1. A vet check

Your first resolution is a vet check. Don’t hesitate to have your cat examined by a veterinarian whenever you see changes in her behavior.

Sometimes the only way you know your cats are not in good health is by their behavior. The indicators can be subtle and hard to recognize — the only clues of medical problems may be changes in how cats act. Feigning good health is a survival tactic that helps ferals and strays survive among hungry predators who are looking for easy meals. Felines who show signs of being sick or injured are more vulnerable than healthy ones. Although this tactic can work for cats living wild, it can be detrimental for pets. Usually, by the time cat parents notice changes in behavior, medical issues have progressed and the kitties need to be examined by veterinarians as soon as possible.

Cats who are cranky may be reacting to painful arthritis, mouth and teeth problems, as well as a number of other unpleasant conditions. Litter box avoidance may be a symptom of serious ailments that include urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes. Kitties who hide from people they are bonded to may be instinctually responding to injury and illness by making themselves scarce. Be aware that the subtlest of changes may have their roots in disease. One of my cats started sleeping on hard surfaces — his sudden change in behavior was caused by lymphoma.

2. The right litter boxes and daily maintenance

The second resolution is creating an ideal bathroom situation for your cat. Buy the right boxes and rplace them in the right places. Don’t forget to scoop them every day.

Finding urine on beds, sofas, and carpets is not the high point of anyone’s day. Although frustrating, eliminating outside of litter boxes is a problem that most likely can be resolved. Depending on the circumstances and the environment it also can be headed off before it begins, through daily litter box maintenance, providing large, uncovered litter boxes, and placing them in accessible yet quiet areas where cats won’t feel trapped.

3. The right stuff to scratch

Scratching the household furniture is one of the main reasons people declaw their cats — an unnecessary and painful procedure. Although cats instinctually scratch objects, they do not have to focus their claws on sofas and rugs.

Scratching is a multifunctional activity. In addition to providing claw maintenance, scratching marks territories. Kitties also scratch when they feel conflicted and stressed, when playing, and after a satisfying nap. In short, cats have to scratch!

The third resolution is to satisfy your cat’s instinctual need to scratch while saving the couches and carpets. Place horizontal scratchers and scratching posts in areas where your cats hang out. You can then easily train your kitty to scratch only the objects that are hers.

4. Provide some high places to perch

Your fourth resolution is to add vertical territory — high places around your home that your cats can jump and climb up to. Vertical territory can improve inter-cat relationships, become safe havens, and help keep your cats physically fit.

Cats don’t always get along with each other. One thing that fuels these iffy relationships is kitties not being able to demonstrate their positions in flexible hierarchies. A way they show their status in a multicat household is by where they situate themselves in relationship to each other. Typically, cats who occupy a high position in the hierarchy sit at the highest level while the others hang out on the lower perches. It’s not a static hierarchy — it changes, depending on a number of factors including other animals, food, and their health. Vertical territory, in the form of tall cat trees and condos, high shelves, perches, and household furniture can contribute to improving relationships.

Like many cat-centric objects and activities, vertical territory has many purposes. Climbing and jumping are natural pastimes for cats. Navigating up to the high shelves and perches provides exercise and mental stimulation. Felines feel safe in high places — they can view potential threats from up high. Additionally, tall cat trees placed next to secure windows are perfect for napping and observing the neighborhood activity. One can never have too much vertical territory.

5. Provide some social enrichment

Your fifth resolution is enriching your cat’s environment. Gift her with toys she enjoys playing with, places to climb, objects to scratch, and things to do. Interact with her every day — spend quality time playing and cuddling.

Cats often become bored and inactive when they do not have enough stimulation. Bored cats live in a boring environment — devoid of interesting toys to play with, objects to climb, or bonded buddies to interact with. Cats who are bored often develop behavior problems. They may create their own entertainment by scaling the curtains, knocking items off of shelves, or shredding toilet paper. Some develop harmful repetitive behaviors such as overgrooming. Others become obese from being inactive. Although all of these behaviors may indicate boredom, they can also be caused by medical or other types of behavior problems.

Cats need mental and physical stimulation. Enriching their homes with ball-and-track toys, puzzle boxes and feeders, tall cat trees and high perches, tunnels to hide in, and cat scratchers helps keep cats active and interested in their environment. Games and play sessions also help keep kitties engaged. Some cats love to fetch; most enjoy lively play sessions every day. Other activities that are fun for cats and their people include treasure hunts and clicker training.

Although being proactive does not guarantee behavior issues won’t develop, the odds are in your favor that your cats will be perfect angels for 2015.

and placing them in accessible yet quiet areas where cats won’t feel trapped.

Tips for Winter Walking and Hiking With Dogs

When making plans over the holidays, consider the events where you can include your pet — Christmas tree lighting, finding the perfect Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols door to door in your neighborhood — it’s likely that you can easily bring Fido or other pets along for some of this holiday fun. Many of these holiday activities that are also pet-friendly are outdoors and it’s likely to be cold out, so be sure as you’re bundling up to stay comfortable outside, you do the same for your pet.

Hang a stocking for Fido, and fill it with his special treats. Yes, it’s the holiday season, and time to share the celebrations with your pets.

Pet-friendly parties
Let’s face it–parties tend to get loud and boisterous. Some of our companion animals may feel a bit uncomfortable with all the noise and extra people in their space. It is a good idea to keep an eye on our pets and remove them to a quiet area if they start to become over-excited or nervous. The sweet gentle dog who would never think of biting someone might snap at a party guest who is forcing the dog to accept attentions he may not want.

And when the cat who is usually such a bundle of love suddenly begins to snarl and slap at guests, she is saying that she has had enough! You might consider leading the animal around the room to greet each guest, and then putting the pet in a quiet room with a few treats _before_ he or she has the chance to feel too stressed.

Some Christmas treats can be toxic to pets
Everyone loves to eat. And those wonderful family feasts during the holidays are hard to resist, for us and for our pets. Supervise any well-meaning guests who try to slip a morsel of food to the dog or cat, or even the bird. There are foods that are dangerous for our pets and unfortunately, some people may not realize how ill they could cause our pets to become.

Make sure that alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine are kept off limits for all pets, and that avocado is not given to any birds. These items can be toxic to our furred and feathered family members!

Creative gift wrap
Giving gifts during the holiday season is a fun and special part of the festivities. There are many cute items on the market for our pets, and they love getting gifts as much as we do! If you decide to wrap your pet’s presents, be sure not to use any of the pretty holiday foil gift wrap. A companion animal could become seriously ill if any of the foil paper were to be ingested.

Use plain paper or butcher paper to wrap Fido’s or Fluffy’s gifts. Then stand back and watch them tear into the treats.

Use candles with caution
If lighting candles is part of your family’s traditional celebrations, make sure your pets are kept at a safe distance. Imagine how easy it would be for the cat to knock over a candle stick and start a fire, or for the dog to grab a candle to chew on! And the bird will be tempted to get close to the pretty flame just to see what it is.

Candles are special in so many holiday celebrations. Go ahead and enjoy them…just enjoy them while your pet is safely away in another area of the home.

Making memories
While enjoying all the holiday festivities with your companion animals, don’t forget to take lots of pictures. The pets will probably be the only ones not moaning and groaning about how fat they looked. All they’ll remember will be how much fun they had!

Bring your pet with your when you travel for the holidays

Just because you’re traveling for the holidays doesn’t mean you have to leave your pooch at home! A great way to include your beloved pet in your holiday traditions this year is to bring them with you, no matter where you travel to over the holidays. Most hotels, even the highest-end hotels, are pet-friendly now, and if you’re staying with family, it’s even less of a concern. By bringing your pet with you to your holiday travel destination, they’ll be part of the holiday action, just like they would be in your own home.

Of course they should be use to traveling.  Our doggies particularly like Motel 6 because they are all laid out the same.  I have seen fellow pet lovers with their cats, guinea pigs, and other small animals at Motel 6 as well.

