Our Place to Paws Web Site Debuts

We're making some changes at Our Place to Paws now that we have a live Web site! (I hope you've taken the time to check it out at www.ourplacetopaws.com). Starting with this issue, we are going to go monthly with the e-newsletter, and in the future we'll be using this forum to let you know about new articles and photos posted on our site online (but don't worry, we'll still be featuring your letters, some great news stories and links to fun videos!).

Our Web site is really at the beginning of its journey toward becoming a place where people will go online to read, write and post about animals and animal rescue and protection issues. We hope to develop links to great pet products and animal books, feature more non-profit organizations, create message boards, hold some contests, and eventually find ways to do e-commerce so that we can donate a portion of our proceeds to non-profit animal organizations. So if you don't see too many changes in the initial weeks, keep checking back. We're working on it!

Do you have any comments or suggestions about the newsletter or the site? Please write to faye@ourplacetopaws.com and let us know!

In this issue:

I need cat help!

Dear Our Place to Paws,

I need help! Anyone have any suggestions on how to stop our 17-year-old cat from peeing in our son's room? She has never been like this before. I keep the door closed all day but at night my son likes his door open, and that is when it happens. I put plastic bags on the floor in the spot she goes so she won't get it on the rug (that might not be the best thing to do). As far as I can tell she does not have an infection. Can anything be done? Thanks!

- Lisa R., Benicia, California

Response from another reader:

Hello Lisa!

I have a house full of cats and have had some luck with both. Behavioral or habit markings are the most challenging to overcome. The marked area should be treated with effective neutralizing enzymes. Most of these are sprays or liquids to be applied directly to the marked area. These will stop the smell which causes them to return to the same area out of habit. But the treatment must be thorough and aften repeated if it is a carpetted area as additional scent will seep up from the carpet. Cats are more thorough than we are and the smells sink deep. Treating the area with a deterrent spray will reduce the urge for them to go in the same place again. There are also stress reduction "plug ins" that you can put in the outlets nearby that will reduce the urge to mark the same area if the behavior is stress-related (and cats get stressed out easily).

All of these products can be found at PetSmart or PetCo and associates there can help you decide the best brands and applications for your situation. Good luck!

- Peggy D., New Hill, North Carolina

Have a comment or question, or suggestions for other readers? Write to faye@ourplacetopaws.com.

This month's winner, sent in by Tim N. of Montpelier, VT, taken in Akumal, Mexico.

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The pet food recall by Menu Foods has had cat and dog lovers worried around the country. This link to the Menu Foods Web site provides a list of all of the brands and foods that have been recalled. May your animal friends be safe!

We've featured some fun videos in this e-newsletter, but I have to say, this one is pretty amazing! What do you get when you have the smartest dog in the world? You get a video that was even featured on Ellen Degeneres. Click here to watch it!

This one is just an uplifting bunch of smiles. Some great animal photographs to the soundtrack of "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Click here to watch it.

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"There but for the grace of cat go I." - Richard Wexler

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