~Man's Best Friend~

~If you're a dog lover you must watch this amazing video!  Take a mental health break and enjoy

~Adorable jewelry for Pet Lovers!

~I came across this website and just had to share it!  They have a large selection of jewelry, fully customizable to suit your wants and needs.  They will even make a pendant with feet-prints from any pet that you have----be it an alpaca, parrot, cat.....whatever!  Check it out!

~charms, lockets, earrings, bracelets, anklets, rings, cufflinks---photo jewelry......etc

~Happy Holidays to you and your pets!

http://www.puppypaws.com/

~[click here] to find out all about Puppy Paws jewelry!

 ~taken from the website:

"Puppy Paws are paw-shaped jewelry for people who celebrate the love of the paws in their lives.

It all started because I wanted a paw . . . Well, I couldn't find anything that I liked so after searching I decided that, if I put my mind to it, I could probably figure out how to make one.

That was in 1999, so I now consider this entire adventure my incredible "midlife crisis."

This simple, elegant, little paw has taken over our lives in a very big way. As a result we now have Puppy Paw Earrings, Puppy Paws Charms, Puppy Paws Bracelets, Puppy Paws Cufflinks and even Puppy Paws Tuxedo Studs all available in 14k gold or sterling silver.

For our cat lovers we've even created Kitten Paws that feature fabulous cats eye gemstones.
Besides our 14k Paw prints, Puppy Paws offers an enormous variety of 14k gold & sterling silver breed jewelry. Dozens of artists have created an amazing selection of dog and cat jewelry that will delight every ones individual taste.

So, for paw prints in 14k gold or sterling silver we welcome you to explore the Puppy Paws collection! "

Puppy Paws Inc. 314 Pine Valley Dr Pittsburgh, PA 15017-3433
Phone:  412-221-7076
eMail:  info@puppypaws.com

~Holiday Stress.....Does it affect your cat too?

This post discusses the impact that our holidays and extra house guests can have on your feline friends.  Some cats are very social and love the extra attention, while timid cats will feel very stressed with all of the extra 'hustle & bustle' going on around them.  Who are all these people, and why are they here?

Here's my 2 cents, and I'll have some extra information links in here as well!

Holidays and company can interfere with their solitary nature and desire for peace and routine.  It is important to make sure that they have a safe hiding place should they need it, away from children and other distractions.  Be sure to have their food, water, and litter box in their "safety-zone"!

If you are traveling with your pet in the car, or airport, holidays can be very stressful for obvious reasons.  Most cats have a strong dislike for kennels and trips.  Just going to the vet sets my cats into a frenzy!  Sometimes vets will provide sedatives and tips for traveling with your pets.

Ask your vet's office what they recommend---and Good Luck---May the Force Be With You!!!!

Ear plugs are recommended (Just Kidding!), and be sure you have some extra kennel bedding or towels, paper towels and wet-wipes on hand because if your cats are like mine, you will need them!!!  Spray scent or other air-freshers may come in handy too!  I always travel with a companion because you never know when you may require an extra set of hands on the side of road for clean-ups of various yuckies which inevitably come with traveling with cats.

Airline travel tips

Car travel tips

BE CAREFUL of breakable ornaments on your tree and around the house.  Cats are very playful and inquisitive by nature, and if they're anything like my girls they will swat at the balls on the tree, or try to climb it.  Should a glass ball fall to the floor and shatter it could mean injury to your pet, as well as to others that may inadvertently step on it.  This is especially a concern for young children that may be crawling around on the floor.

Be careful with tinsel as well.  I remember as a child, seeing my cat with an 'icicle' string hanging out of her hind-end.  I guess she thought it was tasty and swallowed it.  It didn't come out the other side as easily as it went in.  I can't imagine it's easy to swallow either and could possibly become a real choking or digestive hazard.

Make sure to keep an extra eye on your cats around lit candles.  I've had my cat singe her whiskers when she jumped up to investigate and sniff it.  Lucky for her it was in a glass jar and she didn't actually touch the flame with her nose.  Always make sure your burning candles are where you can see them at all times, for your everyone's sake----pets included!

Be careful of unattended food as well.  Seafood, meat, and cheese are tempting treats for humans this time of  year----and Fluffy probably would love to have a taste too!

CHOCOLATE IS POISONOUS AND LETHAL FOR YOUR DOGS!!!!!  Had to add that, even though this is a post about cats!

For more information, check out this link:
http://www.petplace.com/cats/holiday-stress-does-it-affect-your-cat-too/
Please scroll down to read some information about finding cat-sitters, boarding kennels, and airline travel regulations and tips!

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings to you and your pets!

~TARZAN, beloved pet of Judy & family

I have so many to tell you about but i will start with the most recently gone.. my beloved cat, TARZAN. He was appropriately named.. the king of our jungle! When we first got him he was just a small timid kitten but he was the only one i could catch at the time!! i hadn't wanted him...he wasn't the right colour he had long hair just not what i wanted but we took him anyway... in the car on the way home, he nearly got out of the window, climbed all over the car, in the windshield, and everywhere.... i was about ready to send him flying due to all the scratches on me. We got him home. he was filthy and smelly, so we gave him a bath... in the kitchen sink. Anticipating more scratches, i prepared with longs-leeves and big rubber gloves..boy was i wrong....the cat loved it.. he even stuck his head under water. He grew up to be a beautiful cat. but a huge one! about 30 pounds when we finally put him down. He would strut he knew he was handsome and he was funny. he had a personality all his own... and he ruled our house! if any other animal came to it he showed them who was boss.. even our old dog we had for years that only wanted to play at least in the beginning. Tarzan reminded me of the big grumpy dog on bugs bunny who always swatted the little one and he went flying.. that's how he was with the other pets.. Everyone that saw him fell in love with him and he knew it, even the people that hated cats, he warmed their hearts! He would follow us on our bikes and on our walks, i used to have to make him go home. he was sooo affectionate to. And he start to lick your hand from time to time and then he would bite you, give you a little look and then lick again like he was apologizing.. He loved to be vacuumed and it wouldn't matter where you were sweeping, he'd roll in your pile of dirt.! In August of 2009 we finally had to put him to sleep, and what a difficult ordeal that was. He had started having seizures but we don't know why. Even the vet didn't know why unless i did thousands of dollars in testing in Toronto on him which as good as it sounded, he was just a run of the mill cat, not a purebred not a show cat, and he was not a young cat. so we decided to leave him be and see if it got better. The medication seemed to help and then we ran out and it appeared worse. I think it even got to the point where he had a little stroke because he would be walking along and then all of a sudden fall down.. He'd lay there until it passed and away he'd go again.After i convinced the kids that it wasn't fair to let him live this way we made the appointment. we brushed him and fed him and gave him special treats and we put him in a box with his favourite pillow. Then we made the dreaded trip to the vets office. This was one of the saddest and most difficult days of my life. me my daughter and her boyfriend and her friend from school. My daughter started crying the minute we pulled up to the office. They put us in a little room, their palliative room so we could have a few minutes to say good bye to our beloved pet. All we had to do was open the door when we were ready and they would come and take him. At first my daughter wanted no part of that she was done with her goodbyes but just as i was getting ready to call the vet in to take him she came into the room crying hysterically. I had to try to be strong for her so i held back all my tears. She picked him up and cuddled him and cried and told him what a great cat and friend he had been to all of us not to mention the other cats that had come and gone. The vets assistant came to take him because i told her we were ready... however when she bent down to take the box, in my grief i yelled at her to leave him alone, She must have thought i had lost my mind...So she let us have a few more minutes. Finally the time came for them to take him so we said our final good byes to him.. I think he knew because it was like he was saying it to us too and thanking us for a good life. We left him there with them to do their job and came back when they told us it would be over. More tears ensued when we picked up the body to bring home and they handed the box to us with his collar on top of it. My daughter gripped that box like it was a prized possession. We buried him under a rose bush at her boyfriends parents house in the blazing sun. We gave him a little funeral and said more goodbyes to our beloved pet... One of the hardest things i have ever had to do. I know i will have to go through it again with me little dog but i hope i am over this one.. It has been a year and a half and i can hardly see to type this through my tears streaming down my face. A few weeks after my cats euthanasia i received what i anticipated to be a bill from the vet. To my surprise when i opened it there was a sympathy card with a poem and his paw-print on it from the vet... Again more tears but i have that card with his picture. Someday I will frame it for the kids to keep.

~The Last Battle~

~My first post will be in Loving Memory of my dear "brother", shared with you by request of my father that laid to rest his best-friend a week ago today.

Monjiidek~April 6th, 2001 to  October 27th, 2010

  The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,

And pain should keep me from my sleep,

Then will you do what must be done

For this ~ the last battle ~ can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,

But don't let grief but stay your hand,

For on this day, more than the rest,

Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,

You wouldn't want me to suffer so,

When the time comes

Please let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend,

Only stay with me til the end,

And hold me firm and speak to me,

Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree,

It is a kindness you do to me,

Although my tail its last has waved,

From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you,

Who has to decide this thing to do,

We've been so close ~ we two ~ these  years,

Don't let your heart hold any tears.

~Author unknown

~Monjiidek, you were a true gift from our Creator, sent down to assist in our Father's recovery.  You will always be remembered for your loyal service, and unconditional love.  Our hearts feel comfort knowing that you are resting in the place that you enjoyed the most while on this Earth, and we know that you are happy and healed, and waiting patiently---filling your time with endless rounds of catching frisbees and games of fetch---until we meet again.  Baamaapii Gawaabmin, Gzaagin Bazgim xxoo