Purrfect Pet Buddy Blog

Warning: Lilies can be deadly for cats

nospam@example.com (Juannelle) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:45:43 -0500

BY ELAINE WEXLER-MITCHELL

If you own a cat, you know they love to chew on plants. Bouquets containing lilies are especially common during spring and Easter. Lilies are probably the most dangerous flower that cats can accidentally ingest. U.C. Davis veterinarians note that while all plants of the Lilium genus should be considered extremely hazardous to cats, calla lilies and peace lilies, which don't belong to the Lilium genus, are harmless to cats.

Lilies contain a chemical that damages the kidneys. All parts of the lily plant are potentially toxic, so if you suspect that your kitty has chewed one, get her in for immediate veterinary treatment. If therapy is started within 18 hours of ingestion, the prognosis for recovery is good. The sooner treatment is started the better. Vomiting can be induced if you know your cat ate some lily within an hour. This helps prevent absorption of the toxin.

Calla lilies are one of two varieties (the other is the peace lily) that are NOT toxic to cats if ingested. Be sure to keep all plants that could be toxic out of your cats' reach. If you're uncertain, check out the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' website.

Fortunately, most houseplants are safe, but it is good to know resources listing toxic plants. One of the best is through the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Even if a plant isn't toxic, many plants are irritants and will trigger vomiting in cats.

If your cat goes outside, you likely have seen her eat grass, then vomit. Why would a cat intentionally eat something that she knows is going to make her vomit? There are several theories as to why cats eat plants, but most veterinarians think plant eating provides fiber to cats. Wild cats are meat eaters; eating plants gives them fiber to help with digestion and helps hair pass through their GI tracts – it's a natural hairball remedy. Many owners grow "cat grass" for their indoor cats to fulfill their cat's desire to eat plants.

You can do a few things to prevent plant chewing in your home. Some pet-deterrent products can be put in soil to repel cats. Use a water spray bottle to startle your cat when she approaches a plant you don't want her to chew. Pet-motion detectors that sound a horn and blow air can be put around plants. Ground ginger or cayenne pepper rubbed on leaves can create an adverse taste that will keep some cats from chewing. Some people just keep plants in rooms that are off-limits to their cats.

I always lose the battle in my home to keep my cats away from plants and flowers. My cats even like chewing silk plants. I use Yuck repellant spray on the silk plant leaves. I don't keep live plants around. If I have flowers that are safe for cats, I put them in an area my cats cannot reach. Since both of my cats are seniors, they are unable to jump as high as they used to.

Cats can live safely with plants, but it is a good idea to check for possible toxicities before you choose plants or flowers for your home. And it's best to keep lilies out of your home if you have cats.

Warning: Lilies can be deadly for cats

nospam@example.com (Juannelle) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 08:45:43 -0500

BY ELAINE WEXLER-MITCHELL

Creatures of habit

nospam@example.com (Juannelle) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:24:03 -0500

The girls continue to make us laugh. Sunday we cleared out the cat beds, kitty condo and misc furniture from our bedroom so that I could shampoo the carpet. Kevin put wheels on the kitty condo several years back which makes it easier to maneuver. However, the girls get real concerned when their “stuff” gets moved around. Binks immediately staked out her place on the kitty condo as if to say “Hey, that’s mine—what are you doing with it?”

Today, everything was moved back and Binks once again is reigning on the penthouse of the kitty condo. Spirit was delighted to see that their heated cat beds go back in next to my night stand and get plugged in. Yeah, heated cat beds—its rough being a cat in our household!

Spring, pollen and skunks, oh my!

nospam@example.com (Juannelle) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:40:37 -0500

Ahhhhhhhhhh, springtime in Dixie. Or shall I say ARGH*(&%^%%$! The flowering trees, shrubbery and flowers are about six weeks early and are breathtaking this time of the year. Literally—breath taking (cough-cough). The pollen counts in our area have been in the red (high) since about the beginning of February. I believe we are in for a lonnnnggggggg hot summer. Our pets also suffer from these allergies and they don’t even have to go outside to be affected. Cats and dogs suffer with hot spots, uncontrollable itching etc. To help prevent problems for our fur babies as well as ourselves, you should wash all exposed skin as soon as you come indoors. If your dog suffers, It may help if you take a damp cloth and go over their fur and feet to help minimize the effects. Don’t pet your cats or dogs until you do so. Even though you may want to open windows to let in fresh air remember you are also leaving in tons of pollen. Before living in the loft downtown; we had a clothes line and we loved the scent of freshly laundered bed linens, towels and clothing dried outside. Then I realized it was causing all kinds of health issues.

Warm weather also brings out critters such as the black-and-white kitties of the world aka SKUNKS! Living in the suburbs does not protect you from skunks. The Crestwood area is renovating their park and they tore down a bunch of trees and undergrowth that were home to a host of snakes, raccoons, opossums and yep, the dreaded SKUNK. I noticed a dead baby skunk on a side street in Crestwood about early February so beware! The editor of Pet Sitters International magazine, Ellen Price warns us of such perils and she swears by the recipe to deskunk your pet.

1 quart Hydrogen Peroxide

¼ cup Baking Soda

2 tablespoons of Dishwashing Liquid

Mix all ingredients together and use immediately, as the mixture doesn’t keep. Sponge the solution over the pet, avoiding eyes, nose and ears. Use an eye lube or mineral oil to protect eyes and nose if needed. Let the solution soak on the fur for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse with warm water. Repeat if necessary and follow with regular shampoo if desired.

Happy Spring and keep well!

Internal clocks and Daylight Savings Time

nospam@example.com (Juannelle) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 11:51:03 -0500

Pets like structure and schedules. An example of this is that after Kevin & I eat breakfast; I then make up the bed. Our girls, Binks and Spirit wait patiently or impatiently at times for me to put the spread and all the pillows on the bed. I then put Baby’s “Chicago Bear” blankie on Kevin’s side of the bed. Baby climbs up the stairs to the bed and heads for her blankie. By this time, Spirit has her “crazy” eyes and I ask, Spirit, do you want to play? Meorw she answers. Are you sure you want to play? Meorrrwwww! What do you want to play with? She then leads me to the secretary where their wand toys are kept. Do you want to play with your boxing wands? Meoorrrwww! Where are they? She then stand up on the secretary and stretches her paw up to the door. I open the door and pull out their favorite two (don’t ask how many they have). Do you want to play with these boxing wands? Meeoorrrrrwwww! And she leads me back to the bed for playtime.

Both cats and dogs are very quick at picking up stuff and usually 2 or 3 times becomes habit. If our schedule is changed for some reason; their whole morning is off kilter.

I love to be able to turn off the two alarms on the clock on Friday when I don’t have early morning clients to care for but unfortunately one can’t turn of the “cat alarm”. The girls don’t care if it’ a weekend, they want their gourmet breakfast and they want it now!

Keep in mind that the inane practice of daylight savings time affects our pet’s internal clock. If your dog is used to going out at 6 am and DST forces our clocks ahead one hour, their internal clocks are saying Hey! I needed to go out an hour ago!!! This is especially important when trying to housebreak a puppy.

I for one would love it if we quit this antiquated practice of changing the clocks. Keep it one way or the other. Not only do I struggle for 2 weeks with the change to DST but I am at amazed at all the clocks we have to change. When I was growing up we had a clock on the stove and my parents wind up alarm clock. Now, there is the alarm clock, the grandfather clock, the clocks in the two bathrooms, the clock in the sitting area, the clock on the frig, stove and microwave. And Kevin would add, all these clocks and she still can’t be on time!