Precious Cat Rules

My Cat Rules

1. I will remain beautiful all my life. Pure white with soft fluff accompanied with sky blue eyes.
2. Keeping track of my food bowl is important. I always make sure mom gives us two FRESH meals daily. Morning and night….when she returns from work.
3. Our humans are mirrors of us. They reflect the things about yourself you either love or hate.
4. Never date a cat the same day you meet. Those that do that always get into trouble.
5. I always record my daily impressions by scratching the side of the couch, the tip of the coffee table and side table and lastly, the side table in mom’s room despite having my own tall scratching post.  

Human Cancer & Pets

Most households in the United States have at least one (1) pet. Why is this so or for the matter have pets? There are many reasons:
Pets can decrease your:
Blood pressure
Cholesterol levels
Triglyceride levels
Feelings of loneliness

Pets can increase your:
Opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
Opportunities for socialization
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is defined as ‘The introduction of an animal into the immediate surroundings of an individual, or a group, as a medium of interaction with a therapeutic purpose’.

Pets have been used a part of therapy as early as 1972 at the Quaker Society of Friends York Retreat in England and even Florence Nightingale appreciated the benefit of small pets’ comfort in the treatment of individuals with illness. In 1919, the US military promoted the use of dogs as a therapeutic intervention with psychiatric patients at St Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC. In 1961, Dr Boris Levinson recognition the increase value of human-pet bonding for the treatment of schizophrenia where the human-canine relationship helped ground the patient in reality. Recently, in 1990, Dr William Thomas developed a therapeutic environment called the Eden Alternative, which sought to assimilate the natural world, including animals, into long-term care.

Animal companionship provides love, affection and a sense of being needed and serves as an accessible and boundless source of support and companionship.

Animal-assisted therapy is effective as research suggests that physiological variables change with both pet ownership and during short-term (2-12 minutes) interactions with animals. Psychosocial and emotion benefits such as the facilitation of normal child development, decreases in anxiety, loneliness and fear of procedures and improvements in social interaction, social support, communication, sensory stimulation and happiness have been the focus of studies of brief exposures (10-30 minutes) to AAT.

Patients suffering from cancer often experience a high degree of stress and depression. Hospitals often use dogs and cats to help patients after surgery or during chemotherapy. Patients may not always have family members or friends nearby to provide hourly companionship and support and may feel more comfortable talking with support animals about their fears when dealing with cancer. Dogs and cats, especially ones that are trained in the service field are unconditionally supportive and loving to patients.

According to American Humane, an online resource, patients benefit from animal-assisted therapy due to mental stimulation and an increase in physiological response. In November 2007 issue of “Anticancer Research”, Dr Massimo Orlandi and associates found that animal-assisted therapy was significantly beneficial in reducing depression in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

AAT has also shown beneficial for a cancer patient’s physical health outcomes. Having service animals nearby can reduce a patient’s anxiety and stress and this, in turn, allows the body to focus more energy on physical recovery.

In January 2007 issue of “Complementary Health Practice Review” Michele Morrison, MS, RN, of William Paterson University of New Jersey, stated that animal-assisted interventions showed, a significant improvement in blood pressure, heart rate and salivary immunoglobulin-A levels, which is a market for immune system health.

Service animals in the room may also provide support and encouragement during physical therapy sessions for patients recovering from various cancer treatments. Patients may feel more comfortable trying to walk again or using new prosthetics when in the presence of therapy animals.

The list is endless on what animals can help cancer patients from emotional support, healing effects and reduced pain.

For cancer survivors, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) using either service animals or emotional (companion) support animals (ESA) may provide valuable support.


* Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/176402-what-are-the-benefits-of-animal-assisted-therapy-for-cancer-patients/#ixzz1XtutBmq6

*Read more: http://www.cancerlynx.com/animal.html

If you require more information to this article, please email luvthypet.blog@gmail.com

Household Hazards

Household Hazards

Learn how to keep your pet safe from dangerous, yet common household items.

Safety First

Whether you let her roam about freely or she happens to escape, your home can be a dangerous place for your pet. Like small children, pets are curious and will put almost anything in their mouths. This is precisely why you must prepare your home prior to any new pet’s arrival. For the most part, anything that’s poisonous to humans should be out of reach to a pet. However, there are also some very hazardous, if not deadly, common household items of which every Pet Parent should be aware.

Food, drinks & ingestibles

Although most are harmless to us, these items can be lethal to your pet:

·         Alcoholic beverages

·         Avocado (skin & pit)

·         Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda)

·         Chocolate

·         Cigarette smoke & tobacco products

·         Moldy foods

·         Mushrooms

·         Raw meat – this would depend on certain breeds of dogs and cats

·         Raw onion

·         Raw peanuts in shell

·         Fruit seeds

·         Salty foods

Chemical & toxins

Fumes from these products are harmful to all pets, but especially toxic to birds. While the following list is by no means complete, here are a few of the most common chemicals to keep away from your pets:

·         Aerosol sprays

·         Ammonia

·         Antifreeze

·         Auto products

·         Bleach

·         Chlorine & Cleansers (floor, drain, oven, etc)

·         Deodrants

·         Detergents

·         Felt tip markers

·         Flea bombs

·         Floor/furniture polish

·         Gasoline

·         Glues

·         Hair sprays & hair dyes

·         Hand & body lotion

·         Insecticides

·         Iodine

·         Lead

·         Lighter fluid

·         Kerosene

·         Nail polish & remover

·         Matches

·         Mothballs

·         Oven cleaners

·         Over-heated non-stick cookware (Teflon)

·         Paint & paint related products (thinner, varnish, etc)

·         Perfumes

·         Pesticides

·         Propane

·         Scented candles, incense

·         Smoke (including cigarette smoke)

·         Spray starch

·         Suntan oil & lotion

·         Wax

Please read and follow label instructions carefully before using any household products around your pet.

