Jazzpurr

Cat Comic

2011-01-17T20:47:00.001-05:00

Top Five Cat Toxins Of 2010

2011-01-12T16:39:00.000-05:00

The Pet Poison Helpline has revealed the five most common causes of calls regarding potential cat poisoning.

The most common cause of cat poisonings in 2010, accounting for almost 40% of cases, involved cats that improperly ingested human or veterinary drugs. Cats are far less able to metabolize certain drugs than humans and dogs, and common drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) are some of the most deadly to cats. Other drugs causing poisoning included acetaminophen and antidepressants such as Effexor. The Pet Poison Helpline stresses that with any accidental medication ingestion, immediate veterinary care is imperative.

About 14% of calls regarding cat poisonings related to ingestion of poisonous plants. True lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis spp.), including the Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter and Japanese Show lilies, are among the most deadly and cause kidney failure in cats. Because these flowers are fragrant, inexpensive and long-lasting, florists often include them in arrangements.

Read the full article here

2010's Most Popular & Unusual Cat Names Revealed

2011-01-12T16:33:00.000-05:00

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) analyzed the names of the pets of more than half a million customers to come up with a list of the most popular. Unusually, the most popular two names for cats, Max and Bella, are also the most popular for dogs - a phenomenon VPI calls the "Twilight Effect", because of the character Bella Swan in the vampire-themes movies.

Top 10 Cat Names:

Max
Bella
Chloe
Oliver
Lucy
Smokey
Shadow
Tiger
Tigger
Charlie

Read the full article here

Warning over cat antifreeze threat

2011-01-12T16:23:00.000-05:00

The RSPCA is urging the public to be aware of the dangers posed to cats by antifreeze. Hundreds of cases of antifreeze poisoning have been reported to the society in the last few years. Now the RSPCA is appealing to the public to take extra care when using the product after five cats died in Norwich on December 30.

Dr Kerry Westwood, RSPCA scientific officer for companion animals, said: "Many of us are not aware of just how toxic antifreeze is so it's really important that we all take care when using, storing and disposing of it. It could save an animal from an incredibly painful death."

Read the full article here

Cat Quote

2011-01-12T16:20:00.001-05:00

"Essentially, you do not so much teach your cat as bribe him."

- Lynn Hollyn

Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than a Manicure by The Humane Society of the United States

2011-01-04T23:54:00.001-05:00

Declawing is a topic that arouses strong feelings. Some people believe it's cruel and unnecessary, while others think it has its place.

Why people declaw cats
People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless "quick fix" for unwanted scratching. They don't realize that declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite.

What is declawing?
Too often, people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cat's nails—the equivalent of having your fingernails trimmed. Sadly, this is far from the truth. Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

What you can do
    * Keep his claws trimmed to minimize damage to household items.
    * Provide several stable scratching posts and boards around your home. Offer different materials like carpet, sisal, wood, and cardboard, as well as different styles (vertical and horizontal). Use toys and catnip to entice your cat to use the posts and boards.
    * Ask your veterinarian about soft plastic caps (such as Soft Paws) that are glued to the cat's nails. They need to be replaced about every six weeks.
    * Use a special tape (such as Sticky Paws) on furniture to deter your cat from unwanted scratching.

Read the full article here

Even Healthy Cats Act Sick When Their Routine Is Disrupted by Science Daily

2011-01-04T12:37:00.002-05:00

A cat regularly vomiting hairballs or refusing to eat probably isn't being finicky or otherwise "cat-like," despite what conventional wisdom might say. There is a good chance that the cat is acting sick because of the stress caused by changes in its environment, new research suggests.

Healthy cats were just as likely as chronically ill cats to refuse food, vomit frequently and leave waste outside their litter box in response to changes in their routine, according to the Ohio State University study. Veterinary clinicians refer to these acts as sickness behaviors.

When the cats experienced what were called "unusual external events," such as a change in feeding schedule or caretaker, the healthy cats were just as likely to exhibit sickness behaviors as were the chronically ill cats. The two groups had the same number of sickness behaviors in response to unusual events, and both groups were at more than three times the risk of acting sick when their routines were disrupted.

Read the full article here

Happy New Year from all the Cats at Jazzpurr!

2010-12-31T12:53:00.005-05:00

Cat Diaries: The First Ever Movie Filmed by Cats!

2010-12-31T12:30:00.003-05:00

Cats playing with virtual mice? There's an app for that

2010-12-18T01:44:00.000-05:00

An iPad app aimed at cats -- or, perhaps more accurately, aimed at lazy cat owners with iPads they don't mind sharing with their pets -- was recently released as a free download.

The app's creators bill it as "All the fun of your cat chasing a laser pointer without any of the work!" Now if they can just create cat-feeding and litter-box-cleaning apps, they'll be all set!

Read the full article here

Animal Attraction: Austin Bans Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats

2010-12-18T01:39:00.000-05:00

The Austin, Texas, City Council has approved an ordinance to prohibit retail sales of dogs and cats at pet stores, a measure that will help crack down on inhumane puppy mills. The ordinance was originally proposed in July by David Lundstedt, the vice-chair of the Austin Animal Advisory Commission, which unanimously recommended that the City Council pass such a prohibition.

The ordinance makes Austin the first city in Texas to ban the sale of all dogs and cats at retail establishments and one of only a handful of cities in the nation to close off a primary channel for the sale of dogs and cats produced in cruel puppy and kitten mills. Puppy mill dogs are primarily sold through commercial pet stores or directly to consumers over the Internet.

“We commend the humane leaders of Austin for recognizing the direct link between inhumane puppy mills and commercial pet store sales of dogs and cats," said The HSUS' Texas senior state director Nicole Paquette. “By drying up the demand for puppy mill dogs, the ordinance will boost adoptions for area animal shelters and rescue groups and increase opportunities for responsible dog breeders."

Read the full article here

Cat Comic

2010-11-30T16:41:00.001-05:00

Chattapets: Tips to help keep cats and dogs at ease while spending time alone By: Karen Nazor Hill

2010-11-29T23:20:00.001-05:00

Bronson offered the following tips to help keep cats and dogs at ease while spending time alone:

* Let your cat-sitter know where your cat hides. Cats will tend to stay hidden or run, especially when their owners are out of town.

* Leave detailed instructions regarding feeding, medication and walks. Have your pet-sitter keep the same routine you follow.

* Cats are very sensitive to their surroundings, so if you have to travel out of town try to get a cat-sitter rather than boarding your cat.

Read the full article here

Fashionable felines show why they're the cat(walk)'s whiskers By Daily Mail Reporter

2010-11-29T08:30:00.006-05:00

Step aside puss in boots because these models are showing off the latest designer clothing in a new calendar.

The amusing pictures show the fashionable felines are more than ready for the catwalk as they proudly display the new winter collection of fashion house, United Bamboo.

Designer and creative director of United Bamboo, Miho Aoki got the idea to put together the feline range after discovering his pet kitten, TG, had a penchant for high fashion.

Read the full article here

Jesse Eisenberg's Love of Cats

2010-11-20T03:21:00.002-05:00

Jesse Eisenberg talks about his love of felines and how he fosters stray cats on Conan. Click on the video below to watch.

Cat Quote

2010-11-16T00:03:00.001-05:00

"One cat just leads to another."

- Ernest Hemingway

Foster Homes Needed Immediately

2010-11-09T16:43:00.003-05:00

We're looking for a foster home immediately who can home 3 shy cats together. They get along great with each other, but they would do best being separated from any other animals. Please email us at info@jazzpurr.org if you can help with these cats or are interested in fostering other cats for us.

Hemingway house claws back at cat order

2010-11-09T02:33:00.002-05:00

The Hemingway house in Key West, Fla., is fighting an order to get an animal exhibition license for the writer's famous cats.

Michael Morawski, owner of the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, is challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandate in federal court, The (Key West) Citizen reported.

There are about 40 descendants of Ernest Hemingway's six-toed cats roaming the 1-acre property.

Read the full article here

Protecting Pets From Winter Chill

2010-11-09T02:29:00.001-05:00

The sun is setting earlier and the overnight temperatures are also dropping. Now, officials are urging pet owners to take extra precautions and make sure pets are warm overnight.

