Chatting Cats: Bearing The Heat

Hey everypawdy, it’s me, RaenaBelle. It furinally cooled off a bit yesfurday. It was only 99°F. We won’t meow ‘bout the feels like cuz it was really humid which means it feels hotter than it is. Fanky fankfully, we have air conditionin’ to help keep things comfutable and cool. Not to mention the sink in the bathroom. I’s sometimes like to curl up there and take a nice little cat nap. Do any of you do that? Ya’ know, with the hots bein’ what they are I’s guessin’ lots of peeps and cats would much purr-fur to lay ‘round not doin’ much.

 

Dezi lays on scratcher and looks back at Raena

 

 

 

          Yep Raena, who knew you could be still that long. Me actually took a nice long nap the other day and you didn’t bug me once. Me actually worried a little that you might be sick or somethin’. 

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaw Really sissy? You worried ‘bout me? 

 

          Yeah, don’t let it go to your head Raena. Me wasn’t worried enuff to go look fur ya’ or anythin’. Hey, did you see that mommy found our hexbug? 

 

Raena hangs over the edge of the liberty cat tree

 

 

 

Yep sissy, but it’s too hot to run ‘round chasin’ it right now. Maybe when it cools off some more. Ya’ know, I’s never would’a thought I’s would see the day when I’s didn’t wanna go out fur a stroll with mommy. But, sure ‘nuff, when mommy asked me ifin I’s wanted to go to the mailbox with her yesfurday, I’s meowed no. Why would I’s wanna leave the comfurt of the a/c to get all glowy and glistenin’?.

 

          You mean sweaty Raena? Cats don’t sweat. 

 

I’s know sissy. Mommy says us Southern Belles glow.

 

Dezi sleeps on cat scratcher

 

 

 

          Well Raena, Southern Belles may glow, but really, we cats don’t sweat or glow. That’s why we pant when we get hot. Not that it does any good, but we do it any ways. 

 

Raena lays atop the liberty cat tree

 

 

 

I’s really worry ‘bout all those kitties who live outside sissy. Ya’ know, even when we do get out in the heat, mommy’s pushin’ us ‘round in the stroller. Can you ‘magine how hot the ground must be? And there are lots of kitties out there havin’ to walk ‘round on it and burn their poor pawsies. They can’t stretch out unner the a/c or even curl up in a bathroom sink. It’s just not fair. I’s don’t unnerstand how some peeps can be so cruel as to turn poor kitties out?.

 

          Raena, me doesn’t think anypawdy truly unnerstands those kinds of peeps. But, that’s why it’s so ‘purrtant fur the kind humans to do what they can fur all those kitties that don’t have cushy homes like we do. Ya’ know like purrvidin’ shelter so they can get outta the sun and the heat. And, makin’ sure they have access to furesh cool water. Y, Mommy used to put ice cubes in water bowls fur the stray kitties when we had ‘em. When takin’ care of stray kitties and feral colonies, purrtectin’ ‘em from the heat is just as ‘purrtant as purrtectin’ ‘em from the cold.

 

It sure is sissy. I’s even heard mommy sayin’ ya’ll were gonna be offurn’ up Tips on how to Beat the Summer Heat this Furiday. 

 

Dezi lays sleeping on cat scratcher

 

 

 

          Me heard her say that too Raena. Me hopes she can keep her head outta the freezer long enuff to write our posty and help us visit our furiends. T’ween the heat and mommy’s own purrsonal summers’, she’s been spendin’ a lot of time hangin’ in front of it.

 

Maybe the freezer acts like the bathroom sink fur mommy. She’s just too big to crawl up in there and lay down.

 

          Now that would be funny Raena. Me can see it now. 

 

Raena hangs over the top of the Liberty cat tree

 

 

 

Well sissy, what do ya’ say we go take a nap. Maybe by the time we wake up, it’ll be cool enuff fur some zoomies?. 

 

Till the next time………………………………………………Be Blest!!! 

