(Maybelle was semi-interested in the toy Karyn had…)
(Maybelle couldn’t hold back anymore…she had to attack the toy!)
(Portis could no longer sit back and watch….he HAD to jump in!)
(“why do humans only stand on their back two legs most of the time?”)
(Maybelle was trying to figure out why it stopped moving…)
Awesome pictures by Devin! See what you are missing by not being at the shelter right now? Escape the gloomy weather with the bright lights and fun of AniMeals!
Posted in AniMeals News
The first thing you need to do when you discover pee where it doesn’t belong is determine whether it is the result of spraying or inappropriate urination. Spraying is a result of cats marking their territory, and is generally just a splatter, whereas inappropriate urination will be a larger puddle.
You will want to address any urination outside of the litter box quickly, before it becomes normal behavior for your cat. If your cat is spraying, try making it feel more secure in its territory, as that is often why cats get possessive. In a multi-cat household, it may help to provide separate living areas for each cat.
Be sure to thoroughly clean all areas where your cat has peed outside the box. You really want to be sure you’ve eliminated the odor, not just for your own sake, but so the smell doesn’t draw your cat back to that same spot.
One litter box is often just not enough. The general rule of thumb is one box per cat, plus an extra one. Think about it – if you were on the second floor of your house, would you want to run all the way downstairs to use the bathroom? Neither does your cat. Making it convenient for your cat to use the litter box will usually avert problems.
Think about where you have the litter boxes located. If you have multiple stories, you’ll want at least one on each floor. If your litter box is too tucked away, somewhere inconspicuous, your cat may not bother to go find it. If your cat keeps peeing in the same spot despite your best efforts, try moving the litter box over that spot, and then slowly moving it back to where you want it.
#5 Try a Different BoxAn enclosed litter box may fit nicely within your decorating standards, but your cat may not agree. Enclosed boxes can be small, dark, smelly and difficult to turn around in – not conducive to cats doing their business. You will also want to make sure the sides of your litter box are not too high for the cat to easily step over – especially as the cat reaches old age.
A dirty litter box is one of the first things that will send a cat peeing elsewhere. Cats are very clean creatures by nature. Would you want to go walking barefoot through your cat’s litter box? Well, neither do they. Be consistent about cleaning out the box and changing the litter.
Heavily perfumed litter may seem the better choice (who wouldn’t want to smell perfume rather than a dirty litter box?), but cats tend to disagree. They also like to stick with the familiar, so if you adopt an adult cat, it may urinate outside the litter box if you switch up the standard, non-perfumed litter. Studies have shown that amongst cats, the all-around favorite litter type is a loose, clumping, unscented clay litter containing activated charcoal.
Conflicts between multiple cats, or the introduction of a new cat, may cause inappropriate urination. Occasionally, the case may be that your cats got into an altercation in or near the litter box and it has left one of them with associated bad memories.
If inappropriate urination has become an issue with your cat, the most important thing you can do is make an appointment with your veterinarian. Your cat’s doctor will perform a physical exam and urinalysis to determine if the problem is medical. Urinary tract infections and kidney failure are just some of the common health issues that either cause a cat to produce more urine, or add an increased urgency to urination. If your cat is given a clean bill of health, you can then move on to addressing environmental or behavioral issues.
(courtesy of petmd.com)Posted in AniMeals News
(courtesy of pets.webmd.com)
WELLNESS EXAMS ARE VITAL
Just like you, your pet can get heart problems, develop arthritis, or have a toothache. The best way to prevent such problems or catch them early is to see your veterinarian every year.
Regular exams are “the single most important way to keep pets healthy,” says Kara M. Burns, MS, Med, LVT, president of the Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians.
Annual vet visits should touch on nutrition and weight control, says Oregon veterinarian Marla J. McGeorge, DVM, as well as cover recommended vaccinations, parasite control, dental exam, and health screenings.
Posted in AniMeals News
Here is the shelter today in PICTURES:
(Comet overseeing the admin area of the shelter)
(Gracie stopped for a grooming break before she continued making her rounds)
(Galena is SO beautiful…even as she waits for visitors…)
For more information on AniMeals and for information on how to donate, visit www.animeals.com! You can also view our adoptable kitties and sign up for our E-Newsletter!
Thank you so much for your support, AniMealers!
Posted in AniMeals News
Over your cat’s lifetime, there may be times when you notice that your cat’s fur may be thinning, falling out or disappearing in clumps. There are several reasons for these occurrences, and getting to the bottom of them can help your cat lead a healthier, more comfortable life.
While the appearance of your cat’s hair loss may vary from animal to animal, there are several general causes that typically are behind the problem.
If you notice that your cat is grooming, or scratching herself more than usual, leading to large patches of missing hair the cause may be attributed to stress. Take a look at your cat’s environment and check for any changes that may have occurred. This may include:
Check with your vet to make sure that there is no other, underlying illness and give your cat extra attention as she adapts to any change. If the stress-induced balding continues, ask your vet about antianxiety medications.
As your cat ages, he may begin losing fur over large areas of his body. The skin beneath the fur may appear dry and any fur growing back may be a different color. This can frequently be attributed to a nutritional deficit. Some cats, particularly as they age, need more nutrients added to their food.