Officials at the Humane Society of Parkersburg say animals that are kept outdoors need to have adequate water, shelter and warmth as the temperatures continue to drop.

Read the full article here

Why the Leopard Got Its Spots by Science Daily

2010-11-08T23:26:00.000-05:00

Why do leopards have rosette shaped markings but tigers have stripes? Rudyard Kipling suggested that it was because the leopard moved to an environment "full of trees and bushes and stripy, speckly, patchy-blatchy shadows" but is there any truth in this just-so story? Read the full story here

November is Adopt-A-Senior-Pet Month by Petfinder.com

2010-11-08T23:22:00.001-05:00

10 Reasons Senior Pets Rule:

When senior pets are adopted, they seem to understand that they've been rescued, and are all the more thankful for it.
A senior pet's personality has already developed, so you'll know if he or she is a good fit for your family.

You can teach an old dog (or cat or other pet) new tricks (I do every day with my own cats!): Senior pets have the attention span and impulse control that makes them easier to train than their youthful counterparts.
A senior pet may very well already know basic commands anyway!
In particular, senior pets are often already housetrained, or can be more easily housetrained than a young pet with a tiny bladder.

Read the full article here

Cat Quote

2010-10-14T14:02:00.000-04:00

"One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don't come home at night."

- Margaret Mead

6 Things Every Cat Owner Needs

2010-10-14T13:42:00.001-04:00

Deaf cats unlock mystery

2010-10-14T13:39:00.001-04:00

Stephen Lomber said his research team at the University of Western Ontario has figured out how and why deaf cats see so much better than those that can hear.

When parts of the brain that control hearing don’t work, the brain reorganizes itself so some sight functions — specifically in peripheral vision and movement — fill that same space, said Lomber, an associate professor at UWO’s Centre for Brain and Mind.

“It’s more related to survival,” he said: the ability to dodge predators and seek prey. “If there was some large, menacing thing — like a cat or a dog — they can’t hear them, so they can see them.”

The research, published in Nature Neuroscience, offers valuable clues to the plasticity of human brains, especially for people born deaf who report having better vision than their hearing friends.

Read the full article here

Katherine Heigl donates money to a spay and neuter programme

2010-09-27T19:10:00.000-04:00

Hollywood star Katherine Heigl is doing her part for cat and dog rescue - she is donating $1 million to a Los Angeles initiative designed to improve pet health care in the area.

The Knocked Up actress gave away the chunk of change to a campaign aimed at encouraging residents to spay and neuter their pets.
It is thought that if this practice was more popular, there would be far fewer unwanted puppies and kittens around - and, subsequently, a reduction in the number of euthanisations performed by shelters every year.

Read the full article here

Solving the feral cat problem

2010-09-27T14:11:00.000-04:00

October 16 is National Feral Cat Day and the Welland Feral Cat Support Group will honor this day by reminding people that trap-neuter-return (TNR) and other humane programs for feral cats are in the best interest of the cats and the community.

Feral cats are members of the domestic cat species but normally cannot be adopted into homes; they live outdoors in family groups called colonies and TNR is the best course of action for feral cats because it ends the breeding cycle and stops behaviors associated with mating.

National Feral Cat Day was launched in 2001 by Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for feral and stray cats and a recognized authority on TNR -- a program in which cats who live outdoors are humanely trapped and brought to a veterinarian to be evaluated, spayed or neutered and vaccinated. Friendly cats and kittens are put up for adoption.
Read the full article here

Owner of pink cat used 'harmless food dye'

2010-09-27T14:06:00.001-04:00

The owner of a pink cat found in a Swindon garden has made a plea for the return of her pet.

Natasha Gregory said she bathed the white cat with "harmless" food dye because pink was her favourite colour.

The RSPCA had been trying to trace the owner of the cat, named oi! Kitty, after criticising the "sick prank".

Ms Gregory, who has pink hair, said she loved oi! Kitty and wanted her back. The RSPCA said it was looking into the matter and would not comment further.

Read the full article here

Cat Quote

2010-09-18T02:14:00.000-04:00

"Any conditioned cat-hater can be won over by any cat who chooses to make the effort."

- Paul Corey

Cat Comic

2010-09-10T14:15:00.001-04:00

Big Cats Are Out There By Matt Bendoris

2010-09-09T18:01:00.006-04:00

Survival expert Ray Mears believes big cats are on the prowl in Scotland - after seeing them with his own eyes. Police have warned worried locals near Dornoch, Sutherland, to be on their guard after a string of panther-like sightings this month. And Ray - who has tracked leopards for his ITV Survival shows - insists large predators on the loose include a jungle cat, an American mountain lion and a lynx.

He said: "I know there are big cats out there because I've seen three myself. And I know exactly what two of them were. One was a jungle cat and the other was an American mountain lion. The third I saw for only a split second and couldn't make it out - but it was very big. I've also been sent film footage of big cats in Scotland which I believe to be genuine. They're roaming around the country."

Read the full article here

Man leads car chase over dead cat By QMI Agency

2010-09-09T17:45:00.003-04:00

A Japanese man drove down the wrong side of an expressway in the northern island of Hokkaido and busted through five police blockades before he was arrested — all because he was upset his cat died.

Local newspaper The Mainichi Daily News reports 31-year-old Tsutomu Mizumoto drove 90 kilometres down the opposite direction on the Sasson Expressway near Otaru early Wednesday morning. He refused to pull over when police tried to stop him so five emergency blockades were set up, though he drove through all of them. After being pursued by cops for more than an hour, Mizumoto pulled over and was arrested. His car struck one other vehicle during the pursuit but no one was hurt.

"I was sad that my pet cat died. I wanted to do something crazy," Mizumoto said when police asked about his motives.

Read the full article here

Baby squirrel adopted by cat learns to purr - WDAM

2010-09-09T17:39:00.003-04:00

"She's very protective of it. If it starts to move and she don't like where its going she'll reach up and pull it back and start licking it and taking care of it like she would one of her kittens," said Jim Watkins.

Jim Watkins and his wife Karen of Carthage have helped organize Central Mississippi T.A.I.L.S. "It stands for taking animals into loving shelters," said Jim Watkins.That's how Jim and Karen got Emmy and her extended family. Emmy's owner lived where she couldn't have pets and called her vet to see what she could do with the new family.

"I seem to be the go-to girl from my vet. Anytime someone has a cat they can't take care of, I'm the one they call. That's how we wound up with 18 cats and a squirrel," said Karen Watkins. And the squirrel came as a gift from the sky. Just before Emmy's owner gave her up, a baby squirrel fell out of a nest and landed in the yard. Not being able to climb a tree and put it back, the lady did the next best thing. "And she put the squirrel in the box with the kittens and she just immediately accepted it and adopted it, started feeding it , has raised it just like hers," said Jim Watkins.

Read the full article here

Animal advocates fight against cats' negative image

2010-08-25T23:02:00.001-04:00

So that animosity doesn't kill the cat, marketing efforts are afoot to rebrand felines as more glam than granny. Veterinarians, scholars, non-profit and animal-welfare organizations have joined forces for the initiative, which aims to supplant such dubious tropes as "crazy cat lady'' with the more appealing "catalysta.''

The international effort, highlighted at the recent annual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association, is motivated by a decline in feline veterinary visits, coupled with grave overpopulation problems that are seeing three-quarters of cats in U.S. shelters euthanized.

"We're always overrun with cats. Unfortunately, society does look at them as disposable, which is a battle we deal with on a daily basis,'' says Stephanie McDonald, executive director of the Edmonton Humane Society. "We're just desperate to save their lives, through whatever clever means we can use.'' Statistics show cats are significantly less likely to receive medical services than dogs, less likely to have pet insurance, and have only a one in four chance of finding a permanent home after landing in a shelter.

Read the full article here

Death-Predicting Cat to Get Feature Film

2010-08-25T22:52:00.002-04:00

Oscar the famous cat, who is able to predict the impending death of terminally ill patients in the nursing center where he lives, is about to become the subject of a feature film.

The movie will be based on David Dosa's best-selling nonfiction novel "Making the Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat" and will follow a physician's discovery of the cat's ability and its impact on his own belief system, as well as the care given to people at the end of their lives.

Read the rest of the article here or watch the CNN feature on Oscar below.

