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We May Be In A Video!

Kitty and I had the pleasure of being part of a behind the scenes video for a great pet photography company here in town!

Kitty actually won a contest which gave her this opportunity and it was one heck on an experience!!

It was a video about what goes into the making of a pet photography session.

I am not sure if I can give out any more details yet but once I hear back from them, I will share the video:) It will be featured on their website and you will be able to find it on YouTube as well.

It was fun and Kitty (although she was a bit stressed) did great!  I was told that they got some great shots and I am so excited to see the photos!

Speaking of photos, I caught Kitty taking some selfies with my phone!! What do you think? Isn’t she just adorable?

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Crazy Water Bucket Day!

You will never guess what happened to me?

OMG! It is just horrifying! Just awful!  …… Ok so I might be overreacting but it was definitely not something I want to experience again soon! It has happened to me before but I forget…

It all started when Daddy filled the big giant bucket in the water room….. Usually I like the water room…. I follow Mama in there all the time, I sit on the big water bucket and play with bubbles…. I drink out of the water pipe….. It was all good….

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But yesterday, “I” was the target! I don’t know why!

Was it because I dug up my kitty grass and climbed into that pot…. Or maybe it’s because I rolled in that pile of dirt when Mama was sweeping the kitchen. But I am not dirty!!!

Daddy carried me and put me in the water! My paws were all wet ….. I started to freak out! I mean, who wouldn’t! I don’t know how they spend so much time in the water…… it is so wet and slimy……eek!

I tried to stay still …….. But I just wanted to get out!

Daddy told me to stay calm and I will be nice and clean soon…… Then, he started to pour water on me! He made sure to keep my ears dry though…. He wiped my head with care… We, cats, have very sensitive ears so you must be careful not to let water get in them…. Daddy is a smart hooman…. He knows these things…

 

 

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I know I look very brave here but I was scared on the inside!

Then Daddy put some strange foamy thing on me….. He kept rubbing it all over me…. He said it will help me with the itching….. It did feel nice but ‘get me out of this water’!!!

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Mama was sitting by me the whole time…. I kept looking at her, hoping she will let me out of this hellhole but she kept saying ‘It’s ok baby, you will feel better soon’.

I trust Mama… I stayed…

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I like this picture… Look at my moves! Looks like I am trying to hold the water…..

 

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It felt like forever ……I tried to get out many times…. But I couldn’t! Water, Foam, Water, Foam! Rubbing, Scrubbing……. It went on forever!

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Finally, Daddy took me out! I was soaked to the bone, I was angry and annoyed! But Daddy wrapped me in this big, soft cloth and dried off all the water…. I felt less angry…

Mama gave me kisses and told me what a good girl I was! Her hugs made me feel better…

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After all that excitement, I had to spend hours drying off!

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I must admit, it felt really nice…. I felt fresh and clean….. Mama said I smelt so good…. The bonus was I got extra treats for being a good girl:) There is always a silver lining!

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Disaster Strikes – Be Prepared!

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As I write this, there is a northern oil town called Fort McMurray here in Alberta (Canada) that is burning from a massive wildfire that is out of control.

Over 100,000 people have been evacuated. Not only have these folks lost their homes, their possessions and livelihoods, some have lost their precious pets :_( But we, as a province and country, have all come together to make sure that these folks and their furry friends are taken care in this time of need.The outpouring of support for everyone affected is amazing and it makes me so proud to be a Canadian!

Even thought the worst isn’t over yet (the fires are still burning!), it is time to focus on rebuilding. … My thoughts and prayers are definitely with those affected!

All this just reiterated the fact that we all need to have an evacuation kit and an emergency plan, especially if you have pets. I wrote a previous post about putting together a pet emergency kit which I hope you will read again (if you haven’t already!)

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, even if it is just a backpack with a change of clothes and copies of any important documents along with a small first aid kit would be sufficient.

For your pet, a few cans of food, an extra leash, some bedding added to a small pack is vital in case you have to leave your home in a hurry.

Also chat with your family and come up with a meeting point …. somewhere you can all gather … make sure your kids know what to do in a situation like this, have a list of emergency contacts visible at home…. there is so many things we can do … all you have to do is Google it and get started!

 

I think there are two scenarios we need to be ready for and here is my own plans for them. I hope this inspires you to have a plan for your family.

  1. An emergency evacuation when I am at home
  2. A emergency evacuation when I am NOT at home

 

Scenario 1 :

If (god forbid) something happens while I am at home that require me to evacuate, leaving my cat behind is not an option,, not matter what. I already have a plan in mind, I know exactly what I need to grab and get out.

The first thing I would do it grab Kitty’s harness and leash and secure her in the stroller. Next I would grab her emergency kit (which has some food, supplies to keep her calm) while also grabbing our own emergency backpacks (one each for my husband and myself), filled with a change of clothes, some toiletries and copies and originals of important documents).

That’s it! Everything else can be replaced….. !

I will then run to my friend’s place and grab her two kitties if she is not home.

 

Scenario 2:

If (again god forbid!) there is an evacuation happening when I am not at home, I have emergency stickers on my  front door indicating that I have a cat inside. This lets the emergency personnel know there is a pet that needs to be saved. These stickers can be found at pet stores everywhere! Please grab one today!

I also have contact numbers of a couple of neighbours that I could reach out to, one of whom will grab Kitty and keep her safe until I can be reached. We have an agreement that in case of emergency, I will grab her two kitties and vice versa! This way I know Kitty is safe!

 

Having some sort of plan will really help ease some of the stress….. I know we don’t want to think about anything awful happening to us, but sometimes bad things happen so we need to be prepared.

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Time For A Stroll!

It’s getting to be that time of year when we all want to spend as much time outside as we can….

Spring/Summer is my favourite time of year…. the flowers in bloom, the trees all green, street fairs, farmer’s markets, festivals galore, spending time out on the patio with a cool drink in hand……. ah! life can be perfect! 🙂

This is also the time that I try to go for walks (and an occasional run!) often…. Usually it is just me, sometimes with my husband and occasionally with Kitty 🙂

However, with it being so lovely outside, there are lots of other fur babies enjoying their time out as well. So this year, I thought I would invest in a little pet stroller ! This will allow me to take Kitty out while avoiding any unwanted interactions with those big doggies:)

I got some input from some cat enthusiasts on the various cat groups on Facebook…. spent a few hours online trying to find a good deal and eventually I managed to find a great stroller for a steal of a deal of $30 at a yard sale!

Here are some good tips to keep in mind when shopping for a stroller.

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Safety first! This stroller has two safety hooks that can be attached to your pet’s harness

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Make sure there is good ventilation all around!

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There is enough space inside for her to move around!

 

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This stroller also had a small bonus basket under it! Great to carry any extra treats or water for your trip!

So keep in mind to invest in something that has a sturdy frame, with lots of great ventilation as well as enough space inside so that your furbaby is comfortable … They need to be able to sit up, move around and enjoy the stroll! Extra pockets or baskets for storage is a bonus but not a necessity! The main thing is your pet’s safety and comfort!

Here is Kitty on one of her strolls .. 🙂

 

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All ready to go !

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Outside!!

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Homemade Cat Treats Part 2

Today  I put my baking skills to good use and made these awesome treats for Kitty.

I call it Tuna-tato Bites….It is super simple !

Ingredients :

1 can of tuna ( I used white flaked tuna)
1 egg
4 tbsp of rice flour (I used gluten free rice flour – it’s what I had!)
a few tsps of water
1/2 russet potato

Step 1

Peel and cut the potato into chunks and add it to boiling water. Let it boil for a good 8-10 mins.  Then, mash it up, making sure it is not too dry (add a few tsp of water to make it more pliable)

 

Step 2

Beat the egg in a separate bowl. Add them to the tuna and mix it well. Next add the rice flour.

 

Step 3

Spoon the mixture in a small muffin tin and bake in a preheated oven at 350C for 15 mins.

Note: if you are using muffin liners, the tuna will stick to it (as I later found out)… I would suggest leaving out the liners and bake directly in the pan.

 

Step 4

Spoon the mashed potatoes into a piping bag and add it on top of the baked treats once they have cooled. You can leave this part out if you prefer.

 

Finally, just to top it off, I added a piece of Kitty’s dry food to each of the treats:)

 

And now .. drumroll please…. The Taste Test…..

