Recently in Cats Category

Chloe is a domestic short-haired gray tabby. She is spayed, declawed and about eight-years old. She was a little timid when she arrived but has warmed up. Her intake number is 26617 and she's available at Animal Friends of the Valleys, 29001 Bastron Avenue, Lake Elsinore. Information: 951-674-0618.

This cute orange & white tabby girl is Cheeto. Rescued from euthanasia at a shelter, her & her siblings wait patiently in a foster home until they're adopted.
Cheeto is on the shy side but is still an outgoing, playful 5 month old kitten. Please contact Menifee Valley Humane Society if you would like to meet Cheeto
or any other available kittens! (951) 301-6506 info@mvhumanesociety.com

If you own a dog or cat then you know should know about the benefits of spaying and neutering. Most pet owners know about the importance of common preventative procedures such as routine vaccination, physical examinations and stool testing for parasites. And most pet owners are familiar with spaying and neutering, but very few know about the significant benefits of spaying and neutering in the overall picture of their pet's health, other than to prevent unwanted offspring. Spaying and neutering is termed sterilization and is the most common surgical procedure in veterinary medicine. Spaying or ovariohysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries in a female. Neutering or castration is the surgical removal of the testicles in a male. All veterinary graduates are trained to surgically sterilize cats and dogs and the procedure can be performed on pets as early as 8 weeks of age.

Some of the benefits of sterilization include:
• No heat cycles in female to attract males.
• Less desire to roam and leave the owner's property.
• Virtual elimination of mammary, ovarian and uterine cancers in females. Less than a 1% incidence rate in female spayed before their first heat versus a 50% incidence rate in intact females over 5 years of age.
• Less sexual aggression and a reduction in fighting and injury.
• Virtual elimination of testicular cancers and prostatic disease in males.
• Reduction in marking and spraying.
• Virtual elimination of perianal tumors in males.
• Elimination of pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus.
• Elimination of orchitis, severe infection of the testicles.
• Elimination of false pregnancies and mastitis in females.
• Elimination of cystic ovaries and hyperestrogenism in females.
• Reduction of vaginal hyperplasia (enlargement) and prolapsed (slipping out of place).
• Reduction of penile prolapsed.

If the above reasons are not enough to convince you that spaying and neutering is significantly beneficial to your pet then consider the following reasons as a bonus.
• Spaying and neutering will reduce animal overpopulation allowing more animals to be placed in good homes.
• A sterilized dog will live an average of 1 -3 years longer and a sterilized cat will live an average of 3 - 5 years longer.
• 85% of dogs hit by cars are not sterilized and are roaming for females.
• Outdoor intact cats are the largest population that carry life-threatening diseases such as Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) that they spread by biting.
• Stray animals are a public nuisance and health hazard by soiling public parks and streets, killing wild life, biting people, causing automobile accidents, spreading rabies and fighting with other pets.
• Capturing and destroying unwanted animals are estimated to cost taxpayers over one billion dollars each year.

Dr. Roy Saldanha practices at Arlington Animal Hospital in Riverside and has a special interest in orthopedics and soft tissue surgery. He has a BS in Biology and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He is married with two daughters and four dogs including Elsie, a teacup Pomeranian, Arlen, standard Pomeranian, Daisy, a boxer and Titus, an American pitbull terrier.

Giving a loving home to an abandoned or homeless animal is something everyone should consider. That is, everyone who is willing to make a commitment to care for that animal by giving it shelter, food, medical care, and - most importantly - love, for its entire life. Animals are living, breathing beings. Not disposable items that should be left on the streets to fend for themselves. Take for instance, a cat. Sure, cats seem to be an independent lot. They sleep when and where they like. They come when called when THEY feel like it. They decide if they want you to pet them and for how long. Okay, so now you're thinking ... uhm, WHY would I get a cat? Well, for part of those very same reasons!

Cats, unlike dogs, are pretty self-sufficient. Not the type of self-sufficiency where they should be let outside to fend for themselves because no animal should have to do that. When a dog is walking down the street, people think, "Oh that poor puppy is lost; I have to help him find his home." But when most people see a cat walking down the sidewalk or road, they don't give a second thought to where the kitty may live or that he or she may have lost his way. If you give a cat a fresh bowl of water, some yummy kitty crunchies, and a clean litter box, an occasional trip to the veterinarian for a checkup, they are, for the most part, good to go. No opening and closing the door to let them out to do their "business" (read: the only safe cat is an inside cat) - or potty training them to get to that point. No getting the leash out and taking them for a walk every night. No yelling at them for eating some other animals' poop (major bonus!). No having to take them to the groomers or give them a bath because they have become stinky.

Cats instinctively know where the litter box is and how to use it, and they give themselves baths! They can entertain themselves with their toys, but they also enjoy having their human interact by playing with them with bouncy balls, safe string toys, or little laser lights. Some cats are even good at hide 'n seek or peek-a-boo. When they are finished playing, they will sit quietly by your side while you read or work on the computer or lay on a pillow next to your head when you go to bed. Cats like human contact. Not necessarily a bear hug like you would give a dog, but more like a gentle touch - petting, brushing their fur, scratching them behind their ears (in front of their ears is even better!). If you have a sunny window in the house, just put their favorite blanket or bed on the floor in front of it and your cat will be happy to just lay there for hours. They can be quiet, gentle creatures.

Petting a cat or listening to a purring cat is an instant de-stressor. Personally I think they should make pillows that purr then everyone would sleep more peacefully. Cats are good listeners and don't talk back (although some are kind of chatty but in a good way). They will listen to your problems and not make any judgments; they will just be there for you. They can tell when you don't feel well and will often hang out with you until you are better. If they had opposable thumbs, they would probably even bring you juice!

Cats are also very entertaining. It's not like they sing and dance. They are just downright funny. They are fun and fascinating to watch. What other creature will focus on a minute bug or piece of lint and then spend hours stalking it or batting it around the house? Or sometimes they get what I call "the zips." This is where they run all around the house, up and down the hallway, in and out of the rooms for no apparent reason. If you don't have a cat, this may not sound entertaining, but if you do ... you get it. You watch and wonder what is going through their little kitty brain. Cats are also very smart. If they want something, they are persistent and usually find a way to get it. They can open cupboards and doors (I have a cat who can undo zippers on his stroller). It can be a fun challenge to try and outsmart your cat.

My point is that if you are looking to add a new member to the family, consider adopting a cat. And while a lone cat makes a great companion, a pair - or even more - can keep each other entertained when they get bored with their humans (it happens; don't take it personally). There are literally hundreds of homeless cats in Riverside County that are looking for a good home. Do some good in this world. Save a life. Adopt a cat. What you get in return will be priceless.

Smokey is a beautiful gray Turkish Angora neutered and vaccinated male kitty who is about 3 years old. He is looking for a new home because his elderly owner can no longer keep him. Smokey is very friendly and people-oriented. $40 adoption fee. Location Quail Valley/Menifee, CA. Contact Rescue and Rehome at 951 244-3215 or rescueandrehome@aol.com

Rescue and Rehome - Quail Valley, CA
(951) 244-3215
www.randr.petfinder.com

Assembly Bill 2743, authored by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), will make it illegal for a landlord in California to require cat declawing or devocalization as a condition of tenancy, passed the State Assembly today, after clearing the State Senate on Monday, and now heads to the Governor for his approval.

"Declawing and devocalization are permanent, complex surgeries that can have unintended consequences for property managers, physical complications for animals, and emotional and financial consequences for pet owners. It is unconscionable that landlords throughout California have been requiring these procedures for prospective tenants," said Nava. "My bill is the first step in stopping these policies and promoting safe and easy alternatives to these surgeries, which are increasingly being viewed as outdated."

Additionally, AB 2743 will impose a civil fine of $1,000 for each instance of declawing or devocalization as a result of a landlord-tenant agreement.

According to Debra Carlton, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs for the California Apartment Association (CAA's), "CAA endorses the humane treatment of animals, and as a result, years ago the association purposely decided to exclude any language about declawing cats and devocalizing dogs in our widely used rental and lease agreements. Instead we recommended to owners that they utilize security deposits when it comes to damage to the rental unit as a result of negative pet behavior."

Eight local governments have recently banned the practice of cat declawing (Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Culver City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, West Hollywood), recognizing the practice as inhumane. A search of rental listings throughout California, however, shows a number of properties with landlords and managers requiring that potential owners will be considered only with declawed cats.

AB 2743 now goes to the Governor for his approval.

Healthcare reform isn't just for humans.

Pets could find greater health care protections than their masters under a pet insurance bill that was approved by the California State Assembly in a 42-22 vote on Tuesday.
The bill -- now under review by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegge r-- requires that insurance companies with verterinary care plans disclose more information about the limits of coverage.

The law would require insurance companies to provide information about co-pays, lifetime benefit limits and restrictions based on pre-existing conditions on websites. Democratic Assemblyman Dave Jones is pushing the bill, AB2411, forward.

"It's terrible to realize that the pet insurance premiums you have paid for years do not cover the full cost of veterinary care," Jones said. "This bill provides transparency so that consumers can be fully informed of the exact terms of coverage, as well as any exclusions or limitations."

Jones was inspired to move forward with the legislation after hearing concerns from consumers about the reimbursements they were recieving for veterinary care under insurance plans.

The bill could would change the practices of several big name insurers, such as Nationwide, which underwites VPI Pet Insurance. Also in the mix are Allianz( ALV) owned Fireman's Fund, which underwrites ASPCA Pet Insurance; and Aetna( AET) , which underwrites Pets Best Insurance.

"It is good for the industry. That bill is really designed to give consumers clear, upfront transparency of what their plan will pay precisely. We really need to have a positive name with the consumer," says Chris Middleton, marketing director at PetsBest Pet Insurance.

The pet insurance business started in 1982 and this would be one of the first laws attempting to regulate the growing industry.

Courtesy USAtoday.com:

Lola is fine after her 15 hours of shame, but even though her ordeal has ended this story continues spreading faster on the Internet than you can say meow. The woman caught on video in Coventry, England stroking the cat, looking around surreptitiously and then grabbing the cat and dunking her in the trash bin has been identified.

British police are warning animal activists against taking any action against Mary Bale, the woman seen in the video placing the cat in the bin. The video footage of her dumping Lola was first posted on Facebook by the cat's owners, Stephanie and Darryl Andrews-Mann. Their security camera caught the whole thing. The owners created a group on Facebook (that has more than 23,000 members so far) asking for help to identify the villain. The animal welfare officials with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals are interviewing Bale.

Bale's mother claims her daughter loves cats and doesn't know what came over her in this story by The Sun. The headline says "Cruel cat woman named and shamed.''

Darryl found the cat in the garbage can 15 hours later, and then presumably reviewed the video to see who subjected Lola to such disgraceful conditions. He told The Sun he expected to see some rowdy teens or drunks committing the crime. Along comes Mary Bale, a banker.

By Linda Bailey
Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center

Former feline shelter resident Gretchen is ready for her 15 minutes of fame! In fact, she will be famous from now until Halloween. Gretchen was in the running to be featured on a Hallmark card. Good Mews! She won!

Beginning the middle of August, a Halloween card with Gretchen's photo will be for sale in stores nationwide like Walmart and Walgreens. Her mom, Melody Marks, is bursting with pride as is her former foster mom and MSRPAC Adoption Counselor Jill Coleman.

View the Hallmark site

See all the winners

Maria De Gioia asks:

I have a 4 year old female and 2 months ago, I got a male kitten that is now is 6 months old. They are fighting pretty much. Is that playing or it is more than that? When the kitten will be older, are they going to stop fighting? I don't think they hurt each other. Thank you.

Crazy Cat Lady's response:

Cat play usually involves chasing, swatting, hissing and nipping. To a human though, cat play can often look rough, so how can you tell the difference?

You will need to rely on your eyes and ears when trying to figure out if your cat and the new kitten are playing or fighting. It sounds like you are already doing this since you say you don't think they are hurting each other.

"Play-fighting" starts at an early age with littermates, or with non-related kittens sharing a household, but is not confined to kittens. Cats have a natural instinct for survival, whether in the wild or in a cushy home, and early-on are taught predator-prey behavior by their mothers. One kitten will "stalk" the other, then pounce on his unsuspecting prey, and the fun is on. You will then see them trade off roles, with the victim chasing his former predator. Play-fighting is usually harmless fun, but you should intervene if it appears that a cat is being hurt or if the fighting continues for too long a period. Sometimes this type of interaction between cats is the first step toward establishing a permanent hierarchy, or "pecking order" among feline housemates.

When your cats are done playing, they should act normal with each other, not avoid each other. On the other hand, if they have been fighting, one or both of the cats will tend to stay out of each other's way.

If you do think your cats are really fighting, do not attempt to physically separate them. In the heat of emotion, they will not recognize you, and you could get hurt. Instead, you can try one of these methods of breaking up a fight:

Use a spray bottle
Generally, a spray bottle will be an attention-getter and break up a fight quickly.

Distract Them

Toss a small pillow or large soft toy between them or try to distract them with a positive noise like the can opener or shaking the treat box. Hopefully this will divert the aggressor's attention so the other cat can safely retreat.

Most housemate cats will eventually resolve their disputes; one will reign as the "alpha cat," and the other will be satisfied with his lesser role in the cat family.

Butterfly and Pebbles, born 5/4/10, are sister and brother whose mother is an Abyssinian Mix. These adorable kittens, along with two additional brothers, have very unique markings of mostly white coat with spotted tabby patches. These sweet babies are very healthy and have been spayed/neutered/vaccinated/dewormed. They are ready to go to forever homes. Adoption fee of $50 each or $80 for both. Contact Rescue and Rehome at 951 244-3215 or rescueandrehome@aol.com. View available animals and more info on website www.randr.petfinder.com

Southern California temperatures are rising and may soon reach over 100. Please make sure your pets are safe in the heat and NEVER LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR!

The following is courtesy of healthypet.com:

When the lazy days of barbecues and swimming pools roll around, you can make them even better by sharing them with your favorite pet. By following a few summer pet safety tips, you can keep your animal friends healthy and enjoy the months of sun and fun.

Jeremy is an adorable orange & white tabby. He is growing up to be a very sweet, big boy. Jeremy is about 5 months old now & is neutered & vaccinated. He & his siblings are looking for loving homes! Please contact Menifee Valley Humane Society 951-301-6506 info@mvhumanesociety.com

SB 250 is back for another vote! It is also called the Pet Responsibility Act. The bill is going to be brought up for a final vote on the Assembly floor by Assemblyman Blumenfield, and we have an incredible opportunity to finally pass this important legislation to help combat pet overpopulation in our state.

We have taken two amendments to satisfy the concerns of leadership and we are very hopeful that the bill will be passed shortly and sent to the Governor for his signature. But first, we need your help... right away!

Quite simply, SB 250 requires owners of impounded, unlicensed dogs to spay or neuter their pet, and asks that family cats who roam outdoors be spayed or neutered.

Licensed dogs are not affected, unless the owner is repeatedly cited for animal control violations. The new amendments clarify the appeals process, and allow local jurisdictions to waive fees for low income Californians.

Read more:

Meet Daphne. Charismatic and friendly, this gal is an attention lover. At 11 months of age this domestic shorthair calico is one purring kitty that is sure to put a smile on your face. She would love for you to play with her or to just curl up in your lap for a nice mid day nap. Come to YAPS to see her today! Yucaipa Animal Placement Society is located at 11937 13th Street in Yucaipa and is open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday or call (909) 790-1440 for more information on Daphne or the other available animals at YAPS.

This is a cute domestic short hair orange tabby about 3 to 4 months old. She's very sweet and ready for a good home. Her intake number is 77383. She appears healthy and happy!

She's available from Animal Friends of the Valleys, 26001 Bastron St. Lake Elsinore. Information: 951-674-0618.

Annamaria of Riverside writes about her cat, a former feral kitty, will not cooperate when it's time to visit the vet for a check up. Annamaria has had difficulty getting the unruly feline into a carrier.

Crazy Cat Lady writes:

Wow. I totally know how it is to have a cat who doesn't like to be in a carrier! They spin in circles, claw at the door, try to push themselves out those tiny metal bars. You are right to be concerned about how to try to make her comfortable in it.

Linda
The Crazy Cat Lady
Inlandsocal.com/PETS

This beautiful Calico is Patches. She has unique markings of black, orange & white with gold eyes. She and her orange & white siblings are awaiting their forever home! They & their Mother were pulled from a shelter the day before they were to be euthanized! They are happy, healthy, spayed/neutered and vaccinated, ready to continue their blessed life. Please contact Menifee Valley Humane Society for adoption information 951-301-6506 info@mvhumanesociety.com.

This cute little guy is Smokey. He looks like a solid black kitten but he has some cute white markings on his belly. He is a real lover - friendly & outgoing with a wonderful purr! He is about 3 months old and gets along with other cats, dogs and humans. He was rescued from a life of homelessness and is now waiting for the home he deserves. Please contact Menifee Valley Humane Society for more info (951) 301-6506 info@mvhumanesociety.com

For most people August ushers in the dog days of summer but for the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care & Adoption Center, August means fabulous felines by the score. The Adoption Center is bursting at the seams with adorable felines all hoping to find loving homes. From cute, baby kittens to cuddly, serene seniors; long haired or short haired; mixed breed or purebred you can find your "purrrfect" cat companion at the Center.

To call attention to our fabulous felines Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care & Adoption Center will offer all cats and kittens at 50% off the regular adoption fee from August 21 - September 5. The adoption fee of $45 for cats will be reduced to $22 and the adoption fee for kittens will be reduced from $60 to $30. In addition, the first twenty-five people who adopt will receive a gift basket with toys and treats.

Adoptions will also include free spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and microchips services that would cost five to ten times the adoption fee alone.

What better way to spend the last lazy days of summer than relaxing with a cool cat or kitten and during the Fabulous Feline Festival the value will never be greater!

You can see our fabulous felines at www.rcpets.info or visit the Center at 11780 Arrow Route from 1:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For More Information - For additional information, please visit our website www.rcpets.info or call the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care and Adoption Center at (909) 466-PETS (7387).

Fabu - 3.5 month old spayed female kitten - Fabu is a perfectly marked petite black and white short hair kitten who is very cute and sweet. She has been spayed/vaccinated/dewormed and is looking for a loving, forever home. $50 adoption fee; cash only.

Location: Quail Valley, Southwest Riverside County. Local adoptions only; within 25-30 mile radius because we deliver animal to its new home. If interested, please email us with a little info about yourself, where you live, your family, and your other pets, etc. Phone: 951- 244-3215
www.randr.petfinder.com

This is a lovely domestic short hair female. She is a lilac point color and a very sweet cat. Her intake number is 29700. Contact Animal Friends of the Valleys, 29001 Bastron St. Lake Elsinore. Information: 951-674-0168.