New Cat Toy!

2010-08-21T03:30:00.007-04:00

As I mentioned a little while ago, the wonderful people at CSN Stores have offered Jazzpurr a new cat toy for us to review. In case you may have forgotten, CSN Stores is an amazing online site that has over 200 stores to choose from and over 1 million items, including beautiful dining room tables, children's furniture, and cookware. And of course, they have a huge selection of pet products, which the cats at Jazzpurr love!

CSN Stores sent us a SmartCat Peek A Prize Toy Box and the cats couldn't be happier! We here at Jazzpurr can honestly say that this is one of the best cat toys out there. All of the cats at the shelter are indoor, and they sometimes can get bored; so to finally have a toy that holds a cats interest for more than 5 minutes is amazing!

Cats have an instinctual desire to watch cracks and crevices, especially when they know that something is hiding just beyond their sight. The peek-and-play toy box is designed to build on

your cat's instinct by partially hiding some of your cat's favorite toys, and your cat will go crazy fishing them out. We have also experimented with putting treats in the box, and they love that too! If you are having trouble keeping your cat entertained, you should definitely order one of these toys right now. You won't be disappointed!

If you are interested in getting your cat one, CSN Stores have some amazing selections that won't break the bank. Click here to check out all the cat toys CSN stores have to offer. And if you are interested in the one Jazzpurr received, you can purchase it here.

And we wanted to give a big THANK YOU to CSN Stores for sending us this cat toy. We are a small shelter and the majority of our funds go to food and vet bills. So whenever someone is able to help us out in any way, we really appreciate it and cannot thank you enough!

Cat Comic

2010-07-29T15:29:00.003-04:00

Yoga meditation music 'helps cats relax'

2010-07-20T15:11:00.001-04:00

A study shows that when they are unwell, cats became less stressed when they listen to relaxing music. Student veterinary nurse Sian Barr carried out the research on cats being treated at a vet's surgery. She found that those who were played yoga meditation music and Om Shanti tunes calmed down and began to breathe more slowly while in cages at the practice in Powys, Wales.

Miss Barr, who has just graduated from veterinary school with a first class honours degree thanks to her research, said: "Stress in small doses can be a good thing, such as if a cat is under stress to eat, then it can perform better.

Read the full article here

Ashes of Coronation Street cat up for auction

2010-07-20T14:53:00.000-04:00

The ashes of the cat which appeared in the opening credits of British soap opera Coronation Street for 11 years will be auctioned on Thursday.

The auction listing said Frisky beat off 5,000 other cats in 1990 to win an appearance in the opening credits, crouched on Coronation Street character Jack Duckworth's pigeon loft.

Frisky died in 2000 aged 14, but continued to appear in the opening credits until 2001 and earned thousands of pounds for charity from personal appearances over its lifetime.

Read the full article here

Cat Quote

2010-07-20T14:46:00.002-04:00

"Purring is an automatic safety valve device for dealing with happiness overflow."

- Anonymous

Review coming soon!

2010-07-12T18:34:00.002-04:00

Once again, we are pleased to announce that the wonderful people at CSN stores have agreed to send us another cat product for our cats to review. In case you may have forgotten, CSN Stores is an amazing online site that has over 200 stores to choose from and over 1 million items, including beautiful dining room tables, children's furniture, and cookware. And of course, they have a huge selection of pet products, which the cats at Jazzpurr love!

We are a small shelter so funds are tight, and are cats are more than happy to review any and all cat products they have!

The Fiscal Impact of Ferals by Sandy Miller

2010-07-07T19:39:00.001-04:00

New calculator looks at the cost savings of trap/neuter/return programs

If you really want to get something done, recruit your friends to help you.

And that’s just what Best Friends Animal Society is doing by giving feral cat advocates the tools they need to show their local leaders how much of their taxpayers’ money they can save by implementing trap/neuter/return programs (TNR) in their communities.

Read the full article here

Why Do Cats Seek Attention In Bathrooms? Amy Shojai answers!

2010-07-01T13:53:00.003-04:00

Marie Asks Amy:"Dear, wise, cat whisperer, I have a very burning question that has never been answered to any form of satisfaction. Why do all my cats (and my friends report theirs, too) love to be in the bathroom with me? I can sit for hours in the living room, bedroom and office and no one even shows up to say "meow." I mean they are around but don't interact with me.
But, if I walk into the bathroom and sit down, even if I am not using the facilities, they literally line up to come visit me..."

Read Amy Shojai's answer here

Bionic British cat gets faux paws

2010-06-27T02:43:00.002-04:00

Oscar the cat may have lost one of his nine lives, but his new prosthetic paws make him one of the world's few bionic cats.

After losing his two rear paws in a nasty encounter with a combine harvester last October, the black cat with green eyes was outfitted with metallic pegs that link the ankles to new prosthetic feet and mimic the way deer antlers grow through skin. Oscar is now back on his feet and hopping over hurdles like tissue paper rolls.

After Oscar's farming accident, which happened when the 2 1/2-year-old-cat was lazing in the sun in the British Channel Isles, his owners, Kate and Mike Nolan, took him to their local veterinarian. In turn, the vet referred Oscar to Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick, a neuro-orthopedic surgeon in Eashing, 35 miles southwest of London.

Together with biomedical engineering experts, Fitzpatrick gave Oscar two metal prosthetic implants, or pegs. Those were attached to custom-built faux paws that are a bit wobbly, to imitate a cat's natural walk. But first, he covered the brown implants with black tape to match Oscar's fur.

Fitzpatrick said he and biomedical engineers designed the artificial paws so that they would be fused to the bone and skin. "That allows this implant to work as a seesaw on the bottom of the animal's limbs to give him (an) effectively normal gait," he said. "Oscar can now run and jump about as cats should do."

The veterinarians then inserted the peg-like implants by drilling them into Oscar's ankle bones in his rear legs. The metal implants are attached to the bone where Oscar lost his paws and were coated with a substance that helps bone cells grow directly over them. The cat's own skin then grew over the end of the peg to form a natural seal to prevent infections.

After rehabilitation training that taught Oscar how to walk again, the cat was on all four feet in less than four months. Oscar's owners said they hoped his new paws would also further the technology for developing artificial limbs for humans.

"This is a pretty lucky cat," said Dr. Mark Johnston, a veterinarian and spokesman for the British Small Animal Veterinary Association. "Giving a cat artificial limbs is a very novel solution." Johnston said that while there are many "perfectly happy" three-legged cats and dogs, animals that lose two legs do not usually fare as well.

Read the full article here

New Cat Tree!

2010-06-21T12:55:00.009-04:00

As I mentioned a little while ago, the wonderful people at CSN Stores have offered Jazzpurr a Cat Tree for us to review. CSN Stores is an amazing online site that has over 200 stores to choose from with everything from pet supplies to sofas.Well, the cat tree has arrived and the cats couldn't be happier! Especially our newest resident Domino who has been spending most of his time playing on it.

Those of you who already have cat trees already know how much cats love them. Here are some of the many benefits of owning a cat tree:

Cats love to be up high so they can watch over their domain. If you're having trouble keeping your cat off high perches such as bookshelves, consider getting a cat tree to satisfy their need to be up high.
Cats love to climb up trees as many firefighters know! If you have an indoor cat, you can keep your cat happy by giving them all the benefits of being outside without any of the hassles (e.g. having to call the fire department to get your stuck kitty down from a tree).
Being able to sharpen their claws on something that won't get them in trouble (e.g. your new couch!) will keep your cat happy and amused.

For all these reasons and more, the cats can't enough of the new cat tree. If you are interested in getting your cat one, CSN Stores have some amazing selections that won't break the bank. Click here to check out all the cat trees CSN stores have to offer. And if you are interested in the one Jazzpurr received, you can purchase it here.

And we wanted to give a big THANK YOU to CSN Stores for sending us this cat tree. We are a small shelter and the majority of our funds go to vet bills and food. So whenever someone is able to help us out in any way, we really appreciate it and are very grateful!

Russell Brand and Katy Perry Practice Parenthood on Their Cat

2010-06-13T19:37:00.000-04:00

Russell Brand and Katy Perry seem to be getting closer and closer to taking the plunge and becoming parents. But in the meantime, they’re getting in all the practice they can–on their cat.