 

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She LOVED it!!…. She wasn’t too crazy about the potato part so I may leave that out next time…

You will have to break the ‘muffin’ into smaller pieces for your cat …. It is a dry treat so make sure it is broken up to avoid any choking!!!… you can add some pumpkin puree to the tuna mixture if you want a more moist muffin.

No more than one muffin a day per cat…. And please store it in the fridge! It should last 3 to 5 days.

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I would love to hear your thoughts on this recipe and if you end up making it for your furbaby, please send me some photos so I can share them here:)

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Kitty Turns 4!!

Today is a very special day!

Kitty is celebrating her 4th birthday!

 

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I put together a mock ‘cake’ with one of her favourite canned food and topped it with some shrimp and also added some treats around it….And enjoy it she did!!!

And instead of a gift this year (and since she has everything she needs and wants lol!) we decided to buy some canned food and donate it to an animal rescue….

Here are some great pictures from today’s happenings!!!

 

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Party favours for her friends Jackson and Feona

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Some donations that were dropped off to some shelter kitties

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She decided to wear some of the neon glow bracelets!!! PARTY! PARTY!! WOOT! WOOT!!

 

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Are You Ready For An Emergency?

Emergency Preparedness!

It hurts to even think about it… However, we all know at some point or the other, we will all have to face something that we were not prepared for…

No matter how well you try to plan things out, there is always something that could send things into a tailspin and turn life upside down and inside out.

Many of us have seen, heard and read about having an emergency kit.. Stock up on food, water and anything else you would need in case of that ‘what if’moment. But how many of us have thought about our pets? What would you do if disaster strikes and you have to leave your home? Sure, you have your family emergency pack to get you through but what will happen to your cat, dog, bird, gerbil, etc? Where will they stay? What will they eat?Who will be looking out for their well being if something were to happen to you? Now that is something to think about!

I have given some thought to all these questions so I decided to start on an emergency kit for Kitty (I may have mentioned it in an earlier post) and today I wanted to share how I put it together. Mind you , there are still a few more things that I need to add to it but so far it is coming along really well.

First, I decided to find a good carrier…. I found this one online and thought it would be a good fit. Not only does it have a good shoulder strap but it also has wheels and a sturdy handle. That’s a bonus when your shoulders start to ache!

 

Next, I got some sample sized packs of Kitty’s favourite dry food. Having several smaller packs instead of one large bag will keep their food fresh for longer. I also got a few cans of wet food as well as a bag of treats along with a small food dish. I am working on getting a travel bowl for water as well. Obviously I will need more than what is pictured here but this is a good start.

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On to the next step……  This part is important so take note….. As you can see here, I have a small box filled with a little first aid kit, some disposable gloves, some litter scoops, shopping bags and a small note book with Kitty’s info. Having all this information on hand comes in very handy if you have to leave your pets in someone else’s care temporarily. It has details on her vet, vaccines, pet insurance, city license as well as emergency contact information.

There are still a few things missing from my kit (a portable litter box, grooming supplies, a few calming treats, catnip, some toys). I think it’s important to keep in mind that in an emergency situation everyone will be extremely stressed, especially your pets so add as many familiar things to this kit as you can think of…a cuddle toy, favourite blanket,maybe an old t-shirt so she has a familiar scent around. It will help with the stress levels.

 

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Finally, it is time to pack this up. For easy access, I put some of the wet food cans into this box and them packed up everything in the carrier. And just to make sure everything fits in there, Kitty climbed into the carrier full of supplies and everyone fits in there well.

In case of an emergency, I can load Kitty in to the carrier, grab our own emergency backpacks and wheel her out. Hopefully, it never comes to that but if it does, I am ready for it:)

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Hard To Say Goodbye!

Before you panic, I am not going anywhere !

As the title suggests, saying goodbye to your pets (temporarily of course!) is hard!

Every morning, when I leave for work, a little part of my heart breaks to see the sad look on Kitty’s face. As I put on my jacket and grab my keys, she runs up to the door and sits there with a look that says ‘Do you REALLY have to leave me?’

So I dug around online and found this really interesting article on separation anxiety among cats. It gives some really good points on how to help your fur babies (and you!) cope with it. Enjoy!

(Article from www.catbehaviorassociates.com)

Many people have an inaccurate image of cats being solitary creatures who don’t need companionship but they actually are social and do form very strong bonds to their human family members and animal companions.

