by Nomi Berger
 
As the expression goes, anything worth saying once bears repeating. And repeating. Especially when it involves what curious cats may be tempted to ingest. To prevent their natural curiosity from possibly killing them, ensure that certain foods, flowers and plants never pass your pussycat’s lips.




 
Forbidden Foods
 
Alcoholic beverages
They can cause intoxication, coma and death.
 
Bones from fish, meat and poultry
They can cause obstructions or lacerations of the digestive tract.
 
Canned tuna (for people)
Given on a regular basis, it can cause malnutrition as it lacks certain feline essentials. It may also contain mercury, which can be detrimental to a cat’s health.
 
Caffeine (from chocolate, coffee and tea)
This strong stimulant can affect the heart and nervous system, and can be toxic.
 
Chocolate
Besides caffeine, chocolate contains theobromine, a compound toxic to cats.
 
Citrus Oil Extracts
They can cause vomiting.
 
Dog Food
Intended for DOGS, repeated feedings may result in malnutrition and, worse, in heart disease.
 
Fat trimmings
Although tasty, they can cause pancreatitis and contribute to obesity.
 
Grapes and Raisins
Both (raisins are dried grapes) contain an unknown toxin that damages the kidneys.
 
Human vitamin supplements with iron
They can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to such organs as the liver and kidneys.
 
Liver in large quantities
This can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects the muscles and bones.
 
Macadamia nuts
They contain an unknown toxin that can affect the digestive and nervous systems.
 
Milk and other dairy products
Contrary to popular belief, cats should NOT be given milk. Some adults lack an adequate amount of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in milk, leading to diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset.
 
Mushrooms
Some contain toxins that affect multiple systems in the body, causing shock and often death.
 
Onions and Garlic (raw, cooked or powder)
Both contain sulfoxides and disulfides that can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
 
Persimmons
Their seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
 
Potatoes, rhubarb and tomatoes (red and green, including leaves and stems)
Members of the plant family that includes the deadly nightshade, their poisonous alkaloid, Glycoalkaloid Solanine, causes violent, lower gastrointestinal problems.
 
Raw eggs
Besides possible salmonella, they contain avidin, an enzyme that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can cause skin and coat problems.
 
Raw fish
Ingestion can result in a thiamine deficiency causing appetite loss, seizures and death.
 
Salt
If lapped up in large amounts, it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
 
Sugar-rich foods
They can lead to dental problems, obesity and diabetes mellitus.
 
Tobacco
Ingested nicotine can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma and death.
 
Yeast dough
It can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and rupturing of the stomach or intestines.

 
Poisonous Plants
 
Amaryllis: vomiting and diarrhea.
 
Azalea: lack of coordination, trembling and collapse.
 
Cactus: skin punctures, leading to infection.
 
Caladium: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, head shaking and difficulty breathing.
 
Creeping Charlie: vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and cramps.
 
Lilies: kidney failure.
 
Dieffenbachia: central nervous system problems.
 
Ivy: vomiting, diarrhea and excitable behavior.
 
Mistletoe: vomiting, diarrhea, blistering in the mouth and difficulty breathing.
 
Philodendron: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, head shaking and difficulty breathing.
 
Poinsettia: vomiting, diarrhea, blistering in the mouth and difficulty breathing
 
If you think your cat has been poisoned, promptly contact your vet or call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-900-443-0000 or 1-888-426-4435.
 
 
 

by Nomi Berger
 
If only cats spoke “human.”
 
But then, as cat guardians, you’d be missing out on all the other ways your favorite felines say, “I love you.” If you recognize any or all of the behaviors listed below, consider yourself one much loved and deeply appreciated pet parent.
 
Does your cat bring you “gifts”? As natural born hunters, anything to a cat is fair game. If your cat generously shares their bounty with you – whether a toy or a mouse – these are, to them, true tokens of their love.
 
Does your cat approach you with a straight tail? Once used to greet their adored mothers, a straight tail with the end slightly tipped acknowledges the depth of your cat’s feelings for you.
 
Does your cat roll around, exposing its belly? The ultimate gesture of submission, cats reserve this behavior only for those they love and trust. It’s both an affectionate greeting and an appealing invitation for your undivided attention.
 
Does your cat linger around you? Both following after and hovering near you like a small four-legged shadow shows that they want nothing more than to be as close to you as cattily possible.
 
Does your cat play with you? As kittens, they played for sheer pleasure, and as cats, they will play with their most trusted, beloved companions, even slyly moving out of reach to make YOU go to THEM. 
 
Does your cat cheek-rub or head-bump your face? Calling “bunting”, these behaviors lay claim to those they love by leaving their scent on them, and should be seen as expressions of affection and a specially shared privilege for two.
 
Does your cat give you little love bites? A playful nibble (unlike a true bite that makes you go “ouch!”) that feels more like a tickle is another sweet way of your cat’s displaying their affection for you.
 
Does your cat knead you like dough? First learned when nursing as newborns, these slow, repetitive motions not only demonstrate their bond with you but also comfort them to the point of blissful drowsiness.
 
Does your cat purr at you? Whether their purr-ometer is set on high or on low, a cat’s happy purr in your presence or as the recipient of your attention is an unmistakable expression of their love for you. 
 
Does your cat meow at you? Cats don’t meow at one another, saving this particular form of vocalization as proof of their love for those nearest and dearest to them – namely their loving and devoted cat guardians.
 
Does your cat make eye contact with you? If your cat holds your gaze and blinks slowly when your eyes meet, be assured that this is a feline version of a kiss, expressing both trust in and love for you.
 
Does your cat sleep in your lap? Because cats sleep up to 16 hours a day and are at their most vulnerable then, choosing your lap as one of their favorite spots to nap is the most loving compliment your cat can pay you.
 
These behaviors may be just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. For proof paws-itive, you have only to watch your own best feline friend, and paws-ibly discover more.

by Nomi Berger
 
Nothing spells satisfaction and contentment more than a pooped and played out pussycat. And since exercise relieves stress and boredom, improves circulation and builds muscle tone, there’s no better way to coax out a cat’s instinct to stalk and chase prey than by having them “work out” with toys.
 
To put and keep the fun in your feline friends’ lives, provide them with toys that engage them in various kinds of stimulation and play. To keep the toys novel or “fresh”, make only a few available at a time, and rotate them weekly. But if your cat has a favorite toy, leave that one out all the time.
 
Consider the following for feline fun and frolics:
 
Wand Toys
As simple as a stick with a thin piece of fabric or silky ribbon tied round it, it can be waved and twitched, flicked, fluttered and circled through the air, mimicking the movements of an insect, a bird or other form of small prey. With so many varieties of these inexpensive wand toys readily available, other options include wood, wire or plastic rods flaunting such tempting attachments as feathers, strings and small stuffed toys, many of them accented with bells or scented with catnip.
 
Ensure that once playtime is over, any wands are tucked safely out of sight. Why? Because it helps strengthen the play bond between you and your cat and allows you time to check the condition of the wand and its attachments.
 
Ball Toys
With their movement along the floor mimicking the movement of scampering mice or other small prey, cats are easily enticed to chase after them. To make the balls even more tantalizing and rewarding, insert treats or catnip into some or purchase those with bells or other tiny objects inside them. From crinkly and shiny Mylar balls to quiet sponge balls or even wadded up paper in various sizes and textures, toss them around, then sit back and enjoy the show.
 
Food-Dispensing Toys
These are excellent for cats who eat too quickly, because these specially designed toys engage their minds and satisfy their natural hunting instinct at the same time.
 
Catnip Toys
As stimulating as it is scented, this safe-to-ingest herb (choose organically grown brands without additives) can be stuffed into toys or packed into balls. One note of caution: some cats become overly excited after smelling or eating catnip, causing them to possibly bite, so until you know how your own cats respond, be careful when petting or rubbing them.
 
“No-No” Toys
These include sharp objects, plastic bags and curling ribbon, rubber bands, paper clips and any article small enough for your cat to accidentally swallow (coins and tokens, buttons and marbles, erasers and thimbles, wine corks and bottle caps …).
 
To keep playtime fun, always follow your cat’s pace and schedule – whether it be morning and evening, before meals or near bedtime. Determine, then choose, only those toys and games that your cat prefers. Cats’ instincts motivate them to bite toys while you’re playing, and while this is normal behavior (particularly in kittens), do NOT encourage them to bite your fingers or hands as well. If playing turns into rough housing, call a time out, allow your cat to rest and calm down, then begin again.
 
And so, with an ounce of imagination and a pound of commitment, you’ll find that you and your best feline friend will reap the rewards of a happier, healthier and more bonded life.

by Nomi Berger
 
Statistics show that in America, an animal is abused every 10 seconds.
 
And so, April has been designated “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” Month. A month during which everyone is urged to “Go Orange for Animals” to increase public awareness about these unconscionable, and usually unreported, incidents.
 
How YOU can help:
 
RAISE FUNDS
Using your personal Facebook account, create a fundraising page for a specific rescue group or shelter to celebrate an important occasion (birthday, graduation, anniversary, pet’s birthday, etc.) then share it with family and friends. Or instead of gifts, ask them to make a donation in your name to the rescue or shelter of your choice.
 
ORANGE, ORANGE EVERYWHERE
Show your support by wearing something orange all month. For young and old. Female and male. For her: barrettes and bows, scarves and shoelaces, brooches and bracelets, tank tops and teddies, necklaces and nail polish. For him: ties, tie tacks and tee shirts, bow ties and baseball caps, socks, suspenders and sneakers, pocket scarves and pins on lapels. Or go BIG! Tie a broad orange ribbon around a tree in your yard for everyone to see – and hopefully imitate.
 
SUPPORT A SHELTER OR RESCUE
Drawing on your own, personal contacts, team up with a local shelter or rescue group and assist them at a ”Go Orange for Animals” event such as an adoption day or weekend. Or set up your own donation drive – from jars of pennies, animals toys and pet food, to garage, yard and bake sales -- and give the proceeds and/or supplies you’ve collected to the shelter or rescue you’ve selected.
 
SHOW YOUR VIRTUAL SUPPORT
Spread the word about “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” Month by posting on your social media networks using the hashtag #fightcruelty and tagging @aspca.  
 
MAKE ADOPTION YOUR ONLY OPTION
Both shelters and rescue groups have loving animals of every breed and age, size and color, personality and temperament, desperate to find loving homes. By opting to adopt, not shop, you’re saving two lives: the life of the animal you adopt and the life of the animal taking its place. And please, spread the word!
 
IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT
Should you witness an act of cruelty towards an animal, report it the ASPCA and the police in that area. The more information you have the better. If possible, photograph the act of abuse (cell phones and other devices will have the time and date stamped on each shot). If others have witnessed the same act of cruelty, ask for their cooperation by getting their names, contact information, and if possible, brief written statements. Make copies of everything for your own records before giving them to anyone else. Whether you report the abuse in person or call it in, keep a record of the person you contact, the date, and the content and outcome of your discussion. Make it clear that you are interested in pursuing the case, and that you will help in any way you can.
 
Remember. ONE person CAN make a difference. If YOU speak out and speak up, imagine how many other “YOU’S” are doing and will do the same. Imagine what an enormous impact the effect of your combined voices can and will have on the lives of imperiled animals everywhere.