Farewell

I have decided that my time writing in this blog is about over. I have been struggling to maintain it due to the changes in my family and lifestyle. There is so much that can be said about animals and pets, but I don't have the time to research and write well. Perhaps at another future time in my life...!

Thanks to all my readers (all 3 of you!) for following me these past 2 1/2 years. May God be with you!

Sedatives for the kitties

When we went to Orlando for Thanksgiving, Ebony drove me nuts in the car. In the past, she has been fine in the car, but I think everything is different now that the baby is here. We got her a hard-sided carrier and that helped, but I wanted to try sedatives as well.

The vet gave us a prescription for a sedative just to take the edge off. On the way down to Orlando, we gave to both cats. We decided that on the way back, we would only give it to Ebony. You see, the sedative made them very relaxed... And that also made them kinda, uh, stinky, as if they were colon and body cleansers. Every so often the person who was holding Lewis had to open the window and air out the car for a few minutes.

Overall, the sedatives helped Ebony so we'll probably continue to give them to her in the future. Since she's in the crate in the backseat, the smell isn't so bad. :-)

Feeding stations

I'm sure anyone with cats - or anyone with pets, for that matter - can understand how messy the feeding stations can be. I feel like I'm sweeping up little bits of kibble after every meal. And what doesn't get swept up gets stepped on and crushed.

I didn't notice it as much when we had carpet, but now the kibble gets knocked everywhere and winds up on the other side of the room and underneath our contemporary sofas. Also, our hardwood floors are from 1960 and not sealed which means they can't get wet.

When we traveled last month, I was reading SkyMall magazine in the plane. (Don't you love that magazine?) They had a product that I thought was pretty cool idea - called the Neater Feeder. It's a food and water bowl contained in such a way as to prevent food and water from falling to the floor. It sounds exactly what I'm looking for!

However, it's $35... and we'd need two. So I'll have to think about it some more. And maybe look around to see if another place has something that does the same thing for cheaper. Has anyone else had the same problem and found a good solution?

How to Put the Spark Back Into Your Relationship with Your Cat

How To Put The Spark Back Into Your Relationship With Your Cat

Freekibblekat

I am just finding this out right now, so I apologize for the late notice! But play Freekibblekat today and they will donate five times the amount of kibble to shelter cats! Hooray!

From the website:

• Play Meow trivia on Feb. 5, and we'll donate 5 times the kibble (5 x 10 pieces) = 50 (for each answer, right or wrong... it's easy, fun and free!)
• Freekibblekat receives 100's of emails from shelters and rescue groups across the country needing food for their hungry cats. The Freekibblekat HI-5 event is a way to donate more kibble to those groups working so hard to feed their homeless cats a nutritious meal.
• Halo, Purely for Pets, is generously sponsoring this event with no limit on the kibble, so tell your friends... blog it... tweet it... post it on facebook... text it... email it... yell it out... let's feed some cats!

Go here to donate some kibble! You can always find the link on the sidebar here at Two Kitties and a Puppy, so make sure you come back to play every day! So next time you're looking for online life insurance or goofing around on Facebook, be sure to pop over and feed some homeless kitties some kibble. Oh and this works for dogs too - go to Freekibble.com.

Commercial

This commercial cracks me up. I could totally see myself doing this, since I can hardly see any details when I'm not wearing my contacts or glasses.

Stopover in Savannah

Before we headed down to my parents' house in Orlando for Christmas, my mom warned me that one of the roads along the route had some emergency construction needed and was closed down to one lane. Since it was two days before Christmas, I anticipated a lot of traffic, and the thought of only having one lane was not very pleasant! I looked at alternate routes, and realized that if we went a different highway along the coast, we would go through Savannah, GA, which is one of our favorite cities. Because this detour would make the trip a bit longer, we decided to leave after my husband finished work, drive to Savannah, stay the night, and then finish our trip the next day.

Since we had the cats with us, I needed to find a hotel that allowed pets. I found this site, BringFido, incredibly helpful. They had a nice map with hotels, plus the costs and reviews. I used the map to find a hotel that was close to the highway since we were just staying overnight and not really spending much time in Savannah. We ended up staying in La Quinta Inn. The price was great, and there was no pet fee! I was skeptical – seemed too good to be true – but the accommodations were pleasant. The sink area was even big enough to put the catbox without it getting in the way, and keeping it on the tile flooring. (Big thumbs up!) I would recommend this hotel to other pet owners traveling in Savannah.

The kitties did great in their first time in a hotel room. One thing I loved – the beds came all the way to the ground, so they couldn't hide under them. Very useful. :-) I'm sure they appreciated the break from being in the car, and settled quite well. (By the way, this hotel review is completely unsolicited.)

If you're traveling with your pet, I highly recommend BringFido for any information you might need.

* This post is a completely unsolicited opinion about my experience with BringFido and La Quinta Inn.

Pet Dental Health

February is Pet Dental Health month.

• More than 8 out of 10 dogs and 7 out of 10 cats show signs of poor dental health by the age of three.
• Dental problems in pets – as in people – can lead to pain, tooth loss, periodontal disease, and increased bacteria in the bloodstream.
• Pets' oral disease worsens with time and can result in damage to internal organs (heart, liver and kidneys).

Many owners don't realize the importance of their pet's dental health. Their focus is often on proper nutrition, exercise, and finding the best muscle building supplement. However, it's not something that is okay to ignore - if you take good care of your pet's teeth, then you really help your pet live a longer and healthier life. Here are some ways you can do that (taken from this site):

1. Take your pet to the veterinarian for a dental exam. Don’t wait for his annual checkup if you suspect a problem.
2. Begin a dental care regimen at home. Your veterinarian can suggest steps that may include brushing your pet's teeth. One of the most convenient and effective ways to combat oral disease is feeding specially formulated foods proven effective in combating plaque and tartar buildup. The Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council, an organization initiated by the American Veterinary Dental Society to guide consumers, appears on products that meet defined standards for plaque and tartar control in dogs and cats. For further information on the VOHC or their product standards, visit www.vohc.org.
3. Schedule regular veterinary checkups. These are essential in helping your veterinarian monitor the progress of your pet's dental health routine. Your veterinary health care team can help you schedule the appropriate visits.

For more information on pet dental care and National Pet Dental Health Month, visit www.petdental.com.

Pets and holidays

I'm a little late with this... I got the following in an email that our vet sent out right before Christmas, and I thought it was a really good reminder!

What does every cat want most this holiday season? The same thing he or she probably wants most every day: YOU.

Food and treats fill a furry stomach, toys help to pass the time, a cozy bed makes naptime oh so comfy, but at the end of the day—or first thing in the morning!—those padding paws come looking for you.

This busy holiday season, make sure you give the gift of time to your cat. Toys and treats are great, but it's your love and attention that will make your feline friend's holidays the brightest while everything else is at its busiest. As we head into this hectic time of year, with all its parties, presents, and pressures, be sure to take time out on a busy day to sit on the couch and rub those well-loved ears.

And did you know that you can also give yourself a gift of time this year, too? The gift of more time with your beloved companion! You can help us to safeguard your cat's well being in order to make sure he or she lives the longest, healthiest life possible by following all the important preventive health care recommendations. We'll be communicating with you the whole year through to help keep you on top of your cat's routine health care needs, like regular veterinary visits, dental exams, parasite control, and any necessary vaccinations.

That's because we know that when everyone in the family – four footed as well as two footed—is happy and healthy, it can make every day seem like a holiday!

I was glad to get this reminder, and tried to make sure I wasn't ignoring Lewis and Ebony this Christmas (especially since much of the attention was on the new baby). They should sell textbooks with this advice!