Look for cat foods made with few fillers and more whole ingredients. Consider adding nutritional supplements such as powdered or liquid vitamins to his food each day to help reverse the problem.
Anytime a cat is losing fur, be sure to examine the skin beneath it. Often fur loss caused by insects or fungal infections will show other signs in the skin. Check your cat’s skin for:
If either of these signs are present, take your cat to the vet to make sure fleas, ear mites or ringworm aren’t behind the cause of your cat’s missing fur. If they are, your vet can prescribe a treatment plan.
If your cat is missing only occasional patches of hair in various places on her body, and these are sometimes accompanied by scratches or bloody areas, take a look at how your cat interacts with other animals. If you have other animals in the house, or your cat is allowed outdoors, try to observe how your cat plays with her companions. It may be that rough play is behind the missing fur. If this is the case, try separating the animals when not supervised, or consider keeping your cat indoors.
Sometimes fur loss in cats can be attributed to an underlying illness. Thyroid problems can sometimes result in fur loss in cats, as can allergic reactions. If you have been unable to find the cause of your cat’s fur loss and have tried changing his diet, a trip to the vet for a thorough examination may turn up an underlying problem that is behind the missing fur.
To help keep your cat’s fur healthy, whether it some is missing or not, be sure to brush and groom your cat on a regular basis. Regular brushing helps to stimulate new hair growth and is crucial to the overall health and well being of your cat. The added time spent examining your cat’s fur on a regular basis may also help you catch problems before they get out of hand.
(Article by Sarabeth Asaff – cats.lovetoknow.com)Posted in AniMeals News
Does your kitty disappear when the clippers come out? Do you have to wrap her in a towel to give her a manicure? According to our behavior experts, calm, enjoyable nail-trimming sessions are not only possible-that’s how they should always be! Check out the following tips for getting kitty to relax while you trim, turning nail-clipping sessions into enjoyable together time.
Ideally you should introduce your cat to nail clipping when she’s a kitten. Choose a chair in a quiet room where you can comfortably sit your cat on your lap. Get her when she’s relaxed and even sleepy, like in her groggy, after-meal state. Take care that she isn’t able to spy any birds, wild animals or action outside nearby windows-and make sure no other pets are around.
aspca.org
Gently take one of your cat’s paws between your fingers and massage for no longer than the count of three. If your cat pulls her paw away, don’t squeeze or pinch, just follow her gesture, keeping in gentle contact. When she’s still again, give her pad a little press so that the nail extends out, then release her paw and immediately give her a treat. Do this every other day on a different toe until you’ve gotten to know all ten.
Your cat should be at ease with the sound of the clippers before you attempt to trim her nails. Sit her on your lap, put a piece of uncooked spaghetti into the clippers and hold them near your cat. (If she sniffs the clippers, setm, a treat on top of them for her to eat.) Next, while massaging one of your cat’s toes, gently press her toe pad. When the nail extends, clip the spaghetti with the clippers while still holding your cat’s paw gently. Now release her toe and quickly give her a treat.
The pink part of a cat’s nail, called the quick, is where the nerves and blood vessels are. Do NOT cut this sensitive area. Snip only the white part of the claw. It’s better to be cautious and cut less of the nail rather than risk cutting this area. If you do accidentally cut the quick, any bleeding can be stopped with a styptic powder or stick. It’s a good idea to keep it nearby while you trim.
catdocmaine.com
With your cat in your lap facing away from you, take one of her toes in your hand, massage and press the pad until the nail extends. Check to see how much of a trim her nails need and notice where the quick begins. Now trim only the sharp tip of one nail, release your cat’s toe and quickly give her a treat. If your cat didn’t notice, clip another nail, but don’t trim more than two claws in one sitting until your cat is comfortable. Be sure to reward her with a special treat afterward. Please note, you may want to do just one paw at a time for the first couple of sessions.
A nail-trimming every ten days to two weeks is a nice routine to settle into. If your cat refuses to let you clip her claws, ask your vet or a groomer for help.
Posted in AniMeals News
AniMeals is hoppin today! Thanks to all of our PHENOMENAL supporters, we found a foster family for the four kittens, and we found a transporter to take the pet food to Kalispell!
We have the most amazing supporters on the planet! Thank you SO much to you for spreading the word!! YOU are the reason we are able to help the animals we do help!
One thing we did realize, though, is that, although we have a fantastic network of foster families, we need more people interested in fostering, as not all of our fosterers are always available to foster. So, if you are interested in fostering kittens, with AniMeals supplying all food and supplies, please either stop by the shelter and complete a Foster Application or visit www.animeals.com/Foster.html to download, complete and submit the application. We get kittens at any given time, and the bigger our foster network is, the quicker we can get the kittens into an environment where they can thrive and not be stressed.
We want to thank you again for being so amazing! Sharing our Facebook updates and word-of-mouth gets the job done! We are so happy that we are getting the truck-load of pet food to Kalispell and that the kittens are in a stable environment until they are old enough to be adopted! THANK YOU!
Remember that our doors are open until 5pm, so be sure to stop by and love on some kitties!
Posted in AniMeals News
