By Diane Hood
I proudly admit that I am currently owned by 3 felines; my pet cats are the loves of my life.
Their names are Red, Hazel and Jada and they each have totally unique appearances and personalities. I never intended to be the owner of a 3-cat feline family, that's just how things worked out and I don't regret it for a minute. I love my cats unconditionally and will care for them until they or I pass on into the next world.
To repeat, it wasn't my intent to own multiple pets. At least I don't think so. It evolved naturally enough with my being able to to offer assistance to a friend who owned a feline rescue shelter and my propensity to become attached to any animal in my care. Some of these animals had been abused, abandoned or just given back to the shelter once their adoptive owners realized that cats and kittens aside from being cute, need care, patience and training. We soon realized that we were rescuing and taking back more animals than we were placing. Unfortunately, this is a problem that many privately owned and operated animal rescue shelters face and they usually operate as non-profits.
Once I bonded with a cat, especially a kitten, it was hard for me to give it up; so I had to limit myself to assisting with the cleaning and general maintenance of the shelter and to only provide my home for the boarding of felines when absolutely necessary. I would aIso like to point that I was only able to work at my friends' shelter because it is a "no-kill" shelter and no animal is ever put down unless it is recommended by the vet to put an end to the animal's misery, pain and suffering.
The importance of spaying and neutering pets becomes very clear once one has worked in this type of environment. So much pain and suffering on the part of these innocent animals could be avoided if we humans would only act responsibly in caring for our animal friends by controlling their population. We have selfish, irresponsible humans calling the shelter daily asking us to take in kittens they can no longer keep, but show no interest whatsoever in our discount spay and neuter services. Nor do they offer to make a donation to the shelter. What is really frightening is that these same selfish, immature individuals are also parents.
I feel that it is alright for me to have 3 pet cats because I am a responsible cat owner. My pets are all spayed and neutered, are taken to the vet, vaccinated and examined as required. I have voluntarily devoted my time, my home and my love to these creatures and I vow to do all that I can to see that their lives are as full, healthy and happy as I can possible make them. Were I able to afford it, I would purchase some real estate in a rural location and open my own shelter. It's definitely at the top of my list of things to do after I win the Powerball lottery (hey, ya just never know...).
Anyway, please spay and neuter your pet if you cannot guarantee homes for their offspring.
My pet cats and I thank you for reading.
About the author:
My main interests are pets and animal rights, bloggng and internet marketing.
http://petcats-felinefamilycareandhumor.blogspot.com
http://thehealthypet.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
Cat scratch fever (Monroe County Clarion)
By Joe Leicht
The debate over the best non-human housemate-dog or cat-seems never ending.
Truth be told, the canines have probably had the better of the public-relations battle. Where in feline lore is there a counterpart to Old Yeller, Clifford, Buck, Krypto, Snoopy, or Scooby-Doo?
But that doesn't mean a thing to the Woehlke family of Columbia and the other cat lovers and their swishy-tailed companions who came to the Humane Society of Monroe County's first-ever Feline Frenzy at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia's fellowship hall Feb. 24.Mona, a 3-year-old domestic short hair, is the "lazy cat" of the Woehlke household in Columbia.
"So lazy she lies down to eat," Jennifer Woehlke said of her daughter Madison's cat.
Then again, Madison's sister Faith's 3-year-old Maine coon cat Lilo claims she is "queen of the house."
"Forget water bowls," Lilo, as translated by Jennifer, said. "Those are for the dogs. I sit patiently on the sink and wait for the trickling of the faucet. There is no ignoring me. I will get what I want."
Still, the judges were most impressed with Buggatti, a 6-month-old Siamese/ragdoll mix who is the third cat in the Woehlke clan.
Buggatti, adopted by the HSMC, "likes to get into as much trouble as possible," including dives into the washer from which he emerges sopping wet.
Buggatti gained first place in the Feline Frenzy cat show.
The kitties were "judged" by short narratives written by their owners describing them, their backgrounds and their antics.
Breezy, owned by Haley Jackson, is loathe to put her face into her water dish to drink, preferring to dip her paws into the dish. Breezy was the 2nd place cat in the show.
Janice Matthews' 4-year-old cat Gabby, as her name suggests, "likes to talk a lot." Her downside? Gabby also "loves to bite."
Ike is Erin Pozniak's first cat ever and is "no ordinary cat. He will let you hold him all day long" and "does not mind water at all. He will jump in a sink or bathtub when you are using it."
Red wandered into Celeste Knierim's backyard when she was living is South St. Louis and she cemented their friendship by feeding him.
"It took me six months to just touch him on the back and then he would run from me," Knierim said. Red, apparently abused by a previous owner, walks with a limp.
The free meals, a cat door Knierim installed in her basement and the open invitation of affection eventually won the former Tails Magazine Pet of the Month over.
"Now Red is a house cat and follows me everywhere and sits on my right side when I am on the couch," Knierim said. "When I have my laptop, he will reach up and put his paw on the mouse."
Marjorie Sue Phillips, a HSMC volunteer, owns a Schnauzer but helps care for three rescued cats.
"I kept getting asked by the cat lovers 'when are you going to have something for cats?'" Phillips said, referring to the HSMC's annual Me & My Mutt Dog Walk in Columbia and Jingle Bell Dog Walk in Waterloo.
"Cat owners know cats are independent, so training a cat is different than a dog," she said. "Dogs seek attention. Cats decide when they want it. Both cat and dog owners are usually caring, sensitive people and will treat their animals as a member of the family.
"The advantage to cats is that they are more self-entertaining and self-sufficient."
The debate over the best non-human housemate-dog or cat-seems never ending.
Truth be told, the canines have probably had the better of the public-relations battle. Where in feline lore is there a counterpart to Old Yeller, Clifford, Buck, Krypto, Snoopy, or Scooby-Doo?
But that doesn't mean a thing to the Woehlke family of Columbia and the other cat lovers and their swishy-tailed companions who came to the Humane Society of Monroe County's first-ever Feline Frenzy at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia's fellowship hall Feb. 24.Mona, a 3-year-old domestic short hair, is the "lazy cat" of the Woehlke household in Columbia.
"So lazy she lies down to eat," Jennifer Woehlke said of her daughter Madison's cat.
Then again, Madison's sister Faith's 3-year-old Maine coon cat Lilo claims she is "queen of the house."
"Forget water bowls," Lilo, as translated by Jennifer, said. "Those are for the dogs. I sit patiently on the sink and wait for the trickling of the faucet. There is no ignoring me. I will get what I want."
Still, the judges were most impressed with Buggatti, a 6-month-old Siamese/ragdoll mix who is the third cat in the Woehlke clan.
Buggatti, adopted by the HSMC, "likes to get into as much trouble as possible," including dives into the washer from which he emerges sopping wet.
Buggatti gained first place in the Feline Frenzy cat show.
The kitties were "judged" by short narratives written by their owners describing them, their backgrounds and their antics.
Breezy, owned by Haley Jackson, is loathe to put her face into her water dish to drink, preferring to dip her paws into the dish. Breezy was the 2nd place cat in the show.
Janice Matthews' 4-year-old cat Gabby, as her name suggests, "likes to talk a lot." Her downside? Gabby also "loves to bite."
Ike is Erin Pozniak's first cat ever and is "no ordinary cat. He will let you hold him all day long" and "does not mind water at all. He will jump in a sink or bathtub when you are using it."
Red wandered into Celeste Knierim's backyard when she was living is South St. Louis and she cemented their friendship by feeding him.
"It took me six months to just touch him on the back and then he would run from me," Knierim said. Red, apparently abused by a previous owner, walks with a limp.
The free meals, a cat door Knierim installed in her basement and the open invitation of affection eventually won the former Tails Magazine Pet of the Month over.
