No Outdoor Cats, Example 6

A kitten in Arizona was found half-buried in concrete.

Sadly, one of the officer's responding to the call was quoted as chuckling and that "if it was up to him, he'd just throw dirt over (the cat)."

The kitten was freed from the concrete but died a few days later.

I've never understood the taking of a life in the name of religious beliefs.  How does a pro-life protestor rationalize killing a clinic doctor to make his point? How does a polygamy religious group justify killing an animal in support of their cause? Two wrongs will never make a right.  Fighting a law you don't want passed never means it's OK to break another law.

Emma

My husband claims Emma is "having bliss" everytime her tongue is hanging out like this.  Often, when you pet her, she purrs and sticks out her tongue.  Is it bliss, or is she just sassing the other cats?

Stray cat getting his 15 minutes...

While doing a live broadcast, a reporter ended up with a new...furry...co-host. Check it out.

Is your cat comfortable with the veterinarian?

When we moved to South Carolina, one of my biggest concerns was finding a veterinarian. One cat has kidney failure and one has inflammatory bowel disease and they both had just traveled halfway across the country in a u-haul. Happy cats, they were not.

Even without going cross country, none of the cats enjoy automobile travel and one of them actually hyperventilates for the entire ride. My biggest veterinary criteria is location. An office close to my home means less stress; for the cats and for me.

Apollo was the first one to visit the new vet. The veterinarian was gentle and understanding and Apollo was about as comfortable as he can be considering he was sitting on a metal table waiting for a shot.

Emma was next. She was seen by another of the veterinarians working in the office. Another successful visit.

And then it was Molly's turn. She saw a third vet and all hell broke loose. She was not a fan and, quite honestly, neither was my husband. The veterinarian was aggressive and heavy-handed. Molly hates to be touched and doesn't like strangers. She needs to be handled with kid gloves, not boxing gloves.

The next time one of the cats needed to go to the vet, we expressed our concerns to the receptionist. She noted in our file that we preferred not to work with vet #3 and assured us we could always request a specific veterinarian. Don't be afraid to ask for the care your cat needs. If there's a personality conflict, mention it to the office staff or ask to see a particular doctor when you make appointments.

If you're looking for the perfect veterinarian for your cat, the American Association of Feline Practitioners can help. Click cat friendly practice and enter your search criteria.

Visit the Catalyst Council and learn the questions you should ask the veterinary office before your cat becomes a patient.

Purina Cat Chow Real Stories Contest

Share the story of you and your feline companion with Purina Cat Chow and you could win $5,000! 

Did you rescue Fluffy from the side of the highway during a rain storm? Were you a cat hater until someone's cat won you over? Whatever your story - and we all have one - Purina wants to hear it.

In addition to the $5,000 grand prize, Purina will share a video version of your story on their Facebook page, YouTube and Twitter. Five runners-up will receive $1,000 and a year supply of cat food. Forty honorable mentions will receive $100 gift cards.

You have until July 31st to submit your story.  Gotta go...I have a story to write...  

Would You Rather Talk to Your Cat?

If you answered yes, you're not alone. According to a study conducted by Kelton Research for Del Monte Foods, 31 percent of respondents would rather speak with their cat after a long day than their best friend, children, or parents. Del Monte Foods is the company behind Meow Mix Tender Centers cat food.

Interestingly, 39 percent of respondents also thought their cat was a better judge of their mood than their romantic partner. And most cat parents are certain they could pick their own cat's meow out of a group of meowing felines.

Apollo and I have had plenty of conversations over the years. I talk. He follows at my heels, staring up adoringly and meowing. I talk some more...he rubs my chin with his face...

Japanese Cat Cafe

What a great idea!  I wonder if the U.S. has something similar. If I had the investment capital, this would be a fabulous way to indulge my love of cats.  In fact, I wonder if creating a cat cafe at local shelters or rescues would help defray the costs of caring for the animals while they await adoption.  Certainly there would be some expenses and health concerns, but overall, doesn't it seem like the perfect way to have a pet even if you aren't allowed one at your rental community? Or maybe your husband has allergies, but your son loves playing with kittens?

I'm not sure about the new law the Japanese government is passing to change the cafe hours.  And, certainly, if you are aiming the law at late-night pet shops and not the cafes, can't you make the wording more specific? We can make laws regarding specific breeds of dogs...I would think the government can find a way to allow the cat cafe to keep it's regular operating hours.