Brand and Perry recently adopted a kitten together, whom they named Krusty, and Brand recently told the mirror that Krusty has become their practice kid.

“That’s why we’ve got a kitten, Brand told the Mirror. “It’s perfect training for having kids. Since being with Katy, I’ve got this masculine urge to protect.”

Read the full article here

Kitten born with two faces in West Virginia

2010-06-10T18:35:00.002-04:00

A kitten recently born in West Virginia is turning some heads, mainly because of the spectacle it’s making with its own special head.

The newborn, called Two-Face, is living up to its name by literally having two faces.

Two-Face was born in a litter with five brothers and sisters but it is the only one with four eyes and two noses.

The kitten was born with a rare congenital disorder called Diprosopus, where certain facial features are duplicated on the head.

Most animals born with this condition do not survive very long, but Two-Face seems to be beating the odds.

Read the full article here

Fearless cat Lima saves Texas owner Cherry Woods from savage pit bull attack

2010-06-10T18:28:00.000-04:00

A TEXAN woman was recovering today after being saved from a vicious pit bull attack by her pet cat.

KHOU-TV in Houston said Cherry Woods, 39, was attacked near her home in Pearland, Texas, on the morning of May 21 by two pit bulls that escaped from a neighbour's yard and charged at her, knocking her down several times.

Hearing her screams, Mrs Woods' husband Harold Woods, ran out of the home to try and tear the dogs away from his wife - but it was their pet cat Lima that ended up saving the day.

"Our cat came out of the bushes, and scratched one of the dogs and started hissing at it. They both turned their attention to the cat. I was able to grab my wife and pull her inside the house," Harold Woods told KHOU.

However, Harold Woods expressed total shock at the bravery performed by Lima, saying it was very uncharacteristic of the normally shy animal.

"She's the most reclusive, timid animal I've ever seen," he said. "I'm very glad that we had (Lima) and that she was here, because when it came down to my wife getting hurt, she jumped right in. It's amazing."

The two pit bulls have been quarantined at the City of Pearland's Animal Shelter. A hearing is being held today to determine whether the two dogs will be put down or returned to their owners.

Lima now keeps watch over her owner's recovery.

"It's still hard but it’s getting better," Cherry Woods said.

Read the full article here

Cats Age Conversion Chart: To Convert Cats' Years to Human Years By Franny Syufy, About.com Guide

2010-06-10T18:09:00.001-04:00

Use this handy chart for quickly finding your cat's age in human years. It will help you understand the physiological changes your cat encounters as she ages, as well as anticipate and forestall age-related health problems before they start.

Cats Age Conversion Chart

Cat Years	Human Years
1	15
2	24
3	28
4	32
5	36
6	40
7	44
8	48
9	52
10	56
11	60
12	64
13	68
14	72
15	76
16	80
17	84
18	88
19	92
20	96

Cat-proofing Your House : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-06-10T01:40:00.001-04:00

Cat-proofing Your House : The Humane Society of the United States

Cat Tree Review Coming Soon!

2010-05-30T22:02:00.002-04:00

Here at Jazzpurr we have some very exciting news! The wonderful people at CSN Stores have offered Jazzpurr a Cat Tree for us to review. CSN Stores is an amazing online site that has over 200 stores to choose from with everything from pet supplies to sofas.

We are very grateful to them for this opportunity, as most cat owners out there know how much cats love cat trees. Here is a picture of Jazzpurr's own Sydney goofing off on one:

Adoption!

2010-05-27T12:20:00.000-04:00

Grayson has found his forever home! We are very happy for him but will miss him very much ♥

Help Jazzpurr win a $10,000 grant!

2010-05-19T18:20:00.000-04:00

Vote for us at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $10,000 to help pets in need.

The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $10,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.

Think how many animals we could help for $10,000!

Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter⁺ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from May 17th through August 22nd, 2010. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.

Vote today!
Visit: www.theanimalrescuesite.com

Cat Quote

2010-05-12T21:04:00.000-04:00

"There are few things in life more heart warming than to be welcomed by a cat."

- Tay Hohoff

German man 'marries' his dying cat

2010-05-03T19:23:00.000-04:00

A German man has unofficially married his cat after the animal fell ill and vets told him it might not live much longer, Bild newspaper reports.

It says Uwe Mitzscherlich, 39, paid an actress 300 euros (£260,$395) to officiate at the ceremony, as marrying an animal is illegal in Germany.

Mr Mitzscherlich said he had wanted to tie the knot before his asthmatic cat Cecilia died.

The cat and groom have lived together for 10 years.

"Cecilia is such a trusting creature. We cuddle all the time and she has always slept in my bed," Mr Mitzscherlich, a postman from the eastern town of Possendorf, told Bild.

Actress Christin-Maria Lohri, who officiated the ceremony, was quoted as saying: "At first I thought it was a joke. But for Mr Mitzscherlich it's a dream come true".

Read the full article here

Black Cats Folklore - Witches - Beliefs About Black Cats By Franny Syufy

2010-04-29T19:41:00.001-04:00

Witches' Familiars and Other Longtime Superstition About Black Cats

Black cats have played a major role for centuries in folklore, superstition, and mythology. Black cats in the middle ages were believed to be witches' familiars, and some people even believed them to be witches incarnate. Many of these old superstitions about black cats exist to this day.

Black Cats and Luck

Depending on one's area of the world (and the century one lived in), black cats portend either good or bad luck. Here are some examples, a couple of them quite involved, with some tongue-in-cheek asides.

In Asia and the U.K., a black cat is considered lucky.
In Yorkshire, England, it may be lucky to own a black cat, but it is unlucky have one cross your path.
To dream of a black cat is lucky.
On the other paw, seeing a black cat in your dream indicates that you are experiencing some fear in using your psychic abilities and believing in your intuition. I wonder who makes up these things?
A funeral procession meeting up with a black cat is believed to forecast the death of another family member.
In 16th century Italy, people believed that if someone was sick he would die if a black cat lay on his bed.
In North America, it's considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In the U.K., switch the colors, I guess unless you live in Yorkshire.
Finding a white hair on a black cat brings good luck. Don't pluck it though, or your luck may turn bad.
A strange black cat on a porch brings prosperity to the owner. (Scottish Lore)
A black cat seen from behind portends a bad omen. (And a black cat seen from the front is a GOOD omen?)
Ahhh...an explanation here: If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.
If a black cat crosses your path while you're driving, turn your hat around backwards and mark an X on your windshield to prevent bad luck. Oh my, what if you aren't wearing a hat? Or you're not carrying a felt-tip pen or lipstick? Please, don't try this one at home!

Read the full article here and you can subscribe to Franny Syufy's newsletter here

And just a reminder that we have quite a few black cats at Jazzpurr if you are interested in adopting one!

Adoptions!

2010-04-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

Miso and Kelly have both been adopted! We are very happy that they have found their forever homes and we will all miss them dearly.

Calicos, Tortoiseshell, Tuxedo Cats By Franny Syufy

2010-04-29T15:46:00.003-04:00

Tortoiseshell AKA "Tortie"

Torties are not true tri-color cats, because they do not all contain white. Instead of solid blocks, torties' coats weave the black and red throughout, creating a tapestry of color. A forum member described torties beautifully, "they are cloaked in the lovely colors of Fall." Tortoiseshell cats may also be dilute, with softer versions of the colors. Like the tabby, some torties may also have white accent markings, creating a "tortie with white." They also sometimes have an interesting mix of tortoiseshell, with a bonus of tabby patterning mixed throughout. These cats are referred to as torbies. It should be noted that white plays a very small role in the tortoiseshell pattern - most of the color weaving is done with the red and black components.

Because of the associated genetic factors that creates their color patterns, tri-color cats almost always are females, although occasional males crop up (about one in 3,000) Those rare males are almost always sterile, also for reasons of genetics, so don't expect to gain a fortune by selling your male calico cat.

Here at Jazzpurr we have our own sweet tortoiseshell cat named Millie. Click here to view her Cat spotlight page.

Cat Comic

2010-04-28T00:03:00.000-04:00

Cat Quote

2010-04-19T23:04:00.002-04:00

"If a homeless cat could talk, it would probably say, 'Give me shelter, food, companionship and love, and I will be yours for life!"

