'Twas the Night Before Christmas (According to Cats)

'Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house

all the creatures were stirring.

Even the mouse!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

in hopes that St. Claws soon would be there.

Mom in her kerchief and I in my cap

had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

but a miniature sleigh

and one old horse.

All the reindeer were sick

so Santa had to rely

on one old horse

that couldn't fly.

When Santa was let in 

through the front door,

he immediately scared 

the cats on the floor.

The cats were excited

to see what they'd get

as Santa delivered the gifts 

to each pet.

Having finished his work,

Santa went to the door.

He climbed in his sleigh

and started to snore.

As the horse moved on

and was soon out of sight,

Santa was dreaming about the catnip

he would have later tonight.

Hope you enjoyed this. Want to wish each one of my readers a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2017! God bless each and every one of you.

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

Getting Ready For the Big Day

Last week my computer wouldn't even turn on, so I missed posting. Finally able to get it fixed! Want to share with you how the cats help me get ready for Christmas.

First of all, we have to have a Christmas tree,

so they have something to play with!

If they play with the garland, you may get this.

Okay, finally have the tree ready. We have a new angel at the top.

Of course, with Christmas, there's always cookies.

Have to visit Santa to let him know what the boys want.

Something they DON'T want is to be dressed up.

They'd rather sing instead.

All of this is very exhausting work!

However, we all wish you the blessings of the season.

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

 

Feeding Your Pets During the Holidays-Part 2

Okay, we were talking about foods dangerous for your pets during the holiday season. So far, we've covered fruitcake, ham or turkey skin, nuts, and raw dough, etc. for baking. There are four more to be aware of.

5. Onions and Garlic

Garlic tends to be more toxic than onions, however both can lead to anemia if ingested in sufficient quantities, and contrary to popular  belief, cooking them does not lower their toxicity. This is especially dangerous for dogs.

6. Alcohol

NO type of this is good for your pet. Don't think this needs much explanation. :>)

7. Nutmeg 

Sweet potatoes and pumpkin, in appropriate doses, are a healthy treat. But you will want to take special precautions and make sure that neither of those have nutmeg on them before feeding. Nutmeg can cause seizures if your pet consumes it alone or as an ingredient in sweet potatoes or pumpkin, and in extreme cases can even lead to death.

8. Cooked Bones

I talked about this before, but it's worth repeating.Many may think that giving your pet the bone from the turkey or ham is an excellent way to include them in the holiday meal, but cooked bones prove to be more dangerous than they are delicious. Cooked bones could splinter inside your pet's digestive tract and cause major internal problems. Avoid leaving cooked bones anywhere near your pet's reach, and quickly dispose of any leftovers after the meal to avoid a costly trip to the vet and an unpleasant experience for your pet.

Keeping a close eye on your furbaby during the Christmas meal, or even allowing them to relax safely in another room, is a good rule of thumb for the holidays. When in doubt, keep them in a safe area while the festivities are going on, and always supervise them around Christmas decorations and treats. Keep these potential dangers in mind and both you and your pets will have a wonderful holiday season! Happy Holidays!

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

Thankful For ............

Didn't make it to my son's house since the roads were closed, but a friend had me over for a wonderful dinner at her house. Very thankful for that! When I came home, Kirby and Sammy told me that some of their friends were thankful for many things, so I'll share that with you now.

Button was very thankful she had a sweater to wear out in the yard when she played.

Gilly was very thankful that he had plenty to eat.

Buttercup was glad that it was a long weekend.

The triplets were glad to have something to keep them entertained.

Princess was thankful to have a friend (even if it IS a dog!)

She also met a new friend when she went outside!

Christy was thankful for a warm, comfortable place to sleep. 

Sammy was thankful that he could sleep anywhere.

Kirby was thankful he didn't have to dress up for Thanksgiving.

All in all, it was a very nice Thanksgiving. Hope, dear readers, that you had a wonderful day with family and friends.

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 NEWS FLASH! PEYTON MANNING now has my book. Wonder if he reads or signs it to his kids?

What Do You Feed Your Pets During the Holidays?

Thought it would be a good idea to brush up on some holiday foods that are definite NOs  for your pet. You may have seen these before, but there may be some new ones you haven't thought of. I'll be blogging a couple of times on this subject because Christmas is not that far away.

Fruitcake

 A holiday fruitcake is a long-standing (and often dreaded) holiday gift and treat. The ingredients in fruitcake, although delicious, are actually extremely dangerous to your pets. Grapes and raisins are associated with the development of kidney failure in some pets who have ingested them.

Turkey or Ham Skin

A turkey or ham is a staple at almost every holiday feast. But did you know that foods high in fat, like the turkey and ham skin, can actually be very harmful for your pet? The skin holds onto all of the butter, spices, marinades, and oils that were used to cook the meat. This makes it very hard to digest. Meat soaked strings leftover from a holiday ham or roast should be thrown away and taken out to the garbage immediately, as they are extremely tempting for a pet to ingest. These can get tangled inside the intestines and require surgery. Also a no-no are cooked bones which can become brittle causing them to splinter into sharp edges and are known to get stuck in the teeth, causing choking hazards when caught in the throat or cause a puncture of the stomach lining or intestinal tract.

Nuts 

These are especially risky for dogs. Macadamia nuts in particular can cause discomfort. Put the bowl in an unreachable place.

Baking Essentials: Chocolate, Dough, And Batter

Baking Christmas cookies is a beloved family tradition that many look forward to all year. Keeping your pet out of the kitchen while you prepare those delicious Christmas desserts is a smart idea. Even small amounts of chocolate can harm them, and dough can actually rise inside of their bellies, which causes stomach pain. Spare batter contains uncooked eggs, which are always a risk for Salmonella.

Of course, telling your pet no doesn't always mean that they agree! 

You may also get these reactions!

So, please watch that your pets don't get any of these foods. We don't want them to be sick for the holidays!

Another thing to remember:

We'll talk about four more foods next week.

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

Election Day Kitty Cat Style

Yes, I know that the election is over with. However, did you know that cats had their own election in Anytown, USA? They believe in the democratic process too. (As long as they get their own way)

Jasper was elected President because he said so. No one objected.

Clover became the Vice President because he'd do what Jasper told him to do.

The first thing Jasper did was select Winnie as his Head of the Department of Agriculture because food is very important!

Next to be selected was Steve as the Head of the Department of Transportation.

Buff was named the Press Secretary.

Max was put in charge of the IRS.

Ralph was Head of the Department of Education

Sydney was in charge of the Housing Department.

Patrick and Poppy became the groundskeepers for the Cat Lodge.

Jasper was getting pretty tired, so he appointed just one more cat. Ricky was Head of the Department of Energy.

By this time Jasper was ready for a nap! Everyone agreed. Whether any other cat was appointed, we'll never know.

Thank goodness, this doesn't happen for another four years!

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