Safe travels and enjoy the holiday season.

“Carla immediately took up a mother role, when she found the abandoned baby stag during a hike through the forest,” the 52-year-old recalled.

The two have become the best of friends.

Kuderer, who owns a 200-year-old Christmas tree farm with her husband Andreas, adopted the orphaned deer and named it Peterle. The family raised the young stag, feeding it bottles of goat milk for nearly six months before it returned to the woods on its own.

But that didn’t end the odd relationship.

“Every day, Peterle visits Carla, they play around, cuddle and then eat some oatmeal and dog cookies together,” Helga Kuderer said.

At this time of year, customers and visitors to the farm often witness the gentle exchanges between the two buddies or watch a wild playful chases through the rows of lined-up Christmas trees.

Peterle has been spotted with other deer at times, but can be easily identified by his bright orange collar.

“The stag wears the signal colors, so that hunters in the region do not go after him,” Kuderer said.

Other animals on the farm — chicken, rabbits and a goat — have also accepted the presence of the wild neighbor.

“Only the goat needs to be kept locked inside at the moment because it likes to eat our Christmas trees,” Kuderer said.

The Neighborhood Cats Winter Shelter

by http://www.neighborhoodcats.org

We suggest these safe havens even for our own cats that go out with us in the morning as we leave for work.  If you can’t get home or the weather turns ugly they can always have refuge from the harsh elements. ~Melissa

For detailed instructions on how to build, click here
To view photos of how to assemble, click here. Picture trail courtesy of Arjun Ray.

Originally designed by Karin Hancock of Port Washington, NY, our favorite feral cat winter shelter has many advantages. The two-inch thick hard Styrofoam is excellent insulation and traps the cat’s body heat, effectively turning the feline into a radiator.  Air space is purposely limited, so there is less volume to be heated. Typically, 3 to 4 cats can fit comfortably inside, although more might curl up on a severely cold night.

The shelter is lightweight and should be weighed down.  Best is to place two shelters about a foot apart with the doors facing each other.  Bridge the gap by laying a piece of plywood across both roofs.  Now the shelters are fully protected against the elements.

After the cats have begun using the shelters, you might try adding a flap door which the cats can easily pull back.  A piece of a vinyl mat will do, attached by drilling (or poking) two holes above the door opening and using plastic nuts and bolts (like those used to attach toilet seats).  Never place water inside because it could spill and get the cats wet, threatening their health.

Materials include an 8-foot sheet of hard Styrofoam (usually pink),  a few linoleum floor tiles, a tube of silicone sealant and deck paint.  Average cost will likely be in the range of $50 to $60 each.  Ideally the Styrofoam will be cut with a table saw in order to keep the edges of the pieces straight.

The CSM Stray Foundation Winter Shelter

Here’s another idea inspired by the CSM Stray Foundation in Kew Gardens, Queens:

Materials needed are: a large Rubbermaid storage bin, an eight foot by two foot sheet of one-inch thick hard Styrofoam, a yardstick, a box cutter or utility knife, and straw, shredded newspaper or other insulating material. Then assemble as follows:

1. Cut a doorway six inches by six inches in one of the long sides of the storage bin towards the corner. To prevent flooding, cut the opening so that the bottom of the doorway is several inches above the ground.
2. Line the floor of the bin with a piece of Styrofoam, using the yardstick and box cutter to cut out the piece.
3. In similar fashion, line each of the four interior walls of the bin with a piece of the Styrofoam.  Perfect cuts are not necessary. Don’t make the Styrofoam go all the way up to the top of the bin, but leave a uniform gap of at least three inches between the top of these Styrofoam “wall pieces” and the upper lip of the bin. There needs to be room for an interior Styrofoam “roof” to fit.
4. Cut out a doorway in the Styrofoam where it is lined up with the doorway that has been cut out already in the storage bin. Trace the outline of the doorway on the Styrofoam first before cutting.
5. Stuff the bottom of the bin with straw or other insulating material to hold the Styrofoam interior wall pieces in place.
6. Cut out a Styrofoam “roof” to rest on top of the Styrofoam interior wall pieces
7. Cover the bin with its lid.

