress you with his tail? That's a sign of deep affection.
I've noticed my cats will come to me and rub against me, then lean in at the tail end, with their tails toward me from the base to tip. This is the start of a caress.
Other times, I've noticed Beasley, since it's his spot in the bed, lay with his back to me, and put his tail up (if he were standing) and caress my arm. He actually wraps his tail around my arm and moves it up and down, like he's petting me.
Fluffy likes to lay on my lap, and will wrap her tail around my middle. If I move her tail to something that looks more comfortable for her, she will move it back to where she had it. She then twitches the tip of her tail to "pet" me. It's a way of saying "thank you" for the lap space.
Cats have many uses for their tails. Check your cat's tail out and let me know how s/he uses it...
I've noticed my cats will come to me and rub against me, then lean in at the tail end, with their tails toward me from the base to tip. This is the start of a caress.
Other times, I've noticed Beasley, since it's his spot in the bed, lay with his back to me, and put his tail up (if he were standing) and caress my arm. He actually wraps his tail around my arm and moves it up and down, like he's petting me.
Fluffy likes to lay on my lap, and will wrap her tail around my middle. If I move her tail to something that looks more comfortable for her, she will move it back to where she had it. She then twitches the tip of her tail to "pet" me. It's a way of saying "thank you" for the lap space.
Cats have many uses for their tails. Check your cat's tail out and let me know how s/he uses it...
Thursday, December 22, 2011
2012 Newsletters
I've selected the 12 topics for newsletters for 2012. I was able to find articles for the first 6 issues, and then stopped for a break.
I'm in the middle of a book on the Mother/Daughter relationship, so I need a little time on that, too.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, my readers. May 2012 bring answers to your prayers and gifts to your lives.
I'm in the middle of a book on the Mother/Daughter relationship, so I need a little time on that, too.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, my readers. May 2012 bring answers to your prayers and gifts to your lives.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Articles of Interest
I have some "google alerts" set up and this week these articles caught my eye. I'm sharing now, and in the e-zine.
Smile!
Article on overweight pets
A neighborhood in need of a TNR Program
Stray cats vs. birds
Anti TNR for the birds' sake
Smile!
Article on overweight pets
A neighborhood in need of a TNR Program
Stray cats vs. birds
Anti TNR for the birds' sake
Monday, November 07, 2011
Do you Tweet?
Do you Tweet? Do you follow folks on Twitter?
I set up some google alerts (about time I learned how!) and there were some disturbing results this morning. I tweeted them, which is what I do with them. If you follow my Tweets, @tnmorgen, then you saw them...
bit.ly/vdMaBf
fxn.ws/s1y7uP
bit.ly/t4dh1H
Bless all the cat lovers in the world today!
I set up some google alerts (about time I learned how!) and there were some disturbing results this morning. I tweeted them, which is what I do with them. If you follow my Tweets, @tnmorgen, then you saw them...
bit.ly/vdMaBf
fxn.ws/s1y7uP
bit.ly/t4dh1H
Bless all the cat lovers in the world today!
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