June 28/2017

Feature:
10 Signs Your Kitty Actually Loves You

“...1. Head butting... During this exchange your cat deposits facial pheromones that represent their feelings of trust & safety they have with you.

2. Powerful purrs. Cats purr for all sorts of reasons, but there is one unique full bodied rumble that your kitty saves exclusively for their true love. Purring also lowers your kitty’s heart rate & helps them to relax & exhibit feelings of contentment.

3. Love bites... It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between a love bite & a regular cat bite, one hurts & the other tickles! Nibbling isn’t a common sign of love, but when a cat employs it, they’re trying to say “you’re awesome.”

4. Tail twitching. You can tell a lot by looking at a cat’s tail. Just as their tails puff out when they get scared or agitated, their tail will twitch at the very tip when they are feeling bliss. If you notice this action when your cat approaches you, then you can be sure that they think you rock their world.

5. Tummy up.When your cat throws itself on the floor & starts rolling around, they are trying to get your attention. Cats only show their tummies voluntarily to those they can trust. Feeling safe means a lot to a cat, so when they sprawl out in front of you, this is a sign that they feel loved & protected.

6. Licking your hair or ears...if your cat has chosen to bestow you with hair or ear licking, rest assured you have been welcomed into the inner circle. Grooming is one of the most obvious signs of the friendship & trust you have with your furry companion.

7. Kneading. Kittens knead against their mothers to stimulate milk production, which is why experts believe that kneading behavior in cats is nostalgic of kittenhood & acts as a way of reliving the happy moments they experienced as little ones. So next time your kitty starts moving its paws up & down on you, remember that they are not just trying to soften you up before taking a nap, but that they’re expressing their adoration for you.

8. Slow blinking. It is said that cats kiss with their eyes, so don’t expect to share this sign of affection with any old cat. Cats save eye contact for people they know & trust. If that eye contact is coupled with slow blinking then you’ve just received a kitty kiss. Return the love by mimicking the behavior.

9. Nap time. Kitties crave warm safe places to sleep, so if your fluffy feline decides to snuggle down beside you or better yet, on your lap, then you should feel especially honored. Cats are most vulnerable when they are sleeping, & there is no greater compliment than when they choose you as their snooze spot.

10. Gifting... a kitty that presents you with this bounty deserves to be praised. Despite our domestication, cats still have the inner hunter & sharing their prizes with you is a sign of true friendship...”

Abigail Geer
April 2/2017
care2.com

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June 21/2017

Feature:
Vet Association Honours Oldest Known Dog & Cat in the Province

     “At 21 years old, Hortense the cat has far outlived her prescribed 9 lives.
     The spry Scottish Fold was awarded the title of Quebec’s oldest cat...by the veterinarian association that tends to small animals.
     The title of oldest dog went to Cachou, a 17 -year-old Yorkshire terrier who dozed through the Montreal ceremony in a tiny tuxedo.
     Veterinary association president Vaslerie Trudel said the winners may not be the oldest cat & dog in the province, but they were the oldest they could find with continuous vet records...
     She said Hortense would be about 120 years old in human age & Cachou would be about 100.
     Hortense’s owner, Suzanne Janlin, said her elderly cat is now blind but is otherwise in good shape, & still able to jump up on the bed.
     Janlin credited her cat’s longevity to good veterinary care & the feline’s easygoing outlook on life.
     ‘She lives well & doesn’t complicate her life,’ Janlin said as Hortense, a large tabby with her breed’s signature folded ears, sat quietly in her arms.
     Cachou, the little Yorkie, appeared equally unfazed by all the activity around him as he wandered around him as he wandered around the convention centre ahead of the ceremony.
     His owner, Josee Bibeau, said she has mixed emotions about her dog getting the award.  

    ‘It’s emotional because it’s a reminder that he has more years behind him than in front of him,’ she said...
     The veterinary association revealed the results of a survey that showed around 15% of cats in Quebec are seniors over the age of 12.
     The average age of a cat in Quebec is around 6 years, 7 months.”

The Canadian Press
in The Gazette, Montreal
April 22/2917

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Memorial
I recently found out that a friend's beloved dog passed away in April. I used to dog sit Odie when his family took their summer holidays in Turkey & will always remember him as a happy, active, & lovable little guy. I'll miss him & our walks together RIP Odie.

June 14/2017

Feature:
10 Amazing Dads From the Animal Kingdom

“...it’s time to celebrate some of the amazing dads from the animal kingdom who go above & beyond when it comes raising and protecting their young.

Red Fox
Male red foxes aren’t just loving mates, but excited & protective fathers. They take on the task of providing food for their mates every few hours for about a month after she gives birth...

Emperor Penguin
After females lay a single precious egg, Emperor penguin dads take over the responsibility of incubating it by balancing it precariously on their feet & keeping it warm under their feathers in the frigid Antarctic weather while mothers go off to feed. Dads can go for about 2 months without eating until the egg hatches, at which point he will feed it before mother’s return to give them a break from baby-duty.
                                       
Sea Horse
Seahorses, who are also known to mate for life, have reverse roles; the females compete for males, & the males... actually get pregnant. Females deposit their eggs in the male’s pouch, where he fertilizes & carries them until tiny baby seahorses emerge fully developed. According to Science Daily, the process of male pregnancy is unique to the fish family Syngnathidae, which also includes pipefish & sea dragons.

Spotted Sandpiper
...sandpipers have been found to reverse roles where female sandpipers establish & defend territory, while taking on multiple male partners. After luring a male to mate with & laying her eggs, she takes off to find another mate. Dad meanwhile stays to incubate the eggs & becomes the primary caregiver for the young for the first few weeks of their lives.

Gray Wolf
...alpha male are loving, loyal, & protective mates, fathers, & leaders. Also known to mate for life, males who breed will guard their partners & pups while they’re in the den & take on the responsibility of finding everyone food...

Great Horned Owl
Great horned owl dads are the stereotypical breadwinners in their families. After finding the perfect home with their mates, male great horned owls take on the role of provider by hunting enough to feed himself & his mate... before taking on the added responsibility of hunting for their young when they hatch.

North American Beaver
Beaver dads are devoted family men, handymen, & providers in the animal world. They mate for life & take on a co-parenting role in raising their young until they’re about 2-years-old...

Titi Monkey
Male titi monkeys, who are known for monogamous relationships, are also known for the strong bond they build with their young as primary caregivers. Except for time spent with mom nursing, babies spend the rest of their time being carried around, cared for, &  protected by their fathers for the first few months of their lives.

Rhea
...Males can have up to a dozen or so female partners who all lay eggs in a nest he builds before they leave. Males then take on the role of incubating & guarding what can be more than 50 eggs for close to 2 months before taking on the role of a single parent after they hatch. Males have also been known to adopt orphaned chicks who have been separated from their brood.

Darwin‘s Frog
Darwin’s frog dads, who are native to South America... breed like other amphibians, where females lay eggs in the water that are fertilized by males, the males of this species take the fertilized eggs into their mouths, store them in their vocal sacs & keep them there until they’re fully developed frogs — at which point he throws them up.”

Alicia Graef
June 18/ 2016
care2.com

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June 7/2017

Feature:
 10 Things You Should Know About Rabbits as Pets

“...1. Rabbit personalities differ.
Just like people, some rabbits are shy & quiet, while others are mischievous & rambunctious...

2. Bunnies can live a long time.
...rabbits can live 8 to 12 years or more... be sure you are ready to provide appropriate pet care — including food, housing, daily attention, & veterinary visits...

3. Socialization is essential.
Many rabbits can be reserved when they are first taken home, wanting to hide & resisting handling. That’s why it’s very important that when a bunny is brought into a new environment, a new owner is willing to spend time talking to it & working up to petting & handling it to ensure it becomes acclimated...

4. Proper nutrition is key.
Rabbits are herbivores...& should be offered unlimited amounts of timothy or grass hay each day to help them wear down their continuously growing teeth. Alfalfa hay is not generally recommended for full-grown rabbits... as it is too high in calcium & calories; it is appropriate for young, growing bunnies up to 1 year, & pregnant or nursing bunnies. Rabbits also should be offered dark green or yellow leafy vegetables, such as collard greens, beet or dandelion greens, romaine lettuce, carrot tops, endive, basil, kale, cabbage, radicchio, wheat grass, squash, Brussels sprouts, & pea pods...

Fruits should be limited to small amounts of high-fiber apple, pear, plum, peach or berries. Carrots also contain a fair amount of sugar & should be offered in small quantities...

... rabbits also may be offered high-fiber, timothy hay-based pellets in limited quantities... Bunnies also require fresh water daily...

5. Bunnies are usually very clean.
Rabbits generally do not need to be bathed & will groom themselves frequently. Their cages should be lined with paper-based bedding... They can be trained to use a litter pan containing a different type of paper-based bedding in a corner of their cage...All rabbits, but especially long-haired breeds, such as the Angora,should be brushed weekly to prevent matting of hair with food, stool or bedding, & all require nail trimming every few months.

6. Exercise is important.
Though rabbits don’t need to be walked... they do need time every day out of their cages. Activity helps prevent weight gain & promotes healthy digestion... They should be left out only when supervised...

7. Bunnies & extreme weather don’t mix.
With their thick & sometimes-long fur coats & lack of sweat glands, rabbits don’t tolerate heat well & overheat easily...If they are allowed outside, they should be provided with water & a shaded area...

8. Chewing is a must.
Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously. They must not only have an endless supply of hay to nibble on, but also hard wooden toys & branches (such as commercially available apple wood sticks) to gnaw on to help keep their teeth worn down...

9. Never trust predators.
Rabbits are prey species, & other commonly kept pets... are predators whose instincts are to catch prey...Therefore, dogs, cats, & ferrets should never be left alone in the presence of a rabbit, no matter how gentle & sweet they are. Also be aware that the presence of such species may stress out your bunny.

10. Veterinary care is vital.
Bunnies... require regular, preventive veterinary care. While they do not typically require vaccines, they should have annual checkups & fecal examinations to check for parasites... In addition, female rabbits not intended for breeding should be spayed, as after 3 years of age, 70 to 80% of un-spayed females get uterine cancer...”

Dr. Laurie Hess (Vetstreet.com)
Feb. 8/2017
care2.com

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