 

Raena: Navy Blue 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee   

Blest Sunday: Blessings Floor To Ceiling And Beyond

Dezi:  MeOW  HiSsssssssss RaenaBelle!!! Quit jumpin’ on me!!! 

 

Blest Sunday purple kitty clip art graphic

 

 

 

          Raena:  I’s didn’t jump on you sissy, I’s jumped over you. I’s was in a hurry to get to the purrch. I’s thought I’s saw somethin’ outside. 

 

Dezi sit on cat tree and Raena sits on small perch while looking out the door

 

 

 

Dezi: Ya’ still need to stop. How many times has mommy told you to slow down Raena? Besides, it’s Blest Sunday and was time fur brekky. What ifin mommy had a been tryin’ to bring us our plates at that very minute? Y, All our food would’a ended up on the floor. We’re not heathens, we don’t eat off the floor. 

 

Dezi and Raena eating

 

 

 

          Meow fur yourself sissy, sometimes I’s find all kinds of yummy things on the floor. Y, Just the other day mommy dropped a piece of cheese in the kitchen when she was makin’ her smashed tater with cheese. Ifin I’s hadn’t grabbed it up when I’s did, she would’a throwed it in the trash. What a waste that would’a been. I’s luvs me some cheese. Ya’ know our china platters are fine, but I’s not gonna miss an oppurr-tunity to eat me somethin’ tasty just cuz it’s not served with silver and gold trimmins. See, sometimes you can find Blessings on the floor. Just be careful it’s food and not a bug. 

 

(Dezi shakes her head) Oh Raena, sometimes me just doesn’t know what to do with you. 

 

          Oh sissy, just luvs me. You know you were just like me once. Mommy says so. She says when you were young you couldn’t wait fur her to open the door in the meownin’ and put the purrch in front of it. She says you used to sit on it fur hours and chirp and chortle at anythin’ that came by. 

 

Dezi sits on small perch looking outside

 

 

 

 

Yeah Raena, me did. It seems so long ago now. It also seems like there was more to see back then. We used to have stray kitties and all kinds of wildlife play on our porch. It’s gotten so hot, ain’t nuffin’ outside doin’ much of anythin’. Y, just last night it was still 104°F at 9:30 p.m.. That’s just too hot.

 

          Yep sissy, it is. You’d think the old bobcat and the coon family would be knockin’ on our door askin’ fur food. It’s gotta be too hot to hunt.

 

Me’s been wonderin’ where they were Raena. We haven’t seen either of ‘em all season. Maybe when it starts coolin’ off in a couple of months they’ll show up. Fankfully, we furinally got a new lease signed. Our rent went up $30.00, so mommy may have to put her dentures on hold fur a bit. It takes quite a bit of gas to get there every week and she’s been drivin’ on fumes the last couple times. With more money we don’t have goin’ to rent and nowhere to take green papers from, that drive is purretty much the only thing left to cut.

 

Raena lays on scratching pad

 

 

 

          Well sissy, I’s guess that’ll give her more time to try to fix the mess the manager made and figger out what they can and can’t do befur it all starts again. Ya’ know the manager told mommy that they’re gonna be “rehabing” these ‘pawrtments soon and that they’re gonna wanna do a move out and then move us back in and start all this again in just a few months. Mommy told ‘em they couldn’t do that cuz she has a years lease, and utilities that be in her name that she has to pay each month. While she might not have had to put down a depawsit, those companies charge to turn it on and move it and stuffs. Not to mention the stress mommy’s just went thru. We fur sure can’t be doin’ this again that soon. We all need time to recupurrate.  

 

Yeah Raena, the way they treat us just ain’t right. It’s not like we’re poor and need help by choice. And mommy certainly ain’t disabled by choice. Ifin mommy could change our situation, she would in a heartbeat. Our mommy ain’t afraid of work. Y, Befur her accident, she worked 2 and 3 jobs at a time to make sure she could affurd everythin’ she needed and wanted. 

 

          I’s heard sissy. She says she was young and dumb back then and didn’t save, so that’s why we’re in the shape we’re in now. Altho’ I’s know mommy wishes she could do more and could give us more, and had more money, I’s glad things happened the way they did. Y, ifin they hadn’t who knows where you and me would be? We might not have ever been saved?. I’s don’t even wanna think ‘bout what it would have been like ifin mommy hadn’t showed up and whisked me away to this Blest life. 

 

Dezi lays on liberty tree and Raena on the small perch looking at each other in front of the door.

 

 

 

Me neither, Raena, me neither. We might not be rich by the standards the world uses, but when it comes to luv, we’re bazillionaires. 

 

          You got that right sissy. We’ve got the bestest mommy ever, altho’ we know all of you think you’ve got the bestest pawrent, and that’s okay. And meowin’ of all of ya’, we can’t ‘magine a life without you.

 

Dezi's selfie as an oil painting

Me’s oil painting selfie

 

 

 

We wouldn’t want to Raena. We have the bestest furiends in the whole universe. God smiled on us the day we met you, our dear furiends, and we ask Him each and every day to keep and Bless you and your families. As we do each week, we’d like to remind you to take a minute today and every day to give Thanks fur the Blessings in your lives. Blessings are all ‘round us, we just have to stop and see ‘em. 

 

Raena lays in mommy's lap with oil painting effect

Mine’s oil painting selfie

 

 

 

          So true sissy, so true. Let’s link up with the Kitties Blue fur Sunday Selfies and go get us some mommy luvvin’. But furst, I’s wanna meow Fanky fank You God, fur all our blessings. And fanky fank all of you fur bein’ pawrt of our Blessings each day.

 

Me seconds that Raena. C’mon, me will race ya’ to mommy’s lap.

 

Till the next time……………………………………………………Be Blest!!! 

 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue 

Raena: Navy Blue

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Service Cats: How Toxic Is That Food To Kitty

The followin’ post will be written in human English fur reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat posts aren’t intended to be an all inclusive Trainin’ Manual but rather Tips, Tricks and Techniques used/developed by mommy A thru her many years of animal trainin’, cats in purrticular. And to offur insight into your questions about Everything Feline. Always remember, Training is all ‘bout Repetition and Rewards.

Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

 

 

 

MeOW  Welcome to Service Cats and Everything Feline on Furidays. Each week we take questions and topic suggestions from all of you. We’ve spent the last four weeks focusing on Kitten/Cat Proofing your home. Ifin you missed any of those posts or any post in our Service Cats Series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page in our menu. Ifin you have questions or a topic you’d like to see here, you can leave those in the comments below or send us a private e-mail via our Contact page. Just remember, when asking behavioral questions to be as specific as pawssible and give any purrtinent examples. A well behaved and healthy kitty is more likely to keep their furever home.

 

Raena in tiger kitty holster

 

 

 

     We previously wrote about human Foods that are Toxic to us kitties and have received a follow up question asking just how Toxic those foods are. So, we’ve decided to expound on that today. With all the information we’re exposed to these days, it can be confusing for pet parents to know what’s what. Most peeps want to do what’s best for the furry members of their family; and spoiling them with a few table scraps couldn’t hurt a thing, right? That depends on what it is and how much of it is given.

 

The following items should NEVER be given to cats, even in small quantities. 

 

Alcohol: Amounts as small as 1 Tbsp. can cause vomiting, diarrhea, severe liver and/or brain damage.

Chocolate: Even in small amounts, All chocolate, but dark chocolate and baking chocolate in particular can cause heart problems, muscle tremors and/or seizures. The offending ingredients are theobromine and caffeine. 

Caffeine: Coffee, Tea, Soft Drinks and Energy Drinks: Small amounts can cause onset of rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, excessive thirst and urination and even death.

Dairy: While this may not cause irreparable damage, most cats are lactose intolerant and can suffer from vomiting and/or diarrhea after consuming dairy products such as milk or ice cream. Even an upset tummy isn’t that much fun, so offer kitty something else instead.

Grapes and Raisins: It is unknown what ingredient is the offender here, but grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in both cats and dogs.

Onions and Garlic: In larger quantities (a clove) both can cause digestive upset and/or anemia. This is also true of small amounts fed regularly over a long period of time: known as build up. 

Xylitol: This is a sweetener used in many products such as gums, sodas, mouthwash, toothpaste and others. It is unknown whether it is deadly to cats but within 30 minutes of exposure, dogs may become lethargic, vomit, and if not treated can even lead to death. It causes a sudden release of insulin which leads to low blood sugar.

Avocado: Small amounts of any part of the Avocado can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Nuts: In particular Macadamia, Almonds, Pecans and Walnuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis in small amounts. 

Marijuana: With the legalization of Cannabis, this is becoming a problem seen by more and more vets. Cats and dogs can be exposed through second hand smoke or ingestion. Symptoms include lethargy, loss of coordination, vomiting, diarrhea, more vocal than normal, a drop in body temperature, reparatory depression, and in severe cases, tremors, seizures and coma can result. The severity of the symptoms depend on the dose. In high enough doses, death can occur.  

Nicotene: Cigarettes, Cigars, Tobacco, Nicotene Gum/Patches and E-cigs: Ingesting even a small amount of nicotene can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and/or trouble breathing. Symptoms can occur within 15 minutes to several hours after exposure. A typical dose of 9.2 mg per kilogram of the animals body weight can be fatal.   

 

Raena sits stop the liberty cat tree

This world is full of bad things. I’s so glad mommy works hard to keep me safe.

 

 

 

     The list could go on and on, but we think these cover the ones most often available in the home. The message here is to keep these things out of kitty’s reach and don’t put it on the plate. Generally symptoms occur within an hour more or less of a toxic exposure. Some toxins act more quickly than others, so take precautions and be safe. We hope this follow up is helpful. And remember, if you think your anipal has been exposed to a toxin, Don’t Wait and See. Call your VET immediately. It’s also good to keep the Pet Poison Hotline number close by, 855-764-7661, a fee does apply with this number. References for this article were the ASPCA, Pet Poison Hotline website and our own VET as well as mommy’s many years of experience.

 

Dezi lays on scratcher yawning

Me can rest easy knowin’ mommy’s on the job to keep us toxic free.

 

 

 

Well, we’re gonna wrap it up fur now. Remember, you can check out/ketch up on any post in this series by clickin’ the links on our Training Tips and Everything Feline page in our menu above. We’d luv to hear your questions. Just leave them in the comments or send us an email via our Contact page. Mommy says the only stupid question is the one not asked. So, ifin your kitty is doin’ soemthin’ strange and you want to know why, just ask us. Or, ifin kitty is misbehavin’ and you want that to change, just let us know. ‘Member to be as specific as pawssible and give us any purrtinent examples of said behavior. We’ll update you all on our current situation Sunday. Fur now, we’ll just let you know, we do have a signed lease. We’re linkin’ up with Comedy Plus fur Feline Furiday. Okay, we’ll see ya’ soon. 

 

Till the next time…………………………………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle     

Natural & Easy Defense Flea Tag #ChewyInfluencer

Hey everypawdy, guess who? Yep, it’s me, RaenaBelle here on a Fursday. We have so much to meow ‘bout, mommy said we had to write an extra posty today. As most of ya’ know, we shop fur most of our kitty supplies at Chewy.com. Ya’ know, the purrices are good, the selection is varied and the customer service is tops. So, when Petsmart bought them, we kind’a waited with baited breath to see what was gonna happen. Quite furankly, we sort of ‘spected the worse. 

 

Dezi lays atop the liberty cat tree while Raena scratches her neck on the ledge below

 

 

 

          RaenaBelle!!! Befur we had a catputer, we had really wished a Petsmart would open up ‘round here. So meowin’ we ‘spected the worse isn’t very nice or accurate.  

 

I’s just meant that we ‘spected purrices to go up and customer service to go down. You know, when big companies swallow up the little ones, those things are always affected. Anyways, to our surpurrise, things kind’a remained the same…least fur a while. Recently, Chewy has begun carryin’ some purroducts by Only Natural Pet, another online pet company purrchased by Petsmart. So, to innerduce peeps to these purroducts, we were asked ifin there was an Only Natural Pet purroduct we would like to try.

 

          Yep Raena, and mommy had been eyein’ one of their natural purroducts fur some time. As most peeps know, mommy luvs usin’ more natural purroducts on us. She purrticularly hates to use poison on us to treat/purrvent fleas and ticks. She treats the yard ‘round our ‘pawrtment each season, and also sprays ‘round windows, doors and any openings that fleas could use to get into our house. 

 

Only Natural Pet Easy Defense Flea Tag

 

 

 

That’s true sissy. But, bein’ Service Cats, means that at some point, we’re gonna be goin’ outside somewhere that mommy can’t treat. Flea treatments have come a long way over the years, and Only Natural Pet had developed a tag that’s worn on the collar to purrvent fleas, ticks and mosquitoes fur up to 1 year. Yep, it’s a tag and not the collar itself. You know, kind’a like the rabies tag or name tag some cats and woofies wear. So, mommy said we’d luvs to take that there tag fur a spin. We only received 1 tag, so mommy decided to let me try it out. I’s young and luvs to go anywhere and everywhere, so mommy figgered I’s needed more purrtectin’ than sissy. Let’s see what Chewy has to say ‘bout the Easy Defense Flea, Tick and Mosquito Dog and Cat Collar Tag: 

 

Description

Protect your precious pup from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes the safe and effective way with the Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Flea & Tick Tag. Using the power of silicon dioxide particles, these unique tags are coded with frequencies that are safe for your pet, but irritating to biting insects—making for an effective, chemical-free flea and tick repellant. Once the tag is placed on your pet’s collar, programmed frequencies will harmonize with your pet’s own biological frequency, repelling those pests without bothering your furry friend. To humans and pups, this tag is harmless, but the vibration makes one thing clear to fleas and ticks: they aren’t welcome on the back of your furry friend. Keep them safe the natural way, with Only Natural Pets.

Key Benefits

  • Contains silicon dioxide particles that are encoded with frequencies that are safe for your pet, but grating to fleas and ticks, making for an effective, chemical-free flea and tick repellent.
  • Causes no harm to your pet—once the tag is hooked onto your pet’s collar, encrypted frequencies will synchronize with your pet’s unique biological frequency, deterring fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other biting insects without bothering your pet.
  • Simply clip this flea and tick tag to your dog or cat’s collar and, in three weeks, you will have powerful, safe and effective flea and tick control that lasts up to a full year.
  • The tag uses quantum mechanics, and does not use electricity, chemicals, magnetics, or radioactivity.
  • Based on over 15 years of targeted research in collaboration with doctors and scientists, these European-designed tags are completely safe for dogs, cats and humans.

Precautions

The EasyDefense Tag is designed for flea prevention, not eliminating infestations. If your pet is already infested by fleas, their environment is also infested, and the tag on its own will not be enough to mitigate the infestation. To eliminate existing flea infestations, we strongly recommend complementing the tag with other natural flea removal products.

Only Natural Pet Easy Defense Flea Tag

 

 

 

When mommy furst opened the package, she noticed the tag was covered in a powder of some kind. It kind’a got everywhere. But mommy purrceeded to attach it to the stretchy collar she has fur us and chased me down to put it on. Yep kitties, it smelled funny, I’s wasn’t none to thrilled to wear it. Once the powder flakes off, the smell goes away too. The directions are purretty clear, one tag purr pet and it needs to be worn most if not all the time in order to synchronize and be effective. 

 

Instructions

Simply attach the EasyDefense Tag to your pet’s collar using the ring provided, positioning it on top of other tags, farthest away from your pet.

