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Why having a second pet could save your first pet's life So many homes are filled not only with human family members, but furry ones as well. Pets provide us with endless entertainment, comfort, company, love and friendship – but what happens to your sweet pet if you unexpectedly die? Unfortunately, every day, cats and dogs are orphaned and left without a home or a friend in the world. And sometimes, the stress and depression is so strong in those animals that they just give up and die shortly after their beloved human. I know first-hand, because just days ago I lost a wonderful foster pet who refused to eat after the death of his only family member. All he had to do was eat, but he was just too sad. Not even force-feeding could save him. Can you imagine your own sweet pets succumbing to depression following your own death? I don’t want to think about it, and I’ll bet you don’t either. So what can we do to help our kitties, doggies, birds and other family members find some happiness after a tragedy? Stanley Coren of Psychology Today posits that our pets are unable to understand the finality of death, and that they stay locked in a chronic, depressing state of hope that at some point, the dead person (or animal) will return. This resistance to change could very well explain why a kitty who obviously had a perfectly healthy appetite when he lived with his owner would refuse his meals – he was waiting for the problem to correct itself. Maybe he thought one day soon I would take him back to his apartment, and his mom would be there, waiting with a smile and a hug. Then, he would eat. You don’t have to be an expert in psychology or veterinary science to understand that the loss of one primary caretaker PLUS the loss of one’s permanent home could have negative results. How is a cat, or dog, or parrot supposed to react when everything they’ve ever known is taken away? When they are moved into a strange house with weird smells and sounds, humans and creatures they’ve never seen? For adult pets, it’s clearly an immense burden. The worst part is, no one can explain the situation to them – they have to work it out for themselves, if they can. For those of us with larger families, we can usually rest assured that our pets can stay in the home they know, with people they already love if we pass away. My cats have not only me, but my husband and a few close friends they trust if something ever happens to me. But a shut-in, living in a little apartment alone with a kitty or dog? Who does that pet have to fall back on? Not a soul. If your household consists of only you and your pet, I urge you to consider what might happen if you die unexpectedly. Encourage your pet to spend time bonding with close friends or family members when they visit. Take your pet out of its home every now and then for an un-stressful look at the wider world. Dogs are often gregarious and easy to socialize this way; cats are trickier however not impossible to socialize. Try bringing kitty out on the balcony or porch with a friend or two, or bringing it along for a weekend holiday at your friend’s or family member's home. Also, you might consider adopting a second pet from the Humane Society or another rescue organisation. Their kennels are packed with wonderful, adoptable cats and dogs that not only need a home but can provide you and your existing pet with a necessary new friend. Take your time choosing, and remember that even two animals that are not immediately the best of friends can still become bonded family members. The more good people and animals your pet meets, and the more experience it has with various environments, the better its chances of pulling through the grief of your death and moving forward into a happy life. Give it some thought <3 "Taco" AKA “Jamon” Thanks to the support of the Humane Society of Cozumel, Jamon is able to meet his new family in Mexico, the United States or Canada! His name is Taco, and his nickname is Jamon, or "Ham" in Spanish, (he is a very big boy!) but I’ve been calling him Hammy. This is the SWEETEST and FRIENDLIEST cat that has ever come to stay in my foster home. I can’t emphasize that enough. Hammy was hand-raised by his human mom since before his little eyes were open, and they clearly loved each other very much. They were the only people and pets in one another’s lives. Unfortunately, Taco’s mom passed away very recently and he has no other family to live with. Understandably, Taco was very depressed when the Humane Society came and collected him from his former apartment. They kept him safe at the shelter for a night, but for a cherished house cat it was a scary place to be. The next day a wonderful volunteer brought him to me and I set him up in his very own bedroom, complete with private litter box and a full-size bed. Poor Hammy was too scared and sad to enjoy the perks of foster care, of course. He immediately hid under the far side of the bed and barely moved for several days. I pulled the bed out to check on him and tempt him with some soft food, which he did eventually eat. The poor boy was too upset and confused to even come out to pee. A week or so later, Ham has turned a corner. He has met the other cats in the house with curiosity and is learning the careful art of friendly butt-sniffing; he is trying to eat his healthy food like a good boy, and he will come out of hiding to beg for cuddles. AND WOW DOES HE LOVE CUDDLES! Jamon can sit forever and just let you rub him all over – face, back, feet and enormous belly all included. (We’re working on that belly, FYI.) When I first heard his immense purr, my heart just about exploded. Taco is about 8 years old, and he still has SO MUCH LOVE TO GIVE! He would be a wonderful addition to a home with other friendly cats, or just loving people. He is shy with men but we are working on that! Please consider giving sweet, wonderful Hammy a second chance at his forever home <3 Get in touch with me via the comments or apply directly through the Humane Society of Cozumel website to adopt this wonderful boy! If you can't give him a home, please give him a share! Thank you! Having cats is one of life’s great pleasures. The love and entertainment that pet owners receive from those sweet, furry little faces is worth every bit of responsibility that comes with it. To keep your special family members happy, healthy and safe, it’s a wonderful idea to install a cat enclosure in whatever outdoor space your home offers. Cat enclosures come in all different shapes, sizes and designs, from DIY “Catios” to professionally-installed “runs.” Choosing the best enclosure for your cat depends on the space you have to work with. Generally speaking, as long as your kitty has access to fresh air and sunshine, and she can walk around and stretch her legs in a safe spot full of all the beautiful smells of nature, your cat enclosure has fulfilled its purpose. Feline happiness is a direct symptom of cat enclosure ownership - off course, there are even more reasons to make a cat enclosure part of your home! 5. A Long Life Your indoor cat can easily live up to 14 years and far beyond that with the help of a stable cat enclosure. On the other hand, outdoor cats live an average of only 4 years due to traffic accidents, fights with other pets and wild animals, communicable diseases and other factors. Unfortunately, kitty isn’t always happy to stay indoors day after day. A cat enclosure lets your little furry friend drink in the great outdoors from the safety of his own yard, thus extending his life countless years! 4. Minimal Risk of Infections and Illness Even the most street-smart cat can get into trouble out there, which translates into all kinds of scrapes, bruises, infections, parasites and sickness. Ideally, pet cats have been vaccinated for feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and rabies, but that doesn’t protect them from picking up colds, flus and other viruses. The best way to keep your cat healthy and pain-free is to let him be the king of his own domain - away from other animals and hazards. 3. Psychological Stability Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Donald Hamilton believes that cats need more space and socialization than they are often allowed as indoors-only pets. “In reality, many cats become quite stressed when kept inside, especially when they are alone a lot or when there are too many cats in a house and not enough room for each cat to have its own space.” A catio or full-yard cat enclosure lets kitties sniff and safely socialize with other animals and humans around their home, relieving the psychological stresses associated with being kept strictly indoors. 2. The View Gets Better Cats are creatures of strong instinct, especially when it comes to hunting. As well-fed as your little darling may be, he probably can’t pass up the opportunity to pluck a fat, juicy robin from its perch in the back yard. Bird aficionados the world over are notorious for their dislike of outdoor and feral cats, for the simple reason that our precious cat friends have eaten their way through entire flocks of indigenous bird species. And let’s face it, nobody enjoys bird watching more than a cat. The perfect solution? Keep the two separate with a few solid mesh walls. 1. Stimulation and Enrichment It’s no secret to cat owners that no matter how young, old, big or small a cat is, he is always interested in smelling, batting and discovering new things. After all, physical and mental stimulation are what keeps your furry friend young and fit! No matter how expansive or cozy the cat enclosure you have installed or built yourself, there are a million ways to personalize it and engage your cat. Incorporate non-toxic plants, dangling toys, steps, stairs and shelving to truly optimize that space and let kitty play any way he sees fit. As a housecat with access to a beautiful and safe back yard, I can personally vouch for the high value of an outdoor enclosure. I can run, jump, play, sniff, scratch and really get my paws dirty. I am a tiger! Anyway. Give it some thought. Your kitty will thank you! The years have flown by, and today I celebrate my 6th birthday. I've lost my adolescent jiggly bits and know it's time to get my life in shape. Step One? Blog. My opinions are invaluable. Step Two? Let the human also blog. We're getting shit done. Our first cyber-literature adventure takes place right here at home (as do most of my adventures) as I and my siblings will attempt to make the switch from processed foods to fresh, homemade meals. Now, this is going to be tricky because despite spending a good portion of my life with large "love handles" I am actually a bit finicky. I enjoy a good bowl of crunchy food. In particular I have formed attachments to Science Diet and more recently Nature's Variety. A lick or two of tuna juice is fun from time to time, but I'm not sure if daily fish or meat is really my thing. I am in the process of finding out! The Great Experiment started by accident, like all Great things. When it came time to replenish our monthly bag of food, it was, alas, unavailable. Ever resourceful, our Mama (that's Mandy to the rest of you) thawed a chicken, fried it up and served us the shredded meat. This is an astonishing turn of events because, you see, Mama doesn't actually eat meat herself. The chicken came from friends who were leaving on holidays and needed to clean out their freezer. The idea was that Daddy would eat the chicken, but, well, he's not much of a cook. Anyway, 3 out of 4 of us were over the moon about nomming down on a plate full of chicken. In fact my step-brother Aladdin ate so much so quickly that he foamed at the mouth trying to keep it all in. But he was homeless and starving for a long time, so we forgive him for these weird things he does. Foster kitten Baby went almost as crazy as her Uncle Al, while my sister Minnie Mew dug in and helped herself to more than the usual serving. The chicken was a hit. As for me, I ate it too but not with much gusto. I'm just not that into chicken. The thing is, seeing (almost) the entire family so keen on meat made Mama think: should she be giving us "real" food all the time? The internet suggested both yes and no, as it often does. So further research was required. Anyway, I'll let Mandy tell you about that. Immediately following the First Day of Chicken, came the Second Day of Chicken, Plus Egg. This came pureed and neither Mew nor I cared much for it, but we grudgingly ate it anyway. Next day was the First Day of Tuna, and really nobody could fault that, not even me. The Second Day of Tuna was a little tedious, however, and I stated outright that if we were going to do this "meat" thing then we were going to need a few more options. Aladdin and Baby don't seem to care, just for the record, but honestly I've seen that guy eat spaghetti with marinara sauce. He knows nothing. Thus begins the Great Experiment. |
Homer & MandyWelcome to The Cat Box! Homer will be your guides to all things cat, cat and more cat. Things like cat food, nutrition and general well-being, but not the Oxford comma. Because screw that thing. Categories |