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 YOUR LETTERS |
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I just wanted to write to thank you for putting together "Our Place to Paws" every month. I know you guys are just getting started, but I think it's great that you're trying to create something online for animal lovers to participate in and share. I am looking forward to when you'll have message boards or something up on your site so some of us can send messages to each other.
Thanks again! - David T.
Editor’s Note: Thank you, David! We're working on getting message boards and maybe some online games up on the site soon. Dear Editor: I just moved, and on Friday my two male cats moved in...this is the third time they have moved together to a new place, but this time, one of the cats, Felix, seems to be having trouble adjusting...The other cat, Cosmo, has adjusted well. But Felix is acting stressed out, he rarely leaves my room, which is in the basement and is meowing quite a bit. So I am just seeing if you have any advice on how to relieve stress in cats or any other advice in regards to moving pets to a new environment. Thanks! - Justin From the Editor: I’ve moved my cats a lot so maybe I can help. When I move my cats, I always bring their “things” with them…toys or favorite things they like to sleep on that will smell familiar. If your cat is having trouble adjusting, I’d let him stay safe in just your room for a while…keep toys and his food and water, etc. in a place where he feels safe, and spend as much time as you can with him. Hopefully over time he will be OK. If the problem continues, you might consider taking him to the vet to make sure nothing else is wrong, but a lot of cuddle time, toys, food and water and comforting things around him should help. Another Response: Hi Justin, Ah, the fun of life adjustment for a species that is said to be so laid back that they just lay around without a care in the world - the cat. Actually they are one of the most easily stressed of the companion animals, as you are obviously in the middle of, and speaking as a woman who has had multiple cats marking her house now and then, and one cat so stressed from being returned after a one-year adoption that she licked all of the fur off her belly, I can relate to your concern for you furry friend. Faye made some great suggestions above. She's had many years of sensitive cats as well. I will add a couple of minor suggestions that might assist,but by now you might have found Felix ia already over the worst of it and doing much better regardless of the earlier concerns. There are plug-in scents you can dd to your cat's preferred living area that are designed to release a scent, a pheromone which is supposed to help relax and destress a cat. They do work, but can be a bit pricey. You will not smell it, which also adds to the beauty of the device. You can also add valerian extract to the cat's water, just a few drops. It's a natural herbal root and just relaxes the cat a bit, sort of like us drinking camomile tea. Of course you can also get some great catnip and get the baby relaxed that way but I am not condoning setting him up on a drug habit! Good luck. - Peggy Dey, DeybyDeyStudio Note: Our Place to Paws cannot officially recommend any foods, herbs or medications suggested by readers in this column and is not responsible for their use. We recommend consulting your veterinarian before feeding an animal any new foods, herbs or medications. |
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| READER PHOTO SPOTLIGHT |
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| BOOK REVIEW
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ALL ABOUT ANTS ANTS ARE COOL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S HOT! This time of year, when it’s oh so hot and insects appear to rule the world, it’s easy, especially for the adults among us, to forget how cool ants are. If we see them only as nuisances from which we must protect our picnic baskets at all costs, the kids in our lives will miss out on learning about one of the world’s most incredible critters. But wait…! Maybe there is room for a compromise here: cover the apple pie and cast out the rascals trying to pilfer it—but educate yourselves and your kids as well. You will be delighted with what you discover. ALL ABOUT ANTS (ISBN: 978-0792259480), by Sue Whiting, is a great place to start your ant education. Like all the other books in the National Geographic Science Chapters children’s books series, ALL ABOUT ANTS is a lovely hardcover book full of the kinds of fabulous photographs that NG is famous for. But even more exciting than the close ups of ants living their lives in their natural environments are the facts about how they live their lives. | ||
| KIDS CORNER |
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Have you ever wanted to give someone a very special birthday card? Anyone can
go to the store to buy a card, but it's much more fun to make one yourself. Click here to learn how to make an Accordian Birthday Card featuring your favorite animal! | ||
| FEATURED ANIMAL RESCUE |
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 This month, because we haven't yet been able to put their information up live on our site, we're again featuring the Eleanor Sonsini Shelter in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, run by The Friends of Eleanor Sonsini Shelter, Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization. The organization assumed operation of the shelter from the city of Pittsfield, and is always looking for homes for their wonderful cats and dogs, and for new volunteers. Our Place to Paws has heard that the animals at this shelter are badly in need of loving families. We hope if you're in the Berkshires area, you'll stop by and consider taking home a new friend.
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| CATS vs. DOGS |
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OK cat-lovers and dog-lovers, this is your chance to speak up on your pet preference! Send us your letters describing why your dog or cat is the ultimate pet, or send in your cat and dog photos. Each month we’ll highlight the best arguments and photos, and choose one winner in each category to receive a $20 gift certificate to PetCo! Entry: Why Dogs are Better Dear Our Place to Paws: I’d like to submit my brief essay explaining why I feel that Dogs should win the “Cats vs. Dogs” contest this month. My dog, Alexander, is the most loving, loyal creature I’ve ever known. Ever since he was a puppy, he has loved me unconditionally. He follows me everywhere, and he’s such a good dog. He learned very quickly to sit, give his paw and even roll over on command. Read full text on Our Place to Paws “Lassie certainly was a well-heeled dog.” - Richard Wexler
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| OUR PLACE TO PAWS STAFF |
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