"Now Red is a house cat and follows me everywhere and sits on my right side when I am on the couch," Knierim said. "When I have my laptop, he will reach up and put his paw on the mouse."
Marjorie Sue Phillips, a HSMC volunteer, owns a Schnauzer but helps care for three rescued cats.
"I kept getting asked by the cat lovers 'when are you going to have something for cats?'" Phillips said, referring to the HSMC's annual Me & My Mutt Dog Walk in Columbia and Jingle Bell Dog Walk in Waterloo.
"Cat owners know cats are independent, so training a cat is different than a dog," she said. "Dogs seek attention. Cats decide when they want it. Both cat and dog owners are usually caring, sensitive people and will treat their animals as a member of the family.
"The advantage to cats is that they are more self-entertaining and self-sufficient."
Cat Constipation
By Kristy Annely
Normally a cat has bowel movements once or twice a day. If the pet does not do it or strain to do it with hard feces, the cat is suffering from Constipation. It is a very common problem with cats and an occasional bout of Constipation is nothing to worry about.
But when a cat is chronically constipated it needs serious attention. As the cats age they are more prone to this problem. There are quite a few causes of Cat Constipation. Obstructions like hairballs, tumors and foreign bodies stop the movement of the feces inside the colon, and the fecal matter builds up. This becomes a hard dry mass and distends the colon, which looses its ability to contract and expel feces. This condition is known as megacolon.
When the cats are constipated they behave in a typical manner. They run to their litter box quite often and strain to pass stool. They make noise and start licking the anal area. They lose their appetite and become sluggish. Vomiting and passing a small amount of liquid feces is quite common.
If the Constipation is not very severe, an enema will clear the colon. Hard impacted feces may have to be physically removed in a veterinary clinic under anesthesia. Intravenous liquid is also given to prevent dehydration.
After the bout of Constipation is cleared, the underlying problem, like obstruction in the colon, has to be tackled. For the cats suffering from megacolon or an untreatable or unknown problem, a management regime has to be adopted. A high-fiber diet increases the bulk and assists in bowel movement. Increase the liquid consumption of the cat by feeding canned cat food rather than dry. Milk and soup can also be tried. We have to try and get the cat to consume liquid by a means that the cat likes.
If the megacolon is advanced, no amount of management can make it propel the stool to the exit. The only alternative is surgery. The colon is removed, and most surgeries are successful.
Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Normally a cat has bowel movements once or twice a day. If the pet does not do it or strain to do it with hard feces, the cat is suffering from Constipation. It is a very common problem with cats and an occasional bout of Constipation is nothing to worry about.
But when a cat is chronically constipated it needs serious attention. As the cats age they are more prone to this problem. There are quite a few causes of Cat Constipation. Obstructions like hairballs, tumors and foreign bodies stop the movement of the feces inside the colon, and the fecal matter builds up. This becomes a hard dry mass and distends the colon, which looses its ability to contract and expel feces. This condition is known as megacolon.
When the cats are constipated they behave in a typical manner. They run to their litter box quite often and strain to pass stool. They make noise and start licking the anal area. They lose their appetite and become sluggish. Vomiting and passing a small amount of liquid feces is quite common.
If the Constipation is not very severe, an enema will clear the colon. Hard impacted feces may have to be physically removed in a veterinary clinic under anesthesia. Intravenous liquid is also given to prevent dehydration.
After the bout of Constipation is cleared, the underlying problem, like obstruction in the colon, has to be tackled. For the cats suffering from megacolon or an untreatable or unknown problem, a management regime has to be adopted. A high-fiber diet increases the bulk and assists in bowel movement. Increase the liquid consumption of the cat by feeding canned cat food rather than dry. Milk and soup can also be tried. We have to try and get the cat to consume liquid by a means that the cat likes.
If the megacolon is advanced, no amount of management can make it propel the stool to the exit. The only alternative is surgery. The colon is removed, and most surgeries are successful.
Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com