- Susan Easterlys

Catnip: Why Cats Go Crazy For It

2010-04-19T00:09:00.008-04:00

You find your cat rolling and twisting on the floor, rubbing his face against it, and drooling everywhere. Right away you know—he's been in the catnip.

What is catnip, anyway?

Catnip is a member of the mint family, which has about 250 species. The essential oil in catnip, nepetalactone, has a powerful effect on cats who are sensitive to it, turning even the most sedentary couch potato into a flipped-out ball of ecstasy.

Smelling vs. eating
The most intense catnip experience is an olfactory one—your cat smells the herb and promptly goes nuts. Researchers aren't sure what the neurological explanation is, but it's thought that catnip mimics feline "happy" pheromones and stimulates the receptors in the brain that respond to those pheromones. When eaten, however, catnip seems to have the opposite effect: the cat may become very mellow.

Most cats react to catnip by rolling, flipping, rubbing, and eventually zoning out. They may meow or growl at the same time. Other cats become hyperactive, running around like their tails are on fire, and some get downright aggressive, especially if you approach them. They must protect their toys!

Usually these sessions last about 10 minutes, after which your cat loses interest. It may take as long as two hours for him to "reset" and become susceptible to catnip again.

Not for everyone
Not all cats fall for catnip. It's an inherited sensitivity, and if your cat didn't get that gene, he simply won't care about catnip. An estimated 50 percent of cats don't respond. The trait doesn't emerge until a cat is between three and six months old; until then, a kitten will not have a response.

Read the full article here

Cat Chat: Understanding Feline Language by the Humane Society of the United States

2010-04-18T23:57:00.002-04:00

Body language, behavior, and vocalizations are keys to understanding the feline mind.

You and your cat might speak different languages, but you can still communicate with each other.

Indicators such as the look in your cat's eyes, the tone of her voice, the position of her ears, and the motion of her tail can provide important clues that reveal her feelings and intentions. You can learn to "read" these signals so you’ll get a good idea of what's on your cat's mind.

You'll learn a lot from your cat's wide vocabulary of chirps and meows. You'll know when it's time to get up (at least in your cat's opinion), when your cat's feeling affectionate, or when your cat's feeling threatened or is in pain.

Meow is an all-purpose word. This can be a greeting ("Hey, how ya doin'?), a command ("I want up, I want down, More food now"), an objection ("Touch me at your own risk"), an announcement ("Here's your mouse"). Some cats even walk around the house meowing to themselves.

Chirps and trills are how a mother cat tells her kittens to follow her. Kitty wants you to follow him, usually to his food bowl. If you have more than one cat, they will often converse with each other this way.

The purr is a sign of contentment. Cats purr whenever they're happy, even while they’re eating. Sometimes, however, a cat may purr when he's anxious or sick, using the purr as a way to comfort himself, like a child sucking his thumb.

Growling, hissing, and spitting indicates a cat who is annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive. Leave this cat alone.

The yowl or howl is a loud, drawn-out meow. Your cat is in some kind of distress—stuck in a closet, looking for you, in pain. In unneutered and unspayed cats, it's part of the mating behavior (and very annoying). Elderly cats sometimes suffer from cognitive disorder (dementia) and may howl because they're disoriented. Screaming means your cat is in terrible pain.

Chattering, chittering, twittering is the strange noise your cat makes when he's sitting in the window watching birds or squirrels. Some experts think that this is an exaggeration of the "killing bite," when a cat grabs his prey by the neck and works his teeth through the bones to snap them.

Ears

Forward: alert, interested, happy

Backward, sideways, flat ("airplane ears"): irritable, angry, frightened

Swiveling: attentive, listening to every little sound

Eyes

Pupils constricted: offensively aggressive; content

Pupils dilated: nervous, submissive (somewhat dilated); defensively aggressive (fully dilated); playful

Tail

Erect, fur flat: alert, inquisitive, happy

Fur standing on end: angry, frightened

Held very low or tucked between legs: insecure, anxious

Thrashing back and forth: agitated. The faster the tail, the madder the cat

Straight up, quivering: excited, really happy. If your cat is not neutered, he or she could be getting ready to spray something!

Read the full article here

Franny Syufy features Maine Coon cats in her newsletter blog this week

2010-04-05T22:04:00.001-04:00

The Look of the Maine Coon:

His body is medium to large, muscular, and broad-chested, with a well-balanced rectangular appearance. The Maine Coon's coat is heavy and shaggy, but shorter on the shoulders and longer on the britches and stomach. He sports a handsome front ruff and a long flowing tail.

A Rainbow of Colors

The Maine Coon comes in a rainbow of colors. The CFA standard allows most colors and patterns, including tortoise and parti-colors, with the exception of pointed patterns.

The "Gentle Giant"A full-grown Maine Coon can be an armful; males can reach as much as 25 pounds, females somewhat less, although the average is 12 to 15 pounds for males and 9 to 12 pounds for females. On average, it takes three to four years for the "Coon" to reach its full size. It's sweet disposition and large size combine fittingly for the Coon's nickname, "Gentle Giant."

Whether you intend to show or breed your Maine Coon, or just want a pet for your family, your main objective will be to select a healthy, friendly cat with no harmful genetic defects, and the best way to locate one is through a responsible breeder. The Breedlist page is a good place to start, and don't forget the Maine Coon Breeders Directory on this site (see sidebar.)

Equally at home with children, dogs, or older persons, the Maine Coon is an ideal pet, handily earning its status as the second most popular breed in America, as well as it's fond nickname, "The Gentle Giant." Who can resist?

Read the full article here and you can subscribe to Franny Syufy's newsletter here

And if you're interested in adopting your own Maine Coon cat, we here at Jazzpurr happen to have one very special Maine Coon cat named Kitty! Everyone at the shelter loves him, and as soon as you meet him you will understand why. He is quiet, patient, and full of affection. He gets along with other cats and is delighted to sit on your lap and drool for hours on end. To find out more about Kitty, check out our adoption page here

Cat Quote

2010-04-05T15:34:00.004-04:00

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."

- Albert Schweitzer

Made in Windsor

2010-03-31T15:43:00.000-04:00

Made in Windsor has kindly agreed to sell hand made crafts from volunteers at Jazzpurr to raise proceeds for our shelter. Check them out at 1465 Ottawa St. You can also call or email them for more information at 519-973-0776 or madeinwindsor@gmail.com

You can also check out their website here

Cleo wants to wish you a belated Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-21T16:35:00.000-04:00

Adoptions!

2010-03-21T02:14:00.002-04:00

We are very pleased to annouce that Dayton, Peepers, AND Willow have been adopted! Although we will miss them, we are so happy for them that they have finally found their forever homes ♥

Cat Comic

2010-03-14T15:50:00.001-04:00

The HSUS, Grainger County Humane Society Rescue Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-03-13T02:59:00.001-05:00

The HSUS, Grainger County Humane Society Rescue Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

What You Can Do About Animal Cruelty : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-03-13T02:59:00.000-05:00

What You Can Do About Animal Cruelty : The Humane Society of the United States

No hungry dogs: New pantry to help people afford pets

2010-03-13T02:46:00.000-05:00

People who might be down on their luck and can't bear to part with their animals are getting a break in Cincinnati.

The Associated Press reports dozens of pet owners lined up over the weekend at the Cincinnati Food Pantry to receive a two weeks' supply of pet food, treats, cat litter and other items. Two local nonprofit animal-rescue groups teamed up to obtain donations to supply the first giveaway.

"People lose their jobs and can't afford to keep their pets, or they have to move from their house to an apartment that doesn't allow pets," said Shannon DeBra, founder of Recycled Doggies, which is working with Pet Alliance on the pantry.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimated in November that 1 million to 2 million pets had been abandoned nationwide since the recession began in December 2007.

Cyndi Loveless was among 140 families on the first distribution day, when more than 5,600 pounds of pet food was given out.

"I'd die first before I let them go," she said of her four dogs and two cats. "They're part of the family, and you can't get rid of your family."