Toxic plants

Both indoor and outdoor plants can be harmful to pets when ingested. Be sure you can identify and keep your pets away from these plants:

·         Amaryllis

·         Azalea

·         Bird of paradise

·         Blue bonnet

·         Bulb flowers (iris, daffodil, etc) Calia lily (leaves)

·         Castor Bean

·         Cherry tree (all parts but fruit)

·         Crabapple (leaves only)

·         Eggplant (all parts but fruit)

·         Elderberry

·         English Ivy

·         Eucalyptus

·         Holly

·         Honeysuckle

·         Juniper

·         Lilies

·         Lily of the valley

·         Morning glory

·         Mistletoe

·         Mushrooms

·         Oak

·         Oleander

·         Philodendron

·         Poison ivy/oak/sumac

·         Rhododendron

·         Rhubarb

·         Sago Palm

·         Skunk cabbage

·         Sweet pea

·         Yew

Safe plants

Not all plants are dangerous. The following plants are safe around pets or in their habitat:

Outdoor                                             Indoor

Fern

Bamboo                                              Fig plant (ficus species)

Beech (American & European)            Grape ivy

Blueberry                                           Herbs

Dogwood                                           Pothos

Grape vine                                         Swedish ivy

Hibiscus                                             Spider plant

Marigolds                                          

Mulberry

Pyracantha

Rose

Willow

Signs of trouble

It’s not always easy to tell if a pet has been exposed to or ingested a toxic material. In some cases the effects are instantaneous, but others can take days or even weeks. Here are some common signs to look for:

·         Bloody feces

·         Collapsing

·         Depression

·         Diarrhea

·         Excess salivating

·         Excessive coughing & sneezing

·         Hyperventilation

·         Impaired motor coordination

·         Lesions in mouth

·         Rapid, shallow respiration

·         Seizures

·         Skin irritations

·         Vomiting

·         Weakness

What to do

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you think your pet has ingested or been in contact with any toxic item, contact your veterinarian immediately as this would save his or her life.

Driving

Now it is my turn to get some stardom! Can’t always give it all to Arwin who is my eldest sister and the QUEEN of our clan and she over powers our human mom!

I’m starting my first tail on the feature of:

DRIVING

Some cats like riding in cars and some do not. Mom always puts us in cat carriers and we don’t need to share. We get our own carrier. As usual, Arwin must have her own as she doesn’t like to share! It is safe keeping us in a cat carrier. We meditate and smell drowsily when the window gets rolled down and new smells waft in. When the smell indicates our final destination, we crane our neck to ensure it is not the vet’s clinic. If it is the vet’s clinic, which is 99% of the time, we hiss like the bride of Frankenstein!

We struggle with cars because we know that they are not our friends – cars have taken many lives of our 4-legged friends. But nothing can beat the best relationship with a car by being in it. After all, when you are inside, it cannot run over you. I hear mom sigh with sadness every time she sees a cat, dog, pup or kitten being run over by a car and the insides all spread out on the road. Malaysian drivers she always says. I, personally, thank the fates for putting me inside the car as I am able to watch the trees go by. 

Five Niftiest Snacks

My Five Niftiest Snacks…..

1. My boring regular kibbles.
2. Tuna in Mineral Water and no added salt by the brand of ‘Ayam Brand’. Mom gives that to Hermoine and I as a daily supper treat. Arwin doesn’t like it, it is way to low of a treat for her.
3. Yogurt and excuse me, I only lick strawberry flavor.
4. Catnip…oh my god…that is heaven as I go mental with it.
5. Pigeons….I’m still wondering what they taste like….mom always allows us to watch them fly and sit on the railing at the verandah. Mom is still brainwashing us by saying,”Leave the birdies alone. You may watch and not touch!”

Cherish Moments

Everyday is the day we cherish when we cherish our 'loved ones' and shower them with affection. We each choose a special occasion like Valentine's Day for instance and make every effort to show that special someone just how much we truly appreciate him or her. But who says "that someone" has to be human? For everyone who's "in love" with a furry, four-legged canine or feline, let's take a moment to reflect on why we're so crazy about them. In my case, its cats since I live with 3 of them. From top down: Precious, Arwin and Hermoine.


I begin with:


1. My cats, especially Precious who blends with my white floor tiles, joyously greets me every time I come home.


2. My cats are always in the mood to cuddle...wait a minute...Hermoine mainly. 


3. My cats never leaves the toilet seat up.


4. My cats do not like outdoors.


5. My cats never complains about my cooking.


6. My cats help me clean up spills in the kitchen especially my Mutt Balls.


7. My cats like to see pigeons fly or land in our balcony.


8. My cats especially Hermoine and Arwin keep me warm at night and never steals the covers.


9. My cats shares my belief that there's never a wrong time for a nap.


10. My cats doesn't fight with me about what show we should watch on TV.


11. My cats love me unconditionally.


So, if you are looking for a "long-term relationship/commitment" with a furry friend, please visit SPCA, PAWS, Furry Friends Farm, etc. 


Save a Life, please Adopt.