Labor Day Safety Tips for Cats

1. Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your cat that is not labeled specifically for use on animals.

2. Made in the shade. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water, and make sure they have a shady place to escape the sun.

3. Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of paws' reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing-or even kidney disease in severe cases.

4. Keep your cat on his normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea.

5. Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingesting any of these items can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression in your cats, and if inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia.

Source: http://www.catster.com/the-scoop/labor-day-pet-safety-tips

Caring for Cats During Emergencies

Consider your location

First things first. You can only be prepared with a plan of action if you know what you’re planning for, so take some time to think about the area you live in. Some areas are naturally prone to certain disasters California’s earthquakes, for example. Find out what types of disasters have previously struck your area hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards, etc. Contacting your local emergency management office or Red Cross will help you to identify what could affect your particular neighborhood. You should also plan for non-natural disasters fires, gas leaks, chemical spills, etc. If, for example, there’s a big chemical processing plant in your area, then you need to be aware of the possible dangers so that you can react if need be. No matter where you live, you’ve got your own special brand of disaster just around the corner, and it may strike at any time.

If You Leave, They Leave

In the event that you have to leave your home, take your cats with you. If it isn’t safe for you to be there, it isn’t safe for them either. Too often people rationalize that their pets’ instincts will kick in, and they’ll be okay. Even if your cat, who has spent the last six years of his life hunting only the fake mice you pull around on a string for him, does have the instincts to survive, it doesn’t mean that the conditions are survivable. No drinkable water for you means no drinkable water for him too. Of course, you have to have somewhere to take your four-legged friends--Red Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets. Make a list of all the places with in a 100-mile radius of your home where you might be able to take your pet if the need arises, include boarding facilities, veterinarians with boarding capabilities, hotels that will accept pets (ask if they’ll allow pets during a disaster situation), and animal shelters. (Use animal shelters only as a last resort, as they will be overburdened with other animals whose owners did not plan for them). Also, you need to gather your critters inside the house as soon as you are aware that you may have to leave, so that you can easily get them when it’s time to go. Then, when you do leave, make sure you have your little friends under firm control--even the best behaved cat can become scared during an emergency, making his behavior less than predictable.

Be prepared

Make sure that your cat’s kit is contained in something that is easy to pick up quickly and take out the door with you. You should replace this food and water every six months and rethink your feline’s needs for the kit once a year to make sure that the supplies meet your current needs the same collar that fits your new kitten is not likely to fit him a year later.

The kit should include a week’s supply of food and water in nonbreakable, airtight containers to ensure safety and freshness. If you pack canned food you’ll want to make sure you have a hand-held can opener too. And don’t forget a plastic dish that can double as a food and water dish. An extra collar and leash are also important things to have in your kit. You should also have a portable kennel for each of your critters handy. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that the official Red Cross policy is that there are no animals allowed in emergency shelters, but they have been known to make exceptions if the animal is securely confined. Pets such as birds will obviously have to have a carrier of some sort as they cannot be leashed. You will want to make certain that you have a well-stocked first-aid kit for your pet that includes tweezers, gauze bandages, first aid cream, antiseptic spray, and hydrogen peroxide. Ask your veterinarian about storing any medications that your pet may need to take regularly.

All the right papers

Many people have their home telephone numbers on their pets’ ID tags. You may want to have an extra set of tags made that list the number of a friend or family member outside the area so that if your phone lines are down, or you’ve been evacuated, your pets can still make it back to you. Another option is to simply include an out-of-area number on your pets’ everyday tag, which can be useful if you’re away on vacation too. And many people don’t have tags for their cats at all, even though they should. According to the 1996 National Council on Pet Population Study, out of  580,000 cats that were taken in as strays, only two percent of the cats made it back to their owners. The American Humane Association strongly believes that tags are your pets’ ticket home. You may also want to consider having your pet microchipped or tattooed. And finally, don’t forget the paperwork. Have a copy of your pet’s recent vaccination records in your kit--some boarding facilities may require them before they will take your pet in. A recent picture of your pet may also come in handy if you should become separated and need to make "Lost" posters. Hopefully you won’t ever have to put them up, and hopefully you’ll never have to use your disaster plan. But if you do ever need it, you’ll be very thankful that you were prepared; it could make a trying time a bit easier for you and your faithful companion.

Source: http://www.aaha.org/pet_owner/pet_health_library/general_health_care/caring_for_pets_during_emergencies.aspx

Tips on Flying With Your Cat

If you’re planning on traveling with your cat this summer, there many important things to keep in mind. Your pet’s first flight can be a somewhat traumatic experience.

Here are some tips to help your cat have a safe flying experience:

  Book Early- Most airlines have their own pet policies, so it is important to find out what their rules are in regards to traveling with your pet.

 Visit The Veterinarian- It is important to make an appointment with your pet’s veterinarian for a check-up and make sure all vaccinations are up to date. Obtain a health certificate from your veterinarian dated within 10 days of departure.

  Buy a Carrier- Carriers are available in both hard-sided and soft-sided. Soft-sided carriers are more suitable for carry-on and tend to fit better under the seat, but they're only permitted in the cabin only. To make sure the carrier will fit under the seat on your flight check the size restrictions of the airline in our Airline Pet Policies section.

  After you've purchased an appropriate carrier, write your cat’s name on it and include identification tags with your home address and phone number as well as the address and phone number of someone who can be reached at your destination. Carry a current photograph of your pet as well. If they are lost during the trip, a photograph will make it much easier for airline employees or the local authorities to search effectively. 

Take a Test Drive- Animals travel under less stress when they are accustomed to their carrier before they travel. In the weeks prior to your trip, put your cat in his/her carrier as often as possible for trips around town.

Source: http://www.bringfido.com/travel/top_10_tips/

Disaster Preparedness Tips

You may have heard about, if you were not part of, the natural disasters that have happened around the world.  One thing we know for sure is that hey can happen at any moment, so it is important to be well prepared. 

Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe. The best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared.

Here are 3 easy steps that will help you get started on disaster preparedness.

Step 1: Get a Rescue Alert Sticker to let people know pets are inside your home. 

Step 2: Arrange a Safe Haven in the event of evacuation.

Step 3: Keep an Emergency Supplies and Traveling Kits handy and make sure everyone in your home knows where it is kept. 

Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness

Seasonal Allergies for Pets

The spring season is upon us, and while we may be experiencing seasonal allergies, it’s important to note that our cats may be as well! In our pets, seasonal allergies look a little different. We may have headaches, coughs, and runny noses, but our pets have different symptoms. They may have itchy ears and skin.

If you notice your cats shaking their head excessively or scratching their skin a lot this season, we recommend contacting us right away for advice. We have options for helping pets that are experiencing uncomfortable seasonal allergies. Ask us today!

Tips on How to Prepare Your Pet for Severe Weather

If faced with sudden disaster, would you be prepared to help your entire family – including pets – prevent dangerous situations? 

Here are some tips to help you better prepare your pet for severe weather:

·      

           Identifying shelter. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. Find out which motels and hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to allow pets well in advance of needing them. There are also a number of guides that list hotels/motels that permit pets and could serve as a starting point. Include your local animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers. They might be able to provide information concerning pets during a disaster.

·         Take pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, manual can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies with you in case they're not available later. Before you find yourself in an emergency situation, consider packing a "pet survival" kit which could be easily deployed if disaster hits.

·          

      Make sure identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets lost, his tag is his ticket home.

·         Make sure you have a current photo of your pet for identification purposes.

·         Make sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.

Why Spay and Neuter?

Spaying and neutering pets is a very simple, but also very important procedure. If your pet is not going to be used for breeding, we recommend spaying or neutering as early as possible. Not only does this procedure eliminate the risk of unwanted litters, it also helps to prolong your pet’s life by minimizing the risks of a number of health conditions!

In female pets, spaying lessens the threat of mammary tumors and cancer and ultimately eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancers. In male pets, neutering eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and decreases the odds of prostate cancer.

Additionally, spaying or neutering your pet eliminates a lot of negative behaviors. Female pets will no longer enter a heat cycle or attempt to escape in hopes of procreating, and male pets will become more contented house pets, not out seeking females throughout the neighborhood. This tendency to roam can cause a lot of problems, such as danger in the roads (males seeking females are a lot more likely to be hit by cars!).

Spaying and neutering can be done early in a pet’s life. We recommend for females it is performed before they have had their first heat cycle.