Health and Well Being - When You Gotta Go

A Safe and Clean Place

One of the biggest issues most people have with keeping a pet is cleaning up after them. It would be so much easier if all pets could be trained to use the toilet, including how to flush. However, most earthlings just don't have the time to be able to spend the time to do this.

So, if you can't afford a professional trainer, keep these things in mind when ensuring your pet has what she needs.

Cats

Most vets will recommend that an owner has at least 1 litter box per cat in the household. That can be a LOT of litter boxes, if you're a hoarder. Litter set up kits are very handy, along with disposable litter boxes.

Myself, I like to have that, plus 1. So if you have 2 cats, have 3 boxes available.

An owner should always clean the box at least 1x per day, if not twice. This will keep the germs and bacteria load down. Also, keep in mind how you might feel if you went into a bathroom and the toilet hadn't been flushed...like all day. Pretty gross. If you're in a public place, you would probably be exiting that stall and searching for a cleaner one. There are options out there to make it easier, however, a good motto to live by is to never own more pets than you can handle their poop.

A cat may feel the same way, and if she can't find a clean litter box, she just may put her waste inside your favorite shoes. To avoid this litter-box-avoidance-issue, here are a couple solutions:

• Get into a routine; when you are making your coffee or breakfast in the morning, go take a second to clean out the box;
• Save your plastic shopping bags and scoop the poop; OR
• Buy an automatic litter box or sifter box. BUT always remember that you will still have to pull out the container that the yucky stuff is swept into.

Barring any other health issues, this will keep you kitty using the proper waste deposit facility and not on top of your favorite sweater.

Dogs

Dogs have their own routines; males like to mark their territories, females like to sniff out those territories.

Some lucky owners have backyards to let their canine housemates run around in. But if not cleaned regularly, your lawn can start to look just like a litter box, just on a much bigger scale. Same with dog patios and dog runs. Who enjoys seeing those little burnt up hot dogs out there?

There are now many pooper scooper options available in your local stores, but there is always the old fashioned way; newspaper and a trash bag.

Bacteria can grow just as easily in the back yard as in a litter box. Scooping the waste away and watering the lawn is the best way to deter any unwanted lifeforms growing where you barbeque.

Again, get into a routine. It's rumored that once you do something daily for at least 2 weeks in a row, it becomes a habit. If you don't have neighborhood kids willing to pick up the waste for a nominal fee, make it one of your weekly chores;

• Saturday morning, before the weekend shenanigans begin, grab an old grocery bag and newspaper, and clean away the mess.
• Water the lawn and spray down walkways, dog runs, bushes and trees.

If your pet is using an area you don't want used, be sure to spray down and try some Bitter Apple Spray on the area to see if you can dissuade your buddy from using the wrong toilet.

Supplies

Having the right supplies handy is important, especially when getting started. It may be easier to get into a good routine if you have the right supplies necessary and immediately to hand. After you have the routine down, it'll be easier to improvise. You can shop in Luving Petz Store for a complete array of items that can assist you in caring for your pet(s).

Summary

Again, keep in mind how you feel when entering a public restroom that is stained, smelly, broken faucets and flooded toilets. It is incredibly unappealing. Animals can feel the same distress. They may not think to themselves, "Oh dear, there might be eColi growing in there" but they become frustrated, anxious and grossed out just the same as we do and will look for alternate places to do their deeds.

Health and Well Being Series

Introduction

I've been thinking a lot of the well being of pets. Mainly Cats and Dogs as that is my main experience, although I've also kept birds, snakes, mice and rats (as a child).

My next series of posts will be regarding the health and well being of our beloved pets. In it, I will provide helpful tips on providing a healthy environment, both physical and mental, for our pets.

Stay Tuned!

Jazzard

Gigi's First Christmas went off with a bang!

She was very interested in all the decorating and goings-on, observed from the couch of course.

However, when the tree went up, she claimed her spot and stayed there. Eventually, in order to make her more comfortable, I put the carriers under there, just so she would have a cozier spot to lay and stay warm. She stayed under the tree all day and all night until I actually went to bed, when she would join me there.

Her Petpets (2 other cats I adopted to keep her company and help with any depression for having only a human companion) were very curious whenever she disappeared into one of the carriers.

Note: It's a good idea to remove the carrier doors as these boxes are way too small for any accidental, lengthy stay.

Merry Christmas Gigi!

Adoption

Gigi the day she came home

Shortly after I lost Tigger, I decided to adopt again. I checked out my local shelters through Petfinder. Best service ever.

It has a great search engine by location, age, sex, length of time in the shelter, etc.

WELL worth the effort. I specifically wanted to find a pet that had been in the shelter the longest. I knew there would be difficulties getting those pets adopted out.

Originally, I was looking at dogs as I hadn't had a dog in so long and really wanted to be able to go for walks with him or her.

However, I found a listing of a cat who had been in the shelter for 4 years! I really thought this was an error, I mean, why would they hold a cat for 4 years? It didn't make sense, but when I was ready, I drove the 30 miles to the shelter to find out.

It turned out that this little Torby female, named Gracie, had been part of a hoarder situation, living in a cage on the porch with several other cats. They were all confiscated, and it took 4 years for the Humane Society to get custody.

During that time, they were only allowed to perform those medical procedures that were meant to keep her alive. Meaning, they couldn't alter her.

She became very depressed and bitter during her time in there. She developed anorexia, she refused to eat, she became malnourished, her teeth rotted. They pulled all of her teeth except 6 on her bottom jaw. All her uppers and rear teeth were gone.

When I went to meet her, she paid absolutely no attention to me. She wanted only to go back to her cage. But I didn't care. I wanted to get her out of there. She was severely underweight, her ribs, hips and shoulder-blades were poking out, her fur was thin, she had absolutely no fat cover.

I had to wait, but I went back the following week to pick her up and take her home.

It was a little hard, I had to finagle some tricks to get her out, and keep her out of her depression, but she is now a very happy little kitty. She has gained 2 lbs and is a very healthy 6 1/2 lbs. She eats without being finicky. She goes in and out of the back yard, and always come back to nap beside me. I've renamed her Gigi (short for Good Girl.) And she's the most curious and fun little kitty I could imagine.

Gigi Today

Tigger

In August 2016, I had to put my dear cat, Tigger, to sleep. He had thrown a blood clot that lodged in his arteries, blocking blood flow to his back legs.

It was an utterly devastating decision to have to make, as I'm sure any loving person knows, if not first-hand, by word-of-mouth and empathy.

Tigger was a very loving, cool little dude, who just loved to cuddle and hang out with me.

Having been abandoned as a younger cat, when I found him he was pretty desperate for a home. He already had some issues to deal with: food allergies, dog attacks, neurosis, and was trying to find a caring home to move into. He came upon my house, and at the time I already had 2 other cats and didn't want a third. However, I took pity on him as it was the dead of winter and the entire bottom half of his body was furless due to the food allergies. I brought him in, much to the disgust of my other cats, and the rest was history.

When he threw the blood clot, I knew immediately there was something wrong. I took him to the vet and we were seen right away. After the exam, the small, very sad and sympathetic speech ended with, "the treatment is about 30 days long and is EXTREMELY painful for the cat. The success rate is very poor, and there is a very strong likelihood it will happen again within the next 12 months. I really recommend euthanasia."

I made the decision, and it was very tough. But he's on the other side of the rainbow bridge now, and I KNOW he is doing great.

RIP Tigger. You will always be my best little buddy.

Jazzard

EXPENSIVE TASTES

Ever have a cat her nose up to a new luxury bed you went out and bought special for them?

Or a dog who hogs YOUR bed and refuses to set a paw on his own?

Yep, every owner has most likely had this issue. Your favorite pet wants to lay on your old ratty T-shirt instead of a nice, new, fluffy bed.

Try this next time: For a couple days, sit on the cushion yourself! Too simple right? Well, our loving companions don't know how much money you spend on a comfy couch for them. All they know is that if it smells like you, they must be safe and secure.

Shop the Luving Petz Store for a full array of pet beds, cushions and condos.

HOLIDAYS AND YOUR PETS

Holidays are a great time for family; parties, dinners and great gatherings. This can also be a great time for pets as well, if they aren't forgotten.

Every pet has different needs, sometimes they love the company and will hang right in the middle of the festivities, participating in the interaction with all their humans or sitting and watching all the activities from a safe corner. Other pets, just like humans, can't handle all the activity and may need a quiet room to be in while the biggest crowds are in the house. Other times, when their humans are shopping or visiting other friends, they may be left too long by themselves.

It's important to remember the pets are very much like small children; they rely on their humans completely and really don't understand when they are left alone, or made to do things they don't like.

Compassion, love and understanding is needed for our loving companions, especially during these extremely busy times of the year.