_

_ ____________________________________________________________

 

Caring for Your Older Cat

Article courtesy of Purina Petcare

 

Maturing — Aging

How can you tell when your cat is getting old? On the outside, she may look much the same, and she probably still loves to bat her toy mouse around the kitchen floor and take naps sprawled across your hand-knitted heirloom afghan. But inside her body, time may be taking its toll.

 

The Middle Years

You may barely have noticed the subtle changes your cat went through after the first year of her life, but when she approaches her equivalent of human middle age - somewhere between the ages of 8 and 12 - start paying extra attention. Your veterinarian may recommend that you modify your cat's diet.

 

The Later Stages

Some veterinarians believe that cats reach their geriatric years around age 12. Other experts are more generous, categorizing cats as being "old" at about 15. When your cat is between the ages of 12 and 15, be on the lookout for behavioral changes. You may notice that she catnaps a lot more. It's normal for some old cats to sleep more than 18 hours a day.

 

As a cat ages, her joints may stiffen and become difficult to move, making her lethargic about many types of activities, even her grooming ritual. But before you decide to do a thorough brushing for her, ask your veterinarian to make sure your cat's not seriously ill -- a lack of desire to groom can also be a sign of sickness.

 

However tempting it may be to treat her to table scraps, it's really not wise. Overfeeding a cat at any age -- especially with fatty foods -- is actually setting her up for obesity and related health problems in the future.

 

Above all, you'll need to start watching your geriatric cat very closely for hints of illness. After weeks of seeming healthy, a cat suddenly may display signs of being very ill, catching you, the owner, off guard. Too often, pet owners hope a small problem will go away, only to seek their veterinarian's advice when their cat is beyond help.

The best thing you can do is watch for signs and, if you spot anything amiss, visit your veterinarian.

 

 

Caring for Your Older Cat . (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2009, from

http://www.purina.com/cats/health/OlderCats.aspx

 

__ ___________________________________________________________________________

 

Breed of the Month: Portuguese Water Dog

 

Known for hundreds of years along Portugal’s coast and prized for its strength and spirit, the Portuguese Water Dog is a dependable worker and friend. This medium sized breed (35-60 lbs) possesses a waterproof coat and has the ability to swim all day.  The coat can be either wavy or curly, and may be colored black, white, brown or combinations of the three. Called the Cao de Agua (dog of water) in Portugal, the Portugese Water Dog was originally bred to accompany fishermen on their boats.  This breed is an impressive swimmer and diver, and throughout history has retrieved broken nets, dove for fish, even carried messages from boats to shore! 

 

Today, the Water Dog makes an active pet.  He requires daily exercise and is slow to tire.  He is also a very intelligent breed and responds exceptionally well to obedience training.  His coat is considered to be hypoallergenic, but does require regular grooming.  If you are an active person and have allergies, this may just be the perfect dog for you!

 

 

___ ______________________________________________________________________________

 

Do It Yourself: Krispy Peanut Butter Popsicles

Ingredients
1-32oz. container of vanilla yogurt
1 cup of peanut butter

½ cup rice krispies

 

Instructions

Put the peanut butter in a microwave safe dish and microwave until melted.  Mix the yogurt and the melted peanut butter in a bowl and fold in the rice krispies.  Pour mixture paper cups, put popsicle sticks in the middle and freeze.

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Pet Refuge Adoption Spotlight: Mya

 

Mya is a Husky/Shepherd mix of 6 years old. She came to us with her pal Luke and will need an owner that is patient and understanding. She is learning quickly how great it feels to receive love and attention and especially LOVES to be brushed. Not a mean bone in this body. She has done well hanging out with Luke, but has been known to be pushy around other dogs. So, if you already have one, she would need to meet him/her!! A fenced yard is preferred.

 

 

To get more information about Mya and other animals available for adoption at Pet Refuge, visit the Pet Refuge website: www.petrefuge.com  or call (574) 256-0886.

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

Ask Dr. Paws

 

 

Dear Dr. Paws,
Every time my cat needs medicine it is almost impossible to get her to take it.  Any suggestions on how to make things go more smoothly?

 

Sincerely,
Selena in Walkerton

 

   

Dear Selena,

Does your cat act like a pill just when you want to give him a pill? A spoonful of sugar wont’ help the medicine go down, but there are some tricks to giving a cat a pill!

Before you get started, gently wrap your cat in a towel to protect yourself from his claws. Then put your fingers on both sides of his cheeks and tilt his head way back. Gravity, not food, is your biggest asset. Gently press against the cat’s lips to make him drop his jaw. When he opens up, quickly pop the pill as far back in his throat as possible. Then hold his mouth shut and stroke his throat to get him to swallow.

The key is to tilt the head all the way back, so the pill drops right in. If you have trouble, ask your veterinarian for a demonstration.

 

Good Luck!

Dr. Paws

 

Answer courtesy of Purina Petcare

http://www.purina.com/cats/health/Pill.aspx

      

 

 

To get your advice from Dr. Paws, simply email your question to us.  Each month we’ll select a question to answer here in our brand new e-newsletter.

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

Cool Tricks to Try at Home:

Twirl

 

How to: Start by having your dog stand up facing you. Stand still and say, "Twirl". Lead the dog's nose around to the right with the treat so he walks in a circle. When he comes back to where he's facing you again, say, "Good dog!" and give him the treat.

 

 

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________

 

           Upcoming Events

 

 

Martin's Paw Mart on State Road 23 in Granger
9/7 Pet Palace Nail Trims 5:00-6:00pm

9/12 Humane Society Pet Adoptions 12:00-2:00pm

9/19 Boston Terrier Rescue 11:00am-2:00pm

9/26 Pet Refuge Pet Adoptions 12:00-2:00pm

 

Martin's Paw Mart on Cleveland in Saint Joseph (MI)
9/5 Animal Aid Pet Adoptions

9/12 Save-A-Stray Pet Adoptions

9/26 Humane Society Pet Adoptions

 

Martin's Paw Mart on Bristol Street in Elkhart

9/2 Nail Trims 5:30-7:00pm

9/5 Earthborn Food Demo 11:00am-3:00pm

9/17 Earthborn Food Demo 3:00-7:00pm

9/19 Just-Pet-Um Partners Pet Adoptions 11:00am-3:00pm

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

Featured Pet of the Month:

Howie Tobias                 

  

Age: 2 1/2 years old
Submitted by: Elise Kunkel (Howie's mommy)
In a Nutshell: According to Elise, "When I first moved into my own place, I didn't have many friends in the area. I got so lonely, I decided I needed a puppy to keep me company... even though my apartment didn't allow pets. I got Howie on a cold night in January and snuck him into my apartment underneath my coat. We made it 3 whole months before getting caught by our neighbors! Howie and I found a new home (one that allowed pets) and since then it's been smooth sailing! Howie loves to play with his blue bone and Hawaiian flip-flop squeaky toy, and enjoys wrestling with his dad (my husband). We hope to soon become foster parents and take in rescue dogs from Pet Refuge, but first Howie needs a little training. For now, one crazy dog is enough!"

                                                                           

If you have a great pet and want it featured in our newsletter, simply email us a photo.  Each month we’ll be featuring a different furry (or slimy, or scaly…) friend right here in our "Featured Pet of the Month” section.

 

 

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

Money Saving Coupons Exclusively for You!

Click on the links below to print your coupons.

 

Save $8 on 35 lb bag Canidae Dog Food at Martin's Paw Mart

 

$3 on Everclean Cat Litter at Martin's Paw Mart