Cats who were orphaned may be more prone to separation anxiety. Too-early weaning may also be a factor. Also how you’ve set up your cat’s environment plays a role as well. If your cat has no other activities and ways to build confidence without being attached to you at the hip, then that increases the chance of separation anxiety.

Your cat may go along just fine and have no problem with you coming and going on a daily basis but then something, such as a change in work schedule, a vacation, a divorce, etc, could trigger separation anxiety.

When the cat parent leaves, the cat may exhibit excessive meowing. Elimination outside of the litter box may also occur. The cat may urinate or defecate on the cat parent’s bed or on clothing belonging to that human family member. It’s easy to misread this behavior as one of spite but it’s really a way for kitty to self-soothe by mixing his scent with yours. It’s also a way that the cat attempts to help you “find” your way home. Think of it as the feline version of dropping bread crumbs along the path.

Other signs may include excessive self-grooming, eating too fast or not eating at all when the cat parent isn’t present.

Before labeling your cat as having separation anxiety, it’s important he be examined by the veterinarian. The behavior being displayed may have an underlying medical cause. For example, elimination outside of the litter box may be due to lower urinary tract disease or have some other medical cause. Excessive grooming may be the result of external parasites, skin allergies, irritation, etc. Eating too fast or a lack of appetite may also be caused by an underlying medical condition. Don’t skip this very important step of visiting your veterinarian.

Once your cat is diagnosed with separation anxiety, behavior modification techniques can be used to reduce his stress and increase stimulation in your absence.

  • Increase the environmental enrichment. If you want your cat to feel satisfied, entertained and secure when you aren’t around then the environment in which he lives has to inspire that. Incorporate puzzle feeders, playtime, elevated areas, hideaways and more to encourage him to find ways to trigger and satisfy his prey-drive. The more enriched and secure the environment is, the better your cat will feel when he’s by himself.
  • Inspire confidence when you interact with your cat. Don’t reward your cat with attention when he’s meowing and being insistent. Instead, reward him with petting, treats, praise and attention when he’s acting the way you WANT him to act. Reward him when he’s quiet. Reward him when he does something to entertain himself. Reward the behavior you want to see again and don’t reinforce the unwanted behavior.
  • Engage your cat in interactive play sessions on a daily basis. Twice a day would actually be even better. Interactive playtime allows your cat to simply enjoy being the mighty hunter. For a cat, being able to engage the prey drive and enjoy a successful capture is the ultimate in joy and satisfaction.
  • Don’t make a big production about leaving. If you anticipate your cat is going to suffer from separation anxiety, you’ll just make it worse if you overdo the goodbye process. Your cat will think you’re leaving for a month instead of just 8 hours. Make your goodbyes very casual. Cats easily pick up on the emotions of their human family members. If you’re upset then your cat may get upset
  • Practice coming and going. If your cat starts to get tense whenever he hears you pick up your keys or if he sees you reach for your purse or coat, then practice doing those things several times a day without actually leaving.

There are some cases where anti-anxiety medication may also be needed in conjunction with behavior modification. Your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist will advise the client based on the specifics of the cat’s case. If medication is prescribed, it MUST be used alongside appropriate behavior modification and is not to be viewed as a substitute for doing the behavior work needed to relieve the cat’s anxiety.

If you’ve noticed a change in your cat’s behavior or you think he may be experiencing separation anxiety, contact your veterinarian so a thorough examination can be done. If your veterinarian does diagnose separation anxiety, you may be referred to a certified behavior professional.

 

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Happy, Happy, Kitty Day!

Today I spent some time reading about stories about the yays and nays of having a cat….Some were very touching and some were hilarious… ! As I read, I began to think how life has changed since Kitty came into our home.

People say life will never be the same when you have a child….

And while it may not be the same, I say life will never be the same when you have a pet! Once you get a pet, you are making a promise to provide a safe and quality life for that living creature!!  Yes it is a living, breathing, FEELING creature!

You would not believe how angry it makes me when I see or hear about people treating pets like they are some disposable object, like it is a fashion trend, to try it and then move on if it doesn’t work…. STOP!!!!!

If you do not have the TIME, MONEY or PATIENCE to take care of any pet, be it a cat, dog, fish, gerbil etc etc DO NOT GET ONE!! And if it is being mistreated, your pet’s life is more valuable to me that yours! There, I said it!

Ok! Deep Breath!!!

Back to the story…….

Let me walk you through a typical day with Kitty…

My husband and I usually wake up between 4.30am -5am to get ready for work. Kitty is so used to us being up at this time that if the alarm doesn’t go off for some reason, she jumps on the bed and meows until we wake up….. The down side to this is that she does this on weekends too ! lol

Once we are up, she follows one of us into the bathroom (usually me!).. While I brush my teeth, she drinks water out of the faucet and hangs out there while I get ready. Once I leave the bedroom, she dashes into the kitchen and waits for her wet food. It’s now 5.15am and as I get my lunch packed up, she rubs up against my leg and purrs up a storm until I pick her up and give her hugs. Hubby has already left by now.

Wet food out…. she is excited to try out a new flavor! She gets to try a new can every few days… Yes, she is spoilt! She will only start eating it when I start eating breakfast … Once we are both done and before I hear out the door, she stands in front the cupboard with a paw on the handle. Time for a treat before Mommy leaves for the day….Two treats are thrown in two directions and she chases them down ….. !

Fast Forward several hours …. I head back home after work and as soon as I walk up to the door, I hear her running. She greets me with loud meows and waits for hugs. She follows me while I freshen up and get things ready for dinner. She sits on the counter while I do the prep work and then the cooking. Once dinner is ready, she sits by the window waiting for Daddy to come home. Suddenly,her ears perk up, she bounces off the window ledge and dashes to the front door. She had seen Daddy outside! We all eat dinner at the same time. She is usually done first.. Then she sits next to us, hoping we will share some roast chicken or fish with her. We usually do…

She is now a bit hyper….She runs around, jumps on the cupboards, on the couch… off the couch, back and forth…. She is happy we are here:)

Night time… we settle in to watch some TV before bed. She hangs out with us, sitting up on her cat tree. Occasionally, she will jump down and sit on our laps and cuddle…  Her night time ritual is being brushed for about 5 mins. She loves it!!

It’s time for bed…. When the lights are all turned off, she follows us into the bedroom and does a small song and dance.. LOL… It consists of some loud meowing, loud rustling behind the blinds and then walking all over the bed in an attempt to see if we would wake up and pay attention to her. If there is no movement, she either goes back to her cat tree or sleeps between the two of us… And we repeat tomorrow!

That is a typical day with my sweet Kitty:)

 

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Keeping Cats Safe In Winter

As the snow piles up and the temperature drops, health and safety risks increase for cats.

Here are five tips that will help keep all kitties safe and happy over the winter

  1. Keep cats inside

If a quick jaunt outdoors leaves you shivering and shaking, it’s too cold for your cat as well. You may think that they are accustomed to spending time outside but for their own health and safety, it’s worth keeping them indoors during the winter months.

  1. Create warm spaces indoors

Even indoors, it can get pretty chilly during the winter – make sure they have plenty of warm spaces to curl up inside the house. I have blankets and fluffy crate mats in several places around my apartment so Kitty has a warm, cuddly seat anywhere she goes.

  1. Before you start your car, bang on the hood

When the temperature drops, outdoor cats may seek shelter from the cold under the hood of your car. Give the hood a quick rap or honk your horn to scare away any hiding cats before you start your car.

  1. Be careful with chemicals

Antifreeze is highly poisonous to both cats and dogs. If you put antifreeze in your car this winter, make sure to thoroughly clean up any spills, securely replace the cap, and carefully wipe the sides of the container after use. You may also consider purchasing antifreeze made with propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol – it’s safer (though still dangerous) if ingested.

While antifreeze may be the biggest concern because its sweetness makes it taste good to animals, make sure you also clean up any other chemical spills this winter and try to limit your use of rock salt, which can make a cat sick if she eats it.

5.     Keep your neighborhood cats safe by building an outdoor cat shelter

Stray cats in your neighborhood may struggle to keep warm and find food in the wintertime. By making and maintaining an outdoor cat shelter, you can help keep your neighborhood’s strays warm and protected from the elements.

 

(Source: http://www.vetfolio.com)

 

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Loves to play in the snow!

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Adorable paw prints!

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Kitty’s first snowfall! The look on her face is just hilarious!

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Enjoying her walk in the snow!