Read the full article here

This blog has moved

2010-03-12T15:56:00.003-05:00

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2010-03-12T15:56:00.001-05:00

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Colby ♥

2010-03-08T20:23:00.001-05:00

Colby found his forever home this week ♥ We are so happy for him but will miss him very much

Alternative to Declawing

2010-03-02T00:18:00.002-05:00

Soft Paws® are an excellent alternative to declawing. They are easy to apply at home and cats and their owners love them. They are completely safe and humane and can be used on cats of all ages. Soft Paws® are vinyl nail caps that are glued on to your cat's existing nails. They look like a cat's nail, only hollow. They are easy to apply and cats tolerate them extremely well.

http://www.softpaws.com/

Cat Testimony

2010-02-24T23:31:00.001-05:00

Another wonderful volunteer has told Jazzpurr what the benefits of owning a cat are to her:

"To me owning a cat means love, security for them, attention, medical, warmth, affection, companian, and so much more. I can't list all they mean to me. We have 3 precious cats each one with a different attitude."

-Kaye

Cat Owner Testimony

2010-02-21T03:33:00.002-05:00

If you're still on the fence about whether or not to adopt a cat, here is a testimony from one of Jazzpurr's hard working volunteers:

"Having a pet or pets is a wonderful experience. And cats are so different from any other pet. They don't want to be cuddled unless they themselves want it. They don't want to play unless they want to play. They really are a very independent sole.

It's wonderful to come home at night to have Pudi great me at the door, as I live alone. The two sit and watch while I eat. They sleep with me taking up most of the queen-size bed. In the early hours of the morning Pudi puts her whiskers on my fact to see if I'm awake yet. Then she'll attack my hand because she's ready to arm-wrestle.

Whenever I'm on the telephone Pudi has to get up on my lap to be rubbed. Anytime I'm on the computer there's Genie sitting in front of the screen, then walking back and forth over the keyboard, then onto my lap for cuddling. If I don't tell him I'm going downstairs he hollers till I call him and let him know where I am. He sits beside me on the couch, then when I get up he takes my warm spot.

To train Genie to use the cat water fountain, I had to pretend I was drinking from it for about five days. Now he thinks he is really smart cause he can do it. Every morning Genie has to come downstairs with me to clean out the pooh boxes.

They are really great company and a comfort all round."

-Pat, owner of 2 happy cats

Cat Comic

2010-02-18T21:56:00.000-05:00

Cat Toys

2010-02-17T15:53:00.001-05:00

Play is a vital activity, not only for kittens, but for adult cats, too.

Cats are athletic creatures with amazing strength and agility. Nature made them into perfect machines for leaping, jumping, and dashing. Just because your house kitty doesn't have real prey to chase doesn't mean she can't act out her inner predator.

Why play?

Toys and regular playtime are part of providing your cat with a stimulating environment, which makes for a happy and healthy cat. Play gives them an outlet for their energy, mental and physical stimulation, the opportunity to satisfy their instinctual huntingdrive, and a chance to bond with you.

What to play with?

Cats are experts at amusing themselves. It takes very little—a crumpled ball of paper, a pen left on a desktop, a newspaper spread open on the floor—to engage your kitty in what, to her, is the most fascinating of games.
Your cat's imagination can turn almost anything into a wonderful toy that she'll bat around or chase to her heart's content. Typically, cats most enjoy playing with small, light objects that are "flickable," such as a cork or a Ping-Pong ball, which they can swat and then chase.

Cats also love empty paper bagsto investigate and "hide" in. Remove the handles so your cat doesn't get caught in them. He could be terrified if he's chased by a big paper bag. Empty cardboard boxes are also popular with cats.

Interactive play

Playtime isn't just for cats—it's for their people, too. Your cat's speed and grace will amaze you as she dashes about, trying to catch her "prey."

Toss a crumpled ball of paper for her to chase—she may even bring it back to you. Some cats love to "fetch" so much that they will actually initiate the game by dropping a toy in your lap for you to throw.

Some cats go wild for the little red light of a laser toy, chasing it around the floor and up the wall. The cat gets a good workout, and you don't even have to get off the couch. Just be sure never to shine the light in your cat's eyes, as it could damage them. When the game ends, offer your cat a toy to finally grab.

Do-it-yourself toys

You don't need to spend a bundle on fancy toys for your cat. In fact, many owners say that their cats ignore the store-bought toys and play instead with a plastic ring from a milk container, a strip of paper, or a gift bow.
Here are some household items that make great cat toys:

Round plastic shower curtain rings
Ping-Pong balls and plastic practice golf balls with holes. Try putting one in a dry bathtub, as the captive ball is much more fun than one that escapes under the sofa.
Paper bags with any handles removed. Paper bags are good for pouncing, hiding and interactive play. Plastic bags are not a good idea; many cats like to chew and swallow the plastic.
Empty cardboard tubes from toilet paper and paper towels, made even more fun if you "unwind" a little cardboard to get them started.
Cardboard boxes. Fasten some together and cut out doors and windows to make a fun cat condo.
You (or your kids) may even enjoy making your own toys, such as sachets, or felt mice stuffed with catnip.

The kitty boutique

There's really no need to buy toys, but there are so many cute ones out there that it can be really hard to resist. Cats really enjoy toys like plastic balls, with or without bells inside, sisal-wrapped toys, which they can dig their claws into. or "fishing pole" toys consisting of a long rod with a length of cord attached that has an enticing lure at the end.

If you're going to buy any cat toys, you might need to cat-proof them, too. Remove ribbons, feathers, strings, tinsel, eyes or other small decorations that your cat could chew off and swallow. Also, keep any toys that could be harmful to your cat out of reach when you can't supervise her play.

Read the full article here

"Better than Grass" Salad for Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-02-17T15:49:00.001-05:00

"Better than Grass" Salad for Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T03:22:00.002-05:00

Mira found her forever home! ♥

2010-02-08T15:43:00.000-05:00

Mira got adopted over the weekend! We are happy for her but will miss her dearly ♥

Cat predicts 50 deaths in RI nursing home

2010-02-07T21:13:00.006-05:00

Dr David Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor at Brown University, said that five years of records showed Oscar rarely erring, sometimes proving medical staff at the New England nursing home wrong in their predictions over which patients were close to death.

The cat, now five and generally unsociable, was adopted as a kitten at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Providence, Rhode Island, which specialises in caring for people with severe dementia.

Dr Dosa first publicised Oscar's gift in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007. Since then, the cat has gone on to double the number of imminent deaths it has sensed and convinced the geriatrician that it is no fluke.

The tortoiseshell and white cat spends its days pacing from room to room, rarely spending any time with patients except those with just hours to live.

If kept outside the room of a dying patient, Oscar will scratch on the door trying to get in.

When nurses once placed the cat on the bed of a patient they thought close to death, Oscar "charged out" and went to sit beside someone in another room. The cat's judgement was better than that of the nurses: the second patient died that evening, while the first lived for two more days.

Read the full article here

Blind, Traumatized Cat Bounces Back : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-02-03T21:20:00.000-05:00

Sami's owner was desperate. Recently diagnosed with cancer, she knew she had to find a home for her pet. When she found Tenth Life Sanctuary near La Belle, Florida, she gratefully handed over her beloved, healthy cat and a $20,000 donation.

If this seems too good to be true, it is. When rescuers found Sami at the so-called sanctuary several years later, she was living in a small cage amid filth.

She cowered and hissed at everyone who tried to help her. She was also completely blind, and her eyes were so infected that they had to be removed surgically.

As sad as Sami's tale sounds, this is not a story about despair. It's a story about a collaboration that turned a bad situation into a triumphant one.

The power of persuasion

Sami was one of 600 cats removed from Tenth Life Sanctuary last November. After receiving reports including videotapes allegedly showing sick and dying cats, the La Belle animal control officers knew they needed help—not only in convincing the sanctuary's owner to turn over his hundreds of cats, but also in re-homing them.

It was clearly time for teamwork, and that's where The HSUS stepped in. Along with the ASPCA and Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program, The HSUS joined the La Belle Animal Control in an unannounced inspection of the Tenth Life facility. The team braced themselves for the worst.

"The cats urgently needed help," says The HSUS' Adam Parascandola. "But one thing we're grateful for is that, after a frank conversation with the sanctuary's owner, he elected to sign the cats over to us. Without that quick collaboration, I have no doubt we would have lost many more cats."