The EasyDefense Tag will become fully effective within a few weeks. If you remove your pet’s collar at night, place it in or close to their bed. Since the tag utilizes your pet’s energy to create a natural barrier to pests, it should stay on or around your pet at all times.

It will usually begin working within a few days, but may take up to a few weeks depending on your pet’s health and the severity of pests in the environment. The EasyDefense Tag will also last up to 12 months.

The tag is waterproof and sturdy, but if it is severely damaged we recommend that you replace it. For the first 4 weeks remove the tag during baths and long swims, but after that period it is fine to leave on in the water.

For optimum effectiveness, please rinse the tag every month or so to remove dirt and debris.

The tag can only be used on one pet at a time because it synchronizes with the pet’s unique energy. Each pet in the household will require its own tag.

Keep the tag away from strong electric and magnetic fields, as these will disturb its effectiveness. If your pet has a microchip, it will not harm its effectiveness. 

 

 

 

I’s wasn’t thrilled havin’ it on. I’s scratched and shook mine’s head and faux sneezed a few times. That’s purrobably mommy’s fault. Our rabies tag is attached to our harnesses, so we don’t actually wear those all the time. As fur collars, those are also somethin’ we don’t normally wear all the time. So, now not only did I’s have on a collar, but I’s had a dangle at the end. The furst hurdle I’s had was at dinner time. The tag kept hittin’ mine’s china dinner plate and gettin’ into mine’s food. That was just never gonna do. So, mommy took the collar off so I’s could eat dinner and then put it back on. Later, when we went to bed, I’s couldn’t settle down to sleep, so again, mommy removed mine’s collar. Since I’s sleep in the bed with her, the tag went on the table beside the bed. Hmmmmm I’s hope it didn’t synchronize to mommy. MOL 

 

Raena looks down with her collar on with the Easy defense fea tag

 

 

 

Furinally, much to mine’s chagrin, mommy decided we had to let me keep the tag on long enuff to ‘synchronize’ so that we could at least test it. I’s furinally quit scratchin’ at it and we only took it off durin’ meals and at night. Honestly, it’s kind’a hard to meow whether it truly works or not, since we don’t normally have a purroblem with fleas and ticks. However, we really like the idea behind it. It took some gettin’ used too, but I’s would give it 2 paws up. Anytime I’s don’t have to get doused with nasty smellin’ poisonous chemicals, is a good time and reason to celebrate. The tag costs $56.98 which seems like a lot, but considerin’ it works fur 12 months, that means it only costs $4.75 a month. That’s actually purretty cheap considerin’. The leadin’ treatments run $50.00 to $60.00 fur 3 to 6 months supply, so it’s at least half the cost fur up to twice as long. Mommy says she’d give it a thumb up. She luvs the natural non toxic option to purrvent a real purroblem.

 

Only Natural Pet Easy Defense Flea Tag

 

 

 

As the instructions say, ifin you already have an infestation, you’re gonna need to treat it with another method furst. The Easy Defense Flea, Tick and Mosquito Tag is a purrventative not a treatment. We don’t know how the “synchronizing” works, but because of it, each tag can only be used for 1 animal. It is not interchangeable and must be worn regularly to be effective.

 

 

Disclaimer: We received the Easy Defense Flea, Tick and Mosquito Tag in exchange for our honest opinion. As always, we tell it like we see it. And, we only bring you products, we use or have tried and believe would be of interest to you, our readers and friends.

 

          Me’s not sure me would have wanted to try it out Raena. Me thought it was annoyin’ when it kept dingin’ your dinner plate. But, ifin it means no stinky poisons down our backs, me’s all in. As always, you can save a few extra bucks at Chewy by settin’ up an auto ship. That’ll also help ya’ to never run outta your pets favorite noms or treats or whatever. And right now, you can save an additional 25% off your order of the Easy Defense Flea, Tick, and mosquito dog and cat tag.

 

Dezi and Raena lay together on the floor

 

 

 

Well sissy, ya’ wanna go play? 

 

Till the next time……………………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Raena: Navy Blue 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses 

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee