This post is taken from a Trilogy (the makers of Life’s Abundance pet food) Online blog entry dated September 10, 2009. This particular message struck home as I grieved for three years when my favorite cat of all time, Sidney, passed away after 18 years of filling my life with joy. The grief did pass eventually (but the pleasant memories remain) and I now have two new delightful furry friends:

Losing a companion animal is devastating.  And yet, many pet parents don’t receive the kind of emotional support they might expect if they had lost a human family member.  Failing to show such a depth of compassion is common for those who have never shared a special bond with a companion animal.  These people might say to themselves, “What’s the big deal … it was just a pet.”  What they don’t understand is a very simple truth … losing a companion animal is losing a member of your family.

Anytime we suffer a dramatic loss, it is appropriate to grieve.  Your first priority should be to come to grips with the fact that it is perfectly acceptable to grieve the passing of your companion animal.  Accepting the magnitude of your loss can facilitate the process of grieving.  The more you fight to suppress your feelings, the worse your grief can become.  Hiding the heartache will do you no good.

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The following article was published in the July issue of the HealthyPetNet Newsletter:

In the summer of one of the most turbulent economic periods in a lifetime, Americans are rediscovering simplicity and frugality.  These days, it’s not uncommon to see a small group playing an impromptu game of Frisbee, or a couple enjoying a nature hike through a local park, or an extended family spending an afternoon in the backyard barbecuing.

The summer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor fun, whether your idea of open-air enjoyment is a power-walk with your dog or watching an afternoon storm roll in from the safety of a back porch with your cat.  These activities help us brush away the winter cobwebs, shedding new light on our daily life.  But sometimes, we make discoveries that are not altogether pleasant.  Too often, the thinner, summer coats of our pets can reveal what winter coats have hidden from plain view – reddened skin irritations, possibly the sign of a seasonal or chronic allergy.

That’s right … just like humans, pets suffer from allergies.  Allergens can come from any number of sources, including grasses, trees, molds, dust mites and flea bites.  Even their food may contain allergens.  With all of these possible culprits, how can a pet parent learn what’s causing their pet’s allergy?

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As most of my regular readers know, Wholesome Pet Supply sells Life’s Abundance pet food. This all-natural, holistic food contains no chemicals or fillers and is shipped fresh to your door. The formulator of all Life’s Abundance pet foods is Dr. Jane Bicks, a world-renowned veterinarian.

Below is her message from the HealthyPetNet March Newsletter. Also, Dr. Jane has a weekly program where you can call in and ask her questions. You can be a part of the next Dr. Jane call. Calls with Dr. Jane are always informative and a lot of fun! To participate, simply dial 218-844-0860 at the appropriate time, and enter pass code 626116# after the prompt. The next “Ask Dr. Jane” call will be held on Wednesday, at 8:30 PM EDT.

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• Many experts report that cats will purr when feeling any intense emotion (pleasure or pain).
• Give your cat fresh water at least once a day.  If your cat refuses your tap water, it may be sensing (with it’s superior sense of smell) the chlorine or other minerals in your water.  Many finicky felines demand bottled water, just like their human counterparts.
• Don’t put your cat on an all-vegetarian diet.  Cats need protein to survive.
• Never feed your cat dog food.   Cats need five times more protein than dogs do.
• If your cat misses one meal, a trip to the vet may be necessary.
• Cats are the sleepiest of all mammals.   They spend 16 hours of each day sleeping.  With that in mind, a seven year old cat has only been awake for two years of its life!
• Cats are more active during the evening hours.
• Cats spend 30% of their waking hours grooming themselves.
• 95% of all cat owners admit they talk to their cats.
• Backward-pointing spikes on a cat’s tongue aid in their grooming.
• The average cat weighs 12 pounds.
• If you can’t feel your cat’s ribs, she’s too heavy.
• If an overweight cat’s “sides” stick out further than her whiskers, she will lose her sense of perception and stability.  Don’t be surprised if she starts to squeeze into an opening that the rest of her can’t fit into, only to back herself back out quickly!
• According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the heaviest cat on record was Himmy, an Australian cat, who weighed 46 pounds, 15.25 ounces in 1986.  Himmy’s waist was 33 inches!  The previous record-holder had been Spice, a ginger-and-white tom cat from Connecticut, who weighed 43 pounds when he died in 1977.
• The tiniest cat on record was Tinker Toy from Illinois.  A male Himalayan-Persian, he weighed 1 pound, 8 ounces fully grown and was 7.25″ long and 2.75″ tall!
• Your cat is probably either a “righty” or a “lefty.”  Only 40% of cats are ambidextrous while another 40% are either right-pawed or left-pawed.
• Cats love high places.  They share this love with leopards and jaguars, who sleep in trees.  If a cat begins to fall, his inner ear canal (which controls balance) will help him right himself and land on his feet.
• Domestic cats are essentially loners.   When placed in a group, they develop their own hierarchy.  As long as there is plenty of food on hand, a cat can learn to share it’s domain with other cats.
• Cats are more aggressive when they are not neutered or spayed.

And don’t forget, the most important piece of knowledge to retain is that the very best food available for your cat is Life’s Abundance from Wholesome Pet Supply.

By following some simple tips, you can ensure a trouble-free holiday season for you and your pets.

There are some things from which you should shield your pets during the festive months.

Some common holiday plants are toxic to cats and dogs.  Don’t keep holly, poinsettias, lilies or mistletoe on or near the floor, where pets have easy access to them.

If you have a live tree in your home, don’t let pine needles accumulate on the floor, as these needles can perforate the intestinal lining of dogs and cats.  Additionally, trees should be tethered to a wall or the ceiling to prevent them from falling on pets.

Don’t leave unfamiliar extension cords fully exposed, as these can resemble chew toys, which could result in serious injury to your dog.  Never leave lights plugged in when you are not at home.

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The cool winds of winter are already blowing through the nation.  Some states are experiencing sooner and greater than expected snowfalls.  So, what can you do to make sure your companion animals are prepared for the coming months?  Here are just a handful of helpful tips …

If your companion animal is older and arthritic, be sure not to leave her or him outside too long.  Just as with humans, colder temperatures can make arthritic joints stiff and painful.

Dogs that tend to walk on sidewalks and streets should have their paws cleaned upon re-entering the home.  Ice, rock salt and other chemicals can collect in their pads and cause irritation.

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The upcoming season presents numerous instances for increased anxiety during a flurry of holiday-related activities.  As you’ve probably seen time and time again, your sweet companions can be rattled by your own elevated levels of stress.  Fortunately, there are some specific steps you can take to cope with the demands for your time and energies, to make the holidays merry for you and your pets.

Be sure to plan ahead, to reduce the likelihood of last-minute decisions, which often infuse activities with an unnecessary sense of urgency.

Take advantage of online shopping, so you don’t have to leave your companion animals alone for extended periods of time.  And try to take care of multiple errands during each trip.  You’ll not only save gas (and therefore, money), you’ll also spend less time away from home.

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by Denise Flaim – Aug. 14, 2008 03:18 PM
Newsday

For millennia, cats have cultivated a reputation for self-absorption, superciliousness and outright disregard for anyone’s opinion other than their own.

But that doesn’t mean that cats are too independent to heed a human’s wishes, says Dee Mason of Garden City , N.Y.-based AristoCat Training (aristocattraining.com), whose company name obviously suggests that there is some bid-ability in that bewhiskered head, just waiting to be tapped.

1. COMMUNICATION IS KEY

Mason stresses the importance of simple, short sentences. Many cats, she adds, don’t know their names because their owners do not use them frequently enough.

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The cat’s skeletal structure and relatively loose-fitting skin seem designed for flexibility and fast getaways. In addition, cats have a built-in safety feature. The degree of elasticity in their bones is only a tenth less than that of rubber, which is why they’re less apt than other animals to break a bone in a fall.

To keep your cat’s bones in the best possible shape, be sure to feed your furry friend the very best food available, Life’s Abundance from Wholesome Pet Supply.

• The more cats are spoken to, the more they will speak to you.
• The richest cat in the Guinness Book of World Records is a pair of cats who inherited $415,000 in the early ’60s.  The richest single cat is a white alley cat who inherited $250,000.  (Now that will buy a lot of catnip!)
• The Giraffe, Camel and Cat are the only animals that walk by moving both their left feet, then both their right feet, when walking.  This method of walking ensures speed, agility and silence.
• It is believed that a white cat sitting on your doorstep just before your wedding is a sign of lasting happiness.  White cats are a symbol of good luck in America, while black cats are a sign of bad luck.
• Cats can see in color!
• Cats are partially color blind.   They have the equivalency of human red/green color blindness.  (Reds appear green and greens appear red;  or shades thereof.)
• Cats don’t see “detail” very well.  To them, their person may appear hazy when standing in front of them.
• Cats need 1/6th the amount of light that humans do to see.  Their night vision is amazing!
• Cats can see up to 120 feet away.   Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees.
• Cats eyes come in three shapes:   round, slanted and almond.
• The color of a kitten’s eyes will change as it grows older.
• At birth, kittens can’t see or hear.   Cats open their eyes after five days and begin to develop their eyesight and hearing at approximately 2 weeks.  They begin to walk at 20 days.
• Kittens begin dreaming at just over one week old.
• A cat’s ear pivots 180 degrees.   They have 30 muscles in each ear, and use twelve or more muscles to control their ear movement.
• A group of kittens is called a “kindle.”
• A group of grown cats is called a “clowder.”
• Cats rub up against other cats, and people, in an attempt to “mark” them with their scent glands.  They most often use the scent glands between their eye and ear (near the temple area) or their scent glands near the base of their tail.
• Have you ever tried to feed your cat food that was just taken out of the refrigerator?  Most cats prefer their food at room temperature, and will boldly REFUSE any food that is too cold or too hot.

And, although I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, the most important piece of knowledge to retain is that the very best food available for your cat is Life’s Abundance from Wholesome Pet Supply.