Whoa gimme anotha’ lick of dat catnip man!

We have three cats Fiddle, Duncan and Jones and each of them react differently to catnip. Fiddle rolls around in it until he is covered in it then licks it off himself and goes bonkers.  It does nothing for Duncan but he watches Fiddle then looks at us as if to say I want what he is having.  Jones couldn’t care less and all but rolls his eyes then walks away. 

What is catnip anyway?  It is an herb called Nepeta and is a member of the mint family with the common name of catmint or catnip. There are 250 species and some are perennial and some are annual.  The organic compound in some Nepeta species binds to the olfactory receptors which detect odors in a cats nose, typically resulting in temporary euphoria. The catnip reaction is inherited, and some cats are totally unaffected by it like our cat Jones. Large cats like tigers can be sensitive to it as well.  Fresh catnip picked right from the garden is generally much more potent.  Some pet stores and local home and garden stores usually carry both catnip seeds and small catnip plants ready for planting. We have also seen catnip plants at local green markets where fresh vegetables and fruits are sold. 

Catnip does not come from the marijuana plant as some believe and it is dangerous for the lungs if it is smoked. So please refrain from doing so. Besides humans have plenty of ways to get to euphoria so let the cats have this one. Just sit back and have fun watching your cat roll around, jump up and down enjoying their catnip. We say party on little kitty, party on!

"We Are What We Eat" said the Dog to the Cat

Ick! Ack! What’s that? 

Over the last several years there have been more and more recalls of pet treats and food from China.  We have been told of the plastics or chemicals used in them to increase perceived volume or enhance flavor. However, whether it is China or another country most of the commercial pet foods contain waste from the human food industry.  With added hormones for boosting growth, preservatives for longer shelf-life, flavor-enhancers and coloring agents to make them attractive. I wouldn’t eat that, would you? Probably not, but poochie and kitty wouldn’t have a problem with it.

This is where you step in. The way what you eat affects your health and quality of life is the way what you feed your pets affects their quality health and quality life. The most common ailments from food are skin allergies and obesity, but animals are not impervious to getting diabetes, cancer, heart disease or many of the illnesses we suffer. When they eat all-natural or organic foods they experience increased energy, shinier and softer coats, improved skin conditions, increase in heart and muscle mass, strong bones, fewer digestive disorders and an overall improvement in immune system among several things.  

You don’t have to go to special or exclusive pet stores to find all-natural or organic or foods. They are more available than you may think.  At Pet Posse Presents we put only all-natural and organic treats in our pet gift baskets and major retailers such as Petco carry them. 

Yes, all-natural and organic foods cost a little more but that extra dollar or two could save you expensive vet bills in the future as well as extend the life of your pet. Knowing that poochie and kitty may be around another year or two is a happy feeling indeed. 

The Plastic Cat Connection

Our cats have made plastic bags the bane of our existence. When our first cat Spider Jim started licking plastic bags my husband and I thought it was something unique to him. We had both grown up with dogs and didn’t know of this odd behavior.  As much as Spider seemed to enjoy licking the bags Duncan, who lives with us now, does it purely to irritate us and get attention. When Stubby Jones moved in he had no interest in plastic bags but within a couple of months of watching how it worked for Duncan he jumped on the bandwagon. Now, it can be a plastic bag licking symphony at 5:00 AM on a Saturday morning. Fortunately, our arrogant tuxedo cat Fiddle has no interest in plastic bags. He thinks the behavior is barbaric and beneath him.   

I have read many articles and columns on cats licking or chewing plastic and the most common answer is cats like the taste of “tallow” a form of animal fat that is used when manufacturing plastic bags. Tallow comes from a form of beef or mutton fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, including its melting point. It is common for commercial tallow to contain fat derived from other animals, such as lard from pigs. Some cats have a strong sense of smell and enjoy the taste. Ick! 

As funny as it can be to watch your cat playing with a plastic bag it’s best to supervise them. Plastic bags can get caught around their neck and choke them if it gets caught on something, pieces can be chewed off and swallowed, and if trapped in a bag they can suffocate. If your cat ingests a bag this could create some serious, and expensive, medical problems.   Never pull out accidentally ingested material, even slowly, from a cat's anus or mouth because those items may become twisted around the digestive tract therefore you may accidentally pull out the intestines. Take your cat to the vet.  

During the week Duncan gets up at 6:30, however on weekends it is 5:00 which he does just to annoy us. He will employ the plastic bag maneuver to get us up.  When we hear this little crinkling sound, which is just loud just loud enough to wake us, we know Duncan is ready to eat. We swear the cat has a secret stash that he sneaks them off to when we aren’t looking.  Either that or he deals in plastic bags like contraband with other cats off the fire escape when we aren’t home. More than my husband and I it is Fiddle who is most annoyed by the licking. He always gives the other two cats a death stare then looks at us and gives his best ‘see, this would not happen if I were an only cat’ look then glides  out of the room.   

Can they suffer? Yes.

The question is not Can they reason? Nor Can they talk? But Can they Suffer - Jeremy Bentham, Philosopher. ♥ They most definitely can suffer! ♥ from Helped by Animals

Do you know who to call?

Do you know who to call?

I live in New York City and while walking home the other day I saw a young fledgling hawk on a sidewalk.  The poor thing was scared and hurt or ill because it didn’t fly away when a crowd gathered to get photos of him, he just hopped away. I called 311, a general help line in NYC that will connect you to different agencies and they connected me to Animal Control. I explained the situation and they asked me if it was hurt.  I told them it isn’t flying away so something wasn’t right with the hawk. They told me it was probably fine and was learning how to fly and its mother was some place close. I explained to them that this hawk was never seeing its mother again because there was a crowd getting closer and closer to it and I didn’t trust that everybody was going to be careful or considerate of the scared bird. He said if the bird wasn’t hurt or ill there was nothing they would do and hung up.

This incident left me feeling helpless and showed me how unprepared I am to handle a situation that is out of the ordinary.  NYC is a big city and Animal Control has a lot do to but that wasn’t helping this hawk and I didn’t know who else to call. I decided right then I was going to put in my contacts who to call in case of an emergency involving an exotic or wild animal. I did a Google search of vets for exotic and wild animals and could not believe how many there are in Manhattan.  I recommend you do the same where you live. Check to find out if there are exotic medicine veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitation centers or major animal hospitals where you live that can help you or point you in the right direction. Ask your vet who they suggest you call for something out of the ordinary or something AC will not handle. Maybe it is the zoo or an animal charity that will know where to send you. First check that they will be able to help you before you put them in your phone book. No point putting in the phone number of an agency or hospital in your contacts if in the end they don’t know what to do either.   

Fortunately some very concerned people came out of a bicycle shop with gloves and a box to capture the hawk. They had already spoken to the Center for Avian & Exotic Medicine on the upper west side and were taking the bird there. They seemed genuine in their concern and I believed they really did take the bird to the vet.  I didn’t even know that center existed but I am glad they did and it is now in my phone book.

Two buds chillin in the sun

Love this photo from Three Wishes Foundation. Just two buds chillin in the sun.

Bag the Bread!

The ponds in Central Park are one of the great perks of living in New York City. There are seven naturalistic water bodies in Central Park.  All of them have beautiful ducks and geese swimming and lounging around. One of our favorites is Turtle Pond because it also is filled with turtles.  

We, like many enjoy going to the park, also head to the ponds to feed the ducks and geese.  Many people are feeding them bread, chips, crackers, popcorn and similar bread type products.  Feeding them bread like products is the equivalent of giving them junk food which has little or no nutritional value. It can also harm ducklings’ growth, pollute waterways and attract rodents and other pests. Similarly, ducks should not be fed any products that are spoiled or moldy; different types of mold can be fatal to waterfowl. 

So what do you feed them? We’re glad you asked. The best foods to offer ducks include:

• Wheat
• Cracked corn
• Barley
• Oats
• Milo
• Birdseed
• Grapes (cut in half)
• Frozen peas or corn (defrosted)
• Earthworms
• Chopped lettuce
• Vegetable trimmings or peels (chopped)
• Duck feed pellets available from farm supply stores

Things to remember when feeding birds in parks or ponds:

• Stop feeding if the birds appear uninterested or are leaving the food uneaten.
• Be wary of birds that approach closely and remember that they can still be aggressive.
• Dispose of all trash properly, including bags, twist ties and unsuitable scraps.
• Do not allow pets or children to chase or disturb the birds.
• Always check city ordinances that restrict or prohibit feeding ducks or waterfowl, and obey all local laws.

Also, consider the fact that there are probably others that are also feeding the ducks and geese. So keep in mind not to over-do it. Too much food can cause them to have weight issues. This can result in many of the same problems we experience from overeating. They won’t starve without you. They are survivors and are excellent at foraging for food. 

Ducks, we love them.

Recalls? Again??

Recalls? Again??

Dogswell issued a voluntary recall late Friday for its Catswell Brand VitaKitty Chicken Breast with Flaxseed and Vitamins treats because of potential contamination with high levels of propylene gylcol. High levels of propylene glycol in the treats could result in serious in serious injury to cats, according to the FDA. 

The FDA has warned about treats made in China, which have been cited in more than 1,800 reports of illnesses and deaths in the United States. 

Must keep an eye for these things...

Lost in NYC?

Lost in NYC? Maybe not for long!

New York City recently launched a pilot program that will help track down lost pets.

The program announced by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, the ASPCA, and Animal Care & Control is designed to bolster the families’ own search efforts. 

If you lose or find a pet you can report it on the animal-care agency’s website http://www.nycacc.org . That helps get the search in motion. 

Supervised volunteers armed with technology will work to match shelter animals with reports on that website, and on other lost-and-found websites.

This is an awesome program. Go NYC!

Dating with Dogs!

Here is something fun. Dating with Dogs. It makes perfect sense. We have several friends that are single and live with dogs so when I received an email about finding the pet lover of your dreams it caught my eye. I attend pet trade shows all the time which is where I met Charlotte Reed a married, Petrendologist. She sent out an email inviting people to attend a class she is teaching Aug. 1st in NYC that is designed to help single pet owners discover how to meet their match. I passed the info to our friends who would appreciate a little help in that area and I thought I would share it with you! For more information you can go to Charlotte’s site: www.guidetodatingwithdogs.com