October 01, 2009
What's in This Issue:
Updates to the site
 Pet Supplies - Cat Supplies - Pet Meds |
Cat Christmas Ornaments 2009 I found these fabulous ornaments, and I'm sure I missed a few of the cat ones! This outfit has ornaments for every occasion!
I updated the Cat Calendars page with 2010 calendars. There are lots of new designs available.
Articles
Leaving Pets at Home? 16 Tips for Preparing for Pet Care While you Travel By Peggie Arvidson-Dailey Platinum Quality Author
Halloween And Your Pets By Joy Gill
Vet School Feature
October Offers
If all has gone well, I'm moving this week into the new house. I'll post photos on the blog, so no worries. I should be back next month with original articles.
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Leaving Pets at Home? 16 Tips for Preparing for Pet Care While you Travel By Peggie Arvidson
Holiday Travel Season is upon us and whether you’re heading for a trip to the relatives or a wild and wonderful adventure, chances are you’re not taking your pets.When you’re leaving your pets in the care of another there are basic “rules” you both should follow:
1. Reserve your time. You’ll note that many of your neighbors and colleagues travel the same time of year that you do. If you’re hoping your neighbor will watch your cat while you head out of town, confirm that he’ll be in town! Professional companies fill up quickly during busy seasons so you’re wise to reserve your spot for pet-care as soon as you reserve your airfare.
2. Be specific. It’s important that you and your pet-care provider are on the same page. When you say “One scoop of dry in the morning and the evening” make sure your sitter knows which scoop you’re talking about. It’s also a good idea to ensure that the person staying with your five cats “does” litter boxes, otherwise you’re bound to have a huge mess (and possibly strained relationship) when you get home. Other items to specify include: where to dispose of dirty litter, cage liners or doody-bags, how many and what kinds of treats can be distributed, how to use the electronic cat watering machine, the location and instructions for the can opener, which items your bird likes to get into but will do them harm (zippers come to mind), and most importantly what time each day you’d like your visits to occur.
3. Determine liability. No one wants to think about bad things happening, but sometimes they do. Determine now who is liable if your dog bites the neighbor’s child while on a romp in the yard? Or who will pay for the vet bill if your kitty hurts herself while you’re away? There are many different scenarios here, so think them through and discuss your options with your insurance agent before assuming you’re “covered.”
4. Let your sitter know if anyone else is expected in your home during your absence. If your housekeeper comes every Friday, let the sitter know. If you’ve hired an electrician to come in and rewire, again, let the sitter know. Also, ensure that you and your sitter are clear on liability if the electrician unwittingly lets the cat out the front door while he’s unloading his truck.
5. Do you want updates? Let your sitter know how and when you’d like to be updated on your pets’ activities and behavior during your absence. However, be sure your sitter has a number or a way to reach you no matter where you are, in case of an emergency.
6. Leave plenty of food, toys, litter and other supplies. Most folks keep their dry food in special containers – meaning if its running low, the sitter may not be able to find the original bag to determine what brand of food your pet ‘s been eating. It’s a little embarrassing to carry a piece of kibble into a pet supply shop and ask the clerk, “Do you know what kind of food this is?”
7. Provide the name and contact information of a neighbor who has a key to your home. Emergencies happen, and if your sitter is incapacitated for any reason, they’ll want the name of someone who can get to your pets. This is less likely to happen with larger pet-care companies who have a team of sitters who can provide back-up.
8. Keys. Before handing over the spare set to your sitter, test them (the keys, but let the sitter test the keys too.) Also, don’t leave your keys on your property in hidden places for your sitter. This is a huge liability should some criminal see them leaving the key in your hiding spot – what if some less than stellar person watches your sitter “hide” the key and decides to help himself to your possessions?
9. Re-confirm your plans. Make sure you call and confirm your reservation with your pet-sitter at least two days prior to your departure.
10. Agree on a fee. Make sure you and your sitter agree on a fee for the service provided before your departure, this way no one will have bad feelings or unrealistic expectations upon your return.
11. Block off areas of your home to prevent unwanted access. It’s okay to close bedroom doors, or put up baby gates to keep your pets from heading into “unprotected territory.” Because no matter how well trained your furry kids are when you’re home, they are going straight for the comfiest couch while you’re gone. To save angst and frustration, block off areas that are forbidden, and make sure your sitter is aware of the “house rules.”
12. Be honest about your pets’ personalities. The person caring for your pets must have a realistic understanding of your pets’ personality. If your dog is a big barker, make sure you note that, same thing if your cat doesn’t like to be petted. Set your sitter up to succeed and you’ll be pleased with the results.
13. Close off “doggy doors”. While you may be happy to have your pets roam in and out throughout the day while you’re home, your pets’ safety is in jeopardy if you leave that doggy door accessible while you’re gone. Your dog or cat is used to your routine and knows what to expect when he comes in and out. He’s likely worked out a routine around yours. However, when you’re gone, his routine is thrown for the loop. He can become bored and is more likely to pick fights through the fence, or to dig out to follow a scent, a person or an intriguing sight. Both you and your pet sitter want your pets to be at home and healthy when you return from your trip, so keep that doggy door locked and help achieve that goal.
14. Make it easy to access your home. We’ve already discussed keys, but make sure the outdoor lighting works so your sitter can enter your home safely at night and ensure that the walkways and entry ways are clear of debris and clutter.
15. Write down the extras. If you expect that your sitter will bring in the mail and paper and take out the trash, say so. Your sitter is concerned with the health and well-being of your pets and may not think to water your plants unless you ask. Make sure you specify what extra tasks you’d like your sitter to complete and then write them down so you are both in agreement.
16. Call when you get home. Your sitter is concerned about the welfare of your pets and most will continue to come and visit even after your scheduled return home, unless you call and let them know you’ve returned safely.
Following these sixteen steps will ensure that both you and your pet have a relaxing vacation!
Peggie Arvidson-Dailey is the owner of peggiespets.com and the founder of petcareuniversity.com. She's also the "Pets in the City" Columnist for the Del Ray Sun and has been a guest expert on "This Week in Small Business" on Chamber of Commerce Radio. Her company has been recognized as "Best of the Best" in the DC metro region by The Washingtonian. To get all the tips and hints you want to keep up with your pets, subscribe to The Care of Pets e-zine at http://www.peggiespets.com today.
Halloween And Your Pets By Joy Gill
Halloween can be a festive and fun time of year for children and families; but for pets, it can be stressful and even dangerous. Here are some tips to keep your pets happy and safe this Halloween.Some readers may be surprised to learn that one of the most dangerous things for your pet this Halloween is candy, especially chocolate, which can be harmful, even fatal to pets. Chocolate can cause tremors nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate and, in severe cases, seizure and death. As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candies, always remember that chocolate is deadly to them in any amount.
Secure all candy safely away from pets. The wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pets' digestive tract and make them ill or cause death. There are plenty of recipes for making home made dog and cat treats and you can always make them on a Halloween note. If you are like me and have no idea how to make pet treats of any kind, you might be able pick up a box of dog or cat treats for them at a pet bakery or order them online before hand.
If you will be having inside visitors for the evening, remind your guests not to give your pet any candy no matter how cute they think he or she is. Tell them of the health risks involved with candy and pets. It will be way easier to tell everyone upfront, than to have to tell each person as they try to share a treat with your pet.
If you are having an indoor party, seriously consider putting your dog or cat in a room where they won't be disturbed. Secluding your pets in a quiet room away from the Halloween activities will ease your mind and allow you to enjoy your guests. This will also ensure that your pets won't panic and escape when bell-ringing trick-or-treaters arrive, nor will they become threatened or aggressive at the sight of costumed, little people. With many people visiting the home in strange attire, even normally calm pets might over react. These things can cause undue stress and possibly cause aggression in even the nicest dog, goldfish, or iguana for that matter. Pets, especially dogs, that are easily excitable or threatened by strangers should be kept from the front door so they cannot bite anyone or run into the street.
During Halloween, pets are often the victims of pranksters' cruel tricks. If you work in a pet store, remember that this is the time of year that can be deadly for black cats. Many animal shelters make black cats unavailable for adoption the week before Halloween because of black cat abuse. These poor animals have in the past, been targets of cruel activities on Halloween.
It is probably best to keep black cats inside for the whole week of Halloween. On this Halloween night, try to keep all pets safely indoors at all times. With a frequently opened door, keep pets secure so they don't end up leaving with a band of trick-or-treaters. Keep pets on a shorter-than-normal leash if you plan on walking outside on Halloween.
Always watch that any open flames (like candles or jack-o-lanterns) are out of reach (of pets and kids). Not only could your pet start a fire but they could severely burn themselves in the process.
Finally, dressing up a pet dog or cat has become increasingly popular in the last few years, which in turn means a big market for dog & cat-related products. It is best to avoid the temptation to dress up your dog and send him or her out trick-or-treating with the kids. If you are going to dress your pet in a costume, keep in mind that unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing it discomfort and stress. I personally see nothing wrong with dressing your pet if they are in agreement with it, but on a busy holiday like Halloween they should also be wearing their collar with an Identification tag, just in case.
Please visit me at http://trujem.com/blog
Vet School Feature
Continuing this feature, links to a report regarding veterinary training.An Overview of admissions policies and requirements.
This report is multi-school, and compiled from many sources.
A Special report just for subscribers to CatLover Magazine!
October Offers
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Siphotrol Plus This stuff is AMAZING! This year's fleas will be dead in less than 24 hours. |
Advantage 4 months |
 Wysong's special intro pack for raw diets |
 Innova Evo Dry Food |
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Rug Doctor Eco-Green Cleaning Package to get your home ready for the holidays!
Ecos Pet Laundry Soap is no longer available. I'm looking for a suitable replacement. I'm very sorry! Try the local grocery store. There are some great items now in the pet supply departments.
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