This shelter can be cleaned by taking off the lid and the Styrofoam roof. It’s also lightweight and may need to be weighed down. A flap over the doorway is optional. Catnip can be sprinkled inside at first to attract the cats.

Other Alternatives

Spay and Stay of Lake County, Illinois, offers detailed plans and photos on its website for making inexpensive winter shelters from two Rubbermaid storage boxes. Click here for instructions.

Bushwick Street Cats designed a storage bin shelter with a clever twist; this one uses a plastic flowerpot to create a safe and sturdy entranceway for the cats. Find step-by-step instructions here.

Another shelter created from Rubbermaid storage bins was designed by John V.; this version features an interior panel that serves as a windbreak. For complete DIY instructions click here.

Simple shelters can be made from styrofoam boxes. Look for them in places like supermarkets, fish stores and butcher shops. Omaha steak boxes are excellent and a great way to recycle. Vaccines and medications that must remain cold in transit are shipped in styrofoam containers so your veterinarian may also be a good source. To make a shelter use a sharp utility knife to cut a 5″ to 6″ hole (anywhere but the middle of the container’s long side), weigh down the box with a brick and stuff with straw. Painting is optional.

If you want to get fancy, get a large Igloo cooler and, with a jigsaw, cut a five to six inch round hole towards the left or right of one of the long sides. The attached lid will allow for easy cleaning.

Animalkind of Hudson County, NY, provides photos and instructions on its website for converting styrofoam packing containers into cold weather shelter: http://www.all-creatures.org/ak/feral-shelter.html

Caretaker Krista Rakovan created yet another cost-effective do-it-yourself styrofoam shelter; find photos and easy instructions here (pdf).

The Rubbermaid Roughneck Homes Program offers access to wholesale pricing on two of the most popular Rubbermaid Totes used for creating safe feral cat shelters. Find purchasing information and step-by-step instructions here.

Want more ideas? View the webinar Colony Care: Food & Shelter for additional shelter designs plus invaluable cold weather tips. Colony Care is part of PetSmart Charities’ 2014 Supporting Community Cats webinar series. The 60-minute presentation, instructed by Neighborhood Cats’ Directors Meredith Weiss and Lois McClurg is archived in the PetSmart Charities e-Learning Center. To view the recorded webinar go here, then click “Catalog”; click “Supporting Community Cats”; click the session title; click “Enroll”. Note, if you have not previously signed up to view webinars in the e-Learning center you’ll need to create an account. The process takes less than a minute to complete.

New York City – Local Resources

Shelters

Pre-made fish boxes – Constructed from recycled styrofoam fish boxes covered with two 2-ml thick plastic liners and heat-welded straps. Straw included. It is important to place right side up as there are drainage holes. We recommend placing the shelters on something such as bricks or pieces of wood, not directly on the ground to allow for drainage.

Sizes and price:
Large approx. 34″ l x 20″ w x 20″ h. Accommodates 2-3 adult cats. $20.
Further discounts for bulk orders of 60 or more.

Emergency Feral Cat Shelter!!

In an emergency, such as the aftermath of a bad storm or a sudden cold snap, you can quickly make an adequate temporary shelter out of a cardboard box, plastic sheeting (or trash bags), duct tape and shredded newspaper.  The cardboard provides some insulation, the plastic will keep the shelter dry and the newspaper will let the cats burrow in.

Take a cardboard box and tape all the seams shut with the duct tape.  Wrap plastic sheeting (a drop cloth 3 mm thick is best) or a heavy duty trash bag (3 mm thick contractor bags are best) around the box, securing it by liberally and tightly wrapping duct tape around the sides of the box.  Make as few seams as possible with the plastic and duct tape over any that are there.  In one of the shorter sides and a few inches above the ground, cut open a doorway about 6 inches by 6 inches.  It’s important to leave a lip at the bottom of the doorway and not have the opening right on the ground.  Use duct tape to hold the loose plastic around the doorway in place.  Fill the interior up to the bottom of the doorway (and a little higher towards the back of the box) loosely with shredded newspaper.

Special tip!  Put a smaller cardboard box inside a slightly larger one for added insulation.

If possible, place the box shelter underneath something to protect it, like a tree or a porch, and on top of something to raise it off the ground, like a pallet.  Weigh it down with a couple of bricks or rocks, heavy enough to keep it in place but not to crush the top.  For permanent winter shelter, consider one of the alternatives below.



FeralVilla

For $72.95 plus shipping, the manufacturer FeralVilla will send you a pre-fabricated wooden insulated shelter that you can assemble with a screwdriver.  According to the website:

“The unique design has 2 levels — a ‘labyrinth’-type lower level to keep out wind and water, and an insulated, upper level that allows the cat’s own body heat to be retained during cold weather.

“The overall size of The FeralVilla is 22″ x 22″ and about 21” high at the peak of the roof. The roof overhangs the main body by a couple inches to provide additional weather resistance.

“The basic construction materials are like those used in homes. All wood is painted to resist weathering and rot. The lower legs (that rest on the ground) are made from pressure treated lumber that is particularly resistant to rot and insect damage. Under normal outside conditions, the shelter is expected to last a minimum of 7 years.”

Note: FeralVilla has just discontinued production of its wood construction shelters; once supplies are depleted the original design will be released using SmartSide materials. SmartSide, a man-made material, looks like wood but has greater durability and resists fungal decay. Pricing to be announced.

Insulation

The cats’ shelter will be warmer and cozier if you put insulating material inside. The material must be dry and loose so that the cats can burrow into and underneath it.  Straw is best, while shredded newspaper will also work. Remember, straw is NOT the same as hay which is used for animal feed. Straw repels moisture  while hay draws and holds moisture. As a result hay can become moldy, triggering allergic responses and nasal sores. The worst choices for insulation are blankets, towels or folded newspaper. Because the cats can only lie on top of these materials, they actually draw out body heat and defeat the purpose. But do keep in mind, if you use insulating materials, you must be able to change them regularly in order to ensure they stay dry.

Looking for straw? Try these sources:

Straw

Any Tractor Store or Feed Store will have straw.  When in doubt you can always use Bermuda hay.

Stables and feed stores stock straw and may offer large bales at reasonable prices.

The Home Depot, Lowe’s, some garden centers and craft stores such as Michael’s and AC Moore sell small bales of straw used for decoration. These small bales are sufficient to stuff a couple of shelters each.

Another option – try speaking to stores, restaurants or banquet halls whose fall displays use bales of straw. After Thanksgiving they’re usually discarded to make way for holiday displays. Ask to take the straw off their hands!

Here’s two other ideas for insulation:

Take a cotton pillow case and loosely fill it with styrofoam peanuts, the kind used to pack fragile items during shipping. Tie the pillow case closed and put it inside the shelter. The pillow case will conform to the cat’s body and wrap her in warmth-capturing peanuts. (Note: as packing peanuts are now often made from starch, which dissolves in water, it’s helpful to place the peanuts in a plastic bag before putting them in the pillow case). (This idea originally comes from the book Maverick Cats: Encounters with Feral Cats by Ellen Perry Berkeley.)

One exception to the rule that insulating material must allow cats to burrow in, rather than sit on top is the Fleximat Mysterious Purr Pad.  The pads can be placed on the floor of the shelter and will help to conserve body heat.  Sold in packs of two pads.

Extreme Cold

Claudia Allen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, lines the interior walls of her styrofoam shelters with a Mylar reflective blanket, which can be bought at survival stores as thermal safety blankets for people (in case your car gets stuck in the cold.) The Mylar reflects the cat’s body heat back onto him and can make the difference in extreme temperatures, particularly in the more northern states and Canada. For a detailed explanation of how to build Claudia’s Mylar-lined winter shelter, complete with photos, click here (pdf file).

Claudia also uses an outdoor heating pad in the shelter and an electric dish that she reports keeps water from freezing as low as minus 38 degrees F. These items can be found at smile.amazon.com (select Neighborhood Cats as your charity and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase price!)

Caretakers have reported the Mylar blankets are also effective when laid on the floor of the shelter or attached to the walls.  They don’t absorb and take away body heat like ordinary blankets when a cat lies on top, but instead reflect heat back.  That’s why they’re sold as emergency blankets for car travel in wintertime.  Mylar blankets are very inexpensive, usually costing no more than a dollar or two each.  Go to Amazon.com for a list of retailers and prices.  If attaching to the interior walls, you can use freezer tape or, for a more permanent fix, carpenter glue.  Be sure to tuck in any loose material at the seams so the cats aren’t tempted to pull at or chew the loose material.

by http://www.lifewithdogs.tv

From Pet Pourri

Ten things for your dog to do on a cold day!

Has the cold got both you and your dog cooped up and suffering from cabin fever? Here are the top ten things to do to keep you and your pooch entertained on a snowy winter’s day.Anxiety:  Being couped up inside is no fun for anyone, and our four-legged friends can sometimes become anxious during these long winter days.  Boredom, lack of regular exercise, and lack of companionship can be strong inducers of anxiety for some dogs, especially those that are young or highly active.  You can help mitigate this anxiety by providing plenty of physical and mental stimulation through daily walks, lots of toys, and by keeping to a strict schedule for play time, quiet time, feeding time, and sleep.

1. Teach that old dog new tricks.

There’s nothing more rewarding than taking ten minutes and teaching your dog to shake, rollover, or play dead. Engaging your pet in training exercises strengthens the bond between you two plus creates the added bonus of giving you something to show off.

2. Treat your dog to a day at the spa.

So what if it’s too cold for a hose-down in the yard? Take this time to beautify your pup indoors. A good solid brushing will help discard constantly shedding fur and skin cells, stimulate oil production to yield a shinier coat, and promote better skin circulation. Clip your dog’s nails, brush your dog’s teeth, and indulge him with the coup-de-grace: a full body massage!

3. Make a new dog toy.

Have any old towels or ratty blankets lying around? Add a few hearty knots and your pup has a new toy, plus you earn bonus points for recycling.

4. Push the furniture out of the way and par-tay!

Turn up the music and dance with your dog, or play tug-of-war as you would outside. Have a wrestling match or play hide-n-go-seek. This isn’t horseplay in the house – it’s dog play!

5. Invite a friend over for a puppy play date.

Some indoor socializing can help shake down those wintertime blues.

6. Take time to dog-proof your home.

Check for exposed wires, enticing decorative plants, accessible trashcans, small children’s toys, and anything else that may seem like an open invite for doggie mayhem.

7. Snap some pictures to create a memory.

Get creative. Here’s the time to get just the right profile picture of your dog for next year’s Christmas cards. If you’re into scrap booking, dedicate a page to the day you were snowed in together. Or, nothing says subtle, classy artwork like a single, framed paw print. Kid’s acrylic water-based paint is non-toxic and non-staining, so knock yourself out!

8. Clean the (dog) house.

No, this doesn’t exactly sound like fun, but creating some time to scrubbing all your dog’s food and water bowls and washing his blankets, bedding, and toys helps not only your home, but keeps your pet more hygienic as well.

9. Read a book.

This may sound corny, but sitting down next to your dog and reading aloud is definite quality doggie time: you are both relaxed and the sound of your voice is comforting to your pooch. Getting to the end of the latest James Patterson novel is a major plus too!

10. Take a nap!

What’s better than a cozy mid-day snooze all wrapped up with blankets and your four-legged friend? Please remember to donate old blankets or anything that your local animal shelter may need – Shelters are not the warmest place for homeless dogs and cats:(  Adopt!