Easter DANGERS For Cats!

Like to remind people about this at Easter Time. Right now, lilies are very popular.  Unfortunately, they are very dangerous for your cat.  I would like to share a blog with you from an urban weekly called Inlander.  In this blog, they explain why these are not good for your pet.

The trumpeted blooming flowers often given as gifts in the weeks leading up to Easter’s observance are certainly lovely icons of spring, but if you have cats — beware. Out of all types of plants that, when ingested, can cause minor to severe symptoms in cats, lilies are one of most dangerous and deadly of all cultivated plants. And that’s lilies of any kind — not just the traditional Easter Lily.

 

Though obligate carnivores — meaning their diets must be animal protein-based — many domestic cats are naturally attracted to greenery both in and outside their homes because plants serve as a small source of fiber. Cats can’t efficiently digest plant matter, though, so if you see your cat nibble on something green only to puke it up later, that’s not unusual, either. Cats may intentionally eat plants to induce vomiting to pass a hairball.

That said, even if your cat has never shown interest in nibbling plants, it’s still a good idea to avoid the risks entirely by not bringing any lilies into your home. Ingesting any part of the plant can cause death if not treated, but the first symptoms are vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy and kidney failure, according to the ASPCA, which offers a lengthy guide on all plants known to be harmful to pets.  

It’s not known what specific toxin in lilies is so deadly to cats, but even one bite of a leaf or taste of pollen can bring on symptoms. If you suspect your cat has eaten part of any houseplant, seek immediate veterinary care. It’s also a good idea to take a picture of the suspected plant(s) if you’re not sure so the vet can give an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Another thing to avoid at Easter if you have cats, especially kittens — fake Easter basket grass, at least of the non-paper variety. If accidentally ingested by a cat, the foreign object could potentially require surgery to remove.

The ASPCA has a 24-hour poison emergency hotline (888-426-4435; note there is a cost involved) for pet owners who are concerned their cat or dog is showing signs of ingesting a harmful substance, plant or not.
Sources and more info on plants harmful to cats and other pets:

ASPCA
Cat Fanciers Association
PetMD
Animal Planet

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667

Oh, No! It's Sunday Again!

It was a beautiful spring day. The family had decided that it would be nice to go for a picnic after church. Mom fried some chicken, made potato salad, and added other things she thought her family would like. She even made a pie for dessert. Everyone piled in the car to go to church. After that, they went to the local park to have their picnic.

Mom and Dad spent the afternoon just relaxing and visiting while the kids played on the equipment, ran races, visited with friends they found there, and just kept active until they were too tired to do anything else. All in all, they spent about three hours at the park. By then, everyone was ready to go home. Both Mom and Dad had things to do to get ready for work tomorrow and the kids had homework to finish for school.

When the family arrived home, their cat, Jordy, was there to greet them. He noticed they didn't look as happy as when they left in the morning, but he didn't think much about it. After he was fed, he just sat and watched them. Dad was getting papers ready for a meeting at work the next day. Mom was making sure that her lesson plans were ready for the week since she was a teacher. The kids were mumbling under their breath about having to finish their homework. Jordy was so happy he was a cat because..........

I Hate This Time of Year!

Before you go to bed tonight, be sure to your clocks forward an hour. (Oh, joy!!) I'm being a little sarcastic there because I hate doing this. Seems like it takes me at least two weeks to catch up with the time. Maybe some of you are like me. One piece of advice I've heard to prepare for this is to go to bed early every night for a few weeks so you are ready for the time change when it happens. Try to convince a cat of that! They'd probably give me this kind of look.

Let's see how our furry friends adjust to their daily routine of sleeping, eating, and playing.

Sleeping

Eating

Playing

How do your pets adjust to the springing forward an hour? Would love to hear some good stories!

Marion Lovato is the author of Sam, the Superkitty.  Her book describes an ordinary cat changing into a superhero to protect his family from things that go bump in the night.  Available on Amazon as a paperback or Kindle edition.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1604588667

Dashing Is Out of the Question

Considering that I have AT LEAST three feet of snow in my back yard, I thought this story was be very appropriate for this week!  

Corky was born in the late fall when the weather was still warm. As soon as he was able, he was allowed to go outside and play in the yard with his brothers and sisters. Leaves were falling off the trees. It was so much fun to jump into a pile of leaves that the family had raked because they made so much noise! Not only that, but the kittens could hide from each other. Corky looked forward to going out into the yard every day.

Then things changed. He was ready to go out, but everything looked different. What was that white stuff all over the lawn? Had something bad happened? His mom explained that this was snow. He could play in it too. It would be cold and make him wet, however. Corky wasn't sure that he wanted to do that. He finally decided that he would try it. First, one paw; then another. Before you know it, he was out running around and having a good time.

Corky remembered when the humans were enjoying something called Christmas a few months ago. Kids  watched things on TV about Santa Claus and his reindeer. Corky had liked the song about the reindeer dashing through the snow. He liked to do that too! One night a big storm blew in while everyone was sleeping. The next day when Corky went out to play, he made a decision: