Happy National Cat Day!

Tomorrow is National Cat Day, founded by Pet Lifestyle Expert & Animal Behaviorist Colleen Paige and sponsored by Animal Miracle Foundation & Network. It is a day to celebrate our feline friends and remember and help those that sit in shelters awaiting their furever homes. Shelter cats especially need our love and support; nationwide, the approximately 4 million cats entering shelters face difficult odds - about 70% of them will be euthanized. Cats are euthanized at a higher rate than dogs because so few cats have any owner identification information - no tags, no tattoos, no microchips. Because of that, less than 2% of cats in shelters will be returned to their owners, compared to 15% to 20% of dogs.* That small percentage leaves shelters overwhelmed with more cats needing homes than they have space for.

There is hope for these kitties, though, and you can help! Below are a few ideas on how you can make a difference in the life of a cat, whether it's yours or one that's waiting for its furever home in a shelter.

• Microchip your cat! And if your kitty is already microchipped, talk to your friends and family about the importance of microchipping their pets. Microchips can literally save the life of an animal that ends up in a shelter. It may be the only thing that gets your pet back into your care.


• Give your kitty some lovin'! Let them know how much they mean to you by taking some time out of your busy day to show them you care. Brush 'em, pet 'em, belly rub 'em - it doesn't matter as long as they get some kitty lovin'.


• Volunteer at your local shelter. All shelters need help, and the more help they get, the more the animals benefit. Volunteer to brush and socialize cats, or, if you've got the space, help them out by fostering.


• Raise some funds for a shelter or rescue. Host a garage sale, a bake sale, or a craft sale. Whatever you do, your local organization will appreciate the extra help!


• Have a supply drive at your school or office. Since many shelters are hurting for funds, it really helps out when the community donates goods like bleach and cat litter.


• Visit your local shelter and adopt your next feline friend. Adoption really is the best option, and you'll feel good knowing you saved a life. Watch for special events at your local shelter, like the CMHS Monster Mash Bash.

Enjoy National Cat Day, and be sure to show a kitty some extra lovin' on their special day! More information about National Cat Day can be found at http://www.nationalcatday.com/index.htm.

*Shelter statistics from Petfinder.com

Howl-o-ween

Halloween is just around the corner - a night filled with candy fueled ghouls and goblins. As we prepare by carving pumpkins, hanging spiderwebs, and readying costumes, it's important to keep our pets in mind as well. While loads of fun for us, Halloween can be overwhelming for our pets, and maybe even a little scary. Keep the following in mind, though, and you can have a safe and spooktacular night!

• Keep an eye on those spooky decorations. Those dangling spiderwebs may be tempting to kitty cats, and maybe even some dogs. Be sure that all decorations are out of reach of four legged friends so they can't become entangled or ingest anything. Be sure to watch out for candle too!



• Make sure jack-o-lanterns aren't accessible. Some dogs may be tempted to chew on your carved pumpkin, and while pumpkin itself is fine, large chunks of gourds can potentially cause an intestinal blockage.



• Keep all sweet treats out of reach. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and some candies have artificial sweeteners in them which are also toxic. Wrappers are a big no-no as well, so be sure that all little goblins and ghosts clean up after themselves. Allow your pet to join in the fun by getting them a special dog or cat treat.



• Keep pets inside on Halloween night. There's bound to be a lot more activity than normal, and that, combined with freaky costumes, can really spook your pet - they may become frightened and run off. To prevent this, keep them safe and indoors.



• Be sure that your pets are safe during trick or treating. No matter how friendly your critter may be, the constant ringing of the doorbell and groups of costumed kids may stress them out. Keep pets confined during trick or treating hours so they can't bolt out the front door if they become frightened. Give them a special treat to keep them occupied and happy.

Have a safe and spooktacular Howl-o-ween!

Dealing with Allergies

For lots of people, pets are considered members of the family. That's why it's so frustrating when you discover that you or someone in your household is allergic to the four legged furry kid. Getting rid of a beloved pet because of allergies is not an option for many people, so here are a few helpful tips for keeping those allergens under control and your pet in your home.

1. First, understand that you are probably not allergic to your pet's fur, but to their dander and/or the proteins in their saliva. When animals clean themselves they spread the protein from their saliva over their coat, therefore the more the animal cleans itself, the more they spread potential allergens (that's why cats can be such a problem - they're so clean!). Some animals produce less dander than others; some proteins will be less irritating to you than others; it all depends on how your body reacts to the specific allergens.
2. Groom your pet on a weekly basis. Brushing and bathing can do wonders for helping to keep allergens down. This means you should give your pet a bath every week (yes, even your cat - they can get used to bathing if done on a regular basis). Constant bathing, however, can be rough on your animal's skin. Be sure to use a gentle shampoo formulated for pets (no people or baby shampoo - dogs and cats have a different pH than people) and watch for dry skin issues. Once dry, brush your pet outside where you don't have to worry about pet hair blowing around the house and under furniture.
3. Keep pets out of the bedrooms and off of furniture. Though this won't keep all allergens from spreading to these areas it will help keep them down a bit - and every little bit helps when fighting allergies.
4. Vacuum at least once a day. This will help pick up dander and protein covered hair and help you breathe easier. Certain vacuums are designed to pick up pet hair better and are more efficient at trapping allergens - they may be worth the investment if your vacuum cleaner isn't doing the job.
5. Use an allergen catching filter on your furnace, and get an air filter or two for your living and sleeping areas. Although filters won't fix an allergy problems on their own, they'll certainly help keep allergens down.

By utilizing these techniques you can help keep your allergies in check and keep your furry family member in your home!