No criminal charges have been filed against the owner to date.

Combining forces

With animal shelters everywhere teeming with homeless animals, finding spots for 400 felines seemed an impossible task.

But rescue workers in this case weren't about to give up. Pooling the resources of The HSUS, the Bay Area Disaster Animal Response Team, IDEXX Laboratories, PetSmart Charities, the ASPCA, and a number of private donors, they reached out to reputable sanctuaries, shelters, and foster homes.

One by one, each cat was examined, issued a health certificate, and readied for transport. Volunteers were on hand with cat carriers, transportation vehicles, and a dauntless drive to help.

Every adoptable cat eventually found a home, thanks to the admirable way the rescuing organizations—particularly the Bay Area DART—cooperated on behalf of these animals.

Read the full article here

West Hollywood City Council Prohibits Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

2010-02-03T21:19:00.000-05:00

West Hollywood City Council Prohibits Retail Sales of Dogs and Cats : The Humane Society of the United States

Cat Comic

2010-01-25T15:23:00.001-05:00

Cat Quote

2010-01-25T15:14:00.002-05:00

"The behaviour of men to animals and their behaviour to each other bear a constant relationship."

- Herbert Spencer, 1820-1903

Cat torture raises fears of escalation By Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star

2010-01-24T15:34:00.001-05:00

The case of two unknown men who relentlessly tortured a cat until she drowned in her own blood has sparked fears the perpetrators could turn their aggression toward people.
Animal cruelty officers were so disturbed by how the cat suffered repeated kicks and stabs -- while slowly dying as blood filled her lungs -- that the humane society gave Crime Stoppers $500 above the regular tips reward.
"It's one of the most horrific things I've seen," said field operations manager Nancy McCabe, who has worked at the humane society for 28 years. "This is extremely upsetting and I encourage anyone who has any information to please come forward and help us bring justice to these two individuals.
"This is a huge concern. It has been proven that these people graduate. Maybe the next thing they'll go after could be a child or a young adult. It's very disturbing."
McCabe said it's possible someone is missing the cat, which was three or four years old.
The long-haired orange, black and white calico had been spayed and declawed.
"Obviously someone owned this cat and they took the time and expense to have the cat spayed and declawed," said McCabe. "So it would even help if someone came forward to tell us where the cat came from."
The cat was discovered Friday in the pool area at Atkinson Park on Riverside Drive West. Someone saw two men repeatedly kicking and stabbing a plastic bag around 4 a.m. There turned out to be a cat inside. The witness called the humane society later that day around 9:30 a.m.
When McCabe set eyes on the cat's broken and bloodied corpse, she was stunned.
"The cat had numerous puncture wounds over its entire body," she said. "It was extremely disturbing to see the torture that this cat endured. I don't understand people. To do something like that to a defenceless animal is just outrageous."
An autopsy revealed that in addition to being stabbed numerous times, the cat suffered four fractured ribs while it was still alive. The human society said this case is particularly disturbing because the cat appears to have been alive throughout the attack, dying slowly as blood filled her chest.
Retired psychologist Dr. Robert Carom said such "uncontrolled violence" is a frightening sign of what the perpetrators are capable of.
"That's why parents should certainly jump whenever their children are caught doing something like that," he said. "There's no doubt this would indicate there's a very good probability he would act out anti-socially. Sometimes when they do this behaviour, they're acting out their own personal frustrations, indicating they have a lot of violence inside of them. It is definitely on the list of syndromes you look at when you're looking at potentially violent behaviour."
Carom, who has worked for Corrections Canada, said he's dealt with such offenders first-hand.
"I've certainly seen people that are highly aggressive with aggressive criminal behaviours that did this kind of thing in childhood," he said. "There was no restraint or control. And people didn't think it was that harmful because it wasn't done to a human. But quite frankly, an animal is far more vulnerable."
Crime Stoppers police co-ordinator Tim Murphy urged people to call in if they have any information about this crime or any other. No detail is too small, he said.
"Any investigation is like a big jigsaw puzzle," said Murphy. "A small piece could be the piece that solves the puzzle. No matter how minor you think it is, call it in."
The humane society's $500 will be added to the regular Crime Stoppers award, which usually ranges from $50 to $1,000, depending on the information.
You can call Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or the humane society at 519-966-5751.

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Norfolk cat found frozen in snow survives

2010-01-17T00:59:00.003-05:00

A cat found frozen in the snow has made a miraculous recovery.

Annie, a 13-year-old tuxedo cat, disappeared during snowstorm in early December on the day her family was moving. After Annie had been missing for five weeks, her family feared the worst.

This past weekend, Animal Control officers received a call regarding Annie.“Basically, when I picked her up, she had no signs of life. She was stiff, she was unconscious, cold to the touch and not responding to anything,” said Hilary Cohen, a Norfolk Animal Control officer. Yet Annie started to move about once she was inside the cruiser.

“I realized driving down the road that her whiskers started twitching, and I realized we needed to work on this cat right away,” said Cohen. Annie received fluids and heat therapy for nourishment. She also was treated for frostbite. The cat is recovering nicely and expected to go home some time next week.

“She had a strong heart and a strong will to live that was just incredible,” said Alison.

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Benefits of Owning a Pet by the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association

2010-01-09T04:48:00.003-05:00

Pets are Good for Kids

For years, parents have known that pets and children are a good combination. Now, research is demonstrating that children can benefit from animal companionship.

Children with companion animals are more likely to have higher self-esteem. A US study of 394 university students revealed that those who had owned dogs or cats as childhood pets were more self-confident than those who did not.

Pets are a wonderful stress buster for kids. One study revealed that children who had a dog present during their physical examinations had lower heart rates, reduced blood pressure and less behavioural distress than when the dog was not present.

Pets are wonderful playmates and sympathetic listeners. They also stimulate communication skills in children. A study of 455 school children between the ages of 11 and 16 revealed that children with pets had a better ability to understand non-verbal communications.

Live Longer - Own a Pet

A study by the US Department of Health concluded that pets increased the survival rate of heart attack victims. The study revealed that 28% of heart patients with pets survived serious heart attacks, compared to only 6% of heart patients without pets.

Another study revealed that the cholesterol levels of pet owners were 2% lower than the cholesterol levels of people without pets. The risk of those pet owners having a heart attack was reduced by 4%.

Owning a pet can reduce blood pressure as effectively as eating a low-salt diet or reducing alcohol intake.
A US survey of 1,000 Medicare patients showed that 40% of the elderly sought the services of a doctor much less frequently than those without animal companions.

Nursing homes that use companion animal therapy have experienced a significant reduction in the use of prescription drugs. The overall cost of caring for seniors also dropped.

Pets: An Integral Part of the Family

More than 50% of Canadian households own pets of some kind. Dogs, cats, birds and other companion animals are living in more than five million homes. For their owners, these animals are more than pets-they are part of the family.

Each year, Canadian families spend about three billion dollars on their pets. This exceeds consumer spending on children's toys, footwear, eye care, and dental plans.

A recent survey of pet owners revealed that nearly 80% of respondents gave their pets holiday or birthday presents. More than 60% signed their pets' names on cards or letters. A slight majority (51%) gave their pets human names.

While virtually all pet owners talk to their pets, an astounding 94% spoke to their pets as though they were human. One-third of respondents spoke to their pets on the telephone or via the answering machine. More than 90% of pet owners believed their pets were aware of their moods and emotions.

Pet Ownership: It's Good for Your Health

Chances are, you'll live longer and feel better if you own a pet.

Medical studies on the human-animal bond reveal that pet owners are more likely to have reduced stress levels, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They also experience fewer heart attacks than people without pets.

Researchers have found that the mere presence of an animal has a beneficial effect on heart function, and stroking and talking to a pet reduces blood pressure and stress.

Many hospitals and retirement homes engage in animal therapy. This may involve visits from volunteer animals or a pet that is kept at the facility. Seniors with pets are much less lonely than non-pet owners. Consequently, they do not make unnecessary visits their doctor out of loneliness.

A study of women undergoing stress tests demonstrated that the presence of a dog had a greater effect on lowering blood pressure than the presence of friends.

Companion animals also provide psychological benefits. Pets are sympathetic, supportive and non-judgemental listeners. Pets provide us with a distraction from our worries; they encourage social interaction and provide a soothing presence.

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2010-01-05T19:11:00.002-05:00

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Fee waivers boost cat adoptions

2010-01-04T01:55:00.002-05:00

In December 2008, April Harris, shelter operations manager for Salt Lake County Animals Services in Utah, attended a training session at the Wisconsin Humane Society, where she learned that a no-fee adoption program was helping move more cats from the shelter and lessening the need for euthanasia.

By June, Harris' facility had launched a similar program.

"In the first month, adoptions just skyrocketed," Harris said. The number of cat adoptions at the Salt Lake City shelter increased from 702 in 2008 to 1,038 in 2009, through Dec. 15, she said. Euthanizations have decreased to 2,356 cats from 2,778 in 2008.

An increasing number of animal shelters across the USA are promoting adult cat adoption with similar no-fee programs or special promotions to address their cat populations, said Emily Weiss, senior director of shelter research and development for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal.

"Cats, especially adult cats, are at tremendous risk at shelters around the country," Weiss said. "In almost any part of the country, cats are much less likely to leave a sheltering facility alive."

Harris said shelters have not found it necessary to hold similar promotions for dogs, because dogs — and even young cats — are more popular than adult cats.

"The public just views cats differently than they do dogs," she said.

Harris said her shelter made up for the loss of the $65 cat adoption fees primarily by increasing adoption fees for more popular dog breeds. A sliding scale for dog adoptions was developed: Fees range from $45 to $295.

Shelters in states including Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas have launched ongoing programs to waive adoption fees for older cats. Others places try short-term fee waivers or special adoption events.

What some facilities are doing:

• Austin. The Town Lake Animal Center waived adoption fees for cats older than 5 years during the peak kitten months of June through August, increasing adoption rates by 27%, according to an ASPCA study. Dorinda Pulliam, shelter director, said the center will continue the program.

• Walnut Creek, Calif. Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation began month-long free-cat promotions in the summer of 2006 and has continued them yearly, according to the ASPCA study. The promotions waived fees for cats 6 months of age and older. As a result, the average stay for cats in the facility dropped to 3.3 weeks from 6.6 weeks.

• Portland, Maine. The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland holds a no-fee promotion twice a year, the ASPCA reports. During the program's first year in 2006, the shelter showed a 12% increase in cat adoptions during the months fees were waived.

• Charleston, S.C. The Charleston Animal Society has held two weekend-long "Feline Frenzy" promotions in which it waived the adoption fee for adult cats, said communications director Kay Hyman. She said the events, held in May and October, dramatically increased the number of cats adopted. During the first three-day event in May, she said, 148 cats were adopted, compared with 20 felines the previous weekend.

Some shelters try short-term fee waivers instead of ongoing programs because there is concern about losing revenue, Weiss said.

"The cost to care for a cat per day can be significant," she said. "Even with an adoption fee for $100 you're likely not offsetting the cost of care for a cat."

Angela Speed, of the Wisconsin Humane Society, said its waiver program has been successful since it began in 1998. The program not only allows the shelter to adopt out cats at a faster pace, it also reduces illness, helping the shelter avoid additional medical costs. It also lets pet owners find other ways to spend the money they would have paid in adoption fees, she said.

"Instead of putting that $35 toward adoption fees, they're putting it toward treats and litter boxes and toys for the animals, which increases that animal's quality of life," Speed said.

And although the adoption fees are waived, Harris and Speed said potential pet owners are still required to fill out forms and meet with a counselor to ensure the pet is a good fit for the family.

"If you can make it happen it's definitely worth it," Harris said. "You'll save so many more lives."

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Happy New Year from all the Cats at Jazzpurr!

2009-12-31T16:45:00.000-05:00

Enriching Your Cat’s Life

2009-12-30T17:12:00.000-05:00

Free-ranging and feral cats lead complex and busy lives. They maintain large territories that often contain a variety of habitats (forest, farmland, urban gardens, etc.). They explore, they hunt, they scavenge for food, and they might interact with other cats. In contrast, household cats, especially those who live exclusively indoors, have little to do and boredom may set in.

Even if you don’t think that your cat seems bored, there are a number of good reasons to provide enrichment opportunities for your feline friend.

Cats who lack enrichment can be aggressive in play, both with people and with other animals in the household.
Young cats without planned enrichment opportunities often pester their pet parents for play at inappropriate hours of the day and night. They may also interact destructively with furniture, plants or other objects in the house.
Cats lacking enrichment can become reclusive and are more likely to retreat from new people or objects that enter their homes than cats who are frequently exposed to a variety new sights and sounds.
Cats lacking regular play may be more attracted to perches by windows. When looking outside, they may overreact to the presence of outdoor cats they can see and become very distressed.

Great Ways to Enrich Your Cat's Life

Enrichment opportunities can easily be provided for cats. Here are some ideas to try:

Provide a variety of toys for your cat. Some cats prefer toys that they can throw around themselves. Other cats prefer toys that require owner participation, such as those you wiggle and dangle. Stimulating play for a cat involves opportunities to “hunt,” so move toys in such a way that they mimic the movements of a rodent or bird. Introduce new toys periodically to keep your cat from becoming bored with her toys.
Provide objects for your cat to explore, such as cardboard boxes, paper shopping bags, packing paper and toys that encourage her to investigate various holes with her paws. A dripping water tap can provide hours of fun! An aquarium with real fish or even a bowl of fake fish that move around can fascinate your cat. Rotate playtime objects frequently so that your cat doesn’t become bored.
Some cats appreciate the commercially available “cat videos.” The most popular ones contain close-ups of birds and small rodents. Many cats can watch the same videotape for hours each day, tracking the animals’ movements, growling or chirruping and swatting at the screen. Your cat might even enjoy watching a lava lamp! (Take care that she can’t burn herself if she touches the lamp.)
Cats love to watch birds, squirrels and other small animals. Position bird and squirrel feeders outside windows where your cat can observe animals coming and going during the day. If you live in an apartment, you can attach bird feeders directly to the outside of your windows.
Provide several small meals per day rather than one or two large meals. Also avoid “free feeding” (keeping your cat’s bowl full all the time). If your schedule doesn’t permit giving multiple meals, you can purchase a feeder with a built-in timer, designed to open according to a preset schedule.
Teach your cat to walk on a leash with a harness, such as the Gentle Leader® Come with Me Kitty™ Harness and Bungee Leash. Going on leashed walks is a safe way to take your indoor cat on outdoor adventures. To be safe, make sure your cat always wears ID tags on her collar when walking outside.
If you have the space, build an enclosed outdoor area where your cat can spend time when the weather is nice. Cats will spend hours watching leaves blow in the wind, birds flying and squirrels scampering around. If you can’t have an outdoor enclosure, try creating a window perch where your cat can easily sit and look out the window.

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Cat Quote

2009-12-30T13:30:00.001-05:00

"Two cats can live as cheaply as one, and their owner has twice as much fun."

- Lloyd Alexander

Cat Comic

2009-12-29T21:08:00.000-05:00

Actor who was the voice of cartoon Top Cat dies

2009-12-27T21:02:00.001-05:00

The hollywood actor known to TV viewers around the world as the voice of Top Cat has died at the age of 91.

New Yorker Arnold Stang forged the cartoon character's distinctive tones in the very first Top Cat in September 1961.

He went on to record 30 classic episodes featuring T.C. and his gang of streetwise chums, including Bennie The Ball, Choo-Choo and Brain.

Pals said the star, who died of pneumonia at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts, was every bit as sharp in real life as the character he played on screen.

Known for his distinctive nasal voice and nerdy looks, he once described himself as "a frightened chipmunk who's been out in the rain too long". As for his squawky voice, he quipped: "I'm kind of attached to it... it's a personal logo."

Stang also voiced dozens of other cartoons and TV commercials and had a distinguished movie career, starring opposite Frank Sinatra in 1955 film The Man with the Golden Arm.

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Abby would like to wish everyone a Happy Hanukkah!

2009-12-26T23:53:00.000-05:00

HO HO HO

2009-12-26T11:28:00.002-05:00

Colby would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T23:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-25T